This is by no means “news,” just an interesting topic of conversation sent in as a tip. Some of you may know a few Guitar Hero addicts or maybe you are one yourself, but do you think it’s a little excessive if a high school student drops-out so that he can concentrate more on the game?
Back in mid-Summer, NewsObserver.com reported on a young-man named Blake Peebles who at age 16, was given permission from his parents to drop out of school so that he could focus on Guitar Hero. Granted, he does have a private tutor which his parents pay for, but the fact of the matter is that he has the tutor because school was taking away from his Guitar Hero time.
Peebles is into some competitive gaming at a local level, but the problem is that competitive gaming isn’t very lucrative at this point. While some of the very best gamers can earn about 80,000 a year, they say that on average, gamers are more likely to make about $20,000 to $30,000, if that. Peelbes has done well when it comes to tournaments in his area, winning about $1,000 in cash, but it’s going to be a different story if he starts participating in some of the larger competitions around the country and even around the World, where there are many others participating that are just as talented.
According to one competitive gamer who won the national championship for Halo 2, being successful as a competitive gamer is tough. He says, “when you want to go somewhere with this gaming stuff, you’ve got to be in the top 1 percent.” So what do you think? Was it worth it for Peebles to quit high school so that he could focus on Guitar Hero in hopes of becoming the next big competitive player?
Thanks for the anonymous tip!
Assuming all the facts are correct–let me think for 1/2 a second—Uhmmmm, I think his parents were out of there mind at worse, and at best completely irresponsible. To the kid–I would suggest a life of school, hanging out at malls, listening to loud music, falling asleep in math class, sneaking the occasional beer….to the parents I scream Grow UP!!
I second that, Katy! I actually read that article when it first came out and the parents were actually quoted as saying they took him out of school because “they were tired of the complaining.” (The kid always said school was a waste of time.) Well, guess what?! Almost ALL kids think school is a waste of time at one point or another, but all of our parents made us go. You are PARENTS here, people. If he whines, pull rank, tell him to shut up and get to school, or you’ll take AWAY the games. It’s obviously who they’ve let be in charge here…
I think everyone should do what they believe in. No one knows how your life would be. I believe that no matter how hard it is, you will always be able to find your way as long as you keep trying do what you are believe in, and it isn’t very easy when everybody seems to laugh at you. Sometimes a big success coming from something that doesn’t seem to have a good future at all. Sometimes a big success coming from an idea that everybody else thinks it is a ridiculous one. Yes, quitting from school to play a game sounds ridiculous, but who knows that it perhaps is the one thing that leads to Peebles becoming a success person in the future?
Another kid ruined by incredibly stupid parents..
People mostly laugh at others taking risks coz they’re too scared to do it themselves.
I wonder if this kid realizes how good some of the other gamers are out there? I also think that some of the gamers who make decent money are those that are well versed in several different games. If he’s only focusing on one game he probably won’t get very far.
Gee, back in the days kids quit school to be guitar heroes, not to play Guitar Hero
I find this extremely sad. I don’t know how fit these adults are to be parents to allow their child to drop out of school to play video games. At least they hired a private tutor, but I think this kid made a poor decision and he will see the consequences in the long run.
That made me laugh
Unfortunately it is true!