The Mind-Blowing Financial Benefit Of Being A FIFA eSports Player

2023 may seem like another great year for Spider-Man with two imminent sequels to two masterpieces from 2018 and yet another collaboration with Fortnite [13] [18] [22] [24], but any post-2005 year would be the opportunity for star FIFA footballers to score those goals, especially during online gameplay. According to a recent survey, undeniably professional FIFA footballers are earning more than professional football players competing beyond interactive media [21]. Surely, the FIFA series is not as time-demanding as the Monster Hunter series and the Animal Crossing series, which are some of the most time-demanding games, according to another recent study [5], but there is still an amount of time into virtual football matches for profit almost daily. A notable example of this would be the professional FIFA player Dan Ray, also known as “Stingrayjnr” explaining how he would play approximately 60 hours a week, including training before competing in tournaments [20]. Moreover, FIFA eSports players are earning over 25% more than professional soccer players in the United Kingdom, which is rather mind-blowing, considering how much the modern FIFA games are a lot like live football matches on sports channels due to their lifelike graphics, licensed interpretations of real-life football teams and the inclusion of commentators, only under the control of a FIFA footballer [2] [6] [7] [8] [21] [27]. 

The annual income of FIFA eSports players is over 15% more than League Two players, according to the survey [21]. [10]

From what I have experienced, gaming can require some form of skill, such as three-dimensional thinking for helping Lara Croft strive safely and confidently in the Tomb Raider series [9]. Moreover, quite a lot of dedication and practising must have been required for a FIFA footballer to gradually evolve into a professional for income [2] [27]. Last year, Umut Gültekin, one of the top professional FIFA footballers earned over $250,000 from competing in tournaments [21]. Even if you are a die-hard football fan, please do not be like “Get a real job!” to these FIFA footballers who play FIFA for a living, especially if they happen to reside in a country suffering from a cost-of-living crisis [4]. Some of the money made from professional FIFA playing could go to gaming subscriptions, depending on a FIFA footballer’s choice with a monthly subscription to Ubisoft+ being the priciest, according to another recent survey [20]. Of course, it is not just FIFA footballers playing FIFA for playable profit. According to yet another recent study, Daniel Robert Middleton, also known as “DanTDM” is the wealthiest YouTube content creator in the United Kingdom with over twenty-six-million subscribers and is known for playing a variety of games, including Roblox, Minecraft, the Sonic the Hedgehog series and the Pokémon series [1]. 

Please do not refer to these professional FIFA footballers and other professional gamers as “talentless hacks” simply for playing video games for a living [1] [21]. Respectfully wish them the best if you think this form of profit is not in your interests. On a lighter note, looking at David Beckham playing with his virtual counterpart makes me wish I had one. [6]

Whether you are a professional FIFA footballer or a star soccer player beyond social media, you still deserve plenty of income to support yourself and your loved ones, along with support from colleagues and fans [21]. Deep down, mental health should be valued more than financial gain and there ought to be time for many other things in life besides video games [29] [30]. Aside from that, all the female FIFA footballers who especially love playing as any of the women’s football teams have my support [2] [26], considering how hard we have worked to make gaming more inclusive for women throughout the years and this year’s FIFA Women’s World Cup will begin soon [25] [28]. The FIFA series is the best-selling sports video game series of all time, and it has come a long way since FIFA International Soccer from 1993 [11] [12], leading to the franchise’s 30^th anniversary, which ought to be celebrated especially this July [11]. In the meantime, our Sonic supporters and Minecrafters are mining and crafting with the new Sonic Texture pack, our street fighters are feeling feisty shortly after the launch of Street Fighter 6 and there is a passion for the Girls Nite Out Fashion Pack for Bratz: Flaunt Your Fashion [3] [14] [17] [31]. Have an amazing Summer this year, fellow gamers!

There is very little doubt that FIFA 23 would even be enlightening ongoing experience for professional FIFA footballers on the upcoming Project Q device that will basically be a PlayStation 5 going Nintendo Wii U/Switch on us [7] [8] [15] [16] [19] [27]. Until then, let us balance financial income with what is truly gold besides what glitters. [8]

References

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2. Bebahan. (2021). MY FAVOURITE GAME NOW...(FIRST TIME PLAYING FIFA 22). Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEE8V1GZWDs. Last accessed 27th May 2023.
3. Bratz Wiki. (2021). Girls Nite Out!. Available: https://bratz.fandom.com/wiki/Girls_Nite_Out!. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
4. Channel 4 News. (2023). Cost of living crisis: inflation barely drops as Brexit fuels food price rise. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xtHDBpQM4kg. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
5. Coutanche, P. (2023). Email to Laura Williams. New Study Reveals Video Games with Unbelievable Completion Times. Associated with https://cribbage-online.net. 23rd May 2023.
6. EA Sports. (2021). FIFA 22 | Official Launch Trailer: HyperMotion Begins. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SYsi5QuOJNE. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
7. EA SPORTS FIFA. (2022). FIFA 23 | Official Launch Trailer | Matchday For The World’s Game. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0tIW1X2dv0c. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
8. EA SPORTS FIFA. (2022). FIFA 23 | Official Ted Lasso Trailer. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TUamiLX6gp4. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
9. Eidos Interactive. (2007). Tomb Raider: Anniversary. Nintendo Wii. London, England.
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13. Fortnite. (2023). Web Slingers Miles Morales and Spider-Man 2099 Swing into Fortnite. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m3SrWHTJTFw. Last accessed 27th May 2023.
14. Gamemode One. (2023). Minecraft: Sonic Texture Pack - Official Trailer. Available: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5OTtMLeFwJs. Last accessed 28th May 2023.
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Concerning Anger In Gamers

