Career in gaming – Since the early days of gaming in the 1980s, the gaming industry has expanded its market and is currently more profitable than the motion picture industry. Today, there are more opportunities for employment in gaming than ever before. Unlike other industries, gaming has prospered during recessions. The current pandemic, which forced people around the world to stay home, has increased gaming’s popularity and profits. Online betting, game testing, game development, competitive events and streaming companies are examples of how gaming can be a lucrative career.
[ Read on: Tips when looking for Best Xbox gaming headsets ]
- Online Betting
Although online betting on games existed in the early 2000s, the practice was unregulated and was usually confined to players with personal computers. Now, players can use gaming consoles, mobile phones, or computers to wager their skills against players around the world. Talented gamers, who consistently win their matches, have quit their full-time jobs in other fields to focus on online betting. Rather than solely enjoying a victory against an opponent, you can bet on yourself playing games and comfortably live off of your winnings. Although online betting does not have the same job security as a software engineer or tester, experienced players claim that making money from home off of their winnings is more appealing than a nine to five job.
- Game Testing
Another area in gaming that is increasing in demand is game testing. Testers play early versions of video games and try to find errors and glitches in the game’s software. They repetitively play small sections of games and relay the problems they find to the game’s developers. Although some of the smaller companies do not require testers to have a college degree, the most successful and highly paid testers have a background in computer science or game development. Larger organizations pay their most talented testers up to $70,000 a year for their skills.
Demand has increased in the last ten years for testing jobs, and some companies have begun hiring temporary testers for ten to fifteen dollars an hour. Only the most skilled and experienced employees receive the highest salaries for testing positions. Still, many testers work their way up from temporary positions to full-time jobs with added benefits.
- Game Development
Of all job opportunities in gaming, game developers receive one of the highest salaries with benefits. Although some of the developers are not college-educated, potential candidates must have a firm knowledge of current programming languages and an aptitude for working with small teams. Software development is a continuously evolving field that requires engineers to keep up to date on the changing trends of coding and software structuring. Game developers, on average, make between $100,000 to $145,00 a year, and several become more successful when they leave their positions to lead new start-up companies.
- Competitive Gaming
Although most gamers make a comfortable living working in the industry, competitive gaming is the most lucrative. The top gamers in the world compete in large tournaments with incredibly high cash prizes. The most successful gamers can make over a million dollars a year by traveling to competitions in Europe, the United States and Asia. The gaming events resemble massive sporting venues with thousands of screaming fans and a running commentary by announcers. The Esports events typically consist of two teams who compete in popular online games for substantial payouts.
- Streaming Companies
Streaming platforms, like Twitch, are rapidly becoming profitable work-from-home businesses. Gamers set up a camera in their home to capture their image while they play games and offer their viewers advice and helpful tips. Subscribers make online payments to their favorite streamers and can comment on the streamer’s progress in real-time. Gamers can earn between $3,000 to $5,000 a month, but the most popular gamers can take home over a million dollars with added endorsements. Gaming has come a long way since the days of Pac-man and Asteroids. While it was once considered a waste of time by concerned parents, gaming has become an extremely profitable career.
