For the Lucky Few, Pro Video Gaming Offers Potential Glory and Careers

  • While the world of professional gaming is on the rise, with some top players earning up to $200,000 annually, most players do not earn enough to sustain a living, writes The New York Times.
  • “We’re at a point where only about 40 people in the U.S. can make a living playing video games,” explains Sundance DiGiovanni, chief executive of Major League Gaming. “I’d like to get it to a hundred. I think we’re a year or two away from that.”
  • Some competitive gamers will sign with sponsored teams, but the salary for these types of players is only about $12,000 to $30,000.
  • Outsiders may see this as a lot of money to play a video game, but the players say they practice their game eight hours a day, and increase that to 10 to 14 hours a day as tournaments near. Additionally, the cost of competing (travel, hotels and registration fees) can be steep.
  • Marketing has seen recent changes as Major League Gaming has shifted its focus away from television and now broadcasts on the Internet on sites like CBS Interactive’s GameSpot.com.
  • Since most gamers cannot support themselves with gaming alone, many use their talent to advance themselves in related fields such as game development and competition broadcasting. Some young gamers even emphasize their video game successes on college applications to show they are passionate in a field.

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