A group of young gamers recently won almost $7 million in the world’s biggest gaming competition for Defense of the Ancients (Dota) 2. And you thought playing video games amounted to nothing? Here’s a list of life lessons you can learn from playing Dota and other Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (Moba) video games.
1) Things pay off.
Before 16-year-old Syed Sumail Hassan from Pakistan and his team called Evil Geniuses won first place in The International 2015 (TI5) for playing Dota, he sold his bike to have money to play online games. Even if his parents were very skeptical about his gaming, they still believed in him.
2) Persevere.
Clinton Loomis, better known as “Fear” and also a member of Evil Geniuses, was kicked out of the house by his mom because she didn’t approve of his video game career. He moved to a friend’s house and practiced his online gaming skills on an old computer. He used prize money from The International 2011 to buy himself a new computer. From there, he and his team moved in together and spend their days practicing.
3) It’s okay to be the underdog.
Among gamers, the members of the Chinese Dota Elite Community (CDEC) are regarded as the underdogs. Though their second-place finish in the regional qualifiers made them ineligible for TI5, they were a wild card pick and got a slot out of pure luck. The lucky streak continued for these underdogs: After never winning any major competition, CDEC finished second in TI5 and won almost $3 million.
4) Stop blaming your team for mistakes that contributed to your loss.
Look at yourself first, then improve your next game.
5) Always think positively. Negativity only brings the team spirit down.
When you are all pushed up to your Ancient or to your Nexus, always think, “Hey, one more good clash and a hard push and we can win this!” instead of “We should give up and surrender!”
In real-life situations, always look at the brighter side of things. When faced with a test, don’t think you’re going to fail; always think you’re going to pass and do good. When you think positively, good things happen.
6) Teamwork leads to wins.
In a team game, one cannot simply carry all its members to victory. Moba games require communication and cooperation among teammates to win. This applies to team sports and real-life situations as well.
7) Have an objective.
What gamers do to lead them closer to a win is also what focused and organized people do when they want to achieve specific goals in their life.
8) Your team’s support is very valuable. Don’t treat them like trash.
In gaming, it’s common to blame your team’s Support for the mistakes that the team as a whole has committed. The Support’s job is to help the teams get stronger, provide vision around the whole map and take damage from the enemy’s attacks. A Support must accomplish all of this while getting little to no appreciation from teammates. Like the Support, let’s not forget the people who were there for us when we needed them the most, who gave us a boost and who had our back when no one did.
9) Play smart.
In a competitive game, always try to outsmart your opponent. When it seems that you are losing in a clash, make changes and turn the clash around with a smart move. This applies to real life: Think before you do.
10) Practice, practice, practice.
When you’re new to gaming and want to be better, what do you do? Practice, of course. When you want to try out a hero or master a hero, you play that hero again and again until you get the hang of it. Even the simplest and easiest heroes need practice so you can use their full potential. Same with real life.
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