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Michael Piggott

How Much Does it Cost to Make a Game? You’d Be Surprised

How Much Does it Cost to Make a Game? You’d Be Surprised

February 10, 2020 By Michael Piggott

In the past, videogames were often regarded as trivial ways to spend your time (and you were often criticized for enjoying them).

Today, with the addition of voice actors, storytelling with massive depth, and constant development in high-quality graphics, it’s easily argued that videogames have become works of art.

So, it’s no surprise that there are plenty of independent developers out there who’d like to try their hand at making their own game.

But, how much does it cost to make a game that’s AAA quality? Not everyone knows what to expect.

Let’s take a look at five things to keep in mind.

So… How Much Does it Cost to Make a Game?

The answer to this question is highly variable based on a handful of factors. Things like total man-hours spent, licensing, and the overall length of the project all contribute to the total price tag.

Put simply, though, it costs millions— often into the double digits.

Let’s dive into the elements that influence this number.

1. Labor ($3M – $5M)

This is the meat of the game budget. To make a game that’s AAA caliber, though, you’re going to need a team of some of the most talented developers out there.

Since people of this proficiency are hard to come by and constantly being tracked down by other companies, you’ll need to offer them a competitive salary. Depending on the size of your project, you’ll likely already be in the millions in terms of cost.

But, the reality is top-tier games require this level of investment.

2. Music ($500K-$1M)

Hiring session musicians (or even an orchestra, in some cases) can put a huge dent in your budget depending on how fleshed-out you want your games music to be.

In some cases, commissioned work can cost up to $2,500 per minute of composed music.

While stock music is typically an option for independent developers, the vast majority of AAA games all have original soundtracks that musicians were hired to compose, perform, and record.

Games that take place in fantasy or medieval settings tend to have higher budgets for original music than games in the Grand Theft Auto series.

3. Licensing ($1M-$5M)

Licensing can easily cost millions of dollars.

The developers of Grand Theft Auto V, for example, licensed nearly 250 songs for the game’s radio station that plays while you operate a vehicle. In some cases, licensing one song can cost thousands of dollars (depending on its popularity).

There are many other instances where licensing comes into play, too. This includes the use of trademark names, original characters (such as those from a film), and other forms of intellectual property. 

4. Complexity ($3M-$5M)

The more complex your game is (fleshed-out online play, overall content, etc.) the more code that will need to be written.

As your game’s code becomes more extensive, though, it becomes exponentially more complicated to work on and maintain. This often means more requiring more hours from your team (or even having to hire extra programmers).

This is especially true if you’re developing an original game engine (and not tweaking one like the Call of Duty games do). 

Grand Total: Approximately $10 Million

This number will vary depending on what you need for your game (especially when it comes to licensing requirements). But, $10 million is a fairly common number to see as the total budget of a AAA game.

Final Thoughts 

Developing a AAA game costs millions, so it’s out of reach for the majority of gamers.

But, those with a true passion for the industry still have the opportunity to make their own games on a smaller scale. In these cases, the answer to ‘how much does it cost to make a game’ will be far more reasonable.

Want to learn how you can save money while you game? This page has plenty of useful info about how we can help.

Filed Under: Gaming Tagged With: gamedev, Gaming

Most Played Video Games by Hours Played and Player Count

Most Played Video Games by Hours Played and Player Count

January 26, 2020 By Michael Piggott

From PlayStation to Xbox gaming is a huge industry, with millions of people spending hours and hours of game-play time on the console of their choice. Some would say gaming is a simple hobby, but those who spend the majority of their time playing would say it is a lifestyle.

With a video game industry worth over $130 billion, we’ve compiled a list of the most played video games by player count and hours played.

