Don’t believe anyone who tells you that video games aren’t profitable. Here are 12 ways for getting started.
When their children are so engrossed in video games that they spend most of their leisure time in their rooms, rather than studying or reading, they worry. However, did you know that you can earn money by playing video games?
Your children most likely do.
Take PewDiePie, for example, everyone knows who he is. Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg is his full name, which they may not know. They may also be unaware that his net worth is believed to be between $14.5 and $30 million. They are aware, however, that he is the most renowned ‘YouTuber’ of all time.
Most people will never be able to make as much money as PewDiePie has since he began his career when few people even realized money could be made playing video games. However, just because you or your children are unlikely to become the next big YouTube sensation does not mean there isn’t money to be made.
How to Make Money Playing Video Games: 12 Ways
1.Quality Assurance Tester
Video games, like Star Trek’s ‘Holodeck,’ are ultimately the outcome of computer programming – getting a computer to behave the way the developer and gamers want it to, to look and feel as realistic as possible. To do this, game development businesses will need some independent testers to play their people and tell them what works and what doesn’t.
That’s when QA testing comes in handy. Not only do designers and developers need to know how consumers feel about a new game or upgraded design, but they also need to know how users feel about it. They aren’t putting the wiring, electronics, or power supply to the test. They’re seeing how much more fun a new or upgraded game is for gamers than existing games, just like kids with a new toy.
Quality Assurance Tester
QA testers don’t merely play a game to the maximum level possible. They play different ideas, different constructions, again and over until they can’t think of anything to complain about and say that they had multiple fun.
Consider QA work as getting compensated for solving multiple riddles. Any flaw, error, or another flaw in software must be repeatable so that developers can find out how to fix it.
Because a lot of QA work is contract work, don’t expect to make a lot of money. However, it may pay between $10 and $15 per hour, which is better than a minimum-wage job.
2.Game Tester
The most fundamental distinction between a Quality Assurance tester and a “Game Tester” or “Beta Tester” is that QA works with a product that has already met a particular degree of quality as requested by the developers. Being a ‘Tester’ entails trying to ‘break’ a game, as well as figuring out ways to muck it up and analyzing why it may or may not be fun to users.
3.Become a Professional Gamer
That is a ‘thing,’ Mom and Dad. Professional gamers are currently participating all around the world in events sponsored by the Major League Gaming circuit, the International Dota 2 championship, and Intel Extreme Masters, and winning millions of dollars. MLG has erected facilities throughout the country where live professional gaming events may be streamed. It also includes online scouts and groups to uncover the best, untapped players.
The best piece of advice for playing involved is to select a game that you’re already excellent at and master it. Then, as a skilled player and a team player, establish your reputation. After that, take part in eSports games.
4.Become an Entertainer and Streamer
The pseudonym “PewDiePie” is well-known among gamers and YouTube viewers. How did Felix Arvid Ulf Kjellberg become so well-known, though? He began by just playing video games and uploading videos of himself doing so on YouTube. He chose his name because he felt it would sound similar to the sound of the “shooter” video games he liked to play. The sound of electronically simulated gunfire or electronic laser blasts is “pew, pew.”
He used to go by the moniker “PewDie,” but after losing his credentials for that YouTube channel, he started a new one under the moniker “PewDiePie.” And with that, a star was born.
Similarly, Justin Bieber was found after uploading videos of himself singing on YouTube.
For performers, the beauty of YouTube is that all you need now is a cellphone with a video camera to start uploading videos of yourself to a channel that people searching for entertainment online may watch and, eventually, subscribe to.
AdroidPIT, on the other hand, urges broadcasters to make sure their equipment is dependable and as professional as possible. Streamers can choose a professional game streaming software to expand their audience with good audio/visuals. For beginners, they recommend twin displays and maybe two PCs, so you can play a video game on one while keeping a watch on the other and responding to fans.”
They recommend twin displays and maybe two PCs, so you can play a video game on one while keeping a watch on the other and responding to fans.
To do so, you’ll need a video capture card to link the two workstations together, which will speed up the streaming process.
