Professional Gaming

[DrXThirst]

Well, in my "Professional Gamers" thread, I liked where the conversation had drifted off to. However, it wasn't on topic, so the thread was likely to get locked. I have now restarted the thread here, in the Gamer's Corner.

Also, people were discussing it without arguing. So, here we go :

Is it possible to become a professional gamer?
Can gaming be considered a profession?
Why or Why not?

(Those are just suggestions on certain topics. You can discuss what you please.)

[Tural]

Is "you" abstract or specific?

[DrXThirst]

Take it how you want it.
Give whatever reply you please.

[Tural]

I assume abstract, as you wouldn't be asking your reader if they have the capability to be a professional gamer, because that is far too subjective to be sensible on an internet forum based around gaming.
Yes, you can technically be considered a professional in most any field. However, that does not change the ideas people have. People who consider themselves professional gamers are no more important than any other person, in my eyes. There is no added respect or appreciation.

[Aumaan Anubis]

Can you be a professional gamer?

Yes.

[{TP}Spartan]

i could be with practice

[OwnZ joO]

I assume abstract, as you wouldn't be asking your reader if they have the capability to be a professional gamer, because that is far too subjective to be sensible on an internet forum based around gaming.
Yes, you can technically be considered a professional in most any field. However, that does not change the ideas people have. People who consider themselves professional gamers are no more important than any other person, in my eyes. There is no added respect or appreciation.

Well do you respect professional athletes more than any other person, are they more important. What about professional carpet cleaner or any professional for that matter. All professional means is they are good enough at a task to make it their job and get paid enough doing it to live off of, making it their profession.

[Tural]

Different situations are interpreted differently. To say one form of logic must be applied to all or none goes against reasonable human thought.

[L0d3x]

I respect carpenters and the like. I mean without those guys, would we all have terrific carpets? I don't think so. On the other hand I also respect athletes (like cyclists for example) because most of them have devoted a life time of training towards this goal.

A professional gamer on the other hand, they mostly just picked up the game, and became very good at it in lets say a few months.

[kibito87]

I believe in leagues and tournaments and things along those lines but to call yourself a professional gamer to me is a joke. If you make money off playing games then hurray for you but I see no point in calling it professional. Besides, it's a hobby, not a job. [/my opinion]

[Senor_Grunt]

I believe in leagues and tournaments and things along those lines but to call yourself a professional gamer to me is a joke. If you make money off playing games then hurray for you but I see no point in calling it professional. Besides, it's a hobby, not a job. [/my opinion]

[Playkid]

I believe in leagues and tournaments and things along those lines but to call yourself a professional gamer to me is a joke. If you make money off playing games then hurray for you but I see no point in calling it professional. Besides, it's a hobby, not a job. [/my opinion]

But then again, could you not say the same thing about other considered professionals? I see why it's harder for people to take the term "a professional gamer" seriously, because it's not "real". But speaking of Halo as an example it requires different kind of skills to be good at, like so many other things, and if it was so easy to be good at the game, why is it almost the same team that wins the Halo 2 mlg turnaments?

[ScottyGEE]

I am still against it. I was going to say that maybe I'm wrong because I don't have an understanding because I'm not actually considered "pro" (far from it ), but then look at every other professional out there. I don't need to be one to know one...So I realise that first thought was wrong.

With gaming, they become "pro" from playing with a very definitive set of rules... Like not only is there the rules of the game (only do this and this) but there are a bunch of definitive rules guiding those finer ones (physics engine)/ Not only that but with sports to attain professional status its not just "I'm going to run real fast" or "I just swing this bat yes?" or "You can't kill the metal, the metal will live on".The person must train, they must have a deep knowledge of it, they must eat right they must do many many things right and then on top of that apply all of those things to perform well. With gaming, one just really has to have an understanding of some ins and outs and execute them on a level above others.

