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Careers in the World of Gaming

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Image Source: Unsplash

Despite the fact that over 164 million adults in the U.S. play video games, there are still common misconceptions about gamers being “lazy” or not wanting to work. But, you know when you’re playing games that you’re not just wasting your time, especially if it’s something you’re passionate about. 

There are actually a lot of careers within the video game industry that many people don’t realize. If you truly have a love of playing video games and you’re interested in turning it into your life’s work, let’s look at some ways you can make that happen. 

Yes, You Can Play Video Games for a Living

Remember when you were a teenager and your mother said you’d never make a living by playing video games all day? Well, that’s not entirely true. Game testers and professional gamers make their living by playing video games all the time. But, it’s not just a matter of sitting in a dark room with some snacks and playing with friends for hours. 

Game testers, for example, have to walk through every inch of a game and take notes on everything. They have to critique the environment, find any glitches, and be detailed with the developers about how the game actually works in live play. It’s less about playing for fun and more about picking apart the good and the bad. 

In addition, professional gamers can make a lot of money, but it’s a career that can be very difficult to get into unless you’re extremely talented in what you do. If you are, you could attend esports conventions, sign up for tournaments, and become somewhat “famous” in the gaming industry. 

Put Your Creative Skills to Use

There are so many ways to bring your skills into the world of gaming and find jobs that will not only be fun but fulfilling. Some of the “behind-the-scenes” jobs in the gaming industry include the following: 

  • Writers
  • Producers
  • Graphic designers
  • Audio programmer

You could also choose to be a game developer/programmer if you have experience with coding and a vision for the game. Developers typically need a background in software development, since that’s essentially what you’re creating when you bring a game to life. 

Because developers are usually the ones championing a game, they’re also typically the ones fighting for a better gaming environment. Developers have used their voices to fight for Net Neutrality laws and the future of multiplayer online gaming. They have even developed the National Committee for Games Policy (NCGP) as a way of self-regulating the industry. 

Staying Afloat in the Gaming Industry

Like any other career, you shouldn’t expect to dive into the gaming industry head-first and receive a hefty paycheck. Although it is a booming industry, it might not be easy to get into right away or to create a lucrative game that everyone wants. 

A side hustle can help to keep you afloat while you’re making your place in the industry. There are many things you can do on the side while still working your day job: 

  • Pet-sitting
  • Ride-share driving
  • Freelance design/writing
  • Selling things online
  • Online tutoring or teaching

Don’t get too frustrated about not making the money you think you should when you first break into the video game industry. With so many talented people vying for limited positions, it’s a competitive market. But, as you can see, there are plenty of opportunities to make your mark and find a successful, fun career in the world of gaming. 

Gaming

Helldivers are angry at Arrowhead because the community manager was fired without due process

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Throughout history, it has become evident that, in the face of tyranny, those who cherish liberty and democracy will stop at nothing to defend them. They will fight relentlessly, using every last round of ammunition and shedding the final drop of blood. In a stunning turn of events, it appears that developer Arrowhead is facing a potential revolution, as previously loyal Helldivers 2 players who once supported the developer are now expressing their outrage. They passionately advocate for justice and the inclusion of the undemocratically dismissed community manager, who has affectionately been nicknamed “General” Spitz, into the official in-game lore.

In typical fashion, an overnight Change.org petition (courtesy of RPS) has garnered nearly 4,500 signatures at the time of writing. This is an attempt to make Arrowhead reevaluate their decision to let go of Spitz, a community manager who has been an integral part of the community since the game’s release. In the midst of the PC/PSN account linking debacle, Spitz, like a game critic sensing the winds of fate, rallied the community on Discord (as seen on Twitter) to express their discontent through reviews, refunds, and other means. It enhances our influence in the discussions with Sony. They completely disregard our discord.

After the chaos subsided the following day (yesterday), Spitz addressed the community, describing this action as “almost.” It hasn’t exactly resulted in their termination. Shortly after, a final transmission was confirmed where Spitz disclosed that they had been released, expressing their resilience by saying, “Every war has its casualties.”