Video Game Consoles

Before we head onto our list, let’s break down the variety of video game platforms that can be played: 

  • PlayStation is owned by Sony. It consists of PS1 through to PS4, so four models of video game consoles, as well as a media center, online services and a variety of controllers. 
  • Xbox is owned by Microsoft and consists of four generations of consoles. It also represents applications and games, streaming services, an online service, and a gaming production brand. 
  • PC is one of the oldest platforms from MAC to Android, sold by different technology companies but the operating system is what counts towards the types of games playable. The most widely used system for PC gaming these days is Steampowered. 
    Steam is a video game digital distribution platform owned and developed by Valve Corporation.  

Most Played Video Games Ever 

This list is not sorted by console, brand or even genre of the game itself. The list if compiled of games that have impressive numbers when it comes to the number of players and hours played, so in no particular order: 

Crossfire 

CrossFire is an online tactical first-person shooter played on Windows. It is the most played game in the world according to player count of all time with 660 million players worldwide. Many players in forums online have estimated their gameplay time around 2000 hours. 

Dungeon Fighter Online

Dungeon Fighter Online, also known as DFO, is a multiplayer PC old school fight challenge video game. The game boasts 600 millions user worldwide.

Candy Crush Saga

Candy Crush Saga is a free-to-play matching-three puzzle video game released on April 12, 2012. Versions are available for Facebook, iOS, Android, Windows Phone, and Windows 10. The game has 500 million registered players globally. To date, 350 trillion candies have been swiped. 

Tetris

Tetris was one of the first games available on Windows and has been around since 1984. It now boasts over 500 million users around the world, some users report online that they’ve accumulated 12 hours of gameplay without stopping. 

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds

PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds was released in December 2017, so it is a relatively newer game compared to others on this list. With a whopping 400 million users! The top 30 users on SteamLadder have over 10,000 hours of gameplay time each. 

Microsoft Solitaire

Released in 1990, Microsoft Solitaire is another of the veterans on our list. There are 400 million users who actively play Microsoft Solitaire. It’s even been inducted into the World Video Game Hall of Fame! 

Fantasy Westward Journey 

Fantasy Westward Journey has a registered user amount of 310 million. It was number one in the top ten highest grossing games worldwide in September 2017. 

Fortnite

Fortnite boasts 250 million registered accounts. The average gameplay time? A player will spend between 6 and 10 playing Fortnite per week. Between May 2018 and June 2018 the total Fortnite playing time was 2.7 billion hours.

Google’s Pac-Man Doodle

We’re all familiar with Pac-Man from our visits to the arcade as children. The Pac-Man Doodle is an online maze game similar to that one, but was made for the Google homepage to celebrate it’s 30th Anniversary. Funny enough, the Pac-Man Doodle has recorded a daily user count of up to 505 million players with an estimated gameplay time of 500 million hours!  Free to play too – check it out here.

Video Games Overview 

Although this list is impressive, it doesn’t include hours of play on smartphones or tablets, so who knows? The stats from mobile developers may far surpass the stats based on our consoles of choice for this list. 

The most played video games list is certainly impressive and the numbers speak for themselves! 

If you find these information useful, and want to learn more about how you can use your own gameplay to help you save your own money (crazy, right?) learn more about us here & if interested, join our waitlist.

Filed Under: Gaming Tagged With: most played video games, video games

Want a Professional Gamer Salary? Here’s What the Top Gamers Make

Want a Professional Gamer Salary? Here’s What the Top Gamers Make

January 13, 2020 By Michael Piggott

Gaming is a hobby enjoyed by over 2.4 billion people across the globe.

But for some, gaming is more than a hobby. It’s a great way to make money!

Curious to find out what a professional gamer salary looks like? Then keep reading as we break down how much your favorite stars earn.

Tyler ‘Ninja’ Blevins: $16.1 Million

Love him or hate him, it’s impossible to ignore Ninja’s popularity. The former Twitch-streamer turned Mixer star has amassed an audience of millions and has a bank account to match it.

Earlier this year, Blevins stuck a $1 million deal with EA Games to push Apex Legends. But that’s just the tip of the iceberg. Blevins brings in an estimated $500,000 per month from streaming alone, earning millions more through endorsement deals and merchandising.

