Gaming is one of the most rewarding careers there is, especially when it's your ultimate passion, and it doesn't even feel like a job! We spend most of our adult lives working, so why not make sure you are doing something you really enjoy? Investing in your passion for gaming to help turn it into a career has never been easier. Many gamers have bridged the gap and are making impressive incomes via streaming on Twitch and YouTube and collaborative campaigns with leading gaming brands.
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Invest in Equipment - To become a pro, you need to invest a good amount of time to your gaming to build on your skills and allow you to compete with the some of the best well known gamers. This means taking a moment to assess your current set up and whether it is designed to give you the best gaming experience possible.
Aim for a fully ergonomic set up to reduce strain and injury from prolonged gaming. Buddy Loans could help you kit out your set up. Always look for the best specs for your gaming equipment possible and use accessories designed to help you play, quicker and easier and for extended periods of time if need be.
Invest in Yourself - You don't need formal education to be a pro gamer. You simply need skill, dedication and determination. Learning as much as you can about the games to give your gameplay an edge will help you climb the ranks to reaching pro status. I'm barely there, mainly because although I have streamed in the past on Twitch, I don't have a regular weekly schedule, as I am heavily involved in Gaming at doctoral level and wish to progress in academia, teaching after obtaining my PhD. Heading to university to learn game related skills such as QA, Game Design, Programming, or Coding will help get you obtain an entry level position after graduating, and work your way up within the industry. These skills can also be self taught.
Choose your Game - A great idea is to head down the route of established tried and tested games that already have the fan base, tournaments and sponsorship deals, particularly mainstream titles such as Fortnite, and Call of Duty for example. This may be a tricky market to break into because there are already many players earning well, but it can also guarantee a great support system and fan base if you are entertaining and engaging with your gaming content. Alternatively, choosing a game that is newly released and up and coming, you can start at the beginning and work your way up as the fan base steadily develops.
Join the Community - The support of the gaming community is almost vital if you intend to make a career in gaming. You need the support of experienced consistent gamers and access to leading exclusive information which will be useful to you in the future. Stay tuned to sites such as PlayStation, and IGN for the latest, as well as specific developer sites for each game i.e. Epic Games for Fortnite, and Rockstar for Grand Theft Auto V and Red Dead Redemption.
Joining the game-specific community will also help you get a better idea of a pro gamer's lifestyle for your chosen game and to see if it is really what you would like to do or even what you thought it would be. Also follow your favourite gamers on social media, which I do - It's great for learning about top brands you may like to collaborate or do game promos with.
Becoming a gamer takes time and dedication. For those who are deeply interested in making a career in gaming, fully immerse yourself into the culture, have fun, engage with the community, be yourself, and remember to go with your passion. I did, and I have to say it has been the best career decision I've ever made.
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