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Why you should be a pro gamer
Topic Started: Nov 18 2006, 12:23 PM (118 Views)
=Fas=Lazerboy2000
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JUPITER, Fla. - Tom Taylor is anything but a computer geek.

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Yeah, he spends hours a day behind a screen obliterating little green men or "master chiefs," but this self-professed ladies man has made more than $450,000 blasting sinister agents since becoming a professional video gamer in 2004.

In August, Stuff magazine featured him on "The Power List: the Top 20 under 30" alongside LeBron James, Ashton Kutcher and other celebs. He just debuted in an 11-week reality series on USA Network, and this weekend he's slated to compete for a $100,000 purse at the world championships in Las Vegas.

Taylor, aka Tsquared, is very different from the stereotyped computer nerd trapped in his parent's basement. He's one of a handful of teens who have made their own fortunes in the $7 billion a year industry in the U.S. — a sales figure that's almost doubled since 1996, according to the Entertainment Software Association.

Thanks to the Internet, a couple dozen magazines, a cable network devoted to gaming and corporate-sponsored tournaments attended by tens of thousands, the video game industry has cemented its place in pop culture. And by promoting the best gamers as professionals, the industry helps push its product — much the same way the visibility of pro golfers sells clubs and balls.

The financial rewards of video games are immense. For example, Halo 2 grossed $125 million during the first 24 hours of its release, according to Microsoft sales statistics. Another example: Friday morning's launch of the PlayStation 3 — one version with a retail price of $500, another for $600 — drew throngs to electronic stores across the country.

"The folks that grew up with games are now getting older, and having kids who are growing up in an environment where it's a preferred entertainment choice," said John Davison senior vice president of 1UP Network, a multimedia network for gamers. "Culturally it will have an impact across the board."

In South Korea, where the industry has boomed for years, the pro video gamers are celebrities mobbed by screaming fans at contests.

A similar movement is sweeping the U.S., and a handful of emerging pros enjoy rock star treatment, with world tours and six-figure paychecks.

Like poker and skateboarding, some say gaming is the next big sport — or cybersport.

Major League Gaming (MLG) recently signed five players to some of the biggest professional contracts ever awarded gamers, including one four-person team to a $1 million, three-year contract. Taylor signed a $250,000, three-year deal in 2004.

Taylor practices three hours a night. He also runs 3 to 5 miles a day and lifts weights, which he said clears his head and boosts his focus.

Once you get past his typical teen bedroom — with a belly baring Britney Spears poster and rap music pumping in the background — it's easy to see he's serious about his craft. Three flat-screen TVs with Xboxes line the walls. On the floor is a stack of "playback footage," more than 40 hours of game tape he watches at night.

"I record what I do so I can watch it later, just like football tapes," said Taylor, who launched a video game tutoring business last year and counts NBA stars like Richard Jefferson among the clients. He charges $65 an hour.

Like every professional sport, there's always a prodigy. In video games, it's a child prodigy, 8-year-old Victor DeLeon III.

He doesn't travel with an entourage and prefers playing with his dwarf hamster Cortana and watching Star Wars.

But put him in a Halo 2 tournament and "Lil Poison," as he's known, is venomous. His father, also named Victor DeLeon, said the gaming whiz has already earned enough money to buy a luxury car and pay for his college tuition.

Throngs of fans surround the young Long Island, N.Y., resident at tournaments. He's signed a sponsorship with 1UP Network, has a product line coming out in December and a clothing line debuting next year.

By the age of 4, DeLeon was placing in local tournaments. His father, a video-game junkie who taught Lil Poison to play at age 2, has watched the industry morph.

"I'm trying to go to the pro circuit like MLG," Lil Poison said shyly.

Though men dominate the pro ranks, the industry attracts plenty of women.

Pro gamer Bonnie Burton said she plays for the social scene.

"Its not only about competing, it's also about all the friends you have. Tsquared and I have grown up together through the gaming community," the 15-year old Burton from Carlisle, Pa., said.

Considered one of the fiercest players in the league, 17-year-old Chris Smith, known as "Shockwave," said shows like the one debuting on USA prove the industry has gone mainstream.

"I do feel like we are the face of the industry," said Smith, who lives in Philadelphia. "I feel real proud of myself that I can be a part of something growing as fast as pro gaming."


http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061117/ap_en_...ch_young_gamers
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=Fas=Warrior
Lance Corporal
Excuse me for being cynical but I have a few points to achnknowlede. To become a pro gamer in this industry a person faces the same odds, if not more, as that of a person trying to get into the pro football leagues. It is not an easy task and once done there is another time related obstacle.

