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dstryr
United States69 Posts
With all of those hours spent "chasing the dream", what sacrifices are made? Career prospects, spouse/partner, family life, etc? I am genuinely curious as to what others opinions are on this. Although I love the prospect of e-sports success in 2012, I wonder what the effect/backlash will be on the number of up-and-coming aspiring pro-gamers. Since so few are able to achieve success with Pro-gaming, what are the negative impacts of living this lifestyle?   | ||
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Najda
United States3765 Posts
I think every pro-gamer looks at the sacrifices he will have to make and consciously decides to make them though. I don't think it's a negative backlash, I think it's just something that you have to be willing to do if you are going to chase your dream period. | ||
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ComaDose
Canada10352 Posts
It's obvious it is a big sacrifice. Starcraft is the most competitive game and to reach the very top it requires 100% dedication. Therefore 100% sacrifice. I'm thinking broodwar but its obvious people dedicate 7 days a week for years just for a shot. | ||
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MrBitter
United States2940 Posts
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GMarshal
United States22154 Posts
I've said this before, but to be among the best, to be a real pro, you need to love the game to the point where it dominates your life, where you go to sleep thinking about how to micro mutas, where you dream about that TvT you lost an hour ago. Because if you aren't putting that amount of love into the game you will lose to those who are. I think it was SotG where someone asked IdrA what other games he had played recently, and if he had tried skyrim yet, to which IdrA replied that the only game he had been playing lately was Starcraft. This isn't because IdrA hates all other games, or wouldn't enjoy Skyrim, its because time put into other games is time taken away from starcraft, and pros cannot afford that. That's why korean pro houses usually ban playing poker and why whenever a pro-gamer gets a girlfriend he tends to slump incredibly hard. To chase a dream is an all-consuming thing. The very best are the very best because they have sacrificed everything else to get there. Thats what it takes. Not just time commitment and work ethic, but to fully invest your emotions in the game. That is what progamers sacrifice, because you can only ever have one true passion at the time. That said, there is literally nothing better in life than doing what you love, so yes, its a sacrifice, but for those who love the game, its a sacrifice well worth making. EDIT: This is assuming SC:BW or SC2 or a comparable game where skill matters. | ||
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Tuneful
United States327 Posts
Can you guess who works the hardest in preseason? + Show Spoiler + Those who sacrifice the most. | ||
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IdrA
United States11541 Posts
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Rkie
United States1278 Posts
On December 23 2011 00:25 ComaDose wrote: rekrul's recent thread Just so you know, that thread is from 2005. It still applies here though. | ||
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Emon_
3925 Posts
On December 23 2011 00:25 ComaDose wrote: rekrul's recent thread, huk's more depressing interviews, sheths reaction to living in korea, etc etc. It's obvious it is a big sacrifice. Starcraft is the most competitive game and to reach the very top it requires 100% dedication. Therefore 100% sacrifice. I'm thinking broodwar but its obvious people dedicate 7 days a week for years just for a shot. 100% dedication is doubtful... the goal is to evolve as a player and that's hard to do. You have to play loads of games. Analyze your plays, perform at your peak at command. There's a whole psychology behind this that the coach handles in other sports. The lack of a coach is probably the hardest thing for a foreigner. They are walking into new ground alone and it's HARD to know which way to turn | ||
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Chef
10810 Posts
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Denzil
United Kingdom4193 Posts
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Kickboxer
Slovenia1308 Posts
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Kickboxer
Slovenia1308 Posts
![[image loading]](http://i.imgur.com/Z3PX0.jpg) This. Except it happens to your wrists, your eyes and your social life. | ||
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Djzapz
Canada10681 Posts
Obviously this doesn't apply to everyone, as the biggest names just may have a life-long career in entertainment. I'm thinking players like IdrA who will probably have doors open when he decides to stop being a player (maybe), and Day9 who could probably commentate and just stick to the business in general if he wants to. Basically, I think the biggest difficulty is that most of them are slowing down their career for a little money right now. | ||
