Celeb dad Eric Tai limits gaming time to keep peace at home
Published Jun 14, 2019 09:16 am
Some people become so addicted to gaming that it becomes harmful to their studies, work, and even relationships. TV personality and avid gamer Eric “Eruption” Tai was no exception.
Eric Tai
“I was so addicted to it at one point that I almost lost direction. It was just gaming and ‘Showtime.’ Then when I’d make plans, like ‘let’s watch a movie,’ (I’d keep postponing because) ‘One game first,’” he said.
You can imagine how his wife, Rona, felt about it. The two have a son, three-month-old Legend.
“She’d get mad,” Eric said. “We almost broke up due to (online game) DOTA. She almost left and would have gone back to Seattle.”
Eventually, Rona made a deal that he can only play thrice a week. There was no limit on time as long as he does his work first.
“A year later, I started making money off these events. I started hosting events and joined celebrity games. Rona noticed that this is what people see with Eruption, working with genuine passion. So, she saw that in me and said ‘Do whatever you want. As long as you’re responsible, I trust you,’” he said. “She knows it’s my passion and now I’m making money off it and it doesn’t feel like work.”
Eric with wife and their son (Instagram)
Eric leveled up his gaming until he became one of the most popular game streamers in the country, and one of the highest ranked in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Eric said it’s from gaming that they were able to save up to have a baby through in vitro fertilization procedure.
“I was doing two to three events per month. Sometimes I’d get lucky and have five events,” he recalled.
Despite his gaming expertise, Eric doesn’t consider himself a professional gamer but a “hardworking and passionate gamer.”
“I’m in the highest ranks. So, I was the first celebrity who ranked first. It just goes to show that I put in the hard work and I also study the game.
“I haven’t really announced it but I just signed a contract with Facebook. You get paid to play games and it doesn’t even feel like work.”
Being a popular game streamer, Eric hopes to influence kids about gaming in a positive way.
“For me, for the next year, I hope I’m still streaming and creating more content and hopefully, help motivate the kids. Now, when you say gamer, they’re thin or not active. So, I want to be an ambassador to kids that gaming is also great. Study. Go to school. Follow your other passions. Don’t just waste time playing and playing. Balance your life,” he said.
“Balance is key to everything. I’m thankful that I was an athlete. When I was a kid, I was into sports. My parents told me to study first then I can play a game. In order for me to play a game, I have to do house chores first, then homework, and sports. Athletes know discipline.
“Now that I am an adult, my priorities have changed. I have a kid now. So, it’s father responsibilities of providing for the family, fostering love at home for the wife and the kids and even kasambahay. Once all of that is done, I can do the gaming thing.”
Eric hosted the recent Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup press conference, during which the official Group Stage draw was conducted. The 12 participating teams were drawn into four groups for the highly-anticipated US$120,000 prize pool tournament.
The full team lineup comprising of 12 teams from 9 different countries are: ArkAngel (MPL-PH Season 3 Champion), Bren Esports (MPL-PH Season 3 Runner-up), Onic Esports (MPL-ID Season 3 Champion), Louvre Esports (MPL-ID Season 3 Runner-up), Geek Fam (MPL-MY/SG Season 3 Champion), EVOS Esports SG (MPL-MY/SG Season 3 Runner-up), Team Resolution (MPL-MM Season 2 Champion), Burmese Ghouls (MPL-MM Season 2 Runner-up), Team IDNS (Thailand qualified team), Overclockers (Vietnam qualified team), Diversity Helheim (Cambodia qualified team), and WAWA Gaming (Laos qualified team).
MSC 2019’s Group Stage will take place on the June 19th and 20th and available to fans for online viewing on the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Facebook page. The main event is from the 21st through the 23rd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.
Eric Tai
“I was so addicted to it at one point that I almost lost direction. It was just gaming and ‘Showtime.’ Then when I’d make plans, like ‘let’s watch a movie,’ (I’d keep postponing because) ‘One game first,’” he said.
You can imagine how his wife, Rona, felt about it. The two have a son, three-month-old Legend.
“She’d get mad,” Eric said. “We almost broke up due to (online game) DOTA. She almost left and would have gone back to Seattle.”
Eventually, Rona made a deal that he can only play thrice a week. There was no limit on time as long as he does his work first.
“A year later, I started making money off these events. I started hosting events and joined celebrity games. Rona noticed that this is what people see with Eruption, working with genuine passion. So, she saw that in me and said ‘Do whatever you want. As long as you’re responsible, I trust you,’” he said. “She knows it’s my passion and now I’m making money off it and it doesn’t feel like work.”
Eric with wife and their son (Instagram)
Eric leveled up his gaming until he became one of the most popular game streamers in the country, and one of the highest ranked in Mobile Legends: Bang Bang. Eric said it’s from gaming that they were able to save up to have a baby through in vitro fertilization procedure.
“I was doing two to three events per month. Sometimes I’d get lucky and have five events,” he recalled.
Despite his gaming expertise, Eric doesn’t consider himself a professional gamer but a “hardworking and passionate gamer.”
“I’m in the highest ranks. So, I was the first celebrity who ranked first. It just goes to show that I put in the hard work and I also study the game.
“I haven’t really announced it but I just signed a contract with Facebook. You get paid to play games and it doesn’t even feel like work.”
Being a popular game streamer, Eric hopes to influence kids about gaming in a positive way.
“For me, for the next year, I hope I’m still streaming and creating more content and hopefully, help motivate the kids. Now, when you say gamer, they’re thin or not active. So, I want to be an ambassador to kids that gaming is also great. Study. Go to school. Follow your other passions. Don’t just waste time playing and playing. Balance your life,” he said.
“Balance is key to everything. I’m thankful that I was an athlete. When I was a kid, I was into sports. My parents told me to study first then I can play a game. In order for me to play a game, I have to do house chores first, then homework, and sports. Athletes know discipline.
“Now that I am an adult, my priorities have changed. I have a kid now. So, it’s father responsibilities of providing for the family, fostering love at home for the wife and the kids and even kasambahay. Once all of that is done, I can do the gaming thing.”
Eric hosted the recent Mobile Legends Southeast Asia Cup press conference, during which the official Group Stage draw was conducted. The 12 participating teams were drawn into four groups for the highly-anticipated US$120,000 prize pool tournament.
The full team lineup comprising of 12 teams from 9 different countries are: ArkAngel (MPL-PH Season 3 Champion), Bren Esports (MPL-PH Season 3 Runner-up), Onic Esports (MPL-ID Season 3 Champion), Louvre Esports (MPL-ID Season 3 Runner-up), Geek Fam (MPL-MY/SG Season 3 Champion), EVOS Esports SG (MPL-MY/SG Season 3 Runner-up), Team Resolution (MPL-MM Season 2 Champion), Burmese Ghouls (MPL-MM Season 2 Runner-up), Team IDNS (Thailand qualified team), Overclockers (Vietnam qualified team), Diversity Helheim (Cambodia qualified team), and WAWA Gaming (Laos qualified team).
MSC 2019’s Group Stage will take place on the June 19th and 20th and available to fans for online viewing on the Mobile Legends: Bang Bang (MLBB) Facebook page. The main event is from the 21st through the 23rd at the Smart Araneta Coliseum.