You grew up on a staple of video games, with countless hours spent traipsing through magical lands and crossing stormy seas. Along the way, you picked up a fine appreciation for the powerful, incredible art that’s video gaming. Now, you’re wondering if you can put all your gaming time to good use. After all, if you recognize good games and have so much experience, you might as well make a career out of it, right? Here’s a realistic look at what you can expect if you do join the gaming industry, presented by MyCV Creator.

Video gaming is going places

Video gaming is getting more popular by the day – and the recent pandemic ironically helped it along. Video games are bigger than both the film industry and American sports combined right now, according to MarketWatch. Gaming sales exceeded $180 billion in 2020. Going by Statista findings, people spend an average of 7.71 hours a week gaming in the US (over 60 minutes a day), with the global average being a whopping 10.16 hours.

All this is good news for the gaming industry – and for you if you join. Demand is high and won’t die down, meaning there will be many open jobs in the market. 

Stability can be hard to achieve

As gamesindustry.biz can tell you, just because there are jobs doesn’t mean there is stability. Just like films, you can never really tell if a game is going to be a hit or a miss. Further, jobs revolve around a game’s limited development lifecycle. Typically, game makers, including developers and various artists, frequently have to move from job to job. Moreover, disruptions are par for the course. Companies regularly shift hands, and, unfortunately, bankruptcies are commonplace. Even the most iconic studios – like Lionhead Studios and Telltale Games – shut shop sometimes.

Joining the video gaming industry won’t guarantee job security. You may find a good company with its act together offering stable working conditions, but it could take a while. 

There will be struggle

Making games is extremely difficult – much more so than building websites or apps, Built In says. To paraphrase Sara Chipps from StackOverflow, it’s the difference between doing neurosurgery and walking a dog. It requires intuition, passion, and creativity. You have to stitch together abstract concepts and work outside of pre-defined frameworks. It’s about telling a story that appeals to the audience in an eye-catching, captivating way. Finally, there’s no guarantee your game will become popular. In contrast, building websites or apps is simple – you get to work to a plan, satisfy a client’s requirements, and you’re done.

But the rewards are worth it

Being a game maker is nothing short of being an inventor or an artist. And like any artist will tell you, there’s little more satisfying than watching your biggest creations come to life. It’s a special feeling to see your creation take off and affect other people’s lives in meaningful ways. If you’re successful enough, you can expect fame, success, and wealth. The most iconic video game makers – like the legendary Hideo Kojima, the Steve Jobs of the gaming world – garner huge respect and cult followings worldwide. 

You will need serious skills 

If you’re serious about a career in video gaming, you will need serious skills. Depending on what you want to be, you will need a foundation in graphics, software engineering, and associated tech skills. Ideally, you want a diverse, well-rounded skill set. Luckily, these days, you can conveniently receive a stellar education online by pursuing a remote learning diploma. You can continue to work and take care of your responsibilities while you learn. Be sure to pick an accredited school with competitive rates – you need good mentoring.

To sum it up, you could indeed realistically make a career in the video gaming industry, but it won’t be a cakewalk. You’ll likely have to wear many hats along the way, and there will be many ups and downs. Still, if you succeed, you’ll have a rewarding career that fulfills you, and you’ll be able to leave behind a legacy to be proud of. 

When you’re ready to begin applying for those jobs in the video game industry, use MyCV Creator to put together an eye-catching CV/resume. Get started by clicking here.

Image via Unsplash