On February 06 2013 07:45 TylerThaCreator wrote:
Nice blog giX, you've improved by leaps and bounds since your days in VT (Honestly used to think you were pretty bad back then). Hoping for your success in the future!

Thanks! I have learned alot since my days on VT, and I was definitely a scrub back then

giX

United States185 Posts

February 06 2013 02:09 GMT

#22

On February 06 2013 02:09 Kuni wrote:
Arrange the money necessary and dedicate everything to gaming. Ronaldo didn't just play soccer half an our each day. All the successful players in any decent sport go for it a 100%. I see no reason why this should be any different with gaming.
Phil Taylor (darts) was asked once why he was so much better than anyone else and he replied, that he just practiced WAY, WAY more than anyone else.

If you cannot afford it over a longer period of time, sometimes letting go of the dream means being able to find new dreams.

I have gotten myself into a situation where I haven't had to worry about money, and can just focus on the game completely. If I had to be working as well to pay rent, I would never be at the level I am at today. I can definitely do more though, I have slacked off too given the opportunity that I have. to reach the next level requires a insane amount of dedication, and i'm scared I will not be able to do it.

giX

United States185 Posts

February 06 2013 02:20 GMT

#23

On February 06 2013 08:39 PiGStarcraft wrote:
You're quite the strong player man, stop beating me in muta vs muta on hots plz!

There's a large fanbase in the US. Promoting yourself via twitter, facebook, streaming, youtube and content (guides, blogs whatever) are all relatively easy ways to get yourself more opportunities, and more importantly more sponsor dollars. It won't necessarily add up to all that much but it can help you support yourself.

If you promote yourself decently than coaching 5-10 hours a week is a good way to make a small amount of steady income.

As for playing, you can beat Koreans and get to the level of someone like Scarlett but it'll take a lot of hard work. I think you just need to be incredibly disciplined with using practice partners to practice specific things over and over again and keep studying the game critically and looking for slight and tiny ways to improve your play whilst not getting pigeon-holed in playing specific styles. That's pretty much what I'm working on myself at the moment and I truly believe with enough work even we can smash the GSL champs.

Thanks

I am really bad at promoting myself! My PC also overheat's while streaming and makes it hard to play, so I will be looking into ways to fix this so i can overcome this obstacle.

I have done a decent amount of coaching in recent months, but I definitely could do more. I am not popular enough to get 10 hours of coaching a week. I have thought about streaming some lessons when I get my computer fixed. I have also done an extensive amount of account leveling for people, and have probably made more from this and lessons then I have in tournaments.

I have beaten a few koreans in MLG and NASL qualifiers, but I end up losing to another big name. it feels great beating them, but it doesn't really matter if you don't win the whole thing.

appreciate the great response!

giX

United States185 Posts

February 06 2013 02:20 GMT

#24

On February 06 2013 08:51 deathly rat wrote:
I don't know jack about pro-gaming, but I know about making life choices and taking risks. My advice is always have a back-up plan, and definitely even more so when option 1 is a risky venture like being a pro-gamer.

yup. Going back to school for Graphic design has always been my backup plan. I have been having way too much fun in Starcraft to let the dream go until I am completely sure I am ready.

giX

United States185 Posts

February 06 2013 02:22 GMT

#25

On February 06 2013 09:46 snively wrote:
mr bitter is baller

so what does win trading mean? is it bad?

I had 4 GM accounts that were all top 50. I would have my friend log on and give me a free win basically. I gained about 150 points this way by cheating, and it made him really mad. the same day I left 20 matches to give away the points that I had gotten by cheating.

giX

United States185 Posts

February 06 2013 02:30 GMT

#26

On February 06 2013 10:22 Pokebunny wrote:
Hi Andy,

As someone who has somewhat known you on and off over the last couple years, I thought it might be worth giving me input.

The reality of a professional gaming career is that being a professional gamer is an illusion. You aren't actually a professional player, you are a representative of those who pay you, and playing games is your vehicle of advertisement. You could be the best player in the world, but if you only played against your two best friends in your mom's basement, nobody would care to pay you. You have to play the marketing game, get yourself out there - I know there are many professional players who say "that's not my job, I just want to play the game", but that's NOT true. If you are solely a high level player, you are not a professional - you are just a really good amateur. The difference is not in fact in the skill level, it is in the amount of people that recognize you for your work.

Thanks Nick. I realize a lot of what you are saying is true. but I haven't been in my moms basement the past year. I have been living with like minded players, and have been helped hugely by Mrbitter and Rotterdam. Living with them is really amazing, and even though I am just a wannabe amateur, I think this has been a incredible experience.

I have always been bad at being "marketable" and its something I need to work on. I am camera shy and don't like doing interviews. so I don't know what I can really do to market myself

Doodsmack

United States7224 Posts

February 06 2013 03:09 GMT

#27

On February 06 2013 11:05 giX wrote:

Show nested quote +

don't worry, I have had many people tell me this. I have never been disillusioned or thought that this was a profitable option. I have been lucky enough to meet people who have been able to help support me and grow me as a player, and even if I decide to call it quits I am very glad that I got to experience this whole thing.

Well that's good news, and I wish you luck.

Pokebunny

United States10654 Posts

February 06 2013 03:38 GMT

#28

On February 06 2013 11:30 giX wrote:

Show nested quote +

Of course, I'm not saying you didn't try at all or that you didn't do anything right, it was merely an analogy.

Good luck though ^^

snively

United States1159 Posts

February 06 2013 23:29 GMT

#29

oh my god, pokebunny is a baller too.

p.s. win trading doesnt seem so bad, if you really pushed your points too high the game would slowly push you back with the whole "favored/slightly favored" thing. but i can see how its dishonest

Ack1027

United States7873 Posts

February 07 2013 02:01 GMT

#30

Hi giX.
I played comp dota against you way back when you were on FeedingFrenzy with lopi and others.

I played against you a few times in beta or early release I think.

I'm guessing you're around my age so its cool to see you still trying to give progaming a real try. Don't really have advice, just give it your all or decide if you need to moderate your gaming efforts and balance out other parts of your life.

Bobo_XIII

United States429 Posts

February 07 2013 08:23 GMT

#31

Hey there! I haven't played SC2 in a little over a year now, but I remember playing versus you in a few Playhems. Your ZvZ at the time was pretty solid, and you schooled me every time we played. I'm sure it's all been figured out by now, but this was during a time that ZvZ was insanely volatile, and slick gimmicks more times than not won you the game. You were gimmick proof. Respect!

It's funny that you talk about Artist that way, because in one of the Playhems I was in, I faced off against him either in the RO4 or the third place match. He schooled me 2-0 handily, and I remember clearly thinking "I truly know nothing about ZvT." That ass whooping was what drove me to learn ZvT inside-out, and a few Playhems after that, I actually managed to knock out STRainbow (alright, so it was a BO1 and he tried to one-base the fuck out of me... just let me enjoy the small things, okay?

).

Good read, and glad to see you're doing well for yourself these days.