Felix ‘PewDiePie’ Kjellberg: $15 Million

Not far behind Ninja is PewDiePie, one of the original YouTube game streamers, starting his pro gaming career around 2012. PewDiePie’s videos reach a massive audience, with his current subscriber base totaling just over 102 million.

Like Ninja, most of PewDiePie’s income comes from endorsement deals.

However, publicity stunts like the “Subscribe to PewDiePie” campaign helped the 30-year-old gaming icon generate a wider audience this year.

Jesse ‘JerAx’ Vainikka $3.16 Million

While the streamers are raking in serious cash, eSports players aren’t too far behind. Take DOTA 2 pro JerAx, for instance, who has earned his annual salary of $3 million from competing in some of gaming’s biggest tournaments along with his OG teammates.

But that’s just the start of it. Over his career, JerAx has earned almost $6.5 million off of his DOTA 2 skills.

Johan ‘N0tail’ Sundstein: $3.15 Million

Technically speaking, N0tail has one of the largest earning rates of all time. Throughout his gaming career, N0tail has earned nearly $7 million.

And while he isn’t earning as much as he used to, he’s still making a killing in DOTA 2 competitions.

Currently, N0tail serves as the team captain of OG, along with fellow teammate and top-earner JerAx.

Lee ‘Faker’ Sang Hyeok: $897 Thousand

Faker is an absolute legend in the world of gaming. The 23-year-old has already won almost half a dozen worldwide competitions playing League of Legends.

In his off time, Faker makes a living off of endorsements and streaming. His popular Twitch channel has accumulated almost 69 million views.

So why the huge disparity between Faker and everyone else on this list? Remember, this only takes into account annual earnings. And while League of Legends is a massive game, DOTA 2’s tournament sponsorships and YouTube’s video monetization likely bring higher earning potential.

And let’s face it, $897 per year is a pretty sweet salary.

Want to Earn a Professional Gamer Salary?

While not everyone gets to play on a major stage like JerAx or Faker and make a professional gamer salary, you can still make a decent living off of gaming. And best of all, all you have to do is save!

To find out how you can start saving through Lootfeed, click here.

Filed Under: Gaming Tagged With: esports, gamer, Gaming, Progaming

Is Gaming Good for You? 7 Surprising Facts

Is Gaming Good for You? 7 Surprising Facts

December 31, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Did you know that nearly 70% of Americans play video games? Rightfully so since not only are they fun but have many surprising benefits as well.

Is gaming good for you? Read on to find out the hidden benefits of video gaming, and relax knowing you’re not just having a good time but enjoying the benefits to gaming as well. 

Video Games and Your Brain

Your right hippocampus decides how to process and consolidate information for the long term and short term memory. Video games can help grow this part of the brain. 

The cerebellum is also activated while playing video games. It controls muscular activity and fine motor skills. This part of the brain helps you respond to what’s happening around you. 

The prefrontal cortex controls social behavior, cognitive planning, decision making, and your personality. Of course, the more involved you get in your video game the more you’ll experience these benefits. 

If you’re looking to experience these benefits, it’s not just Super Mario 64, but think of fast-paced action games. Great examples are first-person shooters and sports games. 

Problem Solving in Games

Video gaming can teach strategy and problem-solving. Minecraft shows you how to use objects to solve problems and explore environments. SimCity you plan and layout a city. It also has you consider different factors such as how taxes could help or hurt your city. 

It also teaches you planning and resource management, which you can then connect to your own life. Certain games out there are about historical events, so it could make you curious about learning historical facts. 

1. Exercise Your Brain

A study done at the Max Planck Institute found that playing video games actually increases the grey matter in your brain. This helps refine hardwired and learned skills. It also positively impacts the part of your brain used for memory, fine motor skills, and spatial orientation. 

The study chose 2 groups of adults. The first group played Super Mario 64 for 30 minutes a day for 2 months, and the 2nd group didn’t play anything. They used magnetic resonance imaging(MRI) to measure the sizes of the brains for the groups. 

