| Every year, competitions held around the world | | | | experience, for what could be worse than one of |
| bring together gamers from all corners of the | | | | the team dropping out of the contest when their |
| Earth. | | | | connection drops. Although for most this is not a |
| But these aren't just any gamers, these are the | | | | problem, for a lot of these teams live locally to |
| professionals, after honing their skills through | | | | each other and are able to host LAN (Local Area |
| participation in vast online gaming campaigns they | | | | Network) parties in order to co-ordinate missions, |
| congregate in their thousands to take part in | | | | strategise amongst themselves and just generally |
| competitions - from Major League Gaming in the | | | | try to outdo each other in the game environment. |
| US, to international contests such as the World | | | | However, there are some who congregate for |
| Cyber Games. | | | | these contests, but they could live in different |
| Professional gamers look to not only have the | | | | countries, having to use their broadband providers |
| best skills, but also the best looking PC - heavily | | | | to play online and strategise through use of |
| modified to both look good and run efficiently - | | | | in-game messaging and voice-chat technology. So |
| with a wide range of different equipment available | | | | important is a reliable connection for the purposes |
| for sprucing up your PC. | | | | of online gaming, cheap broadband providers now |
| From cooling systems to neon keyboards, | | | | offer a range of deals to suit every skill level of |
| gamers can now modify their machines in much | | | | gaming, whether it be computer or console. |
| the same way as those who modify their cars | | | | Professional gaming has become big business, with |
| and motorbikes. From custom cases and shiny | | | | competitions sponsored by big budget companies |
| vent covers to coolant systems involving clear | | | | - usually specialising in the worlds of technology |
| pipes running intricately through their computers - | | | | and broadband as well as the production of the |
| usually with coloured water running through to add | | | | games on show. These contests generate |
| to the effect. | | | | interest from all over the world, even breaking |
| Combining bling with broadband, these enthusiasts | | | | into the world of television - with a selection of |
| can spend thousands on improving their systems, | | | | channels now available on cable television or |
| both inside and out, using a wide variety of | | | | through live streams which utilise the viewer's |
| themes - usually based around science fiction - in | | | | broadband connection. |
| order to showcase the internal workings of their | | | | Viewers around the world are now given the |
| machines. | | | | opportunity to watch the action-packed events |
| As well as the visual 'wow factor' of their | | | | unfold, usually through split-screen technology, |
| machines, for these gamers the need of a reliable | | | | which allows the progress of each participant to |
| broadband connection is paramount to the gaming | | | | be monitored throughout the game. |