Fri, 29 Mar, 2024

Professional Gaming - The Dream

By Abhusan Gautam

“ “Its Impossible", "You cannot do it", "Don't Day-Dream”, "Nothing is more important than your studies". I get these a lot. Ironically, I was always taught to do what I loved and follow my dreams. Where are the inspiring people when I need them the most? The closest ones are also the first one to put you down. And haters? Well, they are hoping and praying for my downfall. But I am not a quitter. There is no backing out, no giving up, and no sudden change of plans. I'm going to give it my all and the world shall not stop me. Step by step, I’m going to rise higher as higher can be. My name shall reach the heavens itself. Then and there, I’ll prove to the world that if once a person is determined from his heart:  no earthly force can stand in his path. " Ask any child on the street about what he wants to be when he grows up, the answer is almost always the same: either doctor or an engineer. Very few occupations are considered to be proper. Even teaching isn’t very prestigious. Teachers are said to have failed to be employed in one of the "major-employments" and have resorted to teaching to earn their share of bread. Of course I’m being stereotypical, but hey, it’s not me judging, it’s the society. Artists, poets, writers aren't even counted. And here I am, dreaming of being a Professional Gamer. Now you might have an idea of why I’m so pissed off in the start. I started playing games when I saw a computer for the very first time. I fondly recall that day, when I had my very first PC. It was brought in a car: a big white box, a big white monitor, keyboard, mouse and awful lot of wires. I impatiently waited for the service person to set it up and the first thing I did was play a game. From that day: I always have secretly carried a dream, play games all my life. I wasn’t bad at gaming either so I was always determined. But when asked about what I wanted to be : I always replied otherwise, because the person who asked me that question would not have accepted my truth, called me a idiot and then suggest me to get a proper life goal. And he’d still leave a comment saying “Be what you want to be”. So where am I headed? Is it towards doom and destruction, or towards an unbelievably awesome future? For starters, Professional gaming isn’t even a thing in my country. Even those who are already professionals, deny the possibilities of it. No funds, rarely conducted tournaments and lack of sponsors are the major factors. Not very far from us, China is the home to the ultimate gamers of the world. NE-Asians are feared when it comes to gaming, for their un-disputed dedication, un-matched reflexes and unbelievable coordination with their team-mates. Gamers are celebrities in Asia. People worship them. Huge masses of people watch couple of players play in gigantic televisions, cheering at their every move. They represent their country in the international competitions and make their people proud. It’s moments like this that makes me wonder, where would I be now, if I was born somewhere else. Gaming isn’t bad. The society and the “real-jobs are better” stereotypes make it sound bad. There is awful lot of gamers with potential in the country.  What stops them from going forward is the fear of failing, the fear of not having a real-job to support their families and what society has to say when they are unemployed. Its going to take a miracle for the gaming industry to flourish like our neighbor China and also someone who is dedicated enough to risk everything and “own” the international gaming tournaments. Maybe that’s the miracle this country needs. Fame and gold attracts everyone and the chance to be the best in the world, doesn’t come very often. But the scene is changing in Nepal too. Ngamers club sponsored by companies like MSI and Sony organized a gaming tournament with a 3 lakh prize pool on games such as FIFA, Dota Allstars, Dota 2, Counter Strike etc. and was held at KL Tower, Boudha. It was the first of its kind in Nepal and a big motivation for Nepali gamers. This development might not be much but it’s at least a first step for e-sports in Nepal. Right now, it might be very outlandish to call myself a gamer but someday I will be proud.