How video game skills can get you ahead in life | William Collis

Transcriber:

譯者: 昭誼 呂 審譯者: Amanda Zhu

In 2019,

在 2019 年，

the highest paid athlete in the world

世界上收入最高的運動員

was an Argentine footballer named Lionel Messi.

是阿根廷足球運動員 利昂內爾・梅西。

And his talent?

至於他的才華？

Dribbling a ball down a pitch and booting it past a goalkeeper.

他能夠盤球穿越球場， 然後把球踢過守門員。

It's a skill so revered by fans and corporate sponsors alike,

這個技能極受粉絲和贊助商尊崇，

that in 2019,

以至於在 2019 年，

Messi took home 104 million dollars.

梅西賺進了一億零四百萬美元，

That's almost two million dollars for every goal he scored in season.

等於是賽季裡每進一球 就進帳近兩百萬美元。

He's a pretty spectacular athlete by any standard.

無論就什麼標準而言， 他都是個相當令人讚嘆的運動員。

But why is it Messi's particular skills are so valuable?

但為什麼梅西獨特的技能這麼有價值？

Sure, there are obvious answers.

當然，有些答案顯而易見。

We just have enormous respect for athletic prowess,

我們對傑出的運動才能 懷有極高的尊崇，

we love human competition,

我們喜愛人類間的競賽，

and sports unite generations.

運動也凝聚了各個世代。

You can enjoy watching soccer with your grandfather

你可以和祖父或孫女一起享受足球賽。

and your granddaughter alike.

But growing up, I admired a different sort of athlete.

但隨著成長，我欽佩的是 一個不同類別的運動員。

I didn't just want to bend it like Beckham.

我不想要像貝克漢那樣踢出香蕉球，

I loved video games

我熱愛的是電子遊戲，

and I was floored by the intricate strategies

玩遊戲所需的複雜戰略 和精確的反射動作深深吸引著我。

and precision reflexes required to play them well.

To me, they were equally admirable

對我而言，它們 和體育場裡的一切一樣可敬。

to anything taking place in stadia around the world.

And I still feel that way.

現在我依然這麼認為。

Today, I still love video games,

時至今日，我依舊熱愛電子遊戲，

I founded successful companies in the space

我在這個領域創立了 幾間成功的公司，

and I've even written a book about the industry.

甚至寫了一本關於這個產業的書。

But most importantly,

但最重要的是，

I've discovered I'm not alone,

我發現我並不孤單，

because as I've grown up, so has gaming.

因為我長大了， 電子遊戲也跟著我成長了。

And today, millions of players around the world

時至今日，全球數百萬玩家的競技 必須在遊戲場館裡進行，

need to compete in gaming centers

like this helix,

像是這個螺旋電競場，

and large gaming tournaments,

而且，大型電子遊戲競賽，

like the League of Legends World Championships

比如《英雄聯盟》世界冠軍賽，

can reach over 100 million viewers online.

線上觀眾可能超過一億人，

That's more than some Super Bowls.

比一些超級盃競賽的觀賞者還多。

And Lionel Messi isn’t the only pro getting [paid] for his skills.

利昂內爾·梅西不是唯一 靠技術獲得報酬的專業人士

Top gaming teams can take home 15 million dollars or more

頂尖的遊戲隊伍單從一場 像 Dota 國際邀請賽的競賽中

from a single tournament like Dota's Invitational.

就可以贏得一千五百萬美元以上。

And all this is why traditional sports stars,

這就是傳統的運動明星，

from David Beckham to Shaquille O'Neal,

從大衛·貝克漢到俠客·歐尼爾，

are investing in competitive games,

都投資電競遊戲的原因，

transforming our industry,

使我們的產業，電子競技，

now called esports,

into a 27-billion-dollar phenomenon, almost overnight.

幾乎在一夜之間轉型成 驚人的 270 億美元產業。

But despite all this,

但儘管如此，

the skills required to be a pro gamer still don't get much respect.

職業電競選手必備的技能 依舊不很受到尊重。

Parents hound their gamer-loving kids to go outside, do something useful,

家長趕他們熱愛遊戲的孩子去戶外、 去做些有用的事，

take up a real sport.

要他們從事真正的運動。

And I'm not saying that physical activity isn't important,

我不是說體能活動不重要，

or that esports are somehow better than traditional sports.

