Middle East Games Con Shares Gaming Athletes’ Top Tips For Success

Middle East Games Con at ADNEC, Abu Dhabi, this coming weekend (October 25-27) includes an incredible line-up of game challenges, tournaments and the chance to play new releases – but what does it take to become an elite eSports athlete?

Visitors can head down to the show, pick up a limited-edition VIP ticket and get the chance to ask some of the world’s most popular game stars and vloggers – Syndicate and Miniminter – what they’ve done to rise to the top of their game.

One fact that puts professional athletes above the rest of us is their sheer dedication. Dedication to be the best, often at whatever cost. We see the same focus in pro eSports players. Six eSports were demonstrated at the 2018 Asian Games, and while it seems there is a long way to go before we see eSports taking centre stage at the Olympics, those who take part in the games are increasingly being considered elite athletes.

Miniminter and Syndicate spend a lot of time gaming, but if you want to make six figures by playing video games for a living, get ready to play. A lot. Many professional eSports players hit the screens for a minimum of 50 hours a week – but most admit to playing games for far longer.

They might officially play for eight hours a day, but often play solo before and after their ‘official’ playing hours. Such a gruelling routine needs good nutrition. Many hours a day in front of a screen can make you irritable, and not eating right simply adds to mental dullness, fatigue and stress. Playing for long stretches can lead to bad habits – eating fast food and not getting enough sleep can result in lethargy, mood swings and poor performance. Most eSports experts agree training is about quality not quantity, and top players are now investing in fitness regimes and high-quality diets.

But what do top gamers eat? The big league teams have their own performance coaches, employed to keep their best players – and biggest earners – in tip top health. Frequent, small meals, regular workouts and lots of water are key. A good workout helps vent your game-related frustrations, while eating well helps maintain a razor-like focus.

League of Legends (LoL) – the world’s most popular competitive video game – regularly attracts the best players and some only sleep for four hours a night. Keeping on top of a game is important – even in pro-gaming’s off season – as regular changes are introduced.

Gamers are highly-driven to be the best – and with good reason. The world championship LoL tournament sees the winners take a US$1 million prize, and an impressive 32kg Summoner’s Cup.

And while top athletes suffer injuries, they’re not uncommon in the gaming realm, too – think tendonitis, tennis elbow, and other repetitive strain injuries. Keeping strong, fit and flexible helps avoid these injuries.

Given the obsessive nature of many pro-gamers, it’s no surprise that they are turning to exercise and nutrition to give them an edge. While eSports might not be considered an Olympic activity yet, it does seem that serious gamers are looking into fitness regimes and healthy eating to stay at the top.

TOP TIPS FOR GAMING SUPREMACY

Build up slowly. Just like a runner training for a marathon, don’t jump into Fortnite and expect to play for 12 hours without a break. Take it slow. Play a little longer each day. Take regular breaks. Competitive gamers need to build up tolerance and stamina over time.

Get comfy. Good ergonomics are vital. Invest in a good chair, keep your back straight and your feet flat on the floor.

Eat healthily, small, and often. Top eSports performance coaches recommend small amounts of food regularly. Stay on top of your game by eating clean, light foods, lots of water and avoid fats, excessive carbs and too much salt.

Exercise, exercise, exercise. Hitting the gym or even grabbing loose weights kept next to your gamezone will help build your stamina, assuage fatigue and provide a more positive outlook – reducing stress and anxiety. Hit the gym daily, and you’ll be more focused on the scrim.

Keep it real. We’ve all seen Miniminter’s adventures in sport, from completing an obstacle course in an inflatable sumo suit to playing golf blindfolded. His wacky stunts might help bring in more viewers, but they also keep him in tip-top condition and ready to take on FIFA, CoD and GTA. There’s no doubt real team sports help you prepare for team-based eSports.

