Every so often I read something that’s so surprising that I’m sure that I’m being lied to. Like when I read that termites outweigh humans on Earth.Today’s revelation might take the cake though.I had no idea that anyone actually made a living playing video games. I’m not talking about the people who design video games and then have to play them to make sure they don’t suck.I’m talking about people who play video games. And that’s it!And chief among the professional video game players is a guy named Matt Haag. He’s twenty-two years old. And this year he’s going to make close to one million dollars.Yes, you read that correctly, one million dollars!What the f$%#?How can this be? How exactly does one make even a dollar playing video games, much less a million dollars?Apparently, Mr. Haag is really good at Call of Duty. That’s a video game. I’ve never played it, but I know that lots of people do play it. However, if I can make a million dollars playing it, then maybe I need to start.He’s been a professional for seven years. He just joined Major League Gaming—which, again, I didn’t know was a thing—and signed a sponsorship deal with Red Bull, the energy drink. Most of the people Red Bull sponsors are extreme sport fellows. Despite not being extreme, Mr. Haag gets the same treatment as Red Bull athletes, which includes help with training, diet, and financial support.However, Mr. Professional Game-Playing Millionaire makes most of his money from YouTube videos and from a site in which people watch him play live.So this guy makes money playing video games because other people are interested in watching him play video games.I have some experience with this. My two sons—ages eight and ten—are always watching YouTube videos of people playing video games. Their main interest is in Minecraft, and they’re fans of one guy in particular, a British dude whose YouTube name is Stampylongnose.Despite my endless pleas for them to actually play the game instead of watch videos of someone else playing the game, I still hear the familiar shrill, accented voice coming from the basement, talking about things that I don’t really understand.I guess I shouldn’t be surprised that people are interested in watching others play video games. The Bravo television network has a show called The People’s Couch, which shows regular people on their couch watching Bravo television shows.How much longer until some television executive actually takes a chance on a show in which people do nothing but watch paint dry, or grass grow? It can’t be long!Anyway, experiencing my sons’ interest in this British Minecraft guy, I see how the video game guy can make a million bucks. My sons have conversations at the breakfast table about whether the Minecraft guy is awake yet, or how old he is, or whether he’s married, or when he'll post a new video. If I’d let them, they would eat cake every single day, just like he claims to.When I was their age I was a fan of Hulk Hogan, and Ryne Sandberg, and Arnold Schwarzenegger. Their hero is some dude with a weird screen name who records himself playing a video game.My son just peeked over my shoulder and asked, “What are you writing about dad?” Against my better judgment I told him that I was writing about a guy who makes a million dollars a year playing video games.As if he needed any more incentive to play video games.The house rule at the Baker homestead is no video games during the week. This makes for some very late Friday nights when the boys stay up late to take advantage of the weekend. Frequently, if we didn’t make them do something else, they’d play video games all weekend. Sometimes I feel bad about that, but sometimes it’s a saving grace if my wife and I have things we need to get done.Perhaps I shouldn’t worry about them playing video games. Maybe they’re not just playing; maybe they’re training.As my three-year-old daughter likes to say: That’s crazy town!+++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++Maybe I'll post a video of me writing. Wouldn't that be exciting? If I do you'll find it on my Facebook page page: Brett Baker Writes. Like it, please.
Want an e-mail every time I write something new? Type your email address in the box and click the "create subscription" button. I'm not going to send you a bunch of junk, and you can ditch me any time you want.