Beatdown

You know when you go to a Street Fighter tournament, and there's one guy there that's obviously way too hardcore into the game because he dresses up as Ryu? When it's time to pair off the contestants, guess which one you get? Yep. That guy. The guy off to the side that bounces in place in a very convincing Ryu battle stance while the tournament rules are being read. The guy that, if he doesn't win, has wasted countless hours of his life that he will never get back on a game that he's only second best at. I lost to that guy in the first round. Then I cheered for him, because when you lose to the eventual winner, you don't feel so bad. Well, Ryu-guy lost later... oh well. I'm not good at Street Fighter. Still, I want to be. I might actually buy a strategy guide for SF4. Weird! Why buy something for $20 that you can get a GameFAQs.com for free? First, because the art is b-e-a-utiful. Second, because then I can read it in the bathroom. Nothing beats improving yourself while you poo. Still, I don't have 10-12 hours a day that I can devote to one game to be the best in the world. Sure, it's a lot cheaper than buying a new game every couple of weeks, but just the sheer time investment is almost unfathomable. Professional gamers have dedication to something that, in all reality, is nothing. Being good at a game doesn't mean you have real, marketable skills. Having 16 level 60 WoW characters doesn't mean you can get a six-digit job being a WoWzer. Being able to 100% Through the Fire and Flames will get you a mention in Guinness but it won't get you much free money. You can't just rest on your laurels like you can if you won the Super Bowl or the Tour de France. You can retire and not have to work for the rest of your life; you're set. Gamer culture is fast-moving, fickle, and ever-more-demanding. There's always someone to challenge you. Can you stay on top?