职业游戏玩家的生活是什么样的？
From pixel representations of table tennis in the 1970s to modern day cinematic storytelling,
video games have evolved 进化；发展；发出(热等)；使进化 a lot and become more immersive 身临其境的，有沉浸感的. But it’s not just the graphics and gameplay mechanics 游戏玩法机制 that have changed – it has also opened up a range of career options,
including that of professional gamer.
When gaming first started,
those who loved video games and wanted to make a career out of them often ended up as developers,
testers or coders. While there were competitions,
sometimes held worldwide,
in which amateur gamers could win money or prizes,
it wasn’t really considered a career path until the late 2000s,
when live streaming 线上直播 really took off and gamers became celebrities 名流；社会名流；明星.
With e-sports 电子竞技 now an integral 必需的；不可或缺的；作为组成部分的；完整的 part of gaming,
what does a professional gamer’s life look like? The key,
according to many pro-gamers,
is practice – the same with many sports. While choosing the best peripherals （计算机）外围设备，外部设备 is important,
such as the right controller 手柄 or keyboard,
most pro-gamers spend hours every day working out hacks 窍门，技巧 to save time or improve their chances of winning. And it’s not just while playing games that they need to be active,
but also in real life. Exercising and stretching is vital to avoid injuries to their backs and wrists 手腕 and preventing eye fatigue 眼睛疲劳 from spending long hours staring at monitors by taking regular screen breaks.
But it’s not just the physical aspects that gamers need to be careful with. According to some experts,
like Dr Phil Birch,
while the physical demands of e-sports and traditional sports are very different,
the psychological impacts can be similar: regulating emotions,
dealing with pressure and big crowds,
and overcoming injury are just some of the common factors.
So,
while the life of a pro-gamer may sound fun with lots of button bashing 用力敲打游戏设备上的按钮,
just remember that it takes a lot of discipline 纪律；训练；自制力；风纪 and hard work to do it full-time.
Vocabulary
pixel 像素
immersive 身临其境的，有沉浸感的
graphics 图像
gameplay mechanics 游戏玩法机制
developers 开发人员
testers 测试人员
coders 编码人员
competitions 竞赛，比赛
amateur gamers 业余玩家
live streaming 线上直播
e-sports 电子竞技
peripherals （计算机）外围设备，外部设备
controller 手柄
keyboard 键盘
hacks 窍门，技巧
in real life 在现实生活中
eye fatigue 眼睛疲劳
monitors 显示屏，显示器
screen breaks 为避免长时间盯着屏幕的休息时间
button bashing 用力敲打游戏设备上的按钮
catchy 吸引人的；动人的；朗朗上口
discipline 纪律；训练；自制力；风纪
celebrities 名流；社会名流；明星
integral 必需的；不可或缺的；作为组成部分的；完整的
evolved 进化；发展；发出(热等)；使进化
