EPThttp://www.cstarleague.com/news/2157/balancing-progaming-with-school-with-ostojiy
There are an incredible number of players that aspire to make a living through playing Starcraft. As a result the game is highly competitive and unforgiving at all levels. For many professionals the difference between success and failure can sometimes come down to a single engagement or build order win in a major tournament. Playing the game seriously can be very time consuming and stressful, especially when combined with other commitments, like school. At the same time, achieving your goals in Starcraft is an amazing experience. Whether you are looking to win an MLG, make the playoffs in the CSL or just make it out of bronze league it feels good to see your hard work pay off with results.
I have played Starcraft since 2008 and taken the game seriously since the release of Starcraft II in 2011. This article was written to share my thoughts on what exactly it is like to play competitive eSports in North America while balancing school and other extracurricular activities.
To say that Starcraft hasn’t affected my school, social and extracurricular life would be a lie. I’ve stayed in on Friday nights to play in tournaments. I have missed work, school and planned assignments over MLG. I have skipped sports games to play in a clan war. The commitment of playing Starcraft professionally is the equivalent of playing competitive sports throughout university or college. In order to master anything one must make sacrifices, however like sports, progaming and doing well in school are not mutually exclusive.
Other than the athletic component, the biggest difference between eSports and ‘regular sports’ in the west is how they are viewed by society. There are few people that know what progaming is, and the negative stereotype that is associated with people that play video games in the west is often difficult to overcome. It takes a great deal of explaining to make someone understand how much more there is to eSports than sitting in front of a computer for 5 hours a day. Things like an active community, economic benefit and serious competition are shared by both eSports and sports. The concept that Starcraft is more than just a video game has rapidly grown in North America through 2011, however there is still far to go.
As a full time student I have never been able to entirely commit to playing Starcraft. While I have had a good career as a player, I haven’t done anything that I believe can justify taking a break from school. I see a lot of people that drop out of high school or forgo college in order to pursue a hope of playing professionally which, while it is commendable to follow your dreams, seems absurd to do. Unless you have already proven that you can not only compete with the best in the world, but also beat them consistently, the eSports industry is much too small and competitive to take that risk. It is possible to achieve your maximum potential in the game while still meeting other commitments if you practice efficiently and have the drive to succeed. I have seen many players begin to play full time, enter a prohouse or move to Korea, and yet hardly improve at all. Succeeding at Starcraft is not just about how many games you play.
Ladder is a good way to learn Starcraft, but it takes more to truly become “gosu”. It lets you practice against different builds and styles, however ladder does not let you refine your play to the same extent as practice games. While it may be less enjoyable, it is important to practice against someone that you know will push you to your limits and force you as a player to get into good habits. Discussing mistakes that you made, as well as what you could have done to win gives you a different viewpoint on the game and thus a greater understanding of how to improve.
Watching replays of other players is helpful as it lets you watch games in more detail than VODs, allowing you to learn new strategies and timings. I would argue that watching your own replays (especially when you lose) is one of the most important things you can do. If you, without making excuses, analyze every mistake you made and then make a conscious effort to focus on not doing it again you will improve with every game that you play.
I suppose it is slightly hypocritical of me to discuss practicing efficiently when I am largely known for ladder grinding on the North American server, a habit that many see as an inefficient use of time. That does not mean I don’t practice, but rather that I only train seriously when I have a tournament or match I need to prepare for. Unless you are in Code A, it is important to have fun, as ultimately that is what this game is about. Nobody becomes a progamer with the intention of becoming rich. The eSports industry has grown so much over the last few years because the people that work in it are all passionate about competitive gaming and love what they do.