也不是說電競比傳統的運動更好。

What I want to argue

我想說的是，

is that it takes real skill to be good at competitive video games.

要在高度競爭的遊戲裡表現出色 有其必要的技術。

So let's take a look at the skills required to win in Fortnite,

我們來看看，要在《要塞英雄》、 《英雄聯盟》、《火箭聯盟》獲勝

League of Legends, Rocket League,

需要些什麼技能。

some of today's most popular esports.

這幾個是現在最熱門的電競遊戲。

Now, all of these games are very different.

這些遊戲各異其趣，

League of Legends is about controlling a magical champion

《英雄聯盟》要操控 一個有魔法的戰鬥者，

as they siege an opposing fortress with spells and abilities.

用咒語和技能圍攻敵方的堡壘。

Fortnite is about parachuting into 100-person free-for-all

《要塞英雄》是跳傘進入一個 天堂般的熱帶島嶼上的

on a tropical island paradise

百人免費競賽，

and Rocket League is soccer with cars,

《火箭聯盟》裡有足球和賽車，

which, while it may sound strange, I promise, is incredibly fun.

雖然聽起來有些奇怪， 但我保證超級好玩。

And yet, all of these three esports,

儘管這三種電競遊戲都不相同，

despite their differences, and most competitive games, actually

競爭性最高的遊戲 都有三種共通的技能，

have three common categories of skill.

And I'm going to take you through each in turn.

我將分別介紹。

The first type of skill required to master esports is mechanical skill,

精通電競需要的第一種技能 是操控技巧，

sometimes referred to as micro.

有時被稱為「微觀」。

Mechanical skill governs activating and aiming in-game abilities

操控技巧主導了遊戲中的啟動和瞄準， 並具有一個像素也不差的精確度，

with pixel-perfect accuracy.

And I'd most liken mechanical skill to playing an instrument like piano.

我認為操控技巧和演奏樂器最相像，

例如彈鋼琴。

There's a musical flow and a timing to predict

對手的動作和反應 有節奏和時機可供預測。

in your opponent's actions and reactions.

And crucially, just like piano,

重要的是，就像彈鋼琴，

top esports pros hit dozens of keys at once.

頂尖的電競玩家可以同時按幾十個鍵。

Gamers regularly achieve APMs, or actions per minute,

玩家時常在一分鐘內 進行三百個以上的動作，

of 300 or more,

which is roughly one command every fifth of a second

這大概是每五分之一秒下一個指令。

and in particularly mechanically demanding esports,

在特別要求操控技巧的電競項目中，

like StarCraft,

例如《星海爭霸》，

top pros achieve APMs of 600 or more,

頂尖的職業選手每分鐘進行 六百個以上的動作，

allowing them to literally control entire armies one unit at a time.

這使他們得以同時控制 一整個部隊裡的每個單位。

To give you an idea of how difficult this is,

為了讓你了解這有多困難，

imagine a classic game like Super Mario Brothers.

想像一個經典遊戲， 比如《超級瑪利歐兄弟》，

But instead of controlling one Mario, there are now two hundred,

但控制的不是只有 一個瑪利歐，而是兩百個，

and instead of playing on one screen, you're playing across dozens,

而且不是在一個螢幕上玩， 而是幾十個，

each set to a different level or stage.

每個都被設定在不同的等級或狀態。

And now Mario can't just run or jump, but he has new powers,

而且瑪利歐不只會跑動或跳躍， 他有新的能力，

teleportations, cannon blast, things like that,

比如像人體遠距傳輸、爆炸之類的，

that have to be activated with split-second timing.

都必須在轉瞬即逝的時機啟動。

Yeah, it is really hard

把《星海爭霸》這類 要求操控技術的遊戲玩好很困難。

to play mechanically demanding esports like StarCraft well.

Now the second category of skill required to master esports

現在來談談精通電競 所需的第二種技能，

is strategic skill, sometimes called macro.

也就是策略技能，有時稱為「宏觀」。

And this governs the larger tactical choices gamers make.

它主導了玩家大範圍的戰術性決策。

And I'd liken and strategic skill to mastery of chess.

我認為策略技能和精通西洋棋很相似，

You have to plan attacks and counterattacks

你必須計畫進攻和反擊，

and manipulate the digital battlefield to your advantage.

並且依自己的利益操控電子戰場。

But crucially, unlike chess, esports are constantly evolving.

