On December 10 2010 14:05 compscidude wrote: i'll be realistic here. you will have a greater chance if you stop school and play games from a younger age. This was the case for Flash, one of the dominant player in SC history. He started when he was 15, and big portion of his time went to practices.
If your motivated to succeed in e-sports, i recommend having your priorities changed. Gaming would have to be your first not school, and by all means, this doesnt mean you must drop out. But rather, you have to understand that doing good in school is not what you would be expecting, given that you are motivated to succeed in gaming.
So my point is, set your priorities. How are you going to spend you time?
I don't want to be negative here, but the old man in me is feels obligated to say that becoming a professional SC2 player seems about as easy as becoming an NBA player. And the sport hasn't matured yet.
There are 250 NBA players. There are 32 Code S GSL players.
But I'm speaking out of turn. Hopefully one of the pro's on this board will give you the real scoop.
There's probably 1000x more people who play basketball on a regular basis than starcraft 2 so I don't think it's easier (unless you are freakishly tall).
I did write as easy, no more.
But there are professional basketball leagues all over the world. You can sign with an international team, play in the Development Leagues ...
There's more opportunities to make a living overall, because of how ubiquitous the sport is.
On December 10 2010 15:03 Kirameki wrote: I think 'pro' means you are S class in GSL. Anything less and you aren't really pro. If you are in a team house with S class players, you are semi-pro. That's my take on it now we no longer have pro licenses.
Your best bet to become pro is to win a really big lot of stuff so either TL or EG will invite you to their team house. Somehow standing out as someone with even more potential will probably help too. Look at TLO. He wasn't that good but had a certain style that made him appealing for TL to recruit. There you have to get S class at the next opportunity somewhere in 2011.
There's already tons and tons of people out there that would like to be in Korea. Yet they aren't. So the odds of you becoming pro anywhere soon are extremely extremely small. Especially if you have to ask this.
Your take on what "pro" means is wrong. the only thing "pro" means is "professional" as in "you do something as a profession" meaning you make money off of it. Therefore, if you make money doing something, you are "pro" at it, so to speak.
So if I cash once in a casino, I am a professional gambler? You argument is exactly why your conclusion is wrong. If playing SC2 is your profession you are a semi-pro or a pro. If you make good money and/or are S class, you are a real pro.
Also, you don't want to be a professional gamer. It's not an enjoyable life. You only do so because you passion is so big you are a slave of your passion. Same with professional (skill based) musician or chess player. With sports it's kind of different because mostly you can't just grind so much until you are really really good. There, raw talent is more important. You cant play play football 10 hours a day, every day, for years. Otherwise, go enjoy a profitable and leisurely life. If you have the talent and discipline to be a progamer it shouldn't be hard to do that.
well you could try to be a caster like husky, hd, and daynine, where you could predominately get better @ sc and also make some moneys from youtube on the side.... gl hf on your quest, just remember what john the translator said...
Going pro in games like starcraft is a lot like going pro in poker: If you go into it with the mind set that you want it to be your career, most likely you will fail.
Just play for fun and learn on the way. If you develop the skills to compete in higher level tournaments, give it a shot but don't get hung up on it. The object of SC2 is to have fun, don't forget that.
You've got to do what you want. Screw what other people tell you. The main reason why I decided not to go professional is because I don't have the balls to sacrifice my education.
Having said that, your win rate and rating are about the same as mine. Make sure you properly think about the decision you're going to make because realistically there's no going back.
Don't listen to half of the guys in this thread saying you can't make it. I see this as similar to becoming a professional artist. You just have to put in a LOT of hours of work to become professional. It does not take natural talent, professionals don't use the word natural talent (or shouldn't). Talent means dedication. It truly does take some sort of talent to become MOTIVATED and DEDICATED to your craft. If you have ANY sort of passion for it, you will get there. The way you get there will be very very rough and difficult. You may sleep in your car for awhile, but you'll get there. Keep pushing. Forever a student.
On December 10 2010 15:03 Kirameki wrote: I think 'pro' means you are S class in GSL. Anything less and you aren't really pro. If you are in a team house with S class players, you are semi-pro. That's my take on it now we no longer have pro licenses.
Your best bet to become pro is to win a really big lot of stuff so either TL or EG will invite you to their team house. Somehow standing out as someone with even more potential will probably help too. Look at TLO. He wasn't that good but had a certain style that made him appealing for TL to recruit. There you have to get S class at the next opportunity somewhere in 2011.
There's already tons and tons of people out there that would like to be in Korea. Yet they aren't. So the odds of you becoming pro anywhere soon are extremely extremely small. Especially if you have to ask this.
Your take on what "pro" means is wrong. the only thing "pro" means is "professional" as in "you do something as a profession" meaning you make money off of it. Therefore, if you make money doing something, you are "pro" at it, so to speak.
