Long boyhood hours spent playing games could pay off

As we have been told to do the things we love and love the things we do, have you ever wondered how such kids can use the games they love to become successful in life?

Luckily, Samart Benjamin Assarasakorn, marketing manager of Masters Football Thailand, a sports marketing and events company, was able to find what he loves to do early in life. Just like the other boys, he loved playing video games, and he was able to make it valuable to his career in a sensible way.

“We are not talking about Solitaire or Minesweeper here, even though they may be one of the pastimes that you play at the office waiting to punch out at 5.30pm. Actually, there are many types of games and many different genres, from the popular FPS [First Person Shooter] – including the grandfathers of FPS, games like Doom or Castle Wolfenstein, the original classics. 

“Many of these games have evolved from mere shoot-em-ups; they’re fun and addictive. To release some stress after a busy work day, it’s sometimes good just to tune out for an hour or two,” he says.

When Samart was growing up in Australia, back in the days of the video arcade, where he had to have plenty of coins at the ready, he wouldn’t go home until all his money was gone. He believes that when he plays a video game he becomes the character that he is controlling, whether he is a soldier shooting terrorists, or Wayne Rooney, Cristiano Ronaldo or Lionel Messi playing FIFA Football from EA Sports (Electronic Arts). 

“Even though you may never be able to afford to buy a Ferrari or a Porsche, you can certainly get behind the wheel of a Ferrari 450 GT driving down Sunset Boulevard while being chased by cop cars in Need For Speed Pursuit. Or you could be driving an Aston Martin DBS whilst pretending you are James Bond, sipping on a Vodka Martini – ‘shaken, not stirred’,” of course,” he said.

Samart’s favourite genre games are third-person shooters, in which you can see your avatar character moving around.

Samart considers his hobby as a great coaching, as his work involves football sponsorship, licensing and image rights for football stars, bringing English Premier League football legends from Manchester Utd, Liverpool, Arsenal and Chelsea to Thailand this year. 

“Playing a game is similar to business; you need to plan, organise, manage people and resources to succeed, and know how to defend your company from fierce marketing strategies that your competitors are using to steal away your clients. Your brain remembers automatically things that you learn quickly through playing games, because they are designed to be fun and exciting, so your brain absorbs it faster,” he adds.

Samart appreciates Steve Jobs as a perfect example of a geeky, nerdy kid who dropped out of school, to pursue his business – Apple Inc, which is now one of the richest companies in the world and the most influential in how we communicate and go about our normal lives. 

“Find your passion, whatever it may be. Become it, and let it become you and you will find great things happen for you,” Samart suggests.

 

Sasikarn Watthanachan is a communications professional. She may be contacted at [email protected].