Posted by Moe on 05/05/2008 9:49am

3 Bumps

.....but I have to get something off of my mind.

For the past few years I've surrounded myself with many people who are on all parts of the gaming pendulum. It seems that more and more individuals are adding the phrase "Professional Gamer" to their names and, while I used to be very supportive of this career path, I'm starting to realize that this particular title has become way over abused in whole by the general gaming community.

Everyone and their mothers are professional gamers now. I'm getting pretty sick of it too. Every time I go into a room of Gears or Halo, someone is bragging about that fact that they do this "Professionally". In my eyes, winning $100 at a Guitar Hero contest at your local game store does not give you the right to say that you are a "Professional" at anything related to gaming. So what? I've won and placed in plenty of tournaments. Who hasn't at this point?

A Professional is one who earns a living in a given occupation (Thank you dictionary.com). I'm pretty sure that 95% of those who call themselves such don't earn a living off of playing games full or part time. Sponsors are another big deal. You almost have to be sponsored in order to afford traveling to tournaments these days.

My opinions of Professional Gaming has changed over the past year and a half. I used to see it as something extra I wanted to accomplish in life along with my REAL Career, but after sitting back and watching people I know fall flat on their faces...spend ridiculous amounts of money...and just disappoint themselves in the end, I realized that it was pretty much a worthless goal. I've known people who have quit their jobs, who have given up the idea of a better career and settled for their current shit ass jobs because they thought that they were really going to be the next person signed for a million dollar contract with the MLG. Yeah, and it didn't happen. And when someone pretty much tells you that they are willing to give up your relationship in order to persue the "Career" of Professional Gaming...well, that's pretty much stupid. Enjoy your 15 minutes of money....I'll be over here sitting pretty with my 401K.

The other part about it that irritates me is the team mentality. In order to have a great team to compete, you need a great leader. With all of the teams I have been on, I can honestly say that majority of them have let me down and made promises that they couldn't keep.

Anyway, sorry. I was just rambling :-\

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