Saskatoon gamers strive to go pro

Professional video gaming has become a popular trend in the past few years, but Saskatoon gamers have had trouble breaking into the pro scene.

Despite that, the city still has competitive gaming communities.

Mikeal Farthing, who goes by the in-game alias of “SpikeyMike,” organizes competitions for the game Super Smash Brothers.

He said eSports are a perfect hobby for people who aren’t fans of traditional sports.

“You see the game that you like that you can go out and play being played at this elite level,” he said. “It’s the same feeling as any other sport.”

Gamers who have made it to the professional level earn a living from playing competitively in tournaments. They make their salaries through a mix of sponsors, team memberships, and tournament winnings.

The salary range varies between games. A top player in Dota 2 can earn seven figures on winnings alone, while top-level Smash Brothers players tend to earn the low six-figure range.

Farthing also said Saskatoon is a city with enough talent to spawn professional Smash players.

“When it comes to eSports, the talent can come from anywhere. You just need to have the right mindset and be able to get good at your game,” he told 650 CKOM.

However, he said there are some obstacles that are keeping local players from going pro.

“I know in Smash there’s been a lot of barriers,” Farthing said. “Flights to and from Saskatchewan are a lot more expensive than some other places in Canada.”

But that’s not the only issue that comes with the province’s location.

“Exposure (is a challenge) as well because nobody knows where Saskatchewan is,” he said. “You say Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and people are like, ‘Who? Where?’ ”

He said sponsors and fans are very important to revenue streams for pro gamers, and it’s difficult to get either in Saskatchewan. Because of that, most of the professional level gamers have moved to other locations to pursue gaming fame.