They likely have very busy and very structured lives like most professional athletes.

It's not for me, gaming is a hobby to relax with. I've already turned one hobby into work and it stopped being a hobby. I never program anything for myself anymore, haven't even had a compiler installed for years.

Of course I'm a pro gamer! Just unpaid, pro gaming lots of different games on my own terms and schedule :)

I have no interest in watching gaming tournaments beyond a few short clips to marvel at the huge controllers and speed at which they operate them. RTS and fighting games don't interest me and anything else I rather play myself. I never watch sports either apart from a bit of the Olympics.

I have no idea what effect it has on gaming, The only thing I ever see of it is when its mentioned on a gaming website, which is not often. I guess its good for the games they play at those tournaments.

I think pro gamers rarely have life outside of gaming ...

Never desired to be one and never will ...

No I am not a pro gamer and I wouldn't want to be associated as such ...

I do not like the competitive aspect of gaming so I see no appeal in watching them play ...

I view gaming as a hobby so I see no reason for it been a benefit ...

They make way to much money for what they do, just like pro athletes and celebrities. Not judging but I guess that's how the world works.

To answer the last question, without pro gaming we would likely never have had the explosion of Twitch outside of maybe a handful of LP streams. Without Twitch expanding the amount of LP fans and creating a closer community within those fanbases, one could argue that it has helped the gaming community as a whole. Plus, of course, without Twitch games like Dark Souls or The Binding of Isaac may never have picked up steam nearly as much.

So, by extension, I'd argue that Pro Gaming has been beneficial to the gaming community as a whole.

I think they are douches, the guys at least. Watching a guy play a game does nothing for me. It's like watching porn of a guy.

I like watching hot girls play games on twitch though. Most of them aren't pro.

Don't follow the pro gaming circuit. I know they make really good money though. The negative notion i feel towards the whole thing is it being considered a sport.

Fighting games are only genre worthy of a pro tournament, everything else is lame to me, especially RTS. Fighters are also the only genre where you can easily follow everything that is going on.

I absolutely love video games, and I've spent probably around 6 or 7 grand on it, I've probably spent 6 or 7 grand on it, and spent at that many hours playing, and I'm only 19. But I've never gotten into pro gaming. I don't know what it is, I just don't enjoy it. Watching other people play games professionally just isn't fun for me. Probably because of what types of games they generally play. I don't know, I just think COD, LOL, and Star craft is incredibly boring to watch, and those seem to be some of the most popular. Now, if MGO, for example, got a pro league going, I might actually enjoy that.

don't follow pro gamers outside of Dota2.

Dota2 pro scene is something I actively keep up to date on. Enjoy it immensely. TI5 was amazing, USA winning made it even better.

They make a lot of money but they have to devote themselves completely to what they do (even more so than a normal job). Similar to any other pro sports player.

I don't thinks it's something I would do even if I could, but it's obviously worth it for them so good for them