What is considered "old" in esports?

Kybo10·11/25/2015, 5:21:47 AM·1 votes·1,077 views

Hey guys, just wondering what you guys think is concidered "old" in esports. My dream is still alive to become a pro gamer, even though my chances are unlikely. I look to hit high diamond this season, and push for masters/challenger in season 7. I am 20 years old. Do you think I could get into the scene at 23? I heard a rumor of a study that APM doesnt really decrease significantly as age goes on, just practice time does because of a family etc.

I just saw the interview with diamondprox and the reporter said 23 is an advanced age. What do you guys think?

8 Comments

ThatH1N111/25/2015, 5:30:31 AM1 votes

When I was 18 years old I went pro playing Starcraft for a year. I remember one of the tournaments I was at one of the older guys there told me that as you get older the only thing that changes is your ability to adapt to change. At the time I didnt think much of it. Not I am 27 and I get what he means. Each patch makes the game harder to adapt to as you get older. I am not saying you can't do it, by all means give it your all. However, I believe what that guy told me rings true.

ThatH1N111/25/2015, 6:16:32 AM1 votes

Since I have played Starcraft the game is very very different. If i were to go for pro again now I would literaly have to quit my job and ignore everything for it to learn it all. Mind you I have still pretty high in SC2 (masters tier), there is no way I could go pro. I fell out of being a pro player because of different obligation, over the next 6 months or so I didnt dedicate my life to the game, and that is all it took. Mind you like I said I am still a top tier player but there is little to no chance I could go pro again.

TurquoiseYoshi11/25/2015, 12:47:41 PM1 votes

It honestly depends on how good you are. I think Lemonnation started his pro career at about the same age, if that helps.

DestructoDave11/25/2015, 9:09:11 PM1 votes

20 is an ok age. Really, what you lose as you get older is time, commitment, and desire. You will understand when you are like 28-33. You probably think right now, there is no way you would ever lose the drive. But you will. Real life starts having demands. Jobs/school/family/women/desire for kids, house, stability, you name it. Not to mention, league may not even be around in 5-6 years in its current popularity. IT may be a diff. game. I'm 33.5 years old. Ive played online games since I was 15. I still play way too many games at my age. But, I couldn't be pro or even as good as I was back in the day. I tore some FPS games up back in the day. I played in tournaments, I lived and breathed games. But, times change. I honestly cant even stay interested in FPS games anymore. Adapting to change is a big part of it, too. You just learn slower, if that makes sense. You react better, though, when you learn it. Its a weird conundrum.

Really, if you want to make it a dream, you need to not be looking for season 7 or 8 or whatever. You need to start plowing games RIGHT NOW. Thats looking too far into the future in what I consider a volatile market. I mean even if you make challenger, its like 25 total NA players nowadays in LCS. You are trying to squeeze into that 25-50 player range. Personally, I would look more towards streaming, and plow games and hope to get pro, and if not, build up a streaming personality and make money that way while you finish college.

Thats my one regret, at 33.5 years of age. I dicked around, due to partying, and gaming (I was hooked on gaming during my early teens/late 20s), and I flunked out of college and didn't go back until I was 29 years old. I got my Bachelor's last December, at 32 years old. If I had it to do all over again, I would have knocked that shit out by 22-23 years old, and then gamed/lived my ass off. I had fun during my early 20s, but I'm paying for it now.

xJLx MCHammer11/26/2015, 5:12:15 AM1 votes

Scientifically speaking, at age 20, the brain starts to "age". From that point, certain abilities like adapting to certain changes becomes harder. We start to have fewer neurons and synapses; Their job is to ensure the flow of information from one cell to another. Memory loss also starts at around age 20. With that said, if you keep your wits about you, the age of your brain can be relatively similar at 28 years old and that of 20 years old. It's like Tyrion said, a mind needs books like a swords needs a whetstone, if it is to keep its edge.

Play the game, practice, apply yourself, and you will do fine. This isn't just for gaming, it's for everything. As you age, your brain may not works as well, but you have experience and knowledge, use that. BUTTTTTTTTTTT, like other said, there may be difference as you age ;D

I know for a fact when i was 15, i'd play with my 25 year old cousin tekken games. Now(9 years later), when we try, you can tell he just can't do it as good as he used to. It's not that he doesn't apply himself, or that he doesn't practice. It's just this on the "fly" action doesn't respond as quick as it used to.

Smart Kitty11/26/2015, 5:34:20 AM1 votes

Starting at 23 isn't the worst, it's still possible. It'll be harder for you to keep up though, so you're going to need some real dedication.