The most popular gaming platforms change about every two to three years. A gamer faces adapting to these changes in little to no time to overcome his peers which may find the advantage they needed in the next version of platforms. In other words, the skills many gamers find are somewhat limited to the time of natural evolution. Some may call this a good thing to see ever changing playing fields, however, I believe it is the opposite. I believe the previous statement is made more on behalf of the audience and not from the perspective of the gamer whereas such changes limit the abilities to become and remain a professional.

On the bright side, anyone who becomes a pro gamer and makes their small fortune and also knows a good investor will find even that time to be more than well spent to spent based on the returns of their investment.

I personally do not recommend anyone to attempt to obtain low probability, high risked, un predictable market investments, ever.

This is all obviously just my opinion being that I at one point desired to become a pro gamer but changed my mind after assessing the possibilities.
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=Fas=napalmsteiner
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Wow :lolhit:
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Thanks costa for making me this sig! if you dont like it your a noob!
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Ti.Jopuma
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new 2.5 clan coming soon, +g4J+
Sounds too far feched to be real. You can't make that much money by playing games. If that was true I would throw down all my plans of going to college and start playing games. What a way to become fat and unsightly as well waste plenty of precious time that you could be learning.
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Bishop_
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Ti.Jopuma
Nov 20 2006, 12:47 AM
Sounds too far feched to be real. You can't make that much money by playing games. If that was true I would throw down all my plans of going to college and start playing games. What a way to become fat and unsightly as well waste plenty of precious time that you could be learning.

In Korea, there are Starcraft players that play at least 7 hours a day, complete with their own sponsors etc.
Most of them go to Cyber tournaments and compete against the best in the world. There are many different games there.
But anyway, theres like a $27,000 prize if you win your game division..
Saw it on discovery channel... changed my outlook on life..
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=Fas=Corporal.Costa
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Want some rye? Course ya do!
STARCRAFT !?!?!?! .....i thought that was done away with AGES AGO

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Bishop_
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=Fas=Corporal.Costa
Nov 21 2006, 10:00 PM
STARCRAFT !?!?!?! .....i thought that was done away with AGES AGO

Starcraft is definately by a massive majority the most popular game in a lot of Asia still..
One of the most played online also.. still..
Mind blowing stuff.. suicide
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Wolflnx
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:tsucks
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{RvE}Bubbles
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=Fas=Warrior
Nov 18 2006, 01:59 PM
Excuse me for being cynical but I have a few points to achnknowlede. To become a pro gamer in this industry a person faces the same odds, if not more, as that of a person trying to get into the pro football leagues. It is not an easy task and once done there is another time related obstacle.

The most popular gaming platforms change about every two to three years. A gamer faces adapting to these changes in little to no time to overcome his peers which may find the advantage they needed in the next version of platforms. In other words, the skills many gamers find are somewhat limited to the time of natural evolution. Some may call this a good thing to see ever changing playing fields, however, I believe it is the opposite. I believe the previous statement is made more on behalf of the audience and not from the perspective of the gamer whereas such changes limit the abilities to become and remain a professional.

On the bright side, anyone who becomes a pro gamer and makes their small fortune and also knows a good investor will find even that time to be more than well spent to spent based on the returns of their investment.

I personally do not recommend anyone to attempt to obtain low probability, high risked, un predictable market investments, ever.

This is all obviously just my opinion being that I at one point desired to become a pro gamer but changed my mind after assessing the possibilities.

wow... comparing pro gaming careers and pro sports careers is a bit of a stretch IMO. since the gaming industry is so new and growing i would think there are plenty of opportunities for enterprising individuals, with pro sports there is a structured system for ascension. the examples in the article seem like the tip of the iceburg, sponsors, teaching ... . as for changing platforms, etc...good gamers adapt, it is not like the game will change, just aspects of the game. ask some of those madden tourny players...they have to adapt to the changes made, not learn the game again. just like when pro sports change some rules. the NHL didnt lose all their players when they drastically changed some rules in the past season or two. the players (who had skill) had to adjust their gameplay a little. i say to the kids out there "GO FOR IT" but remember there are many aspects to making $$ in teh gaming and entertainment industry.
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