Career Corner Life as a... Professional gamer

Practice really does make perfect when it comes to gaming, but that doesn't mean that you should abandon your work or studies right away. Choose a game that you love and can play relatively well and then put aside a certain amount of time per week to practice. It's important not to give up on other important aspects of your life - it's all about balance... but to get brilliant, play as much as your day allows.

As we've said above - it's not a good idea to give up on your day job or education until there's clear indication that you could make a living out of gaming. If you find yourself winning tournament money, then you can scale back on these later on down the line. However, bear in mind that just because you've won one tournament, it doesn't mean you'll win them all. Being a professional gamer usually doesn't bring in a consistent salary.

Take time to step back and analyse any gamers that have excelled before you - clearly they've done something right, so are there any tactics or tips that you could learn from them? Watch video streams of pro players and note down any skills that could be helpful to you.

If there's a move in a game that's particularly tough, and that you've seen other gamers struggle with, give yourself more of a chance at defeating other players by becoming an expert at that move. It may get dull, working on that one manouver for hours at a time, but it'll be worth it when you find yourself beating other competitors!

Joining the gaming community is an important part of becoming a pro. Join forums and participate in discussions - this way, other people can help you, you can help others, you will learn about new games and tactics, and will hopefully grow a dedicated following of fans!