They measured their brains before the study and at the 2-month mark. It showed a link between brain increases and video gaming. 

2. Slows Down Aging

Aging is inevitable, but what if there was a way to slow it down? A study that was done in Iowa showed gaming can actually slow down aging. There were 681 healthy people who were aged 50 and older playing video games for 10 hours for 6-8 weeks. 

It was found that 10 hours of video gaming slowed down the aging process by many years. They saw a range, with a minimum of a year and a half to six and a half years of improvement or recovery. 

3. Great Workout

Games like Dance Dance Revolution and Wii Fit have been popular throughout the years, and are great exercise games for weight loss. You don’t have to worry about going to the gym, you can just turn on your video game and get a good workout. 

When you’re up and moving it helps your joint flexibility, balance, coordination, and circulation. Many of these games track your progress as well. You can also set goals. Ring Fit Adventure is a new workout for the Wii that can help with weight loss and setting goals as well.

4. Better Decision Making

C. Shawn Green at the University of Rochester ran a study to see how video games affect decision making. He tested to see if games that make us keep track of moving peripheral images will improve our receiving of sensory data and make better decisions. 

Young adults that had no gaming experience played an action game for 50 hours. Another group played a slower-paced strategy game. It was shown action games can enhance our low-level perceptual functions. 

5. Improved Focus

When you’re needing to be more attentive and have more focus on school or work, video games can help with that. Video gaming has been shown to improve attention, cognition, and perception. 

6. Could Help Depression

In New Zealand, a study was done to see if video games could help with mental disorders such as depression. A game called SPARX was invented to provide therapy for teens that’s more enjoyable than traditional therapy. 

Over 168 teens with an average age of 15 who previously showed signs of depression, were part of this study. Half of the group got to play SPARX, and the other half did traditional counseling. 

The game allows you to create avatars to get rid of enemies in the virtual world. The enemies represented negative and gloomy thoughts. Each stage of the game had facts about depression including ways to deal with it effectively and relax. 

It was found that this video game could be beneficial in treating depression as an alternate route for counseling. 

7. Become Social

Most gamers play with others online, which makes you befriend others near and far. If you’re a gamer who partakes in live social environments, you’re more likely to be communicative and friendly. You can also form stronger bonds with fellow gamers than those who don’t play games.

Answering the Question Is Gaming Good for You

Is gaming good for you? Not only can it have positive mental effects, but physical as well. So, don’t feel bad playing your games for hours having a blast. If you’re looking to save money while playing games, join us today and decide how much you’d like to save.

Filed Under: Gaming

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Discount Gaming: Finding the Best Game Deals Online

The Hitchhiker’s Guide to Discount Gaming: Finding the Best Game Deals Online

December 16, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Over 150 million Americans actively play video games, with 60 percent of these people playing each day. If you love gaming, but dislike the high prices associated with this activity, then the information here is written for you.  

When it comes to discount gaming, we have all the tips and tricks you have been hoping to find. With the help here, you can be gaming in no time – without breaking the bank!

Be Patient

When a new game comes out, you may be tempted to purchase it right away. However, games drop in price rather quickly.

While it’s great to purchase a game the day it’s released, if you can be patient – even for a week – then you can get it for a significantly lower price. If you can wait an entire month, you can scoop up the game for a fraction of what it originally cost.

For example, in 2014, when the PS4 was introduced by Sony, the price was $399. Today, you can get it for $299 or less, depending on the retailer. Patience is a virtue when it comes to games and gaming systems. 

Buy Second Hand

If you go to a game store, you can find popular games, second-hand, for a price that’s very close to what it originally sold for. However, if you shop smart, you can likely find the game second-hand for a much lower rate.

There are some people who purchase a game, beat it, and then sell it. This is a great way to get an amazing deal on popular games.

Think about it – you can purchase the popular game Red Dead Redemption II for $59.99 new. However, if you visit sites such as eBay or others that have second-hand games available, you may wind up paying $40 or less for the same game. That’s a significant savings!