但重要的是，跟西洋棋不同， 電競會不斷進化。

A popular esport like Fortnite can patch almost every week.

像是《要塞英雄》的熱門電競項目 可能幾乎每週都有修正檔。

And even the most competitive esports

而且連最高度競爭的電競項目，

like Rainbow Six Siege update every quarter,

例如《虹彩六號》，每一季都會更新，

and these changes aren't just cosmetic.

而這些更新並非只是表面裝飾，

They introduce new abilities, new heroes, new maps.

它們引進新的能力、 新的英雄角色、新的地圖。

Constant change requires adaptivity.

面對不斷的更新需要適應能力。

It asks esports pros to do more than just practice

職業電競選手要養成適應力 需要的不只是練習，

but to theorize and invent.

而是要建立理論並發明玩法。

Now, gamers call this constantly evolving suite of strategies

玩家稱這個持續演進的 策略套裝為「元遊戲」，

the meta, short for the "metagame."

And it would be like if every few weeks

以籃球為例，就像是它的規則

the rules of basketball fundamentally evolved.

每隔幾個禮拜就有根本上的演進。

Maybe three-pointers are now worth five points,

可能是三分球現在價值五分，

or NBA pros can dribble out of bounds.

或是 NBA 職業球員可以越線運球。

If this happened,

如果這發生了，

basketball would permit for new strategies to win games

要贏得籃球比賽就需要新的戰術，

and the teams that discovered these new strategies first

然後先發現這些新戰術的球隊 會有巨大但可能是短暫的優勢。

would have a big, if temporary, advantage.

And this is exactly what happens in esports

這就是每次出現了修正檔或更新時 確實發生在電競領域的事情。

every time there's a patch or update.

Competitive gaming rewards its most creative

最有創意和最不按常規思考的人 在高強度的電競中最容易取勝。

and unconventional thinkers with free wins.

Now, the last category of skill required to be good at esports is leadership,

電競需要的最後一個技能是領導力， 也被稱作「號令技巧」。

sometimes referred to as shot calling.

Esports pros are constantly in private voice-chat communications

專業電競選手時常和隊友 以私人語音通話，

with their teammates,

supplemented by a system of in-game pings.

並且在遊戲中傳送訊息來補強。

This is what allows a team of League of Legends pros

這種技能使一個《英雄聯盟》 專業隊伍的五個終極玩家

to coordinate a spectacular barrage of five-man ultimates,

迅速利用對手小小的位置錯誤

flashing in to capitalize on a minor mispositioning by their opponents.

協調出令人驚嘆的密集火力。

And leadership skill is also what allows game captains to rally their teammates

領導力也使隊長能在危機來臨時 召集他們的隊友，

in moments of crisis

and inspire them to make one last risky all-in assault

並激勵隊友冒險對敵方放手一搏， 全力做最後進攻。

on the opposing base.

And I'd argue this is the same type of leadership

我認為這類領導力 普遍在決策者和隊長身上展現。

exuded by executives and team captains everywhere.

It's the ability to seize opportunity,

這種能力讓你能抓住機會，

clearly and decisively communicate decisions

清楚且果斷地傳達決定， 並且激勵其他人跟隨你的領導。

and inspire others to follow your lead.

And all these three categories of skill,

操控技巧、策略技能 和領導力這三種技能

mechanical, strategic and leadership,

they have a crucial element in common.

有著重要的共通元素：

They're all almost entirely mental.

他們幾乎完全是心理層面的。

Unlike my ability to have a basketball career at five-foot-ten,

想想以我五呎十吋的身高 打職業籃球的可能性，

esports doesn’t care how tall I am,

相較之下，電競不在乎我的身高、 我的性別認同、我的年紀。

what gender I identify as, how old I am.

In fact, esports controllers can even be adapted

事實上，電競控制器甚至可以調整 以適應特殊的生理需求。

to pros with unique physical needs.

Look at gamers like "Brolylegs" who can't move his arms or legs

看看 Brolylegs 這樣的玩家， 他無法移動手臂或腿；

or "Halfcoordinated," who has limited use of his right hand.

或 Halfcoordinated， 他無法完全使用右手。

And these pros don't just compete, they set records.

然而這些職業級選手不只參賽， 他們也締造紀錄。

Now, I'm not here to argue that esports is some sort of egalitarian paradise.

