Not long ago, esports wasn’t taken seriously. But it’s now possible to land a long-term career playing video games and win big money. If you want to reach the superstar status of players like Lee “Jaedong” Jae-Dong and Tony “Lethul” Campbell, you have your work cut out. But if you’re good enough and you take the right steps, you could become the nest esports star.
Choose Your Game
You may think a good esports player is excellent at playing a variety of games, from known esports games like League of Legends to slots and table games at an online casino. But, just like a young athlete determining whether to become a short-distance runner or a hurdler, you first need to select the one game that is your forte. Some of the most popular esports games are real-time strategies like StarCraft, first-person shooters like Counter-Strike, and multiplayer online battle arena games like Dota 2. You should choose a game in which you are confident as a player and one that you enjoy playing. It’s also important to pick a game that is either up-and-coming or an established game to ensure it will be competitively played at esports events.
Choose a Platform
Once you know what game you want to specialize in playing, you need to choose the most suitable gaming platform. You can opt for a PC platform or others like PlayStation and Xbox. You may want to upgrade your gear, too, such as replacing a mouse and keyboard with a controller or getting a more powerful processor. Pro gaming event organizers are careful not to select system components that hamper gameplay, such as erratic frame rates.
Join the Community
Playing games may be about individual talent, but you won’t get far in esports events if you don’t surround yourself with the gaming community. Spend time engaging with other players on online forums and other platforms so you can better judge if the pro player journey fits your aims and goals. You will also discover the finer points of your chosen game’s meta discussed on forums and message boards.
Practice Makes Perfect
If you want to reach the skill level required for a professional esports career, you have to practice, practice, and practice again. Not only do you need to focus on developing your skills by yourself. You also need to practice with other gamers whose skill level is higher. You need to learn game-specific skills until they are branded on your memory. You also need to hone your skills by focusing on your chosen game’s overarching strategy. If you want to be a pro gamer, you’ll need lots of layers of strategy. For instance, you’ll need to develop situational strategy techniques as well as top-tier meta. It’s also essential you watch other players. By watching live-streams and videos, you will discover references for playing your game and learn good in-game habits.
Build a Reputation
If you want to turn pro, you don’t just need technical skills. You also need a strong desire to win. Focus on topping scoreboards in pick-up groups and climbing the ladder in matchmaking. The more you succeed at every step of the way, the more you will build a reputation as a player to watch. And if you are planning to play a team game, it is vital you start playing with an established group of players. Regularly play with the same players so that you can succeed as a group.
Compete
Once you are ready to compete, either as an individual or a team, you need to join a gaming league, such as KeSPA, ESL, or the High School Esports League. Participate in online tournaments. If you’re good enough, you’ll gain recognition. You could even win your first cash prize.
Get Noticed
If you truly want to become the next esports superstar, becoming good at a game is only half the battle. To move up the competitive gaming ladder, you need to make connections. Once you have got your foot into the door of competitive lobbies, begin networking. By leveraging your position as a quality opponent, you can start connecting with better players. That could lead to private Discord channels in which you can have the opportunity to play in exclusive scrims alongside elite players.