Search for Coupons and Discounts

Gaming is a huge, and lucrative, industry. In 2018, this industry generated right under $135 billion.

While this is true, it doesn’t mean there aren’t opportunities for you to save a few bucks or more. The key is to know where and how to find these discounts.

Believe it or not, with a simple online search, you may be able to find online coupons for any game you are interested in buying. This is going to help you save a significant amount of money while getting the game you want.

You can use various discount apps to find coupons automatically as you go to purchase a game. In fact, with a bit of digging, you may be able to find discounts of 25 percent off or more.

Discount Gaming: Save a Little or Save a Lot

It is possible to save money on the latest and greatest games, across all platforms. However, if you want to make the most out of discount gaming offers, you have to know where to look. The tips and information here should help you get started.

To learn more about saving money on gaming, be sure to check out our deals and steals. We can guarantee that you won’t be disappointed with the results you achieve and the money you can save. Visit today and visit often to see the latest deals and money-saving opportunities we have available.

Filed Under: Financial, Gaming

Gaming By the Numbers: 5 Interesting Video Game Statistics

Gaming By the Numbers: 5 Interesting Video Game Statistics

December 3, 2019 By Michael Piggott

The video game industry continues to rise in both popularity and sales each year. In 2018, about 66% of the U.S. population played some video games in some way, shape, or form. That is up 8% from 2013!

Video games aren’t going anywhere anytime soon. And as technology advances, so will the video game industry! 

There are a lot of things about the video game industry that may surprise you. Keep reading to discover some of the most fascinating video game statistics you may not have known!

Crazy Video Game Statistics

Video games have been available commercially since the early ’70s. That means they’ve been around for almost 50 years, and that’s not even one of the craziest statistics! Keep reading for some interesting facts about video games and the video game industry!

1. Gaming Is More Equal Than You Think

When most people who aren’t part of the community think of video games, they think of 1 thing. They imagine a nerdy guy in his 30s still living in his mom’s basement drinking mountain dew and eating pizza rolls. And while this stereotype isn’t always wrong, it certainly isn’t the majority as it used to be.

As of this year, the gaming population is made up of 46% women and 54% men. That is a fairly equal split, and it shows that video games can be for anybody. Not just middle-aged nerdy men.

2. Video Game Revenue Has Almost Doubled Since 2013

In 2013, the video game industry brought in over $76 billion in revenue. That seems like a lot of money for video games, right? Think again!

By the end of 2019, it is estimated that video games will bring in over $150 billion in revenue! That is nearly double what it was 6 years ago. And it doesn’t appear to be slowing down anytime soon.

3. PC Gaming Is the Most Active Platform

If you are not into video gaming, you might think PlayStation or Xbox is the most popular gaming platform. However, that is not true in the least.

At the 2019 Game Developer’s Conference, it was discovered that about 66% of developers were working on projects for PC, with second place being smartphones and tablets at 38%. PlayStation was the highest console at 31%.

The benefit of developing games for PC is that creators don’t have to worry about any kind of licensing fees or purchasing devkits (game development kit). That means pretty much anybody can create a game for PC if they have the tools and resources to do so.

4. the U.S. Is the 2nd Largest Video Game Market in the World

The United States brought in over $25 billion in revenue in 2018. This is only second to China’s $32 billion. But when you consider the U.S. population is a little over 300 million and China is over 1.3 billion, that number becomes a bit more impressive.

That means that if every single U.S. citizen spent money on video games they would spend a little over $76/year. Whereas in China, every citizen would only be spending about $25/year. Pretty crazy when you realize only 66% of the US population purchases video games.

5. Video Games Aren’t Just For Kids

Contrary to belief, video games are not an adolescent dominated hobby. The average gamer is 34 years old, with almost 40% of gamers falling between the ages of 18 and 35. 

That’s right, video games are not just for children anymore. Adults, both male and female have fallen in love with gaming, and this is a trend that is likely to continue.

Make Gaming Work For You!