Lets take an fps game...Halo. They require slightly better eyesight and quicker reflexes (AND THE ABILITY TO EXPLOIT GLITCHES!), knowledge of the game and I guess quick thumbs. But compare that to the day in day out professional athletes who like I said before have a very strict lifestyle just to be able to perform well and some have to be "born with it". I dunno, I guess I'm saying is that to be pro one doesn't need all that much in comparison is easier to attain so thus does not really have such a big an impact.

There is also the point that anyone with enough dedication can be pro in games. It takes time yes but really if I were to constantly play halo nonstop, learn things about the opponents I could be "pro". It just doesn't really apply like that in real life. this is going to be long, so chances are you won't read this at all...You know, coz you suck I don't. I can play tennis all I want, I can drive real hard all I want, but that doesn't mean I can achieve to the level of the pro's out there.

I also dislike the idea that they aim to make their life out of getting sponsored for doing something that was designed for playing as a form of leisure a side dish kind of thing. Then there's the arrogance and the serious nature behind them. So are you readin this? Or should I just saying that I'm the best in the world and that if you do read this sentence you are just making me stronger? Yeah, I'm sure real athletes have that nature behind them to...But I don't ever hear them blaming lag if they die or insulting people who are considered below their level of excellence in such a way.

I could be wrong though, hopefully people will show me that. I don't really find my points very strong though and they might not even really make sense (unfortunately) but currently my thoughts still stand. I would actually like to be swayed, I love to see good counter arguments or enlightening posts, but so far all I see is point reversal ("but couldn't that be applied here lol?").
_________________________

BASIC VERSION FOR THE LAZY
It doesn't take nearly as much effort. Anyone can do it. They do not gain respect. They do not act like them. Games are set by very definitive rules, real life isn't so much.

[Yamagushi]

Yea I was way too lazy to read all that ^

But hellz yea im a pro fo sho. That bizzy was all up in my hizzy and i was like whaaaaat, wigga please. I am teh Master Yamagushi, beware teh wrath of Yama!

Don't.

[L0d3x]

Hmm yes Scotty you have a very good point with the 'set rules' thing.
You never see mlg games in which for example vehicles are aloud. This way they are basically excluding the good 'drivers' and pilots as being 'pro'.

Also excluding the sword means that all good swordsmen are being denied their chance to become 'pro'!

If they would allow jeeps and the liken then maybe, just maybe I could be a pro too!

[DrXThirst]

Lodex, it's not even like that at all. MLG makes their settings for balance.
It wouldn't matter how good you could drive, you would just get sniped out of the warthog.
You have to be able to get your reticule on someone's head and pull the trigger before they do. You have to be able to KEEP the reticule on someone's head. That's what happens when you "Out BR" someone. If they shoot you first, although you can keep your reticule on their head better than they can keep theirs on yours, you will win the battle.

Also, Scotty I read your entire post. Some of those sentences were not necessary.

[L0d3x]

Well what if mlg made a mode without snipers. Just all other weapons AND vehicles. It would still be balanced as you would have rockets to take out the vehicles, BUT skilled drivers can dodge those rockets by clever use of terrain.

There is no doubt that this would require skill as well.
But I don't see them playing that now do I?

[DrXThirst]

Vehicles would make no sense.
What map would you use them on? Sanctuary?
You can't set up and be in a warthog at the the same time.

These are the maps :
Lockout
Midship
Warlock
Sanctuary

The only one you could have vehicles on is Sanctuary in which I see no point. There's too many obstacles for a vehicle.

EDIT :

[L0d3x]

Lol love the cat.

But remember what we said about how mlg makes their own rules? These rules obviously apply to certain selected maps...

Adding vehicles would be changing these rules, thus you could (and should) add some new maps to the rules.

PS: is that your cat? It looks like such a loveable kitty!

[DrXThirst]

Haha, no I found that cat on Tural's cat picture page.

Anyways, I could definitely use some new maps, although I'm not sure which ones would work with TS, Oddball, and CTF as well as have vehicles.