Got news?   tips@destructoid.com  |  Never miss a story:   RSS + Twitter + YouTube
Hey! New here? Destructoid is a gaming discussion community, updated nearly every 20 minutes. Make a quick avatar to comment and enter our contests. Take the tour!
 


Home Educational updates

Teenager drops out of school to focus on Guitar Hero career
3:54 PM on 08.17.2008, Conrad Zimmerman 72 comments

     Educational

Blake Peebles

Meet Blake Peebles, a sixteen year-old from North Carolina who has aspirations of professional gaming. He's so serious about it that he's dropped out of high school to focus on improving his skills full-time, according to this story at The News & Observer. What's more, his parents actually consented to this decision.

Now, before everyone gets into a tizzy about bad parenting practices and poor decision-making, Blake is still receiving an education. His parents have arranged for private tutoring which allows for the boy to practice his gaming late into the night. The arrangement apeears to have improved Blake's study habits as well and his mother, "hasn't once had to tell him to do his homework, because he does it on his own."

Blake isn't earning any serious cash just yet, having only made about $1000 and mostly in non-cash prizes from local tournaments. He has his sights set on bigger things and is heading to a regional qualifying tournament for the World Cyber Games in California this month.

While I'm not sure I could condone behavior such as dropping out of school to pursue a career in playing video games,  it's refreshing to see that Blake's parents were willing and able to help him pursue his goals in a responsible manner. And the kid appears to have a decent head on his shoulders about it, too. Still, pro gaming is a tough racket and I hope he has a few ideas for what he can fall back on if he winds up investing several years into this and doesn't become the next Johnathan Wendel.

 

[Via Kotaku -- Thanks, Pedro!]


Next page: More Professional gaming stories




eternalplayer2345's Avatar
eternalplayer2345 at 08/17/2008 15:55
I remember when I was seven and wanted to drop out of school to be a pokemon master, Then I turned eight and realize how stupid it was.
skoomaster's Avatar
skoomaster at 08/17/2008 16:01
What a Loser... I bet I can beat him in GH easily.
Daxelman's Avatar
Daxelman at 08/17/2008 16:02
I told you. Gaming as a viable job could be screwing America over in someone's eyes, and making the big bucks in someone else.


If this kid makes the cash, I guess we can all just shut up. If he doesn't, rhk had it right.
AwesomeToph's Avatar
AwesomeToph at 08/17/2008 16:05
Best of luck to him, I guess. Needs to get rid of that Jonas Brothers 'do, though.
bahss's Avatar
bahss at 08/17/2008 16:07
While I admire him for following his dream, I can't say I would support my kid doing that. If it were MY kid, I'd say merely, "Get your ass back to school, or I'll put the fear of God back in you." Or, "You can fuck up your own life AFTER your graduate High School." I mean, come on, it's not like you actually have to WORK to pass most High schools in America. Just show up, and shut your shit hole.

Fuck, I passed, with honors, and I didn't do shit.

[/rant]
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask's Avatar
Scary Womanizing Pig Mask at 08/17/2008 16:15
I really feel bad for this kid. It's a parents responsibility to be a paradigm of reason and refute ridiculous ideas like that, and by doing so teach the kid common sense, not to give in to such a ludicrous request. I really hope he reconsiders for the sake of his own future :(
Mxyzptlk's Avatar
Mxyzptlk at 08/17/2008 16:15
As long as he's still getting an education, who cares? I honestly believe he'll learn more from a private tutor than the public school system. If his parents are willing to pay for it, they have every right to do this.

That being said, I wouldn't hold my breath expecting him to make a decent living off professional gaming, so hopefully he's making plans for a back up career just in case.
mrplow8's Avatar
mrplow8 at 08/17/2008 16:31
What's he going to do 10 years from now when the Guitar Hero fad is long dead?
The-Excel's Avatar
The-Excel at 08/17/2008 16:33
@mrplow8:
Move on to Rock Band.
pendelton21's Avatar
pendelton21 at 08/17/2008 16:34
Look, if this kid is still getting an education, and his parents are fully content with his decision, God bless this kid. I hope he does well, in GH or whatever he does later in life.
Holyetheline's Avatar
Holyetheline at 08/17/2008 16:38
Let the kid follow his dreams. Hopefully he doesn't get crushed along the way.
vexed alex's Avatar
vexed alex at 08/17/2008 16:42
I still have no idea how anyone could watch "professional gamers" and be entertained.

@ Heretic

Jesus, you're more negative than Nanbu. How did that happen?
ArrestedDeveloper's Avatar
ArrestedDeveloper at 08/17/2008 16:45
"You just quit school to play Guitar Hero!"

TurboSpaz's Avatar
TurboSpaz at 08/17/2008 16:46
Probably no more crazy than friends I know dropping out of school to be pro surfers.