After hearing those crazy video game statistics, wouldn’t it be awesome if you could make your favorite hobby work for you? Well, you can with Lootfeed!

As we get older, saving for retirement and for our future becomes increasingly more important. Sign up for our email list today, and see how you can start saving for your future while playing your favorite video games! 

Filed Under: Gaming

3 Pro Gamers Who Are Winning the Game of Life and How You Could Join Them

3 Pro Gamers Who Are Winning the Game of Life and How You Could Join Them

November 16, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Is it possible to earn hundreds of thousands as a Cyber athlete?

Gaming has become so mainstream and so popular that competitions are becoming international events and prize money is climbing ever higher.

Gaming could even become an Olympic sport in the near future. Here are three pro gamers and tips on achieving their level of fame.

1. The Team Newbee Pro Gamers

It seems unfair putting a full team in an article about pro gamers, but this team broke all world records when it received 5 million dollars for winning the Dota 2 international tournament.

It made each of them a millionaire, (until the Chinese tax system took its slice).

2. Lee Jae Dong (Jaedong)

He has already won over $500,000 and has won three major championships playing StarCraft II and StarCraft Brood War.

He is a professional gamer who plays as if he were playing chess by trying to anticipate threats before they even appear.

3. Johnathan ‘Fatal1ty’ Wendel

He has won over $450,000 in 36 tournaments by playing Quake and Painkiller.

He is one of the very few Western players to earn more than $100,000 from gaming. Though to be fair, there are far more people in the East than in the West.

You Have To Play Against Other People Online All The Time

Playing on your own against the computer is not going to make you a pro gamer. Even old games from 20 years ago like Dungeon Keeper 2 now have online functions where you can play other people. Jaedong himself made his money playing a game that is over a decade old.

Pro gamers have earned their skills playing online. Take the example of the Rocket League game. Playing against the computer even on an intermediate (not hard) level is very tricky and playing on hard mode against the computer is diabolically difficult. However, it is a walk in the park when compared to online pro gamers who can intercept a ball in mid area and score.

Tactics are changing so often in Rocket League that tricks that people thought were useless, such as the mid-air back-flip boost are becoming staples of the game. Playing against online players is the only way you will ever reach the heights you need in any online pro-gaming situation.

Build A Website And Promote Yourself

You need a professional website that you bought (not a cheap free one). It needs to show your achievements first, which includes your position in competitions and things such as your official speed run scores. It needs a biography, and maybe a short inspiring story about how you started on the SNES, or how you worked every weekend to buy your first PlayStation.

It also needs a page for your schedule that shows where and when you will be playing next. You can show off your trophies and hours played statistics too, all of which you can harvest from Microsoft, Sony, Steam, etc. You also need numerous “good” pictures of yourself playing or at sponsored events.

Finally, you need to have your own Facebook fan page, Instagram profile, Twitter profile, and any others that are relevant, like Tik Tok if you want attention from China and Japan. All of this is needed so you can build a fan base, and so that sponsors can find you and see how amazing you are.

You Need To Dedicate Yourself Daily

To become a pro gamer, you need to go to work eight hours per day, then come home and play for at least six hours every day, and then put in eight to twelve hours over the weekend.

You need to play online, and you need to start promoting yourself so that you get sponsorship. People with sponsors can dedicate themselves fully and finally reach the top as pro gamers.

If you want to save money while you play on your Xbox, sign up to Lootfeed. It’s a unique way to save as you “pay yourself” for your gaming time. 

Filed Under: Gaming Tagged With: esports, Progaming

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

The Gamer’s Savings Plan: Why Saving Can Help You Buy Games

The Gamer’s Savings Plan: Why Saving Can Help You Buy Games

September 22, 2019 By Michael Piggott

There are at least 2.2 billion gamers active in the world today. 

On top of that, people spent over $23.5 billion on games in 2015. 

If you’re one of those many people who love games, what if I told you that you could buy your favorite releases without ever feeling financial stress?

It’s time you learned how to save your money so you can play the games you want. 

Interested? 

