How to Become A Pro Gamer In South Africa

A pro gamer is a full-time competitive player who is paid to play video games. Most professional players are normally paid by their teams or sponsors to compete in the biggest esports tournaments around the world.

What is pro gamer salary?

As for the best-paid eSports pros, they can expect to earn as much R 517094.17 a month, which is a massive $420k per year, according to AFKGaming. “DOTA 2” seems to be the eSports game that typically pays sky-high salaries to its best players, as several of the world’s top-earning eSports athletes are “DOTA 2” pros.

Why is gaming good for?

According to the South African Psychological Association, playing video games, including shooter games, can boost learning, health and social skills. Gaming may strengthen a range of cognitive skills such as spatial navigation, reasoning, memory and perception.

What are pro gamers called?

Players and teams

Professional gamers, or “pro gamers”, are often associated with gaming teams and/or broader gaming associations. In addition to prize money from tournament wins, players in these teams and associations may also be paid a separate team salary.

Below is How to Become A Pro Gamer In South Africa

Cape Town – Professional gaming in South Africa is a slow process and only hard work will see deserving gamers rising to the top, says a local industry body.

As internet speeds in SA improve with the deployment of fibre broadband, pro-gaming may become a viable career option.

“Of course you must enjoy it if you want to get the most out of it, but it is all about hard work, and like anything else, there will be the moments when you have been knocked to the ground and when you wonder why you are even doing it,” Colin Webster, general secretary of Mind Sports South Africa told Fin24.

He said that SA gamers wanting to turn pro have to do a number of things to make sure they have long term careers.

Here are Webster’s top tips for being a professional gamer:

1. Pick your game carefully

“Picking a game is the first important step. You should be almost blinkered in choosing your game, and when you play it, you should learn as much as possible about the game that you have chosen,” he said.

He added that even recreational games should test the same skill set as the chosen professional game.

“The game that you choose should also be a game that is played on an international level. There is no point in choosing a game that is only played within a small group, or one that will be redundant within 12 months as you will then be limiting your own earning potential.”

2. Long road

“So many people entering gaming choose the short-road that offers what appears to be quick returns. This is the wrong approach as the quick returns are often not substantial nor sustainable,” said Webster.

He cited the example of gamer Robert “PandaTank” Botha, the first SA gamer to earn a salary for playing.

“PandaTank, instead of going to play in the DGC competition at rAge in 2011 and 2012, he went to MSSA National Team Trials. By forgoing the quick-fix of the limited prize money, PandaTank was able to compete in the 3rd & 4th IeSF World Championships in South Korea where he was noticed. By being noticed at such a level thus allowed him to fly to the USA, France, and Sweden.”

3. Stay motivated

“There are contractual obligations in terms of guest appearances, the number of championships that you have to play as well as even in what position you finish in said championships. Then you will have to face the critics which will range from your own family through to friends, bloggers and journalists,” said Webster.

4. Practice

“Nothing must come between you and your practice, not your friends not a good night out, not a birthday, nothing! In the practice sessions you must draw up a schedule for improving you reaction speed, knowledge of the game, knowledge of the maps, how others play the game,” Webster said.

Some of the games include Defense of the Ancients (DotA 2), StarCraft II, TekkenLeague of Legends and Counter Strike: GO.

5. Correct Equipment

People who wish to be pro gamers have to ensure that they have a powerful set-up that can be easily transported.

“Just as you would not take a Mini Cooper into a F1 race, the incorrect equipment can hamper your chances of success. eSports is a sport of nanoseconds, and, equipment that is outdated or not of the proper standard can be the difference between winning or losing,” Webster said.

A typical gaming PC costs between R18 799 and R22 499 from Computer Mania.

6. The right team

“Do not go to the clubs that offer ‘flash’, that is, equipment and other freebies. Look for the club that offers a salary and meets with the legal requirements of such. Remember, this is your career and you need cash on the table. You cannot eat gifts, hard drives and such, you need cash to pay for your living expenses,” said Webster.

“A club/clan/team that does not pay a salary is not a professional team, it is merely a bunch of amateur players who think that they are professionals. Also, choose a team that is close to you if it is a team game that you are playing as you will need to practice together.”

7. Enter tournaments

Webster said that pro gamers should enter LAN (local area network) tournaments to gain experience.

“Sure you will lose at first, but the championships are a good way of preparing you mentally for those big games and for you to develop your big match temperament (BMT).”

He also advised gamers to keep a logbook of successes and failures.

8. Sponsorship

“To get a proper sponsorship, you can do it yourself, or you can go to an accredited sports agent,” said Webster, adding that it helps athletes to be sponsored by reputable companies.

How much do gamers earn in South Africa?

Top 100 Highest Earnings for South Africa

Player IDTotal (Game)
1.SonicR 1654143.19
2.JTR 1550566.57
3.DetronyR 654087.19
4.FadeyR 588090.46

What qualifications do you need to be a professional gamer In South Africa?

What Is a Professional Video Gamer?

Degree RequiredBachelor’s degree
Education Field of StudyGame development, computer science, object oriented programming,
Key ResponsibilitiesConceptualize and produce interactive computer games
Job Growth (2018-2028)4%*

How long does it takes to become a pro gamer In South Africa?

Depending on the definition of pro gaming, it usually takes up to 5 years to get to a team that offers you a contract you can live on.

How do you become a gamer for a living In South Africa?

5 Steps to Becoming a Pro Gamer

Find Your Motivation. As with anything in life, it’s important to play Esports for the right reasons.

Pick Your Game. The next step is to find your game.

Join the Community. As much as pro gaming is about individual talent, it’s also about the culture surrounding the game.

Gear Up.

Practice.

How hard is it to be a pro gamer In South Africa?

To become a pro gamer and really make a career out of it, you’ll need to hone your skills in one game. Becoming a god of gaming and being better than others takes many hours of practice, so you’ll want to pick a game you’re skilled at and enjoy, and stick with it. Sharpen your skills until there ain’t no stopping you.

What game has the highest skill gap In South Africa?

Rocket League has the highest skill cap of any game.

What is skill gap in gaming In South Africa?

I see it used a lot but don’t think it’s been formerly explained here. Imo my definition of skill gap is that a game with a large skill gap is a game that takes more skill to be elite at. Aka 2ks skill gap is very small meaning AS A WHOLE the best 2k players on the planet are not much better than the average players.