We’ve all been there before. For most of us, it’d be a dream job to get paid while playing video games all week long. Fortunately for some, it’s already happening. Gamers from around the world are now making a living off of this so-called ‘professional’ life. Could you imagine yourself as a gamer trained to compete in worldwide events for cash prizes? Your parents were always nagging for you to work on your studies and lay off those video games. Now look at how things have turned around. What used to be a time where hobbyists are just trying to showoff their skills is becoming more than just a hobby these days. And it’s blooming on a scale that one couldn’t have possibly imagined.
A multitude of sponsors out there, such as Gigabyte and Razer, are contracting players to compete under their name. It’s not so different from signing a deal to play for a National football team. In fact, people worldwide have coined the term Electronic Sports, or E-Sports, for this activity.
Today, even game designers are attempting to create games to be used specifically for E-Sports. Why? Because there’s a huge cash flow in this industry–for developers, sponsors, and players alike–and it can only seem to go higher from here.
Have what it takes to become the Jerry Rice of E-Sports? It’s not too late to start practicing or even just getting helpful tips from already-known gamers. Heck, with the Internet age upon us you don’t even have to leave your house. There are streaming websites that offer gamers the ability to broadcast their live gaming sessions. Viewers can donate for lessons, which adds more toward the income for the gamers. On top of that, they are also receiving ad revenues. Making money this way sounds easy, right? No need to have a product line if you’re a gamer.
So what do you think? Can gaming be considered an occupation?
Capa is the mild-mannered, culturally-confused English major of The Prospector. As an aspiring novelist he thrives to write simply for the sake of writing. Other than writing he spends most of his free time on music and video games, sometimes even combining the two. Also likes to think he’s up in the-know with technology. No, not really. Reach him at prospector.clo@gmail.com for comments and/or suggestions.
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