Gaming: A Guide on how to get involved in one of the fastest growing industries in the world

Gaming might be something you do to wind down in the evening after a long day at work; just something to help you relax and take your mind off things. Or maybe it’s an activity you keep exclusively to do with friends over the weekend. Nothing wrong with a bit of friendly competition, right? The loser buys dinner the next time you meet up…

Why not make things a little more interesting, though? Up the stakes even further? And we don’t just mean online poker but gaming as a whole. Whether you realize it or not, gaming is one of the fastest-growing industries in the world, and your skill could be put to use as more than just a hobby. International tournaments for PC, consoles, and more! Steve Jobs was absolutely right when he said, “The only way to do great work is to love what you do.” To find out how you could turn your hobby into a hustle of your own, keep reading below!

Gaming

Consistency

This might sound simple enough and easy to do if this is your hobby anyway, but part of becoming a pro gamer if you seriously want to get into the industry is by remaining consistent. That’s consistency in practicing your skills and consistency in showing up on Twitch or YouTube and live streaming content for people to see. Consistency is essential if you want to build an audience and a little community of your own. It is also a chance for other opportunities to arise if other companies and sponsors can see that you produce content often or on some sort of schedule.

Choose Your Game(s)

There are a lot of things to consider when we say to choose your strengths, but to start with, one of the easiest things to tackle and narrow down before anything else is what game you want to specialize in. There are literally thousands of games out there, with new games coming out every month, so narrowing down your choices can be a bit daunting. The fewer games you have, the more you can focus on honing your skills! Picking 2-3 games at most would be our suggestion, and of course, you’re welcome to build that library up over time!

Gaming

Solo or Co-Op?

Similar to choosing your game, another thing to consider is the gameplay style you’re the best at or have the most fun playing in. For tournaments, solo matches and co-op ones take place, depending on the game, so it’s up to you to decide which one you want to participate in. Do you work best on your own, or do you prefer working in a team, covering one another’s backs and communicating instructions and vital information to reach that victory royale?

Live Streaming

If you don’t think you’re quite ready for esports at a professional tournament sort of level, then not to worry! There are still plenty of ways for you to get involved, but just in a way where the stakes aren’t so high. Streaming your gameplay live on platforms such as Twitch or YouTube is a great way to have one build a bit of an audience and following. It could start with something as simple as streaming with, or for, your friends, but it’ll allow you to become familiar with the more technical side of things and figure out your recording setup from camera to mic and more. Platforms such as Twitch also mean you can gain subscribers and sponsorship offers, which will give you more exposure. Completing challenges and setting records is a great way to create your own memorable image for other players and viewers!

Let’s Plays and Walkthroughs

If you prefer playing through games with a more solid storyline than battle royale games like Fortnite or Overwatch, creating ‘let’s play’ videos on YouTube is a great way to start. Not only is it even lower stakes than live streaming because you can record, edit, and redo any bits that you’re not happy with, but you can also take advantage of AdSense once you have a bit of a following to kickstart your career. These videos can even be completely silent if you’re not totally comfortable with recording yourself in the beginning!

Gaming