我不是在此辯稱 電競是某種平等的天堂。

Our industry has real issues to address,

我們的產業有真實存在的 問題需要解決，

particularly around inclusivity for women,

特別是關於某些族群的兼容性，

像是女性、被邊緣化的族群 和沒有平等機會接觸科技產品的人。

marginalized groups and those without equitable access to technology.

But just because esports has a long way to go,

但電競還有很長的路要走 不代表其中的技能不值得尊重。

doesn't mean its skills don't deserve respect.

And what particularly bugs me

特別困擾我的是，

is how often we ascribe such enormous value

傳統的體育人才就算在競技場外， 我們仍經常賦予很大的價值。

to traditional athletic talents off the field.

How many times have we been in a job interview setting, let's say,

我們經常在像是工作面試的場合中

and heard somebody say something like,

聽到有人說類似這樣的話：

"Well, John is a phenomenally qualified candidate.

「約翰超級符合資格， 他是大學袋棍球隊的隊長。」

He was captain of his college lacrosse team."

Really?

真的嗎？

John is going to be a great digital marketer

約翰會是個數位行銷人才，

because he can hurl a ball really far with a stick?

因為他可以用棍子把球拋得老遠？

Come on, we would not apply that logic anywhere else.

得了吧，我們不會把這個邏輯 用在其他地方。

"Stand aside, scientists,

「靠邊站！科學家們，

Sarah is my choice to repair this nuclear reactor.

我選擇莎拉來修理核子反應爐，

After all, she played varsity soccer."

因為她在足球校隊踢球。」

No, what we mean when we say

不是這樣的，當我們說 約翰或莎拉很能夠勝任一個工作，

John or Sarah is phenomenally qualified for a job

is that because of their experiences playing traditional sports,

那是因為藉由從事傳統運動的經驗，

they have developed traits with real value in the workplace:

他們發展出在工作場域 具有實際價值的特質：

diligence, perseverance, teamwork.

勤奮、堅持、團隊合作。

And think of how I've just described esports to you.

然後想想我剛才如何描述電競，

Doesn't it sound like mechanical skill, strategic skill, leadership,

難道操控技巧、策略能力和領導力 不會發展出這些特質？

wouldn't those develop all those same traits too?

And more to the point,

更重要的是，

in today's fast-paced digital-office environment,

在今日步調快速的 數位化工作環境中，

I think I might rather have a pro gamer on my team than a traditional athlete.

比起傳統運動員，我更希望 我的團隊有職業級電競玩家。

After all, I know they can be charismatic and decisive over voice chat

畢竟，我知道他們可以在語音通話時 展現魅力並且敢於決斷，

and I'm sure doing a lot of Zoom calls today in my business.

而我現在會在公司 進行許多 Zoom 會議。

So maybe now I've convinced you

所以現在，或許我已說服你

that esports and video games deserve a little more respect.

電競和電子遊戲值得多一點尊重。

But if not, let me try to make one last final appeal.

但如果你還沒被說服， 讓我嘗試最後一個論點。

Because look at it this way.

這麼看吧，

Our society is changing.

我們的社會正在改變

Technology is fundamentally infiltrating every aspect of our daily lives,

科技正逐漸滲透 日常生活的每個面向，

transforming everything from how we work to how we fall in love.

從工作到戀愛 改變每件事情進行的方式，

Why should sports be any different?

為什麼運動該不一樣？

You know, I think of my own childhood, you know.

我想起自己的童年，

I grew up watching the World Cup with my family,

成長過程中，我和家人一起看世界盃，

and I learned to love soccer in large part because I watched it with my dad.

我學會喜愛足球，

很大部分是因為我和爸爸一起看球賽。

And I would have loved doing anything with him.

我喜愛和他一起做的任何事。

And now I think of my own sons.

現在我想到我的兒子們。

But instead of soccer, we're watching esports,

我們不看足球，我們看電競，

not the violent ones, mind you.

但不是暴力的那種。

But I'm building the same sorts of memories with my kids

但我正和孩子們創造共同的回憶，

that my father did with me.

就像我爸爸跟我一起做的一樣。

We're marveling at the same skill and reveling in the same victory.

我們讚嘆相同的技巧， 陶醉於相同的勝利。

It is an identical feeling of pure awe and excitement.

那是完全相同的感受， 純粹的讚嘆和興奮。

It's just a different game.

只是觀賞的競賽不同而已。

Thank you very much.

非常感謝。