Over the years, gaming has become increasingly popular with almost all age groups.
Perhaps whats more surprising is that the typical gamer may not be who you think.
In the U.S., more women play video games than teenage boys.
Getty Images
Turns out, there are plenty.
How Much Money Can I Make Playing Video Games?
Frederick Aldeco was the youngest of three boys who loved to game.
He could only play when his older brothers let him.
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But then he got his own Game Boy.
It came with Pokemon Yellow, and everything changed.
I could play anytime I wanted to without them having an issue, Aldeco said.
Hes found a way to do what most gamers dream of doing: Make money playing video games.
Did you know?
You may need some in-depth knowledge or skills for most of these methods but not all of them.
So dont worry if your gaming abilities arent esports-ready just yet.
Anyone 18 years or older can create a free account and start joining tournaments.
These tournaments do come with an entry fee.
The larger the entry fee, the larger the potential winnings.
Entry fees can be as low as $1, and stretch up to $22+.
The website is open to gamers around the world, but the system is based on the U.S. dollar.
All other currencies are accepted including bitcoin but will be converted to USD automatically.
Wouldnt it be amazing if video game companies would payyouinstead to play their video games before the release date?
Actually, thats a thing.
Applicants can live anywhere, but must be at least 18 years old.
Start Streaming
No, not on Netflix.
In the video-game world, streaming has a different meaning.
It refers to a live feed of someone playing a video game.
Streaming services allow the streamer to interact directly with the audience via a chatroom system.
Viewers can also tip the streamer in real time.
There are several free streaming services to choose from, the most popular being Twitch.tv.
You dont have to be a pro to stream, either.
You just have to be entertaining.
One streamer, Cory Michael akaKing Gothalion turned his streaming hobby into a six-figure salary.
Michael said the main three sources of income are subscriptions, tips directly from viewers and ad revenue.
Create a Business on Second Life
Nineteen years later, Second Life is still kicking.
Second Life is a video game that was slated to revolutionize the internet .
But its hard to call Second Life a video game.
Its more than that.
There arent any overt objectives.
No bosses to beat.
No princesses to rescue.
Instead, all of its content is user-generated, from the avatars themselves to the worlds they inhabit.
In Second Life, people date, have children, build houses and travel to replicas of famous landmarks.
People spend years carving out a piece of digital paradise.
Some hire real-life experts to help get it just right.
Architects, publishers and fashion designers have used their industry knowledge to bolster their virtual businesses on Second Life.
Many are still active.
Atwood said the big bucks are usually in virtual real estate and fashion.
But this one actually gives you the chance to win up to $83 every time you play.
And no, this isnt one of those spammy apps.
There arent even any annoying ads.
Coach Others in How to Play
Are you a Starcraft god?
Share your strategies with us noobs for cash.
you might teach beginners basic lingo or coach seasoned players on the latest competitive strategies.
Some online tutoring websites,Superproffor example, are general tutoring platforms that happen to allow video-game listings.
Making asensei profileis free.
Senseis set their own schedules and prices and have no hourly time commitments.
Other Ways to Make Money With Video Games
Gaming is a whole industry.
You dont have to play to use it to make extra cash.
You could instead enter the resale market or create content around the latest gaming news.
Sell Video Games for Cash
Do you blast through video games?
Are you constantly in search of new ones to conquer?
Then you should consider selling your used video games once youre finished.
Not a fan of GameStop?
You have plenty of other options tosell your video games online and in-person.
Several major gaming publications accept freelance pitches for video game guides and commentary, too.
Neither Robinson nor Aldeco are ultra famous.
They have just over 13,000 followers between the two of them.
Getting famous really isnt the point.
Im doing it because Im enjoying the creative process, Aldeco said.
In fact, you could make a whole career out of it.
Some journalists work in-game, like the aforementioned Wagner James Au in Second Life.
But others work for more traditional publications in the real world.
Glassdoor puts the average salary for this profession at $64,335.
Coding skills youre likely to need are C# and C++.
It will also be helpful to have experience with Unity, Unreal Engine, and other like platforms.
The pay isnt great Glassdoor provides an estimate of $42,891 for full-time CSRs in this industry.
Adam Hardy is a former staff writer for The Penny Hoarder.
She is a regular contributor to The Penny Hoarder.
Probably not as good as youd like.
It always seems like an uphill battle to build (and keep) a decent amount in savings.
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