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Playing games online is undeniably one of the most popular pastimes billions of people worldwide enjoy. With a wide variety of genres and themes explored in online games, there’s something for everyone to enjoy.
These days, not only can you have fun playing games online, but you can also make money. In fact, there are so many career paths you can follow with your gaming passion.
Professional Esports
With the various tournaments and mind-blowing prize pools available, being an esports player is highly profitable. Before venturing into this path, you must choose the game you want to compete in. It’s important to choose a game that you love and excel at. Some of the most popular games for competitive esports are Dota 2, Counter-Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch, League of Legends, Fortnite, and Apex Legends.
After that, you must then take time to develop your skills. This means you may have to spend several hours practicing and learning techniques. You also have to sign up to different online outlets where top players of the game share tactics and strategies that can help you.
One of the things that can improve your skills quickly is joining a team or organization. You can practice regularly with teammates and get ideas from them. Your team will also provide you with the resources and support you need to be successful at competitions.
Once you’re sure of your skills, start participating in tournaments to compete. You must prepare your mind to handle the pressures that may come from competing professionally. These include criticism, handling losses, and playing under high-stress situations.
Game Reviews and Journalism
Another lucrative area you can specialize in is game reviews and journalism. This involves evaluating new releases, updates, ad-ons, gaming platforms, etc. It also involves providing news and updates about games, gaming products, accessories, and companies. You must have good writing skills to do this effectively.
Most people in this career path own websites or social media pages where they post their reviews, news, and tips. You can choose to focus on a particular genre of game or cover general topics and news. To review games, you must play them well enough to get sufficient data and experience as players will rely on your platform to get accurate information. In turn, you will make money through adverts and affiliate marketing.
Real-money gaming is a popular area where passionate players profit from reviews and journalism. A good example is this Australian review hub with the best online pokies. On this site, you’ll find reviews of various online pokies and recommendations of the best sites to play them. These sites also provide information on bonuses, slot providers, and even pokie tips.
Streaming
Video game streamers have become the face of online gaming in recent times. To be a successful streamer, you must choose the kind of games you want to focus on. After that, you must develop your skills and become an expert in that game.
Streamers use platforms like Twitch, Kick and YouTube to broadcast their gameplay in real-time. You will have to entertain your viewers while also giving them information about the game. Furthermore, you can create video content to review games and provide tutorials for other gamers.
To be successful, streamers must also engage with their followers by responding to comments and attending to specific requests. If you have a large following, your income will come via subscriptions, ads, donations, and sponsorships. You can also network with game developers, brands, and other streamers to make promotional content.
Game Development
The design and development of video games is probably the most complex career choice in the industry. Developers must master programming languages like Java, C**, or C#. They must also have quick problem solving skills and pay attention to details.
You’ll most likely need a degree in software development, computer science, or other related fields. However, many developers get into the industry by independently learning coding and other aspects.
Game developers are responsible for creating and incorporating the game mechanics. They craft the rules, interactions, and systems that make up the game. They must also ensure the games work smoothly without glitches or technical problems. To create good games, developers have to collaborate with artists, writers, and designers.
Game Testing
A game tester is an important party in the process of developing games. The role serves as the final production checkpoint before the game is published to the public. To be a successful game tester, you must be detail-oriented and have an eye for game improvements.
Game testers thoroughly play the games to check the flow and discover bugs or inconsistencies. They also measure how well the game performs on various devices, platforms, and configurations. Additionally, they assess if games align with the regulations and standards of the industry. All their findings are reported to the developer for resolution.
Community Management
Being a community manager is another career opportunity in online gaming. Gaming companies employ community managers to keep a thriving online fanbase and promote their products.
To be successful in this, you must have some basic social media marketing skills. You will have to create content that delights and engages community members. This also means you must have a perfect understanding of the game.
The communities can be on various platforms like X, Facebook, TikTok, or Instagram. A manager must know how each platform works and what kind of content appeals to users.
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