Geek Culture

Using Video Game Skills to Improve Your Career

Published

3 years ago

June 23, 2021

Even though millions of adults in the U.S. regularly play video games, there are still some unfortunate stigmas surrounding gamers. Some people still view gamers as lazy or unmotivated.

In reality, nothing could be further from the truth.

While some video games are more stimulating and strategy-based than others, almost every game requires some kind of skill. If you’re an avid gamer and you’ve been doing it for a long time, you might be able to use those skills in your career.

No, that doesn’t mean you should drop everything and start gaming for a living (even though that’s a reality for some people!). But, there might be ways to introduce the skills you’ve developed while gaming into your current career or that you can include on a resume when you’re hunting for a new job.

So, what are some of the most desirable career skills that gaming can help with? Hit the pause button, and let’s cover a few.

Soft Skills and Personal Growth

Many times, when people are looking for a job, they focus on hard skills. Those things usually come from years of experience or education. Hard skills can improve productivity in almost any career, and allow you to do specific job tasks extremely well.

But, it’s often easy to overlook the importance of soft skills and how they’re connected with personal growth. Your soft skills are what will keep you from becoming stagnant in a job. Some examples of soft skills include:

Strong communication skills
Teamwork
Adaptability
Problem-solving
Flexibility

Look at that list again.

How many of those skills do you pick up through gaming? Whether you’re on a team working with other players around the world or you have to figure out very specific solutions to win a game, it’s all about utilizing your soft skills. Personal growth is incredibly important whether you’re looking for your first job post-college or you’re trying to move forward in your existing career. Give yourself room to explore, and use your soft skills (even the ones learned through gaming) to make the most of your career.

Strategic Planning

We just went through a pandemic that put thousands of businesses across the country out of business. So many more had to temporarily close their doors, lay off employees, and cut back on other expenses just to stay afloat. Now that things are returning to normal, those businesses that managed to survive need to have a plan in place for the future.

If you’re a gamer, you could be someone at the helm of strategic planning. Playing video games requires you to formulate a plan from start to finish, but it also requires you to change those plans based on unexpected situations. Video games promote your ability to think ahead and also on the fly, so you can develop a strategy that works no matter where you are.

Similarly, your gaming skills can also make you a better leader. Multiplayer games require leadership if you want your team to be successful, and you might find yourself naturally falling into that role every time you play.

Leaders tend to be organized, have strong communication skills, and understand the impact that their actions might have on those around them. They also have to inspire others to follow them and trust them. The best part? You don’t need an avatar to be a great leader. Those are skills that you can take beyond the screen and into the workplace to find a management position.

Where Should You Be Working?

As you can see, certain gaming skills can be used in a variety of different industries, including:

Business
Marketing
Retail
Foodservice
Healthcare
Real estate

Maybe you already have a job in one of these industries and you’re not fully using your skills. Sometimes, it can be hard to make the connection between what you’ve picked up through gaming and how you can apply it in the real world. So, take some time to consider the skills you think you have, and how they can move you forward in your career – whether you’re already working or applying for a different job.

But, if gaming is truly your passion, you can utilize the skills you’ve developed over the years within the gaming industry, itself. That doesn’t mean just playing games (although, again, that’s always a possibility!). There are so many careers within the industry that can combine your passion and your skills. Video game development companies are always on the lookout for writers, graphic designers, animators, audio programmers, and so much more.

The more avid gamers are willing to make the most of their skills, the sooner the stigma surrounding video games will fade away. If you’ve never considered the skills you’ve harnessed as a gamer, take the time to think about how they might help you move forward in a career you love.

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Gaming

Helldivers 2 has quickly become one of Sony’s top-selling games in the US

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Helldivers 2 proved to be a surprising success, highlighting the unpredictable nature of the gaming industry. As per Circana analyst Mat Piscatella, it currently ranks as Sony’s seventh highest grossing game in the United States to date, trailing behind a trio of Spider-Man titles, a couple of God of War games, and Ghost of Tsushima. It’s only been on the market for less than three months and is not even being sold at full price.