On May 7, 2024, around 11:45 PST, the Helldivers Discord community made an interesting discovery. It seems that the community manager, Spitz, had been unexpectedly removed from his position, and any evidence of his previous involvement in the discord was completely wiped out. This incident seems to have ignited a revolution, with Helldivers demanding the immediate reinstatement of Spitz and his immortalization in the game for his self-sacrifice.

“We strongly advocate for the official canonization of General Spitz in Helldivers lore. Embracing the spirit of liberation. Supporting democracy. For the betterment of the game and its devoted community.

It’s interesting to see how this situation unfolds. Arrowhead CEO Johan Pilestedt himself commends the determination of players in the Sony showdown, but there seems to be a hint of contradiction here. “General” Spitz provided us with some thought-provoking words to ponder: “I was well aware of the potential consequences when I made my statement about refunding and altering reviews; nevertheless, I remain steadfast in my position. I fulfilled my role as a representative of the community, just as I was expected to.

Spitz is no longer the Community Manager.
byu/Tabub inHelldivers

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For the seventh year in a row, Capcom has made more money than ever before

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Japanese games publisher Capcom has consistently excelled in the industry for numerous years, and its latest annual financial results continue to showcase its success. With a string of blockbuster games in its flagship franchises, the company has achieved unprecedented profits for the seventh year in a row, marking the 11th consecutive year of growth in operating income.

In the financial year ending March 2024, there has been a significant increase in all figures when compared to the previous year. The net sales for the period reached a staggering $977 million, showing a remarkable increase of 21 percent. The operating income also saw a notable growth of 12.3 percent, amounting to $366 million. Similarly, ordinary income experienced a significant rise of 15.7 percent, totaling $381 million. Lastly, the net income attributable to owners of the parent company surged by 18.1 percent, reaching an impressive $278 million. Overall, the performance is quite impressive.

Software sales are the primary factor behind these impressive record-high figures. During this financial period, Resident Evil 4 sold an impressive 3.39 million units, making it a significant contributor. However, it’s important to note that this is not the only measure of success. In fact, an impressive 15 games managed to sell over 1 million copies within the same timeframe. Street Fighter 6 has managed to sell an impressive 3.3 million copies, while Dragon’s Dogma 2 has also found success with 2.6 million copies sold. It’s worth noting that even older titles like Monster Hunter World and Resident Evil 7 continue to hold their own in the gaming landscape. Dragon’s Dogma: Dark Arisen, the updated version of the original game, managed to sell nearly 1.7 million copies, largely fueled by the anticipation for the sequel.

Capcom’s forecast for its next annual results is filled with optimism, as one would expect. The company is projecting net sales of approximately $1 billion and operating income of around $410 million, marking another significant milestone.

In the near future, the publisher has revealed some exciting titles like Kunitsu-Gami: Path of the Goddess and Monster Hunter Wilds. Fans can also anticipate the development of new installments in the Resident Evil series, such as Resident Evil 9.

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Ciri from The Witcher expresses her hope that fans will give Liam Hemsworth a fair chance in his portrayal of Geralt

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Netflix’s The Witcher has been at the forefront of the recent trend of video game IP transitioning to TV, alongside HBO’s The Last of Us and Amazon’s Fallout adaptations. In 2022, it was announced that Henry Cavill would be stepping away from his role after Season 3, making way for Australian actor Liam Hemsworth to become The White Wolf in Season 4.

In an interview with Collider (courtesy of Eurogamer), Freya Allen, the actress who plays Ciri in the series, has reached out to fans who may find the change to be a challenge. Allen expressed his view of the situation, acknowledging that it may not be ideal and that fans can be quite critical. He mentioned that he doesn’t want to speak on behalf of Hemsworth, but based on his understanding, it seems like Hemsworth is aiming to inject some heartfelt elements into the project. I’m eagerly anticipating his performance after all that training. And he’s truly a delightful individual. I hope people give him a fair chance, you know?

It’s unclear why Henry Cavill decided to depart from the show, despite his previous commitment to stay for the entire seven seasons if needed. Netflix has announced that The Witcher has been renewed for a fifth season, which will be the final installment of the series.

 

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