The Struggles of Being an Amateur Gamer

Written by: Josh Billy                  Twitter: @Orbit_CH3MISTRY

The struggles of being an amateur Call of Duty player… We’ve all been there. The pros have been there. I am there, and I am sure that I will always be there.

A lot of gamers look at the pros and wish they could live that life. Young, carefree, and playing video games for a living. It all seems so perfect. The pro gamers are idolized, just as professional athletes have been for decades, centuries even. We can all say that we’ve thought about what it would be like to go pro, and we’ve all realized the reasons why we are not quite there.

1. Time

The boon to all gamers! There is simply not enough time to devote to gaming and it doesn’t seem fair. There are too many other responsibilities standing in the way: school, work, family, friends. How can we expect to beat the best players in the game when they play for 12 hours a day and we only play for 3?

2. Money

Gaming isn’t exactly a cheap hobby. First you need to buy the gaming console or computer ($400<), then you need to buy some games ($60 a piece), you will be wanting a decent headset and monitor ($100<  each), and your internet better be good enough or you will be getting melted. Of course, those are just the basic costs. In order to make money playing video games, you need to put money in first. And don't expect to be beating the pros in your first cash tournament!

3. Internet Lag

Oh gosh, where do I begin? We all know what it feels like to experience lag. Sometimes it is choppy and players seem to just teleport around the map. Other times, there seems to be a half second delay even though the whole game is running smoothly. One game you melt kids and the next game they eat 5 bullets, do a 180 degree turn, and insta-kill you. The only real way to get rid of lag is to play on a local area network (LAN).

4. Other Interests

Honestly, playing one video game for 12 hours a day can get pretty boring. Just like watching reruns of your favorite tv show can get boring. It’s nice to think about playing competitively full time, but can you really do that to yourself? There are other games out there. There are other hobbies out there!

5. Social Perception

We have all done our best to defend eSports from the criticism of others. Rude YouTube comments call professional gamers and other gaming celebrities names like “loser”, “childish”, and “fat-40-year-old-virgin-who-lives-in-his-mothers-basement”. People who say things like that can not be reasoned with, but we try anyway. When it comes to doing the things you love, go for it. Just remember that people will judge you either way.

Gaming can lead to long lasting friendships with people you may never even meet in real life. It is truly a unique and social experience. Never forget to have fun on the game!