Being at the top of your game is an outstanding effort however gamers like most professional sports athletes tend to feel the effects of age and find it hard to compete with upcoming youth. Recent studies shows that a majority of gamers will begin to experience a reaction speed drop of at around the age of 25 and the effects will continue to deteriorate. Although not all gamers are affected by age in the same way it is important for current players to plan for the future as well as have the time of their lives playing on the CGS stage in the present.

So aside from the obvious benefits of money, international travel and building a huge database of friends who share similar likes what skills are today’s players learning that will help them in the future? In order to compete at the top level players need to possess highly evolved problem solving skills as pure reaction speed isn’t enough to separate the top players. At a level where the skill gap is so small the game becomes more of a mental battle rather then a physical test for individuals. Another obvious benefit from playing in the CGS is that players are taught to work in a team environment; teamwork is a must for top level players to maintain a spot on any CGS roster.

The ability to perform under extreme pressure is a key attribute that employers look for in management and executive positions and there is no greater pressure then playing on the CGS stage. Players are taught early on to meet schedules, deadlines and are responsible for a lot of their own time management and scheduling. Players are potentially gaining a lot more from the CGS then they realize; it turns out that a game is really more then ‘just a game’.

It is also important to note that a large number of players are still in university and plan to leave the world of professional gaming in the not too distant future. The CGS gives players the perfect ‘job’ while studying, players are responsible to some degree for their own practice schedule and the league is very accommodating to educational obligations. Players have the opportunity to earn money doing something they love and something that is flexible enough for them to continue their study for the large part unhindered. Inevitably some players will become managers, commentators or coaches however it is always important for players to have contingency plans, not everyone will be the next fatal1ty though it is a goal most aim for.

A recent study by IBM has shown that players of massively multiplayer online role-playing games hone their business leadership skills almost every time they log on. "Smart organizations are recognizing valued employees who play online games and apply their skills and experiences as virtual leaders to their 'real world' jobs," says Jim Spohrer, IBM Research Center's director of services research. During the research IBM discovered that half of the players improved their workplace leadership skills by applying techniques learnt in-game to real life scenarios. The relational and leadership skills learnt from playing team and interactive games are teaching players valuable, flexible skills that have a real application in today’s workplaces.

Although professional gaming is a great opportunity and a dream for most it is important to understand that like all sports not every player is going to really hit it big. However players are unknowingly gaining key skills that will help them in their career beyond gaming; applications of skills learnt in gaming are beginning to be recognized by some corporations. Regardless of their future plans today’s players are learning skills that will prove valuable to them no matter what direction their careers may take them.