KEEP YOUR ENERGY UP AT MIDDLE EAST GAMES CON

This weekend will see thousands of gamers building up a hunger at the ultimate gaming festival. They’ll be munching on a divine mix of cuisines in the shows very own food village featuring a mix of fast food and Japanese cuisine, including NKD Pizza, Fatburger, Samurai Japanese Restaurants, Washoko Cuisine and Taqado.

WHAT CAN GAMERS PLAY AT MIDDLE EAST GAMES CON?

Think Soulcalibur VI; JUMP Force; Dead or Alive 6; One Piece: World Seeker; The Dark Pictures: Man of Medan; Destiny 2: Forsaken (officially released on Sep 6^th) and the Spyro Reignited Trilogy (releases in November).

Join DELL Gaming’s massive Fortnite Challenge – with AED10,000 in prizes and 5000 V-Bucks up for grabs. Build a fort, show off your dance skills in the Ultimate Floss Meister challenge or take on a solo battle in the LAN tournament – grab a ticket quick and register to take part. You’ve got to have an entry ticket to register, and the challenge takes place on a first-come, first-served basis.

Go global with your League of Legends expertise – head to the Red Bull Player One zone for a chance to win a place at the Brazil LoL finals.

Sennheiser is hosting a Rocket League tournament twice daily, with winners receiving state-of-the-art gaming headsets.

Hit the Zoom Entertainment Stage for live gaming action from the region’s top gamers, and a host of live gaming-related entertainment.

AOC Fighting Challenge: Play six different fighting games at the hardest level to win amazing prizes.

Meet Nasr eSports Team, who will be on hand to coach, nurture and keep their eyes peeled for new talent! Meet & Greet the Nasr eSports squad between 2-2:30pm on Friday, October 26, and between 5-6pm, visitors can also chill with Angry Bird and Big Bird in a free event at the Virgin Mobile Meet the Stars for free.

GO VIP

Syndicate and Miniminter will be at the show, so come on down with your merch and your questions. This year offers timed ‘meet and greet’ sessions, and VIP packages to suit all. Book online before it’s too late!

You’ll know Doug Cockle better as Geralt of Rivia – the monster hunter from The Witcher series. Doug has been voicing Geralt since 2007, and now you can ask him how it feels to be a Witcher in person.

Maybe you’d like to meet Lucie Pohl –best known as Mercy from Blizzard Entertainment’s Overwatch, this actress has also voiced roles in World of Warcraft, Hearthstone: Heroes of Warcraft, and most recently Rixxa Fluxflame in World of Warcraft: Battle for Azeroth.

There’s a strong Anime and Japanese star presence at the event. You can meet with, and get commissions from, Japanese anime illustrator, Mamoru Yokota – assistant animation director for “Death Note” and “Naruto”; professional cosplayer and DJ Konomiakira; or emerging illustrator Peach Momoko, who’s renowned for her retro ‘70s anime style.

Organised by the same team that bring you the wildly successful Middle East Film & Comic Con in Dubai, the capital’s premier gaming festival is expected to attract 15,000 fans, with tickets selling fast.

Sponsors and feature exhibitors confirmed to attend the show include: ZOOM, Virgin Mobile, Nintendo, HP Omen, PlayStation, Bandai Namco, ASUS Republic of Gamers, Sennheiser, Japan Promotion, Logitech and DELL Gaming.

Watch 2017 event highlights here

Visit www.me-gamescon.com for tickets and more information

Save 25% off the ticket price by booking online in advance of the show (Door price: 150 AED). Admission tickets currently start from AED115.50 and are on sale from Platinumlist.net, UAE Exchange and 7eleven stores across the UAE.

DON’T FORGET:

Middle East Games Con’s Indie Developer Zone hosts independent video game developers, showcasing their different productions across several platforms.

Looking for a future career in gaming? Head to the Education Zone to meet universities from the UAE and Abertay University, world-renowned for its premium gaming courses.

Games Con Workshops bring sessions on everything from game development to gaming safety. Find out about the future of gaming from industry professionals and boost your skills with tips and tricks.