Can you make a living as a gamer in South Africa? Pro gamers weigh in

Danny Painter and Philicity Reeken love playing games - and they aren't too bad at it too. But are they good enough to become pro gamers and earn proper money from this skill? 

The Scenic Drive spoke to pro gamers Barry Louzada and Jana du Toita about it. 

A pro gamer is a full-time competitive player who is paid to play video games. It's almost like a career in the gaming field. 

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Most professional players are normally paid by their teams or sponsors to compete in the biggest esports tournaments around the world.

One of these individuals is, Barry Louzada who is a pro gamer and the founder of Mettlestate. 

Mettlestate is a premium esports and gaming authority in South Africa aiming to be the leader in content creation by combining outstanding production, excellent talent and lively events to cultivate more interest in the competitive gaming industry as well as compliment the casual video gaming scene.

"You can work in gaming and not be a gamer. You can be a social media manager."

"People say gaming is unhealthy, but this is a profession and you must take care of yourself. Not every game is stressful and intense."

"Yes, it can be addictive, however, you gain great friends. If you have a problem, you need to talk to someone." 

Jana du Toit is a proud Afrikaans pro gamer standard-bearer for women in South African esports. 

"I have a full-time job, and I have been gaming for about five-years. I have been travelling the world for tournaments."

"For me, it's all about time management. When it is time for bed, it is time for bed." 

'There are several ways of earning money in gaming. You can even become a narrator of a game."

Tune in to the 'Scenic Drive with Rian', weekdays from 16:00-19:00. Stream the show live here or download our mobile app here.

Images: Supplied/ Barry Louzada & Jana du Toit