Still, I dunno how in the crap he talked his parents into this.
Agnostic's Avatar
Agnostic at 08/17/2008 16:54
Smartest decision he will ever make. Any education outside of the public school system should be supported. The professional gaming idea really doesn't matter in the long run.
EX35's Avatar
EX35 at 08/17/2008 17:03
Wow. That's just...wow.

Well, as long as he continues his education, it's all good. Just...if things do bomb...hopefully he'll have a backup. Still, it will be awhile before this kind achieves the ranks of:

PriestMLH
Tipperqueen
Hellsashes
wULFE
Kov

and of course

iamchris4life

Good luck to the kid. He's gonna need it.
Magesx's Avatar
Magesx at 08/17/2008 17:24
Heretic,

America's school system is shit anyway. All were taught is that getting a job in a cubicle is the best thing that could happen to you. Unless your in elementary school where they teach you that you are special which is utter shit since most kids these days I fucking retards who will have a career in pushing buttons all day until they die.

Unless your in elementary school where they teach you that you are special which is utter shit since most kids these days I fucking retards who will have a career in pushing buttons all day until they die.

Unless your in elementary school where they teach you that you are special

Unless your

your
Too Much Coffee Man's Avatar
Too Much Coffee Man at 08/17/2008 17:27
seems like a pipe dream. plus carpel tunnel.
DJP3DRO's Avatar
DJP3DRO at 08/17/2008 17:57
Old, and pathetic.
Hank Peters's Avatar
Hank Peters at 08/17/2008 17:58
Six guitar controllers around his neck.

Bling-bling.
Dr Milkdad's Avatar
Dr Milkdad at 08/17/2008 18:00
What a shit eater, he eats shit.

You've failed at life already kid.
Clockwork's Avatar
Clockwork at 08/17/2008 18:04
IT'S NOT A REAL INSTRUMENT, KID!
randombullseye's Avatar
randombullseye at 08/17/2008 18:05
As I commented on the cblog of this same topic:

I wonder if he can play on expert without even having his guitar hooked up?
Corak's Avatar
Corak at 08/17/2008 18:15
Expecting a follow up interview of him working a part time job and living in his parents basement at age 40 and still having dreams of pro gaming.
Professor Pew's Avatar
Professor Pew at 08/17/2008 18:19
He should be training Starcraft ahead of Starcraft 2 instead :P

At least then you can make a shitload of money in South Korea, unless you are worse than the millions of Korean pro's, hmmmmmmm.
foxhound009's Avatar
foxhound009 at 08/17/2008 18:23
.................
that's stupid.
..............
........
...
how effing dumb do you've got to be in order to
do something like this?
He's 16 !!!
If he was 12... or 11,
but he's 16.
Wow.. earth is overpopulated with this?
pedrovay2003's Avatar
pedrovay2003 at 08/17/2008 18:46
....I seriously can't think of any way to express my disgust.
NihonTiger90's Avatar
NihonTiger90 at 08/17/2008 18:58
He'll be working at Taco Bell in two months.
JiR INC's Avatar
JiR INC at 08/17/2008 19:01
As a student in games I can disagree in what he want's to do end of the day. It's a faze and yes he fag for dropping out of school because what his he gonna when he grows up and apply s for a job.
"Well I did 5 years years in guitar hero the game the game itself"
They will just laugh there ass off

Somebody better get his ass in gear because that will be talent or potential for something else just gone... just for a game....
Orionsaint's Avatar
Orionsaint at 08/17/2008 19:09
Good for you! School is a waste of time. I can understand going to school till maybe 8th grade, but after that it's your responbility to learn on your own using the Web.
bubuli's Avatar
bubuli at 08/17/2008 19:28
he and his parents need to be stabbed on the face...

...twice...

...with a spoon.
Blake's Avatar
Blake at 08/17/2008 19:43
Going to say it now. Not me.

Anyway, yeah. This Kid's an Idiot, and His parents are Unfit to keep him.
Samit Sarkar's Avatar
Samit Sarkar at 08/17/2008 19:56
I...i...is that Sanjaya Malakar?
MechaMonkey's Avatar
MechaMonkey at 08/17/2008 20:18
Let him have his dreams crushed like everyone else.
welkstar's Avatar
welkstar at 08/17/2008 20:33
I just... you know... WOW.
Matlox's Avatar
Matlox at 08/17/2008 20:33
Dumb kid is dumb.
Eschatos's Avatar
Eschatos at 08/17/2008 20:34
Kinda useless. What's he gonna do when the power goes out everywhere?
joeisremy's Avatar
joeisremy at 08/17/2008 20:51
I look forward to see this this kid asking for change in a few years playing his plastic guitar.
Detox's Avatar
Detox at 08/17/2008 20:56
LOL @ his pathetic life
the_real_one's Avatar
the_real_one at 08/17/2008 21:18
you know he is still getting an education an even doing better than he did in school, mayb it won't b so bad if he has a backup career, admit, u guys r just jealous.
dephect's Avatar
dephect at 08/17/2008 21:33
I am Jealous of a person who dropped out of school to play GH... no.

