Virtual Insanity: Inside The Life of Pro-Gamer

Hafitz Maulana (Tirto.id, Jakarta)

For the last five years, e-Sport or virtual sport has rapidly grown in Indonesia. Digital revolution has diverted the citizen lifestyle, specially the Generation Z (Gen Z).

An independent research by Tirto.id released in 2018 reported that Gen Z’s dream job as a professional gamer ranks second (14.3%) after doctors (15.1%). The number of gamers from Gen Z is constantly increasing; this was influenced by the internet access, the proliferation of the e-Sports management company industry, and the growth of mobile games on devices which resulted in game users being not limited to console-based game types.

During the three months of working on this photography project, I tried to respond to the private space of three professional Indonesian gamer figures that I met to find out how a pro gamer can build a career while warding off the negative stigma of gamers. Through these three pro gamer figures, I offer pro gamer stories of achievement.

Monica Carolina (28), known as Nixia, chose to work for a game developer company after she graduated from high school rather than continuing to college. Her career became increasingly successful as a pro gamer when she formed the women’s e-Sports club, NXA-Ladies. Together with the club, Nixia is often sponsored by a computer hardware brand. Unfortunately, now the e-Sports club is hibernated due to personal reasons.

Ketty Towiro (18), the actual representative figure of Gen Z, a pro gamer who is financially independent through her profession. Ketty practiced her skills at an internet game cafe near her campus. Around 2018, Ketty was recruited by Nixia as on of NXA-Ladies’ asset. Now Ketty has chosen the independent path to pursue her career as a pro gamer.

Hartono (26), pro gamer and asset to e-Sport Club Indonesia EVOS. With his team, he won silver medal in MOBA Arena of Valor game category at the 2019 SEA Games in Manila. Before the championship, Hartanto trained intensively with his team at the bootcamp. Similar to traditional competitive sport, e-Sport also need skill, strategy, communication and team work. Hartono do physical exercises to train his concentration.

Virtual sport requires pro gamers to game all-out in order to win the tournament. If the management of pro gamer coaching is bad, it is possible to cause mental problems and loss of spatial awareness. Digital revolution can switch a generation’s orientation of a dream. Technology moves faster through virtual barriers that is now become the source of livelihood. However, in substance, human beings are creatures that are always playing (Homo Ludens) to create their living space.