Over the past ten years of so, there has been a surge in more people making a career in video gaming. There are millions of people around the world who have channels on Twitch or Youtube who publish playthroughs or live streams of popular games. Now that popular games like Death Stranding are available on pc, many gamers will probably jump on board to record a playthrough for their fans. While there are gamers who have a large subscriber count online, there are also an endless list of gamers who never make it big, no matter how hard they try. There are simply so many other gamers trying to achieve the same thing.
A few years ago, Business Insider asked famous Youtubers what it was actually like to play video games for a living. Many gamers stated that some of the downsides were that they often didn’t have enough time in the day for everything they needed to do and the never ending demand of new and fresh content by their audience can be a struggle. Popular Youtuber Mark Fischback (Markiplier), even stated that he works 12 hours a day, 7 days a week, and doesn’t have vacations. It’s important to make note that big gamers on Twitch, Youtube, and those that have esports careers, have had to work hard and didn’t just become successful overnight. In fact, the odds of making a living as a Youtube sensation are 1 in 505,347 according to this quiz; illustrating just how dedicated you need to be.
What kind of jobs are available in the esports sector?
All over the world there are millions of people who play the lottery, play online slot games, and tune into live casino events. There are iGaming operators across the world who are providing new jackpot games and online slot games for players to gamble on. There are also people who take part in online sports betting or who tune in to live events that they have placed a bet on. Esports tournaments are just another event where gamblers can bet on their favourite player to win.
The esports industry is one of the fastest-growing sectors in existence. There are several job opportunities in the sector, including some that are hands-on and others that are not. The British Esports Association has plenty of useful resources and information to help gamers understand how they can make a career out of gaming. While becoming a professional player might be the goal for some, there are also other esports careers too. Some jobs you can consider in the industry include; playing professionally, coaching or analyst, hosting, content creating, marketing, product management, social media management, event management, and broadcasting. You can also become an agent or an organisation owner within the esports industry.
Tips for starting a career as a video gamer
1. Gain some experience
In this industry, experience is quite important. While reading up on the latest esport news can provide an insight into the industry, if you want to get anywhere in the business, you have to start by gaining experience. Unlike other industries, you don’t gain experience in working in a gaming company, and you gain it from playing the games, participating in tournaments, and becoming a pro before approaching organisations. In the industry, the more you partake in such things like tournaments, the bigger a name you create for yourself.
Once you have found your way around different kinds of games, especially the most popular ones, you can proceed to reach out to teams, organizations, tournament providers, and companies that are involved in the industry in one way or another. Working with these parties will help you to gain some experience. However, getting employment in these companies may not be easy.
2. Find your specialisation
The gaming or esports industry is very wide. The only way you will stand out in the field is by focusing on a particular area, Specialisation will help you gain an edge in the industry. Look up the job opportunities mentioned above and pick one that suits you best. If you’re a gamer, you might really enjoy Dota 2 or Fortnite, so why not specialise in these games? Start to practice and develop your skills for one game, or a couple, so you can become a better gamer. You can also join online communities and forums to gain inspiration, advice, and knowledge. If you would like to get into the games development side of things, or marketing, or events management, then look up any useful courses that you could take to make your cv look good.
3. Stay on the lookout for job alerts
Once you have decided to become part of the industry, have the necessary experience, and know which field you want to specialize in, you can start by signing up for job alerts. Use your social media to your advantage by following the companies you wish to work with. This will keep you up to date with job openings in the companies. There are several esports job alert websites that you can use. Indeed is just one useful jobsite where you can find a job in your area.
4. Educate yourself
Traditionally, the esports community greatly depended on experience, passion, and prowess. However, the growth of the industry has led to the introduction of esports courses. More universities are offering such courses and scholarships in esports as well. Therefore, you can always take the education route. Having a diploma or degree in esports, accompanied by experience and prowess, will make you stand out from the crowd.
Facts you should know about professional esports careers
Now that esports has become a career for many around the world, there have been some professional players who have been incredibly successful. Some of the biggest prize money winners in esports history include Johan Sundstein, Kyle Giersdorf, and Lee Sang-Hyeok.
- As of 2020, stars in the esports industry make millions of dollars per year specialising in one game or more. For instance, Johan Sunsten makes roughly 7 million dollars yearly playing Dota 2, and Kyle Giersdorf makes more than 3 million dollars yearly playing Fortnite.
- Some of the most popular video games Dota 2, Fortnite, and League of Legends.
- eSports is a new field of law and with growing complexities, contracts, endorsements, and interests, the industry demands for more video game lawyers to understand the legalities of this new niche of entertainment.
- Lee Sang-Hyeok, also known by the nickname Faker, is the most celebrated pro gamer of all time. At 23 years of age, Faker has three world championships and is known as the greatest player to compete in the League.
- The growth of the gaming industry has seen more than 220 million dollars being spent in awards for tournaments.
- There are more than 4600 video gaming tournaments that take place every year.
- There are more career opportunities in the esports sector than before. This means that you do not just need to know how to play. You can become a lawyer, manager, technician, finance practitioner, announcer, referee, and several other roles. Therefore, more people can join the industry and make a living from it.
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