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Pokebunny
United States10654 Posts
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marttorn
Norway5211 Posts
Not that I have any real life experience with this, this is just what I can gather, and it's obvious everybody within sports has to sacrifice a ton in order to get good. | ||
Liquid`TLO
Germany767 Posts
It all comes down how you handle yourself, however being a member in Team Liquid probably puts me in a priviliged situation, stilll I believe every famous sc2 progamer can easily build a future from here if you are not too lazy and a bit smart. | ||
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valaki
Hungary2476 Posts
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FireFish
Denmark228 Posts
On December 23 2011 01:35 Kickboxer wrote: I'm adding a photo for greater clarity ^_^ This. Except it happens to your wrists, your eyes and your social life. I defently disagree a 100% with this. Your wrists will be okay, nothing happens to your eyes (lol), and you will meet sooo many new people with e-sport. Im not even a proffesionel but i met some really cool people. | ||
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SigmaoctanusIV
United States3313 Posts
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Mora
Canada5235 Posts
On December 23 2011 02:42 valaki wrote: Being a progamer is a job. I'm pretty sure, aside from the koreans, most foreigners don't practice more than 8 hours, daily. That's like a normal job (excluding weekends). Go figure. when I was competitive in brood war I practiced 10-12 hours a day 7 days a week (with the occasional day off). I would not be surprised if other foreigners did the same. | ||
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Oreo7
United States1647 Posts
On December 23 2011 01:35 Kickboxer wrote: I'm adding a photo for greater clarity ^_^ This. Except it happens to your wrists, your eyes and your social life. LOL your eyes and social life? Do you actually have a reason to believe that or are we just randomly throwing shit out there? | ||
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andeh
United States904 Posts
"All the current pros became on top when they were still in school, working, etc." Only a little while after do they get the chance to go to korea/team house/etc. | ||
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Trowabarton756
United States870 Posts
On December 23 2011 05:18 Oreo7 wrote: LOL your eyes and social life? Do you actually have a reason to believe that or are we just randomly throwing shit out there? ...Pretty sure staring at a computer screen 12-16 hours a day for 7 days straight 350 days a year will destroy these things.... | ||
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dstryr
United States69 Posts
On December 23 2011 05:29 andeh wrote: I remember Jinro saying this, and I think it applies: "All the current pros became on top when they were still in school, working, etc." Only a little while after do they get the chance to go to korea/team house/etc. What type of lifestyle cultivates a pro-gamer? Are top players like IdrA, HuK, Sheth etc. where they are today because they had the time to put in when they were younger? What is the peak age of a pro-gamer? What happens to pro-gamers after they retire? Eventually there needs to be a SC2 "True Hollywood Stories" / where are they now type of thing  | ||
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blabber
United States4448 Posts
On December 23 2011 09:53 dstryr wrote: What type of lifestyle cultivates a pro-gamer? Are top players like IdrA, HuK, Sheth etc. where they are today because they had the time to put in when they were younger? What is the peak age of a pro-gamer? What happens to pro-gamers after they retire? Eventually there needs to be a SC2 "True Hollywood Stories" / where are they now type of thing being young definitely gives an advantage since you generally have more time. if i remember correctly, idra played bw casually just like everyone else but got good enough to get onto team, play in leagues/tourneys (and winning them)... only then did he really commit to it when he went to korea huk was already really high level and on a team when he gave that "i wanna be the next boxer" interview and went all-out on sc2. you really have to have that foundation before you can try | ||
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iNcontroL
USA29055 Posts
