The Best Careers for Video Game Fanatics

The current era of video games started with the NES, the Nintendo Entertainment System, in 1985. Twenty-two years later, the kids who spent their afternoons playing Mario and Zelda are entering the job market.

The Nintendo generation has come of age, and we have more than a few skills learned from hours spent in front of video games: looking for hidden details, focusing for hours on just beating one level, competing to become the best at a favorite game. But what jobs can we get, and enjoy, with those skills?

1. Video Game Designer

This is the holy grail of jobs for video game fanatics. Making what we love best can be a dream come true. And we have the benefit of knowing what players like and dislike, what makes for good game play, and everything else that goes into making a good game. Even better, within this field, there are a ton of opportunities: audio, art, production, coding.

2. IT Professional

Many video game fanatics seem to be very comfortable in IT professions. After spending so much time around video game systems which have to be coaxed to work with a range of audio visual equipment, we seem to have a better understanding of technology than your average Joe. At the very least, I know to take the video game cartridge out, blow on it, and try again.

3. Financial Analyst

I know a lot of people will be surprised by this one. But think of the necessary characteristics: any type of financial analyst must be detail oriented, highly focused and set on achieving goals. All three are typical of dedicated video game players. This field can also be highly competitive; ideal for most of us who like pointing out our highest scores to our friends.

4. Engineer

I don’t know how many hours I spent playing Tetris, and fitting together puzzle pieces. Other games tested my abilities to put together pieces and make them work, the fundamental task of an engineer. For video game fanatics especially attracted to puzzle games, engineering careers allow us to fiddle with pieces to create working wholes. Other important characteristics that video game players possess are the abilities to focus on both small details and big goals.

5. Entrepreneur

Video game fanatics, if they find something they love, can be extremely dedicated. Whether it’s playing 20 hours a day so that we can get to the end of the game and save the world, or redirecting that effort into making our own businesses succeed, we can buckle down for our passions. This, combined with our detail-oriented nature, is the perfect combination to start our own businesses.

All of these job fields comes down to a few key aptitudes that video game fanatics develop, and can apply to virtually any field. Video game players train themselves to finish tasks: completing levels, saving princesses, vanquishing boss monsters. They have an eye for details acquired from hours of searching for hidden doors and items. And when a video game fanatic is passionate, he or she is dedicated to being the best.