Read on to learn about the ways you can use a gamer’s savings plan to make your life easier, and how you might even be able to make some extra cash while you’re at it. 

The ‘Sell Your Unwanted Games Savings Plan’

If you’re a console gamer, chances are you have titles hanging around that you no longer play. 

Want to save your money? Sell your used titles for extra bucks. 

Where’s the best place to sell your used games? 

Try out Amazon and Ebay. 

Amazon lets you market your old game through strong filters and has enough users that you’ll virtually always get a bite. 

Rent Your Games

Ever wondered why most newly released console games cost so much?

Part of the reason is due to production and sheer development. But the games you buy on release-day are often over-priced due to buyer competition. 

If you’re tired of waiting in a long line to buy an expensive game, look towards online renting services. 

AmazonPrime, Gamefly, and Nvidia are just some of the options that can save you a lot of money. Then, you aren’t paying tons of money every year Bethesda comes out with a new Elder Scrolls title. 

Replayable Titles 

When you’re researching new games to buy, target games that have high replayability. 

This makes it easier for you to settle down with one particular game, and not spend loads of money on a new release right away. 

Try searching for games that focus on open-world questing and multiple endings. This makes you motivated to play the game again, saving you money. 

Do Your Research 

This ensures that you aren’t wasting your money on a game. 

Though you can never know how good a video game is going to be from reviewers and spec-research, you can get a better idea of how much fun you’ll have. 

Be sure to research a game through multiple game-review outlets. Some will have inherent biases towards or away from the title you’re interested in. 

You can also try reaching out to betas and demos to see if the game is worth your money. 

Game Investments 

It seems like a dream question: how do I make money playing games? 

The answer is simple. Besides saving, you can make real-time investments while you play your favorite games. 

Options like Lootfeed allow you to connect your game data to an investment app, making you money while you play. 

Save Money While You Play 

A good savings plan can give you all the opportunity you need to play the games you want without worrying about your wallet. 

What about making some extra cash while you’re playing? 

Here’s your chance! You can check out services like Lootfeed to automatically accrue funds while gaming away. 

Go for it. Be the gamer who never has to sell another title again. 

Filed Under: Financial, Gaming

Money Management Tips: 4 Ways Gamers Can Save Money in Life

Money Management Tips: 4 Ways Gamers Can Save Money in Life

September 7, 2019 By Michael Piggott

Real life money management tips are similar to how you spend your loot in the video games you play:

You earn coins to buy weapons and gear and save up to get the “good stuff.” You don’t want to blow your bank on things you don’t really need because that could mean having to go without later. 

But in real life, the stakes are higher. You’re not 16 anymore and need to think carefully about how you spend your money. 

You’re keeping a roof over your head, food within arm’s reach, and the power on so you can keep gaming. Plus, you’ll never be able to save for retirement if you keep blowing your money on your gaming habit.

That doesn’t mean just because you’re older now and have more responsibilities that you can’t still enjoy gaming.

It’s never too late to press Start on these four money management tips:

1. Buy Used Games

A new game can easily cost you $60 or more. But buying used video games can give you the same gameplay for less cash. 

Stores like GameStop have made a big business from buying and selling used games, giving you upfront savings. 

Or, you can scope out sites like Craigslist, Facebook, or eBay for even better deals. 

2. Consider a Game’s Replayability

Forget about the hype. Before you invest your hard-earned money on a game, think about the total value the game will bring you. 

The best games are those you can play again and again. This helps you get your money’s worth and eliminates the need to rush out and buy more games since you already have something worth playing. 

Games that you’ll only play once or twice might be cheaper to rent or borrow from a friend. 

3. Trade Games with Friends—It’s Free!

If you have gamer friends, consider pooling your collection to expand your options. 

This gives you greater access to games without you having to spend your own money on them. Plus, you’re helping out a fellow gamer do the same.

Or, if you have kids who are also into video games, buy the titles that you’re also interested in playing so you can stretch your gameplay even further. This is also a good opportunity to share with your kids the older video games that started it all and do some reminiscing at the same time.