So if I cash once in a casino, I am a professional gambler? You argument is exactly why your conclusion is wrong. If playing SC2 is your profession you are a semi-pro or a pro. If you make good money and/or are S class, you are a real pro.
Also, you don't want to be a professional gamer. It's not an enjoyable life. You only do so because you passion is so big you are a slave of your passion. Same with professional (skill based) musician or chess player. With sports it's kind of different because mostly you can't just grind so much until you are really really good. There, raw talent is more important. You cant play play football 10 hours a day, every day, for years. Otherwise, go enjoy a profitable and leisurely life. If you have the talent and discipline to be a progamer it shouldn't be hard to do that.
If going to the casino is your main source of income, then yes, you are a professional gambler.
On December 10 2010 15:56 Deadlyhazard wrote: Don't listen to half of the guys in this thread saying you can't make it. I see this as similar to becoming a professional artist. You just have to put in a LOT of hours of work to become professional. It does not take natural talent, professionals don't use the word natural talent (or shouldn't). Talent means dedication. It truly does take some sort of talent to become MOTIVATED and DEDICATED to your craft. If you have ANY sort of passion for it, you will get there. The way you get there will be very very rough and difficult. You may sleep in your car for awhile, but you'll get there. Keep pushing. Forever a student.
i practice quite a lot, however my mechanics/micro never improve, and my army control is some of the worst ever for my rating. I think that makes for an argument that you need natural talent, as im pretty sure some of the top players don't practice as much as some amateurs. (stork hardly practices yet he is one of the best protoss)
On December 10 2010 15:03 Kirameki wrote: I think 'pro' means you are S class in GSL. Anything less and you aren't really pro. If you are in a team house with S class players, you are semi-pro. That's my take on it now we no longer have pro licenses.
Your best bet to become pro is to win a really big lot of stuff so either TL or EG will invite you to their team house. Somehow standing out as someone with even more potential will probably help too. Look at TLO. He wasn't that good but had a certain style that made him appealing for TL to recruit. There you have to get S class at the next opportunity somewhere in 2011.
There's already tons and tons of people out there that would like to be in Korea. Yet they aren't. So the odds of you becoming pro anywhere soon are extremely extremely small. Especially if you have to ask this.
Your take on what "pro" means is wrong. the only thing "pro" means is "professional" as in "you do something as a profession" meaning you make money off of it. Therefore, if you make money doing something, you are "pro" at it, so to speak.
So if I cash once in a casino, I am a professional gambler? You argument is exactly why your conclusion is wrong. If playing SC2 is your profession you are a semi-pro or a pro. If you make good money and/or are S class, you are a real pro.
Also, you don't want to be a professional gamer. It's not an enjoyable life. You only do so because you passion is so big you are a slave of your passion. Same with professional (skill based) musician or chess player. With sports it's kind of different because mostly you can't just grind so much until you are really really good. There, raw talent is more important. You cant play play football 10 hours a day, every day, for years. Otherwise, go enjoy a profitable and leisurely life. If you have the talent and discipline to be a progamer it shouldn't be hard to do that.
I believe he did not phrase that the best. "pros"="professionals" and in the case of starcraft, they make a living off it. That is the exact definition of a professional. Cashing in at a casino would usually be from a hobby, similar to an "amateur" starcraft player playing at a small tournament for $50--anyone who does not make their living off starcraft would be considered "amateur" like you or me. In that sense, you do NOT need to be S-class to be considered pro. According to your logic, HuK and TLO are not "pros", even though they make a living from starcraft? In addition, from what I understand, many of the Korean pros receive salary which would be provided by sponsors and such, so they do not make a living 100% off tournaments.
OP, I recommend you read Lim Yohwan's autobiography. If you do go through with your decision, just make sure you don't regret it later on in life, and of course, it will be difficult.
On December 10 2010 15:56 Deadlyhazard wrote: Don't listen to half of the guys in this thread saying you can't make it. I see this as similar to becoming a professional artist. You just have to put in a LOT of hours of work to become professional. It does not take natural talent, professionals don't use the word natural talent (or shouldn't). Talent means dedication. It truly does take some sort of talent to become MOTIVATED and DEDICATED to your craft. If you have ANY sort of passion for it, you will get there. The way you get there will be very very rough and difficult. You may sleep in your car for awhile, but you'll get there. Keep pushing. Forever a student.
i practice quite a lot, however my mechanics/micro never improve, and my army control is some of the worst ever for my rating. I think that makes for an argument that you need natural talent, as im pretty sure some of the top players don't practice as much as some amateurs. (stork hardly practices yet he is one of the best protoss)
Do you actually put in 5+ hours EVERY single day? At least? Because if you only play sporadically and never analyze your games in replays AND look for outside criticism, you'll never improve. Just like art or music.
