In the last five years, the digital gaming industry has taken off. The boom has various changes to thank. For example, the rise of Twitch helped launch a globalized eSports industry. Meanwhile, advances in VR and AR technology have opened new gaming frontiers—and mobile gaming is pushing the limit even further.
In fact, digital gaming continues to diversify through a variety of platforms. Casino titles are one of the most popular ways to game worldwide, from Texas Hold’em poker to slots. Variations are constantly emerging according to user interest. For example, there’s not just one way to play roulette, but four variations to explore, such as High Roller, European, and American roulette.
Another growing sector in digital gaming is gamification. Gamification is the process of adapting an educational program into a game, which has been proven to make memorization easier for learners. Today, companies use gamification to onboard new employees, while universities also develop them to teach complex subject matter.
Looking ahead, the digital gaming sector will only continue to diversify. Keep reading for five careers in the industry that you may not have considered in the past.
Audio Programmer
Few jobs are as all-encompassing as an audio programmer position. First, professionals must actually program specific functions within a game. This covers volume, as well as specific audio actions that are triggered by player function (such as the sound of footsteps).
Meanwhile, audio programmers must also develop software that will integrate these audio files into the game. They will do this for each platform the game is released on, such as mobile or console.
Game Tester (aka Quality Assurance Technician)
Don’t have any specific skills except for a long list of experience as a player? There’s a position for you. Game testers are used at the developmental stage of a title to search for bugs. This means players must dive into every aspect of the game. Rather than play for fun or to win, they’re specifically looking to uncover any errors.
It often involves taking meticulous notes and, unsurprisingly, looping back to missions and quests to double-check for more errors. The more complex the game, the longer a title spends on quality assurance. Typically, game testers pursue a future as game programmers.
Interpretation & Translation
The beautiful thing about digital gaming is that it’s easy to adapt titles to other languages. However, this goes a bit deeper than many think. Rather than just translate the words, a professional interpreter and translator will need to adapt the story, its characters, and all world-building information into a specific language with attention paid to regional cultural differences.
Many times, interpreters and translators are also used to help localize marketing projects that cover the game, including websites, packaging text, and more. In this case, interpretation is used for cultural cues, along with games that incorporate sign language.
Technical Support
One of the most important facets of releasing a solid game is creating a reliable support department. For example, the top casino gaming platforms all include accessible technical support groups. They’re on-call at all hours to help users navigate any problems themselves.
If you’re looking for a career in technical support, start with the games you love. You’ll already have a handy introduction to the game, and you may even be familiar with the most common issues referenced by users.
Game Writer
Gamers who tend to pay attention to a title’s storyline often gravitate towards a future in game writing. However, the path to landing a job as a game writer isn’t straightforward like most others on this list. In fact, many game writers take any position in the industry to get their foot in the door.
And even then, the positions vary. Some writers are ‘narrative designers’ that help structure a game’s overall story. Others, who work for smaller projects such as educational gamification, may just be penning technical scripts. Regardless, start gaining experience however you can and keep your eye on the prize.
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