On December 23 2011 00:54 GMarshal wrote: The cost is everything. You see, to become a real pro, someone who is successful, you need to love the game. Not enjoy winning, not have fun with it, you need to love the hell out of the game. Boxer, the Emperor, regularly practices 10 hours a day. He isn't the exception. To be a pro means you have to put in at least same amount of work people put into day-jobs, but thats actually not enough by itself, because due to the competitive nature of the game, there are people who are going to invest much, much more time into it then that, and to compete with them you need to match it. I've said this before, but to be among the best, to be a real pro, you need to love the game to the point where it dominates your life, where you go to sleep thinking about how to micro mutas, where you dream about that TvT you lost an hour ago. Because if you aren't putting that amount of love into the game you will lose to those who are. I think it was SotG where someone asked IdrA what other games he had played recently, and if he had tried skyrim yet, to which IdrA replied that the only game he had been playing lately was Starcraft. This isn't because IdrA hates all other games, or wouldn't enjoy Skyrim, its because time put into other games is time taken away from starcraft, and pros cannot afford that. That's why korean pro houses usually ban playing poker and why whenever a pro-gamer gets a girlfriend he tends to slump incredibly hard. To chase a dream is an all-consuming thing. The very best are the very best because they have sacrificed everything else to get there. Thats what it takes. Not just time commitment and work ethic, but to fully invest your emotions in the game. That is what progamers sacrifice, because you can only ever have one true passion at the time. That said, there is literally nothing better in life than doing what you love, so yes, its a sacrifice, but for those who love the game, its a sacrifice well worth making. EDIT: This is assuming SC:BW or SC2 or a comparable game where skill matters. Incorrect. IdrA doesn't play other games because he has never been a "gamer." He has played pokemon, sc/sc2 and like 10 games of street fighter. He doesn't enjoy other games. Having lived with idra for 4 months or so now I can tell you he has other interests and doesn't ONLY play sc2 because "otherwise he would be taking time away from sc2." IdrA reads, watches shows, goes to the gym and enjoys time with his cat. korean progamers spend a LOT of time watching korean dramas, music videos (I don't know why but they LOVE them) game shows (again, strange) as well as other internet based media usually surrounding music though. There is this giant misconception that koreans only play sc2 and do nothing else for 15 hours out of the day.. it simply isn't true. They play a lot more than most sure, but they are human beings who enjoy other things as well. In my experience having been to korea, lived in a progamer house, spoken with/interacted with/friends with progamers of every race shape and size I can tell you there are some who play as little as 3-5 hours a day. Most average 6-8 hours a day and there are a few who crank out massive hours on a regular basis around 10-12 hours a day. All of these progamers do other activities besides Sc2.. literally all of them. I could not name a SC2 progamer who actually only plays SC2 because everything else would take away from SC2. That fan based romantic delusion needs to stop.. it is an unrealistic expectation and it manifests in hate towards progamers who "reveal" that they have lives outside of SC2 as well. | ||
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Itsmedudeman
United States19229 Posts
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Wortie
Netherlands212 Posts
On December 23 2011 02:20 Liquid`TLO wrote: For me ESPORTS has had only positive effects despite the CTS. I think if you are smart about it ESPORTS can be more of a long term career. I didnt finish studying at university but I never felt more secure about my future than at this point of my Life I met people all over the globe and have friends as well as business contacts in a lot of companies that might open future paths for me. It all comes down how you handle yourself, however being a member in Team Liquid probably puts me in a priviliged situation, stilll I believe every famous sc2 progamer can easily build a future from here if you are not too lazy and a bit smart. I read this in TLO's voice.  I think it doesn't matter how much you sacrifice if you do truly what you love. Steve Jobs didn't become CEO of apple by finishing school you know, and he says the same. I love this game so much, I don't know how much more time I will sacrifice playing it. | ||
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Denzil
United Kingdom4193 Posts
Can anyone pull up a link? I'd like to read it. | ||
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Humanfails
224 Posts
On December 23 2011 02:47 FireFish wrote: I defently disagree a 100% with this. Your wrists will be okay, nothing happens to your eyes (lol), and you will meet sooo many new people with e-sport. Im not even a proffesionel but i met some really cool people. wrong. From 12 hours at a bright screen all day, my eyes have lost muscle mass which helps with vision and focus, and dark or sub-brightly lit rooms are darker than they used to be, and driving is a bitch because the car lights adjust my eyes to not seeing non-lit objects like street curbs and dividing lines. It does harm your eyes. Whatever you do, your body will adjust to it. | ||
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