Tips To Become A Professional Gamer In Canada

The stereotype of the adult who lives with his mom and still plays video games is very much alive. And yes, sure, gaming was originally designed to be for kids or teenage basement dwellers.

But the next time someone puts down your video game obsession, just give ‘em the raw numbers. In Canada, the gaming industry is worth an astonishing $2.7 billion. In terms of gaming employment numbers, the Canucks sit third behind traditional juggernauts Japan and the United States.

In short: becoming a professional gamer can be incredibly lucrative. But what most people don’t tell you is that it’s more likely you’ll fail. Here are a few tips to prevent that from happening.

Invest in Your Equipment

Tools won’t make you play any better, but having a decent setup is the minimum you’ll need to make it. Yes, it’s going to cost you, but would you ever see Lewis Hamilton racing in a beat-up Fiat? You get the point.

This is what you’ll need:

• Quality rig. Your computer will undoubtedly be your most expensive piece of equipment. Go for a lightning processor, a solid graphics card, and all the power your wallet can muster. You also want a mouse that is designed for the ultimate precision. It must also fit your grip style, as you’ll be spending thousands of hours using this thing. Pro-tip: go for a mechanical keyboard, just like the pros.
• Monitor. Another item that must be top of the line, no question.
• Headset. You want to hear every single step in-game, even when the crowds, production team, and music are all distracting you (and this will definitely happen at the big tournaments). Invest in one that fits properly; the headset needs to let your ears ‘breathe’.

Don’t be a Generalist

The mistake most gamers make is that they jump from game to game. The pros don’t do this, they specialize. Now I’m not saying you should pick a single game and stick to that, but at least try and limit yourself to a couple of genres or series. You need to find a game that fits your skill set best. Here’s what’s hot in Canada right now:

• League of Legends. The top honcho when it comes to the MOBA genre. There have been many imitators, but League of Legends hasn’t let go of its number 1 spot just yet. In 2020, it generated $1.75 billion. And the game is free to play.
• Online casinos. Not where gamers tend to look first, but online casinos can be insanely lucrative. Players can find their favorite games by looking for the best online casinos in Canada on CasinoTopsOnline, where finding the best sign-up bonuses is the name of the game. ‘Graduate’ to higher-level tournaments like poker, and you may become the next Daniel Negreanu. You may also turn to other games like Blackjack, Slots, or Roulette and stream your match online.
• Dota 2. The game is super accessible, which has driven its incredible popularity. Note: it’s easy to learn, but almost impossible to master. The annual Dota 2 International offers big-money prizes, with the last one notching above $30 million.
• Overwatch. This fun-filled first-person shooter offers variety, a truckload of different heroes, and a thriving eSports scene. The Overwatch World Cup is the most well-known event.

Ever Considered Becoming a Streamer?

Professional gamers need to win. That’s what makes you the money. But if you’re just good, but not exceptional, it’s going to be very difficult to carve out a living from playing video games.

Unless you’re a streamer. Sure, you have to be competent, but it’s not a prerequisite to be amongst the top players in the world. Some streamers are purely about skill level, but many of the top earners aren’t anything to write home about.

Why do they succeed? They’re entertaining. They provide useful content and insightful commentary as they play. Furthermore, they interact with the people watching, making it a social experience.

Platforms like Twitch.tv and Mixer.tv allow players to show the unedited edition, the raw action. It may sound crazy to the uninitiated, but plenty of people pay good money to watch streams of others playing video games. Take for example a Canadian streamer Shroud, or US’s Ninja, who both earn ridiculous amounts of money this way. Donations, affiliate income, and commercial placements account for most of the revenue.

Practice Makes Perfect

Most gamers who seek a professional career out of their passions end up giving up pretty quickly. The reality is a little less glamorous than what’s in a gamer’s imagination.

Gaming as a professional is a job. Sure, it’s one of the best ones you can possibly think of, but you still need to approach it in a professional manner. That involves practice, and a lot of it.

That’s the final piece of advice I’m going to leave you with, because it’s probably the most important one. No matter what you end up doing (even if it’s not gaming like a pro), you’re going to need to put the hard hours in. When you feel like your fingers are about to cramp up into a permanent position, that’s when you need to find that extra 10%.