E-sports allows people with masterful gaming skills to monetize these talents. Similar to regular sports and professional athletes, e-sports involves players competing against others in tournaments or various competitions.
Of course, the biggest income comes from worldwide championships, with smaller or local competitions offering more humble prize pools. Let’s see how you can join the e-sports industry to employ your gaming talents and remain an influential figure.
Becoming an e-sports athlete
You cannot become a star e-sports athlete overnight. Achieving such a goal requires planning and networking, which we outline in the following steps. Even if you already compete in tournaments and have everything needed for a e-sports career, these tips should provide some insights to keep you on the right path.
Build your brand
Streaming your gaming sessions is one of the most effective ways to showcase your skills. That puts your name in the spotlight and establishes you as a formidable competitor in your preferred games.
Nowadays, you can aim for an e-sports career in more than FPS games. Even tactical strategy games have their own championships and competitions. Most of these game types have titles that are wildly entertaining for people, which means you’ll likely have no issue gathering viewers.
Recognize which games you excel at
Your gaming style may be ideal for “last person standing” competitions in survival games. However, others could be more well-versed in shooter gamers, targeting competition and quickly reacting to enemies’ advances.
However, even if you are relatively good at a game, it doesn’t mean that your skill level is enough for e-sports. Hence, you need to practice with many people to hone your abilities further. During this stage, you can get paid to play games via services like JumpTask. This and similar platforms pay people for performing various tasks, and trying different games is one of the possible assignments. Then, you can not only improve your skills but also see some revenue.
Start with local and beginner events
Beginners should start by participating in local e-sports competitions and events to establish themselves on the map. It also serves as training to play in front of other people and deal with the related stress.
Once you put yourself on the map and attend bigger events, don’t forget about your roots. For example, partner with your local communities or host inspirational events to speak more about your experience. Through such efforts, you go beyond the e-sports career, but also become an inspirational figure.
Build a trusted team
Some games require a team, and you should ensure that you join one that fosters respect and collaboration among its members. Additionally, ensure that you have a personal support system, such as friends and family, who are rooting for you.
Manage your health
E-sports don’t require much physical activity; hence, they could lead to less healthy lifestyles. Besides feeling less energetic, it can also affect your mental well-being. Every e-sports athlete should increase their level of physical activity and learn techniques to manage pressure.
Protect your accounts
It’s incredible if your skills and effort pay off, and people begin to recognize you for your e-sports abilities. However, it can also put a target on your back for hacking. Scammers may attempt to hijack your accounts, damage your reputation, or lower your ranking.
Thus, don’t forget to implement proper cybersecurity measures, such as using complex passwords and storing them in a password manager. A VPN (Virtual Private Network) app also secures your internet connection and can prevent attempts to disrupt your gameplay (such as DDoS attacks). If you don’t know which VPN to go with, check out best VPN Reddit threads to find a reliable and fast service.
Long-term partnerships
Establish long-term partnerships with trusted and reputable companies. First, start small, looking for local support or approaching less well-known brands. As you improve your rankings, you can extend your partnerships. Even if such collaborations are crucial for a lasting e-sports career, it is also essential to engage with companies you deem appropriate.
Conclusion
Pursuing an e-sports career highly depends on your gaming skills, ability to cope with the pressure of live events, and securing partnerships. Additionally, each e-sports athlete works to build their brand, specialize in games where they excel, and join teams that help them thrive. Lastly, professionals also must pay attention to their account security to ensure that hacks or data leaks do not jeopardize their careers.