As a gamer, you’ve probably heard a lot of negative comments about your hobby – “it’s not a real talent”, “it’s a lazy person’s hobby” etc. Few people realise just how much skill, dexterity and focus goes into playing most video games. The good news is that those valuable skills can also be used for many other things, so if you ever wondered what else you could be doing with your knowledge of video games, here are a few ideas:
Streaming online
Perhaps the most obvious thing you could be doing when you’re great at video games is… play more video games! Fortunately, due to the internet and an increase in platforms for streaming (like Twitch), it has become much easier to actually turn your gaming hobby into a money-making endeavour. In order to become a successful streamer, you will need to be passionate and knowledgeable, have a consistent social media presence, and maybe even combine that with video-making for YouTube, to present some of your streaming highlights.
Online casinos
Another way to easily monetise your gaming skills is by taking up online games like poker or blackjack. These may seem like games of chance at first, but they actually employ strategy and quick decision-making, all skills already in an online gamer’s arsenal. Online gamers do have an edge over total beginners, meaning you may be able to win substantial amounts of money from this one hobby. If you don’t know how to get started, check out review websites like new online casino to make sure you choose a safe, high-quality online casino.
Coding
Coding is at the core of every video game, so it’s not a surprise that a lot of online gamers pursue coding as a hobby and even as a career. A lot of game developers started out from simply being gamers, and that could be you as well. If you have some favourite games, look into the kind of programming languages they use – it could help you get some inspiration if you decide to work on something yourself.
Luckily, there are plenty of free online courses on coding, so whenever you feel like taking a break from your favourite video games, simply watch a few courses and work on personal coding projects – those are really what will keep the passion alive.
Digital art
Video games could be considered a high form of art – they combine storytelling with music, amazing visuals, and just an overall immersive experience. A lot of gamers are drawn to the visual aspect of video games and may get inspired by the amazing art they find in them. For those gamers, digital art is a surprisingly cheap hobby to get into: a small graphic tablet won’t cost more than $30, and plenty of digital art software is actually free, so pretty much anyone can give it a try.
You can try your hand at landscape art, character design or simply illustration – there is no limit to what you can create.
3D modelling
Another creative hobby perfect for gamers is 3D modelling – that is, creating 3D objects, characters or even landscapes using 3D modelling software like Blender or ZBrush. Game development doesn’t stop at just coding as it involves all these artistic elements as well, so it’s not a surprise that the people involved in creating graphic elements are also, in turn, gamers. Because of that, if you enjoy online gaming there’s a chance you may enjoy pushing your creativity to create assets for games yourself – you can even sell them online for extra cash or use them as a portfolio if you decide to pursue this hobby as a career.
