Careers in Gaming

We've probably all had dreams of making it as a professional gamer at one point in our lives. Oftentimes when I watch a competitive game of League of Legends or DotA 2, I think to myself, "wouldn't it be awesome if I could be doing that?" It would, but professional gaming is extremely competitive and not everyone has such eloquent command of the mouse and keyboard the way 'Suma1l' does in DotA or 'Faker' in League of Legends. I consider myself pretty darn good at games, but I don't have what it takes to go pro and I think most people reading this are in the same boat. Luckily, there's a lot more to the gaming industry than professional gaming. Here are just a few options:

Writer

Writing about games is probably the most accessible avenue for employment for most people and is extremely broad. Every single major website out there that covers gaming (MMOs.com included) needs capable writers for things like news coverage, opinion pieces, reviews, and previews. We actually have one full time editor, a couple of part timers, a few free lancers, and a couple of volunteers. We also plan on hiring more writers as we continue to grow. Well written content brings a steady stream of visitors which translates into additional ad revenue. The more we grow, the more writers we can afford to hire and the more we hire, the more we end up growing.

Getting Started: The best way to establish yourself as a capable writer is to start your own blog and publish as much quality content as possible. Whenever a potential employer asks for a writing sample refer them to your blog. Alternatively, you can get your name out there by offering your services for free to reputable gaming websites. I'm not suggesting anyone write for free all the time, but it's a good way to build a resume and perhaps even get your foot in the door. A college degree isn't required, but it can help. Sites like GameJournalismJobs.com can be a useful place to try finding work, as they aggregate writing work from big companies like Activision Blizzard and Riot Games as well as smaller independent sites (we have a posting on there).

Things to Keep in Mind: Just because you're interested in video games doesn't mean you can make it in the industry as a writer. Writing editorials and opinion pieces tends to be fun, but rewriting gaming news can be quite boring. Writers are typically required to promote their own work via social media and know their way around popular online publishing platforms like WordPress. Much of the work can feel grindy, as websites need their writers to churn out quality content regularly. So be prepared to work!

Streamer

Anyone with a half decent PC and a reliable internet connection can begin streaming right away these days thanks to sites like Twitch and Youtube Gaming. The rise of these streaming sites over the last few years has created unprecedented opportunity for gamers to start their own shows/streams. Most people stream casually for fun, but there's a growing number of people out there that stream as a full time job and earn good money doing it. Jeffery Shih, known as "TrumpSC" (Hearthstone Streamer) was quoted in a Forbes article saying that popular streamers make upwards of $100,000 a year on streaming alone, which doesn't count Youtube videos, sponsorships, etc.

Getting Started: The beauty of trying to break into the streaming business is that it's nearly frictionless. Just download some streaming software (I prefer OBS - Open Broadcast Software), configure it, and boom you're good to go. Remember, building up an audience on Twitch isn't easy and requires patience. You either need to be extremely good at the game you're playing or be entertaining (ideally both). Don't expect to be an overnight success, and try to stream regularly to build up a following.

Things to Keep in Mind: Making a living on streaming alone isn't easy and requires A LOT of work. In an interview with DailyDot Steven Bonnel, aka Destiny, stated that he streamed about 200-250 hours a month which equates to about 60 hours a week. That's 20 hours more than a typical full time gig. Most gamers probably don't consider streaming "work," but after a certain point it becomes exhausting. Based on the interview it Destiny makes about ~$100,000 from his streaming career, which is great, but not everyone can reach his level of popularity (he gets about 2,500 concurrent viewers on average).

Video Producer

Like streaming, producing video content for video games is accessible to almost anyone. All you really need is a video recorder like Fraps (OBS can also be used) and a decent PC. Any kind of video content is good too, so long as it can get views. Content creators on average make about ~$1 per 1,000 views on Youtube, which may not seem like much, but it can add up. Like streaming though, making a steady living on Youtube earnings is extremely difficult and something only a very small percentage of people achieve.

Getting Started: Open up a channel and start uploading videos. It's that easy! The hardest part is gaining subscribers and building up an audience, which can take years. The best way to grow quickly is to produce compelling content that people will share with their friends.

Things to Keep in Mind: Make good videos! There are countless channels on Youtube with lots of videos that don't get any views. Making a simple gameplay video for the newest Call of Duty game probably isn't the best way to get noticed, as the bigger Youtube channels will already cover that content. Instead, make useful guides for new launches or cover more obscure titles that other channels overlook. Making videos for more obscure titles is important because there's a lot less competition and that means your video is much easier to find when someone searches for that game.

Programmer

Actually coding a video game is probably the least "accessible" career on this list, but is also the most "steady." Anyone can try making it on Twitch or YouTube but most people who attempt it end up failing. Programmers, on the other hand, are almost always in high demand. Even if the gaming industry slows down, skilled programmers can find work elsewhere in the booming tech space. The term "programmer" is used broadly here and there are countless different kinds of programmers, from networking to coding artificial intelligence.

Getting Started: Anyone can learn basic programming for free from websites like Khan Academy and Code Academy. These places are excellent starting points for self-study, but those serious about getting into the industry should study computer science in college. Work can be found through traditional job search engines like Indeed and Career Builder. Programmers can also try to strike it out on their own by working on their own projects. Marcus Pincus, better known as Notch, single-handedly created Minecraft, which he later sold to Microsoft for over $2 billion.

Things to Keep in Mind: Most games are built on well known game engines like Unity or Unreal which are usually available publicly online for free (demo/personal use). Get to know these engines inside out to make yourself more valuable to potential employers. It also makes sense to focus on booming sectors within the gaming industry, which would currently be mobile gaming.

This is just a small list of career options for those interested in gaming and there's a whole more. The industry needs everything from talented artists that can produce kickass concept art to composers that can put together great tunes. And lets not forget about Game Designers that conceptualize a game before it even begins production. If you're passionate about video games there's no reason you can't find work in the industry. Even though programming/artistic work may not be for everyone, things like writing, streaming, and video production are open to anyone and they can begin working right away even without any formal training. So what are you waiting for? Launch your own blog, start a stream, or open your own Youtube channel. Maybe even do all three!