To become a pro player in online games requires a lot of dedication and hard work. It also requires the right gaming gear, an ability to focus on a game consistently for long hours day after day, and the passion to do well in competitions.
First, players must pick a game they love to play. This criterion is crucial to keeping players motivated throughout the rigorous training that goes into becoming a professional.
1. Know the Game
Becoming a pro gamer requires many things: a passion for gaming, good gear to start with, the ability to work at your computer (or console) consistently for long hours every day and a lot of practice. It also requires a great deal of research and reading on techniques, strategies, and other aspects of the game that can give you an edge over your competition.
The first step is to pick a game that has an esports tournament community established around it. You can find information on this through online communities, forums, and YouTube channels. Once you have a game in mind, try playing it to learn more about the different elements that make it tick. This will help you decide whether or not it is a good choice for your career as a professional gamer.
If it is, you can start by concentrating on the game’s mechanics and how to use them effectively. This will give you the foundation to build your skills and practice around. There are several ways to do this, but the best way is to watch top players and study their strategies and tactics.
2. Master the Mechanics
Mechanics are the objective nuts-and-bolts algorithms that produce predictable “then” outcomes within your game system. They are the bedrock of a game and shape its core challenges and player experience. They can be anything from a simple rotation system in Tetris to a full-on meta in Gears of War.
A player should be able to understand and learn how to use every mechanic in a game. However, it is important to remember that just because a game has lots of mechanics doesn’t mean it will be easy to play well. In fact, carelessly tossing a bunch of different mechanics together often results in a game that is difficult and frustrating to play.
A secondary mechanic is a gameplay element that helps ease the player into interacting with a primary mechanic. For example, the cover system in Grand Theft Auto IV is a secondary mechanic that makes overcoming the game’s primary challenge much easier for players. Similarly, the grenade-throwing mechanic in Call of Duty is also a secondary mechanic. However, rolling dice or using a random number generator to scramble an outcome are not a secondary mechanic, as they don’t help the player interact with the game and are essentially fluff.
3. Focus on Practice
Becoming a pro gamer requires serious dedication and practice. It’s not a hobby – most players hone their skills by playing games for long hours every day on a regimented schedule. Find a genre of game that suits your strengths and interests. For example, if you have fast reactions and good mouse sensitivity, you might want to pursue racing games or FPS titles. Similarly, if you have great aim and a strategic mindset, you might want to focus on RTS titles or even sport games.
Once you’ve mastered the mechanics, concentrate on perfecting your skills. Practice until the mechanics become ingrained in your muscle memory – whether it’s last-hitting in a MOBA, hitting headshots with accuracy in an FPS title, or maximizing actions per minute in an RTS. It’s also important to join a community of gamers and compete against other teams. Doing so will give you a chance to earn scouts’ attention and a spot on an amateur team, which can be a stepping stone to a pro gaming career. Be aware that you’ll need to build up a social media presence and be willing to meet fans at live tournaments and LAN events.
4. Practice Makes Perfect
The best online gamers spend a lot of time practicing, honing their skills. However, practice alone won’t get you there – you need to practice smart. That means taking a well-rounded approach to practice that includes studying technique, playing with friends, and seeking feedback from other players.
Being a pro gamer is a full-time job, and it’s not easy. Between chasing tournament pay cheques, building a following on Twitch, and staying one step ahead of the competition, even the most famous esports stars are constantly juggling plates.
Many professional players train up to 12 hours a day, and they’re always looking for ways to improve their gameplay. For example, they might experiment with different mouses to find the one that suits their grip style and allows them to make quick-fire movements. It’s also important to invest in the right gaming gear – look for something that can withstand the wear and tear of countless hours of gameplay, and that delivers precise movement control. Getting paid to play video games sounds like a dream job, but it takes a lot of hard work and dedication before you’ll see the benefits.
5. Take a Well-Rounded Approach to Practice
Becoming a pro gamer takes more than just putting in the hours. It requires a holistic approach to training, including healthy living, social skills development, and finding positive sources of motivation. These principles can help you stay on the path towards becoming a pro gamer and avoid burnout, allowing you to continue improving in-game and attract potential sponsors.
For team-based games, such as CS: GO or Dota 2, it’s essential to find a community where you can build relationships with better players. This can lead to invitations to private Discord channels or LAN tournaments where you can rub shoulders with top players and get noticed by a pro team.
It’s important to choose a genre of game that suits your skill set. If you have excellent aim and gameplay awareness, consider playing an FPS. If you enjoy micro-managing a lot of units on screen, try a RTS. The key is to figure out what type of game fits you best and then focus on mastering it. You can also explore new genres and experiment with different games to see which ones you excel at.