Affecting+the+World+Speech+RR2

"To them, its just a video game. Just pixels dancing on a screen. But what I see is a blank canvas with every new game, the chance to form my own creativity, my own speed, strategy, and determination. And that's a beautiful thing. That's what Starcraft 2 is. That's why I play." This is a quote from professional video gamer Evan "Winter" Ballnik. This quote perfectly describes my love of video games. To everybody else it actually is just pixels on a screen. But, I see so much more. I see the chance to put my name out there and to change the world. Whether it be through Twitch, proffesional video gaming, charity events, and new jobs to help maintain these video game arenas, video games are changing the world. Every time I stream, every time I make a you tube video, even every time that I put my hand on that mouse and press the play button, I am changing the world.

OK, let's slow down for a second. I could bet money right now that half of you are thinking, "What in the world is professional video gaming?". Well, believe it or not, around the world there actually are people who are professional video gamers. From real time strategy games like //Starcraft 2//, to multiplayer online battle arena's such as //League of Legends//, even to the first person shooters that have enveloped the world such as //Call of Duty: Ghosts// and //Counter Strike: Global Offensive//, games have enveloped the world as a major league gaming sports. This new hob of video gamer has opened up even more jobs for other people.For example, imagine the work it takes for people to construct these tournament arenas and the people needed to create and maintain these games. Also, //Starcraft 2// and other video games are a massive source of entertainment. For example, last year's final //League of Legends// tournament attracted enough viewers for them to fill a professional basketball association stadium, and the tickets for the tournament sold out in under an hour! As you can see, the evolution of video games becoming a competitive sport has massively changed the world.

Another thing that has helped video games popularize even more is a website called Twitch. On Twitch, you can stream yourself playing video games. People have jobs as Twitch streamers. What I like about Twitch is that these viewers are spending part of their time watching people do what they love to do, as well as interacting with the streamers through Twitch Chat, which is a way for streamers to get help or to help others. In my opinion, the ability to help others is a major way of changing the world. You may just be helping someone with a video game, but you are still having an impact on someone's life. For example, if somebody keeps getting stuck on a par of a video game and spending all their time on it, but a streamer comes along and helps them beat the game, that would open up more time for that person to do other things such as being with family or doing their homework. Twitch is also a major entertainment source. There are a lot of tournaments every week, so you are barely ever sitting there with nothing to do. Also, Twitch opens up an area to view these people play, and you can learn what the life of a professional video gamer or streamer is like.

One of the other benefits of Video Gaming is the money side. For example, the professional team Evil Genius, which has several of the top //League of Legends// players hosts charity events. They will host a charity tournament tournament with eBay That is too take place in July. The winner of the match will choose which charity to put the $5,000 towards. These Video Games also raise money for colleges. In February of 2014, the Blue Caster Minions won 100,000 dollars to help them get to college, as well as offers for jobs from other teams.

One of the best things about these games is that you can be really good, no matter your age. One of the top //Starcraft 2// players just turned 16, while another one of the best just turned 14, and they both are getting paid by teams. This, to me, is one of the best things about video games. No matter what your age is, you can still compete and excel at what you love to do. That is one of the most important parts of life, to fuel our drive to compete. We all have a competitive side as well as a fun side. These games allow us to reveal and fuel our drive to compete and to have fun while doing it, and the fact that you can play and get paid for it makes it even better.

So, still think video games are JUST video games? Video games are so much more than just pixels on a screen. They are a way for us to fuel our drive to compete, and to do what we love and get paid for it. It's our way to be the best we can be. And most important of all, it's our way to change the world.