Page 5 - Jobs If You Like Video Games

doubled between 2010 and 2020, from $27 billion to $50 billion,
according to market research fi rm NPD Group.

Mobile, Esports, and More

This growth was powered in part by mobile games like Candy
Crush Saga, Pokemon Go, and Scribble Rider, which are easy to
download and play on a smartphone. As more people began to
use smartphones, more game apps were developed for phones,
and the industry rapidly expanded. The growth of mobile games
is expected to continue as internet data becomes more afford-
able around the world, according to a report from researchand-
markets.com.
The rapid growth of esports, where players compete in games
such as Fortnite and Counter-Strike, has also strengthened the
video game market. Esports has turned into a billion-dollar indus-
try, as it generates revenue from sponsorships, advertising, and
merchandise. Streaming services such as Twitch and YouTube
Games also contributed to its rise in popularity, as they allow fans
to connect with streamers.

Varied Career Options
A passion for video games might lead to a job as a mobile game
developer or esports competitor, but those are far from the only
careers that that interest could bring. The industry needs pro-
grammers, game testers, artists, composers, voice actors, event
planners, announcers, and marketers. Familiarity with game en-
gines, the software used to create a game and make it playable,
is a plus in many fi elds as companies turn to gamifi cation to add
interest to websites or online offerings.
Mojan Ahmadi saw this when she logged into her compa-
ny’s insurance portal and saw a gamifi ed option for one of the
company’s insurance forms. “Getting a degree in game develop-
ment may open up more job opportunities than you traditionally
thought about,” said Ahmadi, director of career services at Di-
giPen Institute of Technology in Redmond, Washington. “At this

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