Even though various disruptions have appeared in recent years, several parents who have children at the end of high school have visited their home and questioned the future of gaming activities, whether they can be used as a basis for life later when they are old? This also appeared when their generation when they were young chose the field of physical sports as their job. What will the future be like when they are old? It is a reasonable concern considering that human productivity is no longer the same after growing old.
Then, what about his future when he is no longer young?
If we look at it from the analogy that there are sportsmen who eventually after succeeding in their field then stop and engage in the world of sports business, or become professional trainers in their respective fields, or become artists/actors, or even become state servants because they are considered to have made their region proud, of course this can be considered as a possibility that could also happen to e-sport athletes.
Various competitions both regional, national and international are the same opportunities as the physical sports competitions we know before. Skills that are cultivated and produce achievements can make it possible to become a coach, or a businessman, or a content creator on social media that generates income from sources never before imagined by generations of parents.
We can see another analogy in the world of offices where a person does not always work in a technical area. There are those who are considered competent and are asked to manage work managerially by using the knowledge they have. There is a phase of changing the type of work when they get older, for those who are considered capable and successful. It is common for someone to need skill or passion to get to the next level.
Playing in the field of e-sport must also see all of that. If someone doesn't have the passion, the will to improve themselves, and the effort to continue competing at a higher level, then that person will only be a game player to fill their spare time, not an e-sports athlete. It takes a lot of effort because this profession is like most other sportsmen, but in the world of games.
President Jokowi has expressed his support for the gaming industry in Indonesia. In fact, in his speech at the opening of the Pasanggirinas and ASAD National Silat Championships in August 2017, President Jokowi said that Indonesian education should open e-sports majors. This certainly raises optimism for game industry players in the country. President Jokowi's attention was proven by holding an e-sport exhibition at the 2018 Asian Games. Through the exhibition at the Asian Games, parents in Indonesia are expected to believe that e-sports is also an official sport that can produce real achievements for their athletes.
According to Haryono Kartono, Country Business NVidia Indonesia, e-sports is a promising new profession. E-sport athletes will be paid a salary that is far from the Regional Minimum Wage in any city in Indonesia, therefore it is only right that e-sport gets a new perception in the eyes of the Indonesian people.
Several sources of income for e-sports athletes include prizes for competitions or tournaments, of course, the higher the scale, the higher the prize. This is similar to the championships that badminton, football, chess, and others participate in. The prizes for these championships at the international level can reach tens of thousands of US dollars. Then apart from that, because athletes are one of the public figures, this of course also brings in sponsors who want to use their services as media for promoting both products and services. For those who have talent and are willing to keep trying, e-sports can be one of their professions in the future.
Agus Cahyo Nugroho, S.Kom, M.T