The thing I love most about the world we live in today is how anyone can make a living out of their passions. You’re no longer limited to becoming a doctor, accountant, or engineer (Hispanics will understand) and can chase whatever dream your hard work and talent allow.
I’m going to take a wild guess and say that your passion is competitive gaming, I mean, why else would you be here, right? But be warned, my friend, the path you’re about to walk on requires a great deal of patience and effort.
Fortunately, I’m here to make it easier for you. In this article, I will literally grab your hand and take you on a step-by-step journey on how you can become a professional esports player. From setup requirements to some secret tips and tricks, it’s all there.
Let’s begin!
Baby Steps to Becoming an eSports Player
1. Choose Your Genre and Game
Being a jack of all trades and master of none won’t do you much good in the esports world. Just look at all the famous players we have right now: Arslan Ash is known for Tekken, Pollo Moreno is known for Fortnite, and Angel Gonzalez is known for Call of Duty.
Take some time to identify your strong suits and personal preferences, as this will help you choose the right genres and games. The most common genres you might want to focus on include:
- First-person Shooters (FPS)
- Multiplayer Online Battle Arenas (MOBA)
- Fighting Games (FGC)
- Real-time Strategy (RTS)
- Sports Games
- Rhythm Games
- Battle Royale
- Collectible Card Games (CCG)
- Massive Multiplayer Online Games (MMO)
Once you’re done choosing your genre, you’ll want to choose the game you’re good at. To do that, you’ll have to spend some time watching esports tournaments, as this will help you identify which games you can excel at. There’s a literal ocean of esports content on Azubu, Twitch, MLG, and YouTube, so this shouldn’t be a problem. Ideally, you want to narrow down a maximum of 3 games to identify the one you’ll professionally compete in.
Analyze the strategies players use, the platforms they’re gaming on, as well as the type of content they create. Trust me, these three things will help you with some of the other points I’ve shared ahead.
2. Get Your Setup Straight
Have you ever seen a lumberjack be like, “Hey, let’s put the axe and power saw aside, I’m going to try to cut trees with my teeth today”? Yeah, neither have I. Like almost any job, you’ll need a set of tools to level up your gaming performance, too.
Once you’re done choosing your genre and set of games, you’ll have to create the right setup. And no, you don’t have to go all out and buy every expensive piece of hardware there is, which is great news for Hispanic gamers, because our parents wouldn’t allow that anyway, would they?
This setup, of course, varies whether you choose to go for console or PC gaming. A console gaming setup is simpler since most of the equipment comes once you buy the console. Let’s take a look at what you need for console-based esports:
- Gaming Console (Xbox or PlayStation)
- Gaming Controllers
- Fast and Reliable Internet (For online gaming and streaming)
If you go for console gaming, I’d personally recommend going for the PlayStation because of its large library of major titles, but that’s just me. You may have different gaming needs and a budget, so make sure to put those first when choosing.
When it comes to the internet for streaming your games, I’d suggest Optimum. Their speed and reliability work great for me. Plus, they offer bilingual assistance, so you can also reach out to the Optimum servicio al cliente in Spanish if you’re interested.
Now let’s take a look at the gear you need if you choose to go for PC gaming:
- Gaming PC or laptop
- Headset
- Mechanical keyboard
- LED monitor
- Mouse
- Webcam and Microphone (If needed)
- Gaming chair
- Surround-sound speakers
I should let you know that PC gaming is the most common form of esports competitions worldwide. Mastering it early on could help you later in your career, but this depends on how much you practice and sell yourself.
3. Practice Makes a Gamer Perfect
Here’s where the research I mentioned in the first step will help you greatly. After all those hours analyzing some of the best in the business, you can easily apply what you’ve learned to perfect yourself. This kicks up your chances of breaking into and making it big in the industry.
Of course, you’ll have to spend a huge, and I mean really huge, amount of time gaming each week. Kind of like a 9 to 5, where instead of working, you’re gaming. You’ll want to aim for at least 40 hours a week to apply and combine what you’ve learned from the masters with your skills.
Here’s a mistake I made when starting: I tried to juggle all three games each week, and it was exhausting. I’d suggest starting and finishing one game before you shift to the next one. Take your time to understand the mechanics, strategies, and player features in each game, depending on your character.
Once you’re done vetting out the games, choose the one you want to compete in professionally. The next step is aggressively selling yourself. Let’s explore it in the next section.
4. Get Your Name Out There
Did you know that the tech giant Apple was built by two Steves, not just Steve Jobs? Yet, if I ask you to name the other Steve, can you? That is the power of marketing and selling yourself. Fortunately for us gamers, there are a ton of opportunities to do this, both online and in person. Let’s explore some of your options.
Streaming can be an effective way to create a dedicated fan following. However, no one’s going to enjoy you sitting there with a bland face and keeping it pin-drop silent. You’ll want to create and highlight your unique personality and gaming style, and offer engaging commentary while you’re at it. There are many platforms for you to do this, some of them being:
- Twitch
- YouTube Gaming
- Kick
- TikTok Live
You can also engage with other gamers on a wide range of forums, social media pages, and platforms like Discord. There may be many gaming events near you as well, and it can help you expand your network by attending and socializing with other gamers.
Esports – A Potentially Rewarding and Entertaining Career for Hispanic Gamers
The esports industry is predicted to grow to more than $6 billion by 2032, making it a great opportunity for Hispanic gamers to make a living off their passion.
By following the steps I’ve shared above, you can make your journey of breaking into this industry easier and more rewarding.