According to Piscatella, a significant factor contributing to the game’s success is its release on PC. He mentioned that, based on Circana’s Player Engagement Tracker, the game has consistently ranked first in terms of active users on Steam in the US since its launch, including April. The release of Helldivers 2 on both PlayStation and PC has been an extraordinary triumph.

He stated that Helldivers 2 has already become the seventh highest-grossing Sony-published game in history. Without a PC, it would not currently be considered one of the top 20 games. While I’m emphasizing the success of the PC SKU, it’s important to note that I’m not disregarding the success of the PlayStation SKU. I just wanted to clarify that. This launch has proven to be incredibly successful.

Prior to the release of Helldivers 2, Sony made it clear that they would be launching their live service-style titles simultaneously on both the PS5 and PC. The success of this approach will undoubtedly strengthen their strategic vision. It will be intriguing to witness if the company reveals official sales figures in the near future, as the title appears to be one of the platform holder’s most successful sellers to date.

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Gaming

The developer of Stellar Blade for the PS5 Expressing gratitude to the fans for their unwavering support amidst a recent controversy surrounding censorship

Published

2 days ago

May 2, 2024

Zach Riley

Shift Up, the Korean developer, seems to be reconsidering its contentious alterations to the Stellar Blade outfit. In a message to fans, they have urged everyone to stay tuned for updates and expressed gratitude for the passionate feedback from players. For those who may not be aware, a petition gained significant attention over the weekend when gamers discovered changes made to a few of the game’s costumes through a day-one patch.

The launch day update includes a fantastic New Game + mode, but some players were disappointed by the changes made to protagonist Eve’s outfit. These alterations sparked debates about censorship. Director Hyung-Tae Kim later clarified that this was the studio’s original vision, but he acknowledged that it may require further persuasion to win over users. Internal discussions were also underway to address any concerns.

Thanks to all our Stellar Blade fans for your passion & feedback. Stay tuned for updates🤍 pic.twitter.com/jCRzM4OQBS

— StellarBlade (@StellarBlade) May 1, 2024

There is no definitive confirmation regarding the reversal of the outfits, but considering the language used in the statement and the widespread controversy surrounding the alterations, it is highly likely that a future patch will restore the original costumes. If you want to get a sneak peek at all of Eve’s different outfits and learn how to unlock them, be sure to take a look at our comprehensive guide, All Outfits and How to Get Them.

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Gaming

Will Stellar Blade be available for PC?

Published

3 days ago

April 30, 2024

Zach Riley

It’s quite possible. Fans all over the world are interested in Shift Up’s highly anticipated action-adventure game, Stellar Blade. With its captivating post-apocalyptic setting reminiscent of Nier and a compelling protagonist named Eve, it’s no wonder the game has generated such widespread attention.

The game consistently impresses with its stunning visuals and high-octane action, leaving players in awe with each new trailer.

Yet, just like other noteworthy second-party and third-party game releases, fans are pondering: Will Stellar Blade be available on PC?

In this article, we delve into the details to determine the platform availability of the highly anticipated title.

Will Stellar Blade be available on PC? Allow me to provide you with the answer.

Unfortunately, Stellar Blade will not be available on PC, at least not initially. Currently, the game is only available on PlayStation 5 starting on April 26, 2024.

Regrettably, it appears that there is no indication of a potential PC release for Stellar Blade in the future. In most cases, trailers for PlayStation timed-exclusive titles conclude with a disclaimer that specifies the duration of their exclusivity.

In the Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth launch trailer, it is explicitly stated that the game will only be accessible on other platforms starting on May 29, 2024.

Regrettably, when it comes to the stellar blade, there is no indication of such.

It’s important to note that Sony Entertainment Interactive published Stellar Blade, unlike Final Fantasy 7 Rebirth. This means that the chances of it being released on PC or other platforms in the near future are even slimmer.

However, it is worth noting that there is a chance the game might be released on PC in the future, given PlayStation’s track record of bringing their exclusive titles to the platform. However, it could be a while before this comes to fruition.

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