On December 10 2010 15:56 Deadlyhazard wrote: Don't listen to half of the guys in this thread saying you can't make it. I see this as similar to becoming a professional artist. You just have to put in a LOT of hours of work to become professional. It does not take natural talent, professionals don't use the word natural talent (or shouldn't). Talent means dedication. It truly does take some sort of talent to become MOTIVATED and DEDICATED to your craft. If you have ANY sort of passion for it, you will get there. The way you get there will be very very rough and difficult. You may sleep in your car for awhile, but you'll get there. Keep pushing. Forever a student.
As a guy that's been working as an illustrator and designer the past ten years, and seen A LOT of people with all the talent in the world fade in and out of my industry:
Don't do it because you want to be on TV. Dont' do it because you think you'll make money. Don't do it for fan art. Don't do it because you think it's the only thing you're good at.
All that shit changes and comes and goes over ten years.
DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT.
You better enjoy it so much, that even if you DON'T make it you'll be happy.
On December 10 2010 15:46 OnFiRe888 wrote: well you could try to be a caster like husky, hd, and daynine, where you could predominately get better @ sc and also make some moneys from youtube on the side.... gl hf on your quest, just remember what john the translator said...
this is wrong on the examples. Day[9] was one of the top BW players for USA for years. He was on the USA A-team, competed in WCG USA for multiple years. He is good at SC2 because he was goon in BW. He's a good commentator because he knows his shit from playing.
Same goes for Artosis, Tasteless, and the Korean commentators (Nal_Ra, Garimto, Kingdom, etc...)
If you want to get good at anything, it takes a ton of practice. Not just for a month or two, but years. If you can compete with the best on a consistent level, then you might be on the path to become a professional gamer. If you can't seem to hold your ground against top players the majority of the games, then you will have to take gaming as everyone else, a fun hobby with a little bit of competitiveness here and there.
On December 10 2010 16:05 ShangMing wrote: I believe he did not phrase that the best. "pros"="professionals" and in the case of starcraft, they make a living off it. That is the exact definition of a professional.
Yes, obviously. That is my point.
Cashing in at a casino would usually be from a hobby, similar to an "amateur" starcraft player playing at a small tournament for $50-
So if you are an amateur and you cash you are an amateur. But then when are you a pro? This is either an incomplete argument or a circular one. What if we have a unemployed amateur, as in it is not his job, who has rich parents/friends who give him a lot of money to gamble with and he makes a huge sum at a game he takes very seriously.
TLO is an amateur any definition you can come up with. He might even be a retired or inactive amateur. Did he start playing again? Huk is semi-pro as he spends training full time but has barely made any money. Idra and Jinro are progamers.
In addition, from what I understand, many of the Korean pros receive salary which would be provided by sponsors and such, so they do not make a living 100% off tournaments.
Never heard much about salaries in Sc2 except Boxer. But that's just his star power.
On December 10 2010 15:56 Deadlyhazard wrote: Don't listen to half of the guys in this thread saying you can't make it. I see this as similar to becoming a professional artist. You just have to put in a LOT of hours of work to become professional. It does not take natural talent, professionals don't use the word natural talent (or shouldn't). Talent means dedication. It truly does take some sort of talent to become MOTIVATED and DEDICATED to your craft. If you have ANY sort of passion for it, you will get there. The way you get there will be very very rough and difficult. You may sleep in your car for awhile, but you'll get there. Keep pushing. Forever a student.
As a guy that's been working as an illustrator and designer the past ten years, and seen A LOT of people with all the talent in the world fade in and out of my industry:
Don't do it because you want to be on TV. Dont' do it because you think you'll make money. Don't do it for fan art. Don't do it because you think it's the only thing you're good it.
All that shit changes and comes and goes over ten years.
DO IT BECAUSE YOU LOVE IT.
You better enjoy it so much, that even if you DON'T make it you'll be happy.
This this and this.
Especially those four reasons for NOT doing it. ESPECIALLY money and the TV thing!
Rise the ladder, join amatuer team, perform well in team leagues and open tournaments. Get noticed by better team, merc to new team where you are getting paid a small salary. Congratualtions you are a (semi) pro.
Unless you can really get to the top 10 in the ladder or think you can currently take on top players in tournaments, you probably shouldn't be making pro-gaming your primary and only potential career choice. Even pros like iNcontrol have college degrees and other jobs, and there's no reason to think you're at a Jinro/HuK/IdrA level -- the level where you can fully sustain yourself through gaming.
I'm only saying this because it's pretty dangerous to give up college to game, when you could very well fail and not have a fallback. And the problem is, if you take time off after high school, colleges want to know why so applying after taking a year off basically means you won't be able to go where your normally would've been able to.
EPT
