7 Careers That Are Perfect For Gamers

Whether you’re a gamer looking to kickstart a new career or a first-time graduate wondering if your hobby can help you find employment, there are several career options that are perfect for gamers. While it’s pretty difficult to get into the world of game design, that shouldn’t dissuade you if you’re interested in a career within the industry, nor does it mean gaming won’t stand you in good stead for other jobs.

The skills you learn as a gamer have applications in some seriously surprising places, so if you’re looking to start a new job and wanting to transfer some gaming skills, read on. Here are 7 careers that are perfect for gamers.

1. Developer

Of course, not everyone has what it takes to become a developer  regardless if they hold an online degree in animation or not. Not only do you need to be skilled in using various kinds of software depending on what sort of game you want to create, but you’ll also need to be highly patient, disciplined, and dedicated to your craft. While game development can offer some dizzying highs, it can also result in some very painful lows. However, creating something entirely new from scratch and watching as people play it and love it is an unparalleled feeling. If you think you have the skills and the time required to become a developer, this could be the perfect way to enter the industry.

2. Online casino pro

Believe it or not, it is entirely possible to make a living as an online casino gamer if you have the right personality traits and skills. In order to make it as a pro gambler, you’ll need to be able to build and maintain a strategy that works for you. It’s also crucial to be discerning in your approach; casino sites like Genesis Casino offer excellent opportunities for big payouts and a wide variety of games, but you won’t know that unless you do your research. As a gamer, you’ll likely already have the strategic approach and hand-eye co-ordination required for pro online casino gaming; you may also have developed observational skills if you’re an online gamer.

3. Tester

Before you consider becoming a games tester, put any image of a glamorous lifestyle in which you get to play all the latest triple-A offerings for free out of your mind. Like many other industry jobs, the reality of professional games testing can be grueling. If, however, you like to replay games over and over again looking for unique quirks and glitches, then this is the job for you. Testing often necessitates repeating sections of games with slightly different conditions so you can spot bugs and help developers squash them. If you’re observant, rigorous in your approach, and willing to put up with a fairly cut-throat and competitive career, game testing could be a great option.

4. Professional gamer

Cautionary tales seem to be the cornerstone of the gaming industry, but again, we must stress: professional gaming is not as easy as it looks. You must dedicate yourself to learning and perfecting your chosen game, because other pros will be operating at a ridiculously high standard, and if you want to get anywhere as a pro gamer then you’ll have to match them (or exceed them). This is the perfect career if you already regularly find yourself placing highly in the ranks of competitive multiplayer games. Are you a League of Legends player who’s dominating their field? Maybe you’re consistently winning high-ranked CS:GO games? If so, consider becoming a pro gamer.

5. Journalist

If you’re outspoken and opinionated about gaming, then journalism could be a good avenue to pursue. However, it is worth noting here that gaming journalism isn’t all about writing up your opinions as an article then enjoying immediate success. You’ll likely have to put in work reporting on everyday gaming news rather than becoming an overnight personality. Going it alone also isn’t a good idea; attaching yourself to a bigger gaming platform means more exposure and a higher chance of pay. This is an industry where many unscrupulous companies will be looking to exploit your willingness to work in order to get ahead, so you will need to be savvy. The job itself is immense fun, though.

6. Artist

Games developers are always looking for skilled artists to help them bring the worlds they create to life. If you’re good with a pen or a digital tablet and you like the idea of sketching out concepts for developers according to briefs, then being a gaming artist could be for you. It’s also possible you could find a sympathetic indie studio with whom you can collaborate to create new games; often, smaller studios (and occasionally bigger ones too) will create worlds based on drawings and doodles that artists submit. However, this isn’t an industry to go into if you want to completely maintain autonomy; just like other gaming industry areas, you will often be working to spec.

7. Writer

Being a games writer is somewhat similar to being an artist in the field. You often won’t be writing incredible stories, then submitting them to studios in order to turn your vision into reality. Rather, you’ll be given a story brief or a scene and asked to write it to spec. However, that’s not always the case. Sometimes, you will be able to write your own dialogue, your own narratives, or even your own scenarios entirely, and have them made into games. Either way, if you want some creative input into the way games work and you like to write dialogue and character interactions, becoming a writer could be a solid way into the industry.