According to employment data, the video game industry employs almost 300,000 people in the United States and is projected to grow 9% over the next year. If working in the video game industry is your dream job, this guide will help you live your dream. Choose a Career Path
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There are many different video game-related job paths . The skills, education and experience you need vary depending on the career path you choose. Popular gaming careers include video game sales, game testing, technical support, artists, writers, marketers, game designers and programmers. Some people also make a living as eSports competitors , but professional gaming, like professional sports, is primarily a career option for elite players.
Determine the Skills You Need
The skills you need depend on the career you are pursuing. If you want to work in sales, you may be able to get a job simply by demonstrating your ability to sell products. If you want to work in game development , you need skills such as computer programming, 2D and 3D animation and knowledge of software and hardware used for development.
For careers such as marketing or writing, you need the same skills people in those professions need in other industries, plus knowledge of the gaming industry. If you want to be an eSports competitor, you must develop elite-level skills in at least one game that has multiple opportunities to win prize money.
Consider Educational Opportunities
A college degree can be useful for a variety of gaming occupations including writing, marketing, programming and game development. If you are interested in learning a specific skill, such as the Scrum Agile framework, you can take an online professional development course to learn how to use Scrum to develop complex software projects that facilitate communication and collaboration for video game development teams. Search for the best advanced online scrum master program that offers competitive tuition and accredited certification that you can put to use.
Find a Job
Video game discussion boards are a good place to get advice from other gamers and game developers about breaking into the industry. If you are interested in becoming a writer , start a video game blog that you can use to demonstrate your writing ability. If you want to be a game developer, start creating your own games to show off to potential employers. Some companies hire entry-level employees and interns as game testers , customer service representatives or technical support. Check the job postings of major game developers.
Explore Other Opportunities
There are ways to make money playing games other than getting a job in the industry. For example, you could write a blog or start a YouTube channel to provide tips and strategies to other players. Some people earn money by live-streaming on platforms such as Twitch.
If you are going to try to make money on social media, you need to attract a following. Create a banner that is themed around your favorite game, such as Minecraft, or something else unique about your brand. Use an online Minecraft banner maker to make this process easy. Choose a banner template you like and then customize it with images, backgrounds, fonts and other design assets.
There are many ways to earn a living in the video game industry. You can get started on your path by taking steps such as exploring relevant learning opportunities like becoming a scrum master or learning 2D and 3D animation, to name a few. Find what works to get your foot in the door to turn your passion into your livelihood.