It’s a win/win!

4. Stock Up on Steam Sales

Steam is the holy grail for gamers. This online platform sells tons of games at way below retail prices. They have popular titles that everyone is talking about and titles that no one is talking about, and everything in between. 

The catch is that there are no physical media, which is one of the things that drives up the price of games at stores. Rather, you download your games directly to your PC.

If you find you can’t enough Steam, consider getting a dedicated Steam Box to house all your games. This allows you to play your games on your TV with a real controller, not a keyboard, giving you the same convenience of a console. 

Keep in mind if you build a Steam Box, it will take a while to recoup your investment. The games can be cheap, but gaming PCs are not. Do some math to calculate if this investment is worth it. 

Find More Money Management Tips for Gamers

Gaming can be an expensive hobby, but it doesn’t have to be. Savvy money management tips like the ones above can help you avoid going broke.

There are always ways to save on your favorite games, even if it means not getting them on release day.

Find more money-saving tips on the Lootfeed blog!

Filed Under: Financial, Gaming

What do you play for?

What do you play for?

August 7, 2019 By Michael Piggott

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What do I play for?

As an aging gamer who is adulting full time now, I seek to have it all: a career, family, and playing the best games possible. 

Adulting isn’t easy, and staying young at heart is even harder. So it’s no wonder that at 2 am, I am either sleeping or playing video games. During this time I don’t regret the fact I have to go to work in a couple of hours.

My only regret is, I could be doing something else more productive with my time. 

Coming across an article on Wired Magazine, I discovered this feeling is known as Gamer Regret, also known as Gamer Guilt. Not to be confused with Gamer Remorse which according to the Urban dictionary is the regretful feeling one gets while trudging exhaustedly through the day after a dutiful night of gaming. 

It turns out there are a lot more gamers; the average age of a gamer being 34 years old, that also share the feeling of Gamer regret. With this knowledge, I become obsessed with this feeling and have dedicated myself to finding ways to get rid of it.

After doing tons of customer interviews, I found that gamers who feel this way have multifaceted lives with competing interests.  Their lives might include a ton of responsibilities, job, kids, and family. From 18 or younger, we tend to think we have all the time in the world and don’t reflect on our time gaming. Time isn’t an hourglass until you see how much changes around you and how much you change over time. The reflection on my time gaming and life became the genesis of Lootfeed and the question.

What do you play for?

Lootfeed as a concept is simple: the time you spend while playing a video game is also spent building value (IRL) in real life. Games today bring a person educational, therapeutic, and recreational value, but what if there could be more? A select group of streamers and professional gamers as of this decade have been able to create real-world monetary value based on virtual exploits. What is the intrinsic value?

We believe in the future. Every time a gamer plays a game, this gamer will be synchronous Looting in real life for something — for example, their savings, goals, college loans, retirement, and investments.

Approximately 2.2 billion gamers share gaming as a hobby in the world. With the estimated 7.6 billion people living on earth, this means that almost a third of people on this planet are gamers!

Gamers spend an average of nearly six hours each week playing videogames. Millennial gamers (age 18-35) spend more time watching other people play video games than they spend watching traditional sports on television. Meanwhile, younger gamers (age 18-25) spend almost an hour more each week watching online gaming than watching traditional sports. Gamers spend an average of one hour and 48 minutes each week watching other players play online on sites such as Twitch. In comparison to two hours and 27 minutes spent watching traditional sports on broadcast television.

Lootfeed is a Hobby meeting a habit.

Hobbies are recreational activities that you repeatedly do.

Habits are a regular tendency or practice.

Lootfeed seeks to marry your gaming hobby with positive habits.

On average, a person spends about 10000 hours of gaming in their first 18 years of life. What if this had tangible value outside of potential esports skills acquired? 

Pay and or Invest in yourself while you play.

Go to Lootfeed.com to learn more

Filed Under: Financial, Gaming, Lootfeed Tagged With: Financial, Gaming, Loot

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