(Originally published on the 4th of May 2023)

The Angry Video Game Nerd may be a raging legend [21] [22] [23], but being an angry gamer in real life would be no laughing matter. Gaming-related anger can be caused by: 

•       Insane gameplay difficulty 
•       A losing streak 
•       Harassment and bullying during online gaming or a gameplay livestream [30]
•       A community feeling like a prison on social media due to its toxicity [20] [40]

According to a recent study, 40% of over 5,000 gamers in the United States have admitted to sending hurtful messages online due to anger and under 20% have admitted to breaking an object during an outburst [26]. Moreover, the results of the survey also point out that the angriest are Xbox players in Oklahoma, especially those who happen to be either Call of Duty comrades, FIFA footballers or both. On a lighter note, thmost chilled of the large number of gamers are from Idaho, especially the ones who consider themselves mobile gamers. Although anger is a natural response to an aggravating moment, it is still not an excuse to send abusive messages to a fellow gamer, along with property damage. After all, I recall the shaming and verbal abuse I received for my ambition in gaming journalism and how badly it affected me nearly two years ago [39].  

The risk of having an outburst while gaming does not just affect gamers in the United States [27]. Do any of my fellow British players recall a rage quit near them? [37]

Video games can be a coping mechanism if you are dealing with real life problems, but the feeling of failure can cause that aid to be corrupted [17]. A culprit can be a hackers making the gameplay unfair for everyone else. This was noted back in the days of Nintendo Wi-Fi Connection racing, battling and tournaments on Mario Kart Wii [6]. As previously mentioned, a prime source of gaming rage is high difficulty. Rayman, Jak II and Catherine were notorious for their intense difficulties, despite their mostly positive receptions [5] [11] [12] [16] [19]. However, a different kind of aggravating difficulty can be present in a lot more negatively received games that have poor controls, such as Dark Castle [22]. And do not get me started with a game suddenly crashing as I remember my copy of The Sims 2 and most of the expansion packs glitching up and freezing frequently or suddenly crashing on the old family computer when I was a high school student [3], along with how Sonic Dash would often crash and have an annoyingly low frame rate on my fourth-generation iPod Touch when I was in college [24] [28]! As important it is to acknowledge these thoughts and feelings [31] [34], it is important to not stereotype and generalise based on the results of the survey [26].

So, how can us gamers manage our anger and frustration? [32]

It would be advised to take a break if a certain level or task in a game turns out to be too difficult [17] [18]. A prime example would of this would be stepping away to take some deep breaths [17] [31]. Why not save the challenge for another time and tune into a game consisting of serenity that can provide some relief, such as Flower and Animal Crossing: New Horizons [1] [7] [17] [29]? Another option with be tuning into an app that is designed for benefiting one’s mental well-being, such as Calm and Kinder World [4] [15]. Mellowing out from an intense challenge or lowering the difficulty does not make a gamer a “loser” or a “coward” [18], despite how a few titles have mocked players who chose the Easy mode, including Twisted Metal 2 and Wolfenstein: The New Order [36]. Asking for a little help from another player sometimes is nothing to be embarrassed about, especially if we aim to make a particular fandom a far less toxic place by being well-mannered and thoughtful as a community [18] [20]. I would much rather send kindness to a talented and charming person and be appreciated for it during a livestream than scream at the top of my lungs over a difficult level in a game or some nasty comments on Twitch or YouTube [25].

I remember being mesmerised by the concept and gameplay of Flower on my fiancé’s PlayStation 3 [1] [29]. As soothing as its visuals, music and relaxed gameplay are, taking a few deep breaths can help maintain mindfulness, just like in “Blue Is Frustrated”, the eighteenth episode of the second season of Blue’s Clues, no matter how old we are [2] [31]. [1]

Why not read a comic book during a break? Besides, a prequel comic set before the events of Marvel’s Spider-Man 2 was announced yesterday and it will be released this Saturday, which is World Free Comic Book Day. [13]

A gamer being angry does not make them a bad person, but efforts must be made to further prove that. Furthermore, being a video game journalist does not mean that I would write a hit piece on some people who I dislike [14] [39]. Lastly, getting frustrated at a very difficult level in a game or being enraged at the toxicity of a gaming franchise’s fanbase does not mean the passion for virtual creativity and adventurousness is gone [18]. Personally, despite the times when I ranted on social media and wanted to scream and yank my hair out [38] [40], I would never want to take my full-on rage out on those I deeply care about and end up hurting them. Remember that it is okay to be angry or frustrated, but there are lines you ought to not cross. Also, remember to count the blessings both in gaming AND real life as you practise self-care and self-kindness [15]. Most importantly, remember that you are valued, and you are not alone in this complicated world as we strive to make it a better place while looking to new forms of entertainment, such as a second theatrical part based on a classic novel [9] [10] [35]. 

You said it, Samy from Kinder World [15]! And as competitive gaming can be [26], leading to aggravating moments sometimes, the enjoyable moments of escaping reality’s troubles are ultimately worth cherishing [8] [18] [33], even if you are a Call of Duty comrade or a FIFA footballer [26]. Let us gamers keep showing one another kindness and support! [15]

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