Can Gaming Be a Career Choice?
-Authored by Sushma Bharath , Head, Program and Partnerships, Hero Vired
Growing up, the activity of playing video games was always demonised. It was called ‘a waste of time’, ‘another version of the idiot box’, ‘it will ruin your eyes’ etc etc. Although the intentions behind these common complaints were genuine, today, an interest in gaming is not necessarily an indicator of a lack of ambition, or actual talent.?
With a user base of 300 million, the Indian gaming industry is currently worth $1.8 billion - only behind China and USA, according to the 2021 Boston Consulting Group and Sequoia India report. The rising popularity of gaming has also found its extension in eSports which refers to the competitive version of multiplayer gaming. Simply put, it is an organised tournament played virtually by professionals competing against one another, as individuals or as a team. According to EY’s Game Ready Set Game On Report , there were over 14 eSports broadcast platforms in 2020, which are expected to increase to 20 by 2025. The report also predicts that eSports will have over 85 million unique viewers by 2025, up from the current 14 million unique viewers, and Indian viewers will comprise around 10% of global esports viewership.??
And where there’s demand, there’s a need for trained professionals. And the Indian gaming industry is not different. An EY report predicts the eSports industry will generate over 11,000 direct and indirect jobs by 2025. Considering that a lot of these roles usually have origin skills that trace back to software development and design - domains where there is anyway a clear shortage of trained talent, this is no surprise that the industry on the whole is struggling to meet demand.
So if your child is interested in gaming, it would be wise to take a closer look at what aspects he/she finds interesting and probe if they might be interested in turning their passion into a career?
Today, there are various roles to choose from in the gaming industry besides professional gaming, like marketing, operations, production, publishing, etc. eSports is also a thriving ecosystem consisting of several stakeholders.?
Here are the points you must consider:
Assess whether your child is keen to take up a career in gaming rather than just a hobby
At the outset, you must identify whether your child is interested in taking it up as a full-time vocation or a pastime only. There is a huge difference between enjoying any activity as a hobby and taking it up as a full-time career option. Secondly, as a parent, you must ascertain your child has solid grounds to take up gaming as a career rather than merely following trends. While interest can be a good starting point, actually building a career in the field requires a concerted strategy and sustained efforts in this direction. Careers in gaming may be lucrative but are highly competitive, with professionals expected to work on tight deadlines. Discuss the pros and cons of this career and assess if the latter is the right fit.?
Start early
Once you have zeroed in on the gaming career after discussing it with your child, chalk out a strategy to achieve the objective. The best part of gaming is that it doesn't require a specialised degree. The minimum eligibility for a career in gaming is graduation in any discipline. However, enrolling in a short-term course is a prudent way to get acquainted with the fundamentals of the discipline such as Hero Vired’s Certificate Program in gaming and eSports in collaboration with Nodwin Gaming.?
Several companies are also taking the lead in promoting gaming education in India. For instance, HP has come up with an eSports Gold Quest Scholarship for aspiring gamers in the age group of 16-20. Such initiatives are bound to catalyse the formalisation of gaming education.
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Map your child’s skillset to identify suitable roles?
As a career, gaming offers a plethora of options to choose from beyond just game development. For instance, if your child is good at storytelling and designing creatives, game design would be an apt career choice. Similarly, gaming content creation would be the right career choice for an avid gamer who loves content.
Tackle concerns about increased screen time?
Increased screen time is a primary concern in the industry. Besides gamers, designers, developers and testers are expected to spend long hours on the screen. This has a harmful effect on the eyes and increases the incidence of computer-related injuries, repetitive strain injuries and back pain. Ensure that your child understands the implied negative effects and performs some physical activity alongside as well.
Encourage your child to seek mentorship opportunities
Access to mentorship and career guidance opportunities is necessary for your child right from the start. Not only does it help in being clear about career objectives, but it also helps achieve them.?
Be assured of gaming and eSports as a career option for your daughter
While mention of gaming evokes power, aggression and masculinity, it is no longer a male bastion! India is a mobile-first country, and women make up half of the hyper-casual gamers. Moreover, women are primary decision-makers in households and important stakeholders in the ecosystem. Hence, it makes sense for the gaming industry to have more women in their workforce in times to come. Moreover, initiatives such as the launch of Women in Gaming India and the setting up of an Animation, Visual effects, Gaming and Comics (AVGC) promotion task force will encourage more women to take up eSports as their profession. Indian women are already dominating the headlines, with the likes of Poornima Seetharaman, Laxmi Khanolkar, and Pavithra Sridhar inspiring the younger generation.
To close, a few facts.?
In 2019, the revenue generated by Call of Duty: Modern Warfare surpassed that of the highest-grossing Hollywood film Avengers Endgame.?
As a sport, eSports has received recognition from sporting regulatory authorities from the International Olympic Committee (IOC), Olympic Council of Asia (OCA), Commonwealth Games etc. and the governments of 46 countries.?
Currently, the eSports industry has the third largest prize pool in the country. An EY report predicts that India's eSports prize money pool is expected to grow exponentially to touch INR 1 billion by 2025, surpassing that of the money-spinner IPL!
The gaming and eSports industry is witnessing a paradigm shift with the convergence of television, digital and online gaming models. Digital payments have also boosted the industry. The government has also taken cognisance of the potential of gaming and eSports with the announcement of the AVGC Task Force. Meanwhile, Indian gaming companies are poised to usher in the era of innovation to push India into the global centre stage. Such initiatives will further enhance the attractiveness as a career option and ensure bright prospects for aspirants.?