>> ... Next Generation ...

Life is fun for this
professional video game player.

STACY GITTLEMAN I CONTRIBUTING WRITER

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36

June 11 • 2015

country. Each day, about
s a kid,
10,000 people will tune in
Bloomfield
online to watch.
Hills resident
After he finishes his own
Spencer
show, he spends another
Martin's mother bugged
two or three hours playing
him to get off his video
for pay on another Twitch
game console and go
Ben channel sponsored by
outside and play, fearing
corporate manufacturers
that he would rot his brain
of sound and video cards
cells and never figure out
for the gaming industry.
a way to make a decent
He takes a break for about
living.
three hours to nap, work
Though this viewpoint
out or eat before heading
is widely shared by most
Spencer Martin raises his fist in triumph while playing in a
back into his studio to
parents, it turns out
2014 tournament in Cologne, Germany.
practice at night with his
that many video garners
team. The team records
like Martin were onto
these practice games so
something all along. Now
to destinations such as Germany, The
they can replay them to
25, Martin, who had his bar mitzvah at
Netherlands and France. While this
evaluate their performance and see how
Temple Israel, is one of the most highly
sounds exotic, he doesn't get to see
they can improve their scores.
paid professional competitive e-gamers
much of these countries outside of the
Indeed, esSports truly is a full-time
on the planet. The chances are as slim
hotel and the tournament arena.
job.
as an athlete making it to the major
"I did get to see the sites in Paris
Martin did try to go the traditional
leagues, but yes, you can make money
once," Martin said. "That's because at
route to financial success. He attended
playing video games.
that tournament, my team didn't do very
Oakland Community College for
Lots of money.
well."
business and computer science and
How much money? Recently, Martin
Martin, who has cultivated a
was just 18 months shy of graduating
signed a six-figure deal with an online
Counterstrike following under his alias
before he decided to go pro at gaming.
gaming marketplace to advertise on his
"Hiko," pulled down thousands in
Perhaps he will go back to school when
website, where he plays video games for
earnings by competing nationally and
he "retires," but right now, he is having
hours each day. It is akin to an athlete
internationally in tournaments. To date,
too much fun and enjoying his financial
getting one's face on a cereal box.
Martin has 220,994 followers who
success.
According to Marketwatch.conn,
watch him play the game for hours
"There is this stereotype image of an
competitive gaming, known as
on end on Twitch, the world's largest
anti-social nerdy, gamer playing in the
electronic sports, or eSports, is a global
videogame streaming platform channel,
dark and eating junk food," Martin said
phenomenon valued in the billions of
which Amazon bought last year for $970
from his home-based studio, which is a
dollars. In fact, those powering the
million.
setup of five monitors, a green screen,
industry say it is well on its way to
That's a lot of eyeballs for advertisers,
sound mixers and a webcam. "This is
becoming the next major professional
and many highly skillful gamers like
not the case. Some gamers are rising to
sport alongside the likes of football and
Martin are finding ways for companies
the level of pop stars. Through gaming,
baseball.
to buy ad space on their channels.
I get to talk and interact with people
Martin's game of choice is
That six-figure advertisement deal he
all over the world and have made some
Counterstrike: Global Offensive, where
made is with Kinguin, an online digital
great friends among the people I met at
teams of terrorists battle counter-
game marketplace. Other corporations
tournaments."
terrorism forces in various virtual
advertising on Twitch channels include
Martin acknowledges that he is one of
locations around the world. A player for
soft and energy drinks and video gaming
the lucky fraction of a percentage who
13 years, he turned professional four
equipment manufacturers.
can earn this much playing video games.
years ago. Since his first professional
On a typical e-gaming workday,
He likens it to the small chances of those
tournament in 2010, Martin earned
Martin will wake up around nine in the
who hope to play professional sports.
a little more than $22,000 playing in
morning and enter his home studio to
"I would not recommend this as a
25 tournaments in the U.S., Canada
play a game from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. on
career path," said Martin. "But for right
and Europe, where thousands attend
Twitch with a team of fellow gamers
now, it is working out OK for me." ❑
live to watch and millions more tune
who sit in their own homes around the
in online. Tournaments have taken him