You couldn't be anymore wrong.

He may have one things, but I fear he just one himself a one way ticket to his parents basement until he is 43.
mistic's Avatar
mistic at 08/17/2008 21:34
He's so serious about it that he's dropped out of high school to focus on improving his skills full-time, according to this story at The News & Observer. What's more, his parents actually consented to this decision.

such horrible parenting...

What an idiot!
ace of knaves's Avatar
ace of knaves at 08/17/2008 22:55
@Samit:
Sadly, I thought the exact same thing.
michiyoyoshiku's Avatar
michiyoyoshiku at 08/17/2008 23:14
He better learn these words and fast

"Hey buddy got a quarter"

Pro gamers are the biggest pieces of shit on Earth the lowest of the low. The most vile disgusting lazy fucks ever created.
TrailerParkJesus's Avatar
TrailerParkJesus at 08/17/2008 23:48
I wonder what his plans are for college.

Competitive eating? Professional power walking? Rock-paper-scissors championship?
Matlox's Avatar
Matlox at 08/17/2008 23:53
"Pro gamers are the biggest pieces of shit on Earth the lowest of the low. The most vile disgusting lazy fucks ever created."

QFT.

There's nothing special about pro gamers. They have to practice so much to get ahead of the competition, it's a joke. Can you honestly imagine just playing one game every day for hours on end for months? I'm willing to bet it'll become a chore after a bit. I have no idea how it doesn't drive these people to the brink of insanity. Not just that, but I'd also like to know what other games these so called "pro gamers" play. I had no idea spending all your time on a single video game made you a hardcore gamer.

The lifestyle itself is just completely ridiculous too. I don't give two fucks about how much money they make through sponsors, tournaments, etc. Money doesn't equate happiness or success in life. The fact is, spending all your time playing one or two video games every day of your life isn't anything fulfilling. You're not creating art, you're not reading, expanding your knowledge, exploring what life has to offer, etc. All you're doing is sitting in your room playing a video game. Absolutely pathetic.

I'm willing to bet this is just a quick phase in this kid's life. He'll become disheartened and bored within a few months, and if he doesn't, then he must really be easily amused because no matter how hard I try, I can't wrap my head around the concept of someone playing the same damn game day in, day out, without playing any others, while somehow managing to stay entertained.
ZombieEmily's Avatar
ZombieEmily at 08/18/2008 00:04
That kid is going to have a great career at McDonald's, I mean a pro gamer >.>
Matlox's Avatar
Matlox at 08/18/2008 00:17
"I wonder what his plans are for college.

Competitive eating? Professional power walking? Rock-paper-scissors championship?"

I lol'd.

Pro power walking ftw.
prev next 50 comments

Returning Dtoiders: login now to post a comment

Destructoid is an open discussion community. You don't need to "audition" to post a comment - just Create an avatar now - it's fast and free: PLUS you also get your own gaming blog and begin posting stories and uploading videos in our open community area that may also appear on our home page. Sign up and we'll guide you through it, it's easy and 100% anonymous.




 Original Videos

 Reviews
Mad Dog McCree Gunslinger Pack
Overlord II
Yosumin Live!
Let's Tap
Ghostbusters: The Video Game (Wii)
View all Game Reviews

 Community blogs -   39769 Dtoiders!

This month's theme: Untapped Potential

New to Dtoid? Read the survival guide


 Originals

How Pokemon Red is blatantly better than Pokemon Blue











more original Destructoid stories


 Popular now more













Destructoid is:
Nick Chester
Editor-in-Chief		 Jim Sterling
Reviews Editor
Dale North
News Editor		 Hamza Aziz
Community Manager
Anthony Burch
Features Editor		 Rey Gutierrez
Video editor & director
Niero
Founder, publisher
Letters to the editors
tips@destructoid.com
Associate Editors
Ashley Davis Jonathan Holmes
Brad Nicholson Jonathan Ross
Brad Rice Jordan Devore
Chad Concelmo Matthew Razak
Colette Bennett Tom Fronczak
Conrad Zimmerman Topher Cantler
Dyson Samit Sarkar
Contributors
Adam Dork
Ben Perlee
Daniel Lingen
Joseph Leray		 Joe Burling
Mikey
Will Maddock
Stella Wong




get involved

register or login
post a blog
post a forum
enter a contest
discuss a review
contribute a news tip
write a guest editorial
 support

new member's guide
login assistance
tech support
report abuse
email our editors
read our dev blog
nuclear crisis?
 keep in touch

RSS feed
Twitter
Facebook
Myspace
Flickr
Game nights
Meet-ups 		seriously

about us
advertising
terms of use
privacy policy
jobs at MM
buy our crap 		our network

Tomopop
Japanator



Destructoid is an independently-run publication forged by our love of video games and the gaming community's need of accountable enthusiast press
living the dream since March 16, 2006