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Archives for October 2019

5 Best Ways to Make Money Playing Video Games – Ranked!

5 Best Ways to Make Money Playing Video Games – Ranked!

October 19, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Since civilizations took shape, parents have been telling their children to find something they enjoy doing and get paid for it. It’s the basis of an economy and lauded as the core of a fulfilling life.

In spite of some misgivings and warnings from fuddies in the ’80s and ’90s, the ability to make money playing video games continues to grow. Like any industry that makes money, there are ways to get in on that cash.

As a gamer, you know that putting in the work is key to getting the reward. Whether that takes the form of honing skills, learning strategies, or farming the best gear and items, the principle is the same. 

Check out this list of ways to get paid to play video games.

Make Money Playing Video Games (with Caution)

This list ranks the difficulty of getting into each avenue, which, as is often the case, also reflects the earning potential of each position. 

No matter which path you pursue, remember that learning to save money is always a part of making money. Using capital and resources wisely beats splurge and regret every time. 

1. eSports Athlete

As 2019 winds down, projections that the eSports industry will break a billion dollars appear to hold true.

There’s a lot of money in the pot for advertising and revenue from spectacular events, like the upcoming League of Legends World Championship. 

Getting a piece of that for yourself takes some dedication, skill, and a bit of luck — but less than in other professional sports leagues. 

One of the big advantages of breaking into the world of eSports is that you don’t have to be discovered. Most of the eSports games have a ladder built-in to put the best players toward the top, where they can form teams and get prizes.

Still, if you intend to make money through eSports, you have to take practicing seriously and commit to learning the meta of your given game.

Even if you don’t hit it big by being recruited in a team, its’ possible to win tournaments and contests from the comfort of your home. The purse on some events reaches hundreds of thousands of dollars.

2. Streaming

It doesn’t matter if you go through YouTube, Twitch, or an emerging service. Getting into streaming is a tough field.

As a way to get paid to play video games at home, it has a lot of potential. Some streamers rack up six figures or more a year even before the endorsements and side deals come into play.

The difficulty you find is in finding and growing an audience. This takes careful attention to your presentation and image. The wrong word in the wrong stream can be the end of your career.

Streaming also takes a lot of additional skills outside of the game. Some streamers even specialize in bad gameplay, making the stream itself entertaining through personality or gimmicks. 

Consider building yourself a careful plan before starting on the streaming path.

3. Quality Testing

Gaming and quality testing are two slightly different jobs. They are, however, jobs. You show up to a building and put in the hours, often getting paid hourly but sometimes with a salary.

Unlike everything else in this ranking, this method of how to get paid to play video games involves a direct exchange. There is no non-game time or additional work that you’re getting paid for.

You aren’t getting paid for your personality or ability; you get money to brute force through the game and complain about the bits that don’t go well or argue about which bits are best. Those elements are essentially perks of gaming, so it’s easy to include them as job duties that are technically gaming.

4. Selling Currency

Different games have different legality attached to what can and cannot be sold. Third-party sites for selling currency, items, and accounts all carry their own risks but are viable options.

If you enjoy ripping your way through the hordes of mobs to get that just-so piece of loot or currency, it’s not impossible to cash in on the effort.

More and more gamers find themselves with less time to play and more money form other jobs. They’re willing to pay for your time to save theirs.

It serves you to get a good grip on the meta of the game and the item effects before you start. Consider watching prices carefully, and don’t fall into the undercutting to sell temptation that hurts your bottom line.

5. Create a Community

A bit different than streaming but also containing video releases, community creation is about building.

This is the last item on the list because it generates currency the slowest and contains the least ratio of gaming to side work.

To build a community, start by gaining as much knowledge as you can in a game. Build and write strategy guides and walkthroughs. Delve into the lore and make some sensible guesses at future developments.

Once you strike on an interest, pursue it. You generate money by monetizing your pages with ads and asking for donations to keep you going.

Many players are more than willing to put up with a few ads to find a secret or puzzle answer they’ve been struggling with. The more niche your community, the more likely someone will want to chip in and appreciate the work you do to keep a particular game interesting for others.

This method of making money playing video games often lays the groundwork for a streaming career.

Put in the Time

These aren’t the only ways to make money playing video games; they’re just the most common with a proven track record. If you don’t feel ready for any of these, find your own path. Several of these methods have only existed for a decade, so there’s time to build your own niche.

In the meantime, you can always learn more about saving through gaming. Check out our FAQ to get a clearer understanding of what Lootfeed does for you.

Filed Under: Financial, Gaming

7 Surprising Facts About Gamers: Little-Known Truths That Might Change Your Mind

7 Surprising Facts About Gamers: Little-Known Truths That Might Change Your Mind

October 8, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Gaming is bigger than ever. This year, the industry will generate an expected $152.1 billion in revenue.

But despite gaming’s popularity, some serious misconceptions surround those who love to play. We’re here to settle the score, so get ready to learn seven surprising facts about gamers that might surprise you.

1. Most Gamers Are Adults

For some reason, there’s still a stigma surrounding gaming. Some people believe that it’s a hobby for kids.

The data doesn’t lie – the average gamer is far from a kid. The Entertainment Software Association (ESA) notes that the average player is 34 years old.

Aside from that, 70% of gamers are 18 or older.

2. Gaming is a Pro-Social Hobby

Another nasty stigma is that gamers don’t socialize enough. But if you were to boot up any lobby in “Fortnite,” you’d soon note that that isn’t the case at all.

Gaming brings people together. Thanks to headsets and chat features, gamers interact with people around the world every day. 

And that’s not even accounting for the gamers who get together with friends and hold LAN parties.

3. China Boasts the Biggest Population of Gamers

Looking to find your video game mecca? You might want to head to China.

Reports note that China features the highest population of gamers on the globe. Chinese gamers spend $27.54 billion on gaming each year.

4. Mobile Gamers Spend More Than Console Players

Between high-end gaming PCs and expensive new consoles, it can seem like gaming can cost a fortune.

You can even play some great games right on your phone.

But that doesn’t stop people from dropping serious dollars to support their favorite games. In 2018, mobile games generated $70.3 billion in revenue. In comparison, console games generated $34.6 billion, while PC games totaled $32.9 billion.

5. Yes, Women Play Games Too

As far as outdated stereotypes go, this is perhaps the most harmful, so let’s put it to rest once and for all.

Reports show that 46% of females in the U.S. play games.

Not only do women play games, but women are responsible for some of the most beloved games of all time. Games like “Centipede,” “Portal,” and “Celeste” all had female creators at the helm.

6. Gaming Can Be a Viable Career

With the rise of eSports and streaming, gamers can now make a living doing what they love. Some streamers make millions per year!

7. Gamers Impact the Games They Play

In the old days, a player would buy a game, play it, maybe tell a friend or two what they thought, and then move on with their life. But now, gamers have more power than ever. And they’re using that power to impact the games they love.

Take the controversy surrounding Battlefront II, for instance. Publisher Electronic Arts’ (EA) decision to lock many of the game’s elements behind loot boxes drew such ire from fans that EA changed Battlefront’s entire monetization model days before launch.

There’s also Fallout 76. Despite a rocky launch, gamers came together to build entire settlements. Players even banded together to create marketplaces.

Level up Your Knowledge with These Facts About Gamers

So there you have it, the essential facts about gamers. It’s nice to finally put some of these old myths to bed for good.

Whether you’re a lifelong gamer or someone looking to get into the hobby, we hope you learned something today!

And remember, if you’re interested in saving money while playing the games you love, we can help. Click here to find out how.

Filed Under: Gaming

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