
Becoming an e-sports athlete or a pro gameris a dream for many. After all, who wouldn’t want to just play video games that they love as a career, with a chance to be internationally recognized?
The fact that so many people desire to be a professional in this field means that while there are millions of players in the world that can help you become better at it, there are equally as many players that will be tough competition for you.
It may seem intimidating at first, but remember that the player you’re trying to get better than is yourself, and not any another.
So, how exactly do you propel yourself into the e-Sports world? Just follow these tips.
Choose your game
If you intend on becoming a professional, then you must choose which game you want to play. It can be multiple games, but since you’re going to be spending a lot of time grinding, it is advisable that the games you’re playing are very similar to each other—or better yet, just stick to a single game.
After you’ve picked the game you want to dedicate your time to, build your skills by going online and competing with other players.
At this point, you should have already decided if this is the game you want to play. It doesn’t matter if you’re good or bad at it, what matters is that you’re sure that it’s what you want to invest your time in.
When you’ve made up your mind, join online communities that play the game you chose, and start from there.
Setup your gear
You could either be playing on the PlayStation 4, Xbox One, or on the PC. There’s also a scene for the mobile platform.
If it’s a PS4 or Xbox One, then they’re good to go. Just set it up with a fast and stable Internet connection, and it’s game time.
If you’re playing on the PC or on mobile, your major concern here is the ability of your device’s hardware. It must be able to handle high-level graphics, and be able to withstand long hours of gameplay without overheating or shutting off.
Learn as much as you can in every single game
Winning is important, but not as important as constantly improving your skills. You may have had an easy win, but it just occurred that your opponents were beginners, and you didn’t even have to give 100% of your effort to win.
On the other hand, you may be competing against opponents you have no chance of winning against at all. You have the option of just giving up, but what you should really do here is observe.
Pay close attention to how your teammates and opponents play. Try to imagine if the strategy they are using are effective because of the specific in-game characters, or because they just have excellent team chemistry.
You’re always bound to learn something new. Sometimes, a match in which your opponent is beating you over and over again enhances your capabilities much more than a match in which you’re winning and you’re the best player on the team. Losses are a small price to pay for the experience.
Develop a strong mentality
Sometimes, you’ll be losing, but you’ll notice that you aren’t learning anything new. It could be because you have let your opponents’ trash talking get on your nerves, or your team is just playing awfully.
Truth be told, there are a lot of toxic players in the world. Some swear at you for no reason at all, and some prioritize individual achievements over team play and winning. There’s not much you can do about this.
What you can do, however, is consistently be the best you can be in every game. If you’re losing, don’t give up until the match ends. Your opponent is only as good as you allow. If you have won a hard-fought match, commend your opponents for the great experience. If another player is verbally hostile towards you, let your game do the talking back.
Join or create a team
After a while of practicing and you have become skilled enough to go toe-to-toe against some the best, you’re either going to be recruited by a team, or you’re going to want to build your own. Either of the two is fine.
It’s extremely important that you can play well with your teammates. If you’re going to have to choose between a team comprised of exceptional players but with bad team chemistry, and a team comprised of good-enough players—but work miracles together and can adapt to any situation, go with the latter.
Sign up for tournaments
When your teamplay has become so effective and has won you many matches against other top teams, then it’s time to enter tournaments. Start small, and then make your way up the ranks.
Every tournament is an opportunity to increase your reputation and sharpen your skills, so make sure to join in as many as you can. It may take a while, but if you’re dedicated enough, you and your team might even land a sponsorship deal someday.
Even then, it’s still going to be a learning process. There are thousands of new players every day, and one of them might build a team that would give yours problems in the future. Finding ways to get better every day should still be a priority, even if you become an international champion.
Key Takeaway
E-sports took the world by storm, and the number of professional gamers have exponentially increased in the past few years.
If you aim to be widely recognized e-sports athlete, then you are going to need huge amounts of skill and dedication. In addition, you should never stop for a second to think that you are the best, or stop learning.