The digital age has lifted online games – slot from being just a form of entertainment that is “above average” in terms of popularity to being a part of global culture that is simply inescapable. The appeal of online gaming is manifold. There’s the hook of the gaming world, which can make falling into it feel like slipping past a portal to an alternate reality. And then, there’s the satisfaction that comes from interacting masterfully (i.e., skillfully and with great strategy) with the challenges that the gaming world places in front of you. One of the most “watched” subcultures that has arisen in the online gaming community is the cultivation of the professional gamer.
In this essay, the term “professional gamer” is used to describe a select group of people who have risen above the ranks in terms of their video gaming abilities and who have become “pay-for-play” performers in (mostly) mediated spaces (though they may not be “circulation figures” in the same way that online news outlets might tout the number of times their content is seen in a given month).
The emergence of online games has transformed our understanding and involvement in digital entertainment. Compared to former video game experiences, which were frequently carried out alone, online games create a community and rivalry. Places like Twitch and YouTube serve as platforms where professional game players display their talents and abilities, drawing in a large and enthusiastic crowd. Watching a brilliant display of online gaming is not just for fun. It offers a way for someone to point out and explain the “how” and the “why” of what was just witnessed.
That, in turn, makes for an understanding—maybe just a fleeting moment of it—of the truly cutting-edge aspects of online gaming.
There are many reasons to enjoy watching professional gamers, but one of the most appealing to me is the chance to see them create and carry out real-time game plans while under intense pressure. Understanding the strategy of online games, especially those in the competitive vein like League of Legends, Dota 2, and Fortnite, is not something that is easily comprehensible to just anyone.
These are games that require an immense investment of both time and focus to master. And, obviously, a critical aspect of that mastery involves knowing your opponents, knowing the maps, and, most of all, just knowing the game.
Also, while streaming, many professional gamers act as both commentators and analysts, deconstructing not just the games they are playing but also the very notion of “game.” They often do this alongside their viewers, creating a sort of co-creative environment in which the viewers can contribute to the analysis, ask questions, and even critique what they are seeing. No longer is gaming to be merely consumed in the way that television is; gaming has become a medium through which human beings can interact with one another, often via analysis, critique, and plain old argument.
This, arguably, makes watching video-game streams significantly more mentally engaging than consuming other types of media.
Professional gamers can provide more than just strategic insights—they can also be hugely inspiring and motivating. Because to get to where they are—often the very top of the online gaming ladder—requires an astonishing amount of dedication and discipline. Being a pro gamer isn’t simply a matter of talent; it’s about putting in many long, hard hours. Yet there they stand, and there we can be, admiring their accomplishments—something we might savor deeply if we can sneak in many hours of gaming and somehow ignore the reprimands of parents and teachers, whispers of wasted time and wasted lives.
How we perceive professional gamers’ impact may sometimes be limited in scope, focusing almost exclusively on the individuals themselves. We tend to look at it as if pro gaming is just a gateway to a life of individual glory for young people everywhere. It would be a mistake, however, to dismiss the way in which pro gaming has also helped to build and maintain a number of virtual communities.
Many online games are, at their heart, social in nature, and the shared experience of solitary individuals watching professional tournament-style play has, over the last couple of decades, largely strengthened bonds within gaming communities. In this way, the development of professional gaming as a scene has also given both the traditional hobby of playing games (that hobby’s not going away, no matter how much the definition of said hobby might change) and the virtual communities that hobby has fostered a real imprimatur, if you will, of legitimacy.
Moreover, the popularity of pro-gaming has resulted in the birth of esports. These are organized, competitive gaming events that appeal to huge numbers of people and allow participants to win substantial prizes. One can think of an esports tournament as being for gaming what an NBA playoff game is for basketball. They are the zenith of competitive gaming. In truth, they are an exaggerated or extraordinary display of gaming skill. They pay homage and draw attention to the best of the best in this space. As these tournaments are held, they turn the video game – slot itself into something of a virtual national pastime.
To conclude, the feeling of seeing professional gamers play is no doubt impactful. It affects the viewer in all the ways that traditional sports do; it offers entertainment, yes, just like watching Dr. Disrespect or a stream of Jacksepticeye might. But that is just one side of the coin. By seeing professionals playing in their element, amateurs can deduce the reasoning behind these players’ moves and the strategies that are being employed or tested out in real-time. Just as watching a cook on a cooking show might inspire an amateur chef in the kitchen, seeing a pro gamer in the virtual arena might lead a casual player to adopt their methods. And who is to say that is wrong?
