Brian Otieno Diang’a
Chebet Korir
What does your job entail?
I am a professional gamer, designer, photographer and a Blaze mentor. My jobs entail competing with other gamers, being creative, having an eye for good picture frames and as a mentor, I talk about my journey in the gaming world and life itself.
Who is a professional gamer and can one make a career out of it?
A pro gamer is a full-time competitive player who is paid to play games. It’s like any other career. The job entails competing in tournaments around the world amongst other pro gamers and getting paid, usually by one’s team or sponsors.
How did you get started as a pro gamer?
I started in 2015 when Vivid Gold hosted the first fighting game tournament in Kenya at Imax. It was there and then that I decided this was it. I had only been seeing this happen abroad, so for it to actually come to pass during my time, I was swept away.
What was your first character?
Jax Briggs, a Mortal Kombat (MK) gaming character. I watched MK movies as a kid and his character was just me. Big guy, metal arms, and I played all the MK’s he was in. He was and still is my favourite character.
What are some of the challenges you have faced as a pro gamer and what advice do you have to upcoming gamers?
I faced all the challenges you can imagine. First, TVs and consoles are expensive. Before I could own one, the sweat put in was crazy. When you get the console, you have to buy the games. It was quite challenging, but through hard work and practice, I managed.
What do you love most about technology?
It brings the wildest of our imaginations on our fingertips.
In your opinion, what are the biggest dangers and opportunities for Africa as far as technology adoption is concerned?
Technology can cause laziness, addiction, reduce social interaction and promote norms that go against African cultures and traditions. However, on the other hand, it has created jobs, eased access to information and also the spread of information. Again, it has given space for African inventors to grow and showcase their inventions.
Which is your latest gadget?
Sony Bluetooth earphones. I use them all the time. The fact that they connect to various devices makes me at ease.
Which gadget wouldn’t you trade for anything?
My earphones, I love music, and PlayStation of course.
Your worst gadget ever?
It has to be my PlayStation 2. It was a gamble for a game to actually start; you had to try a few times before a game worked.
What gadget do you use the most?
My phone.
Which are your most vital apps on the phone?
Strava (a cycling and running app), Instagram, Pinterest and YouTube (social media), as well as Farm Heros Saga, Piano Tiles and Subway Surfers (gaming apps).
Is your phone also the gadget you cannot live without?
That would be the PlayStation. I’m a gamer, it’s my life.
If you were to upgrade one of your most valuable gadgets, what would you opt for?
PlayStation 4 to a PlayStation 4 Pro. This is because of efficiency, and more importantly, it has sufficient storage, which is key for most devices these days.
While shopping for gadgets, do you look for brands or output?
I think brands determine the output and most of the time, I opt for Sony.
If you were to choose between iOS and Windows which one would it be?
Windows. It is easy to use, has perfect sharing capability and the user interface is simple, anyone can easily use it.
The gadget you always wish you had?
The Predator gaming laptop. The machine is a beast.