Also, bear in mind that, with an increasing number of streamers inspired by PewDiePie’s popularity and money (he is said to earn an average of $400,000 per month), your personality, not the game you play or your equipment, is the most important factor. You’re not there to play a game by yourself in your room; you’re there to amuse others.
Of course, the first step is to videotape yourself playing and upload it to a YouTube channel, such as PDP (shorthand for PewDiePie).
You’ll need a Google (GOOG) – Get Alphabet Inc. Class C Report account to establish a YouTube channel. Go to Creator Studio on YouTube. It will then notify you that you must create a channel to upload videos. Create a channel by clicking “Create a Channel.”
To upload videos to your account, go to “Video Manager” and click the “upload” button in the upper right-hand corner. After you click it, you’ll be able to upload your first video (that you downloaded to your computer). There’s also a button for “live” broadcasting to your fans.
5.Join Twitch
Twitch Interactive, which was bought by Amazon (AMZN) – Get Amazon.com, Inc. Report in 2014 for $970 million, is a subsidiary of Twitch, a live streaming video platform. Twitch was the fourth-largest generator of internet traffic in the United States in 2014. Twitch features a “Partner Program” that pays $3 per 1,000 ad views; $5 per month for each subscriber; and when combined with sponsorships, Amazon referral links, and PayPal (PYPL) – Get PayPal Holdings Inc. By reporting donations, gamers may begin to grow their following as well as their money.
Twitch
That’s because Twitch is utilized by gamers to stream video game playing even more than YouTube. People who have done it have given the following advice: try to focus on one game to narrow the focus of fans on you and your channel; maintain a consistent, and reliable schedule; consider streaming with a friend so you have someone to interact with on your stream other than the game; interact with fans once your channel attracts them.
Twitch’s Partner Program allows content creators to share the advertising money earned by their streams with the network. Twitch partners also earn a share of the monthly channel subscription, albeit there was once a requirement that potential partners had 500 average viewers or higher.
In 2017, Twitch created an Affiliate Program to help smaller channels make money.
6.Contact Sponsors
After you’ve built up a following for your stream, whether it’s on YouTube, Twitch, or elsewhere, you’ll certainly want to approach sponsors for additional cash, just like television producers did in the past.
The first step in attracting sponsors is to prepare to impress them. Next, look for businesses that you appreciate and that could be interested in sponsoring you. Consider whether or not you would utilize their product.
Next, find out who you want to be noticed by in that firm.
Use social media to find them or to find them in locating you.
And keep in mind that you’re not trying to sell them something; you’re trying to persuade them that you can add value to their company or product.
7.Get Paid Directly to Play
Yes, some sites will pay you to play their games, which may come as a surprise to some.
You will not be paid in cash up the advance. You could get paid in electronic or cryptocurrency tokens or ‘coins,’ which you can then exchange for gift cards or prepaid cards, as with Banatic, Swagbucks, and InboxDollars.
The majority of these sites want you to not only play their games for free but also review them. Some, such as InboxDollars, are a service that allows marketers to reach out to potential consumers, with InboxDollars sharing a portion of their advertising revenue.
8.Provide Game Play Tutorials
It’s even possible to earn money by creating video game tutorials. Every user who visits your YouTube channel or streaming site will earn money. Advertisers, for example, pay Google to display ads on videos. YouTube is owned by Alphabet’s Google division.
To begin, create an AdSense account and link it to your YouTube account. You may choose whether to display video or banner ads.
However, a word of caution: to make money with video game tutorials, or any instructional, you’ll need thousands of people to watch it.
That’s all there is to it.
However, it is sufficient to refute the claim that you can never make money playing video games.
9.Getting donations or tips from fans
Wait for your first donation or tip if you want to know if your live xbox & playstation gamer stream hobby/side gig/career is on the correct track. When you learn that someone, somewhere, appreciates what you do enough to send you a little dollars, you’ll be overjoyed.
You may generate money by allowing viewers to send you donations or tips on most live-streaming platforms and websites. They frequently include integrated services or even their own virtual “goods” or “currency” that viewers may utilize to complete transactions.
donations or tips from fans
Here’s a rundown of the major platforms’ donation/tip systems:
- YouTube’s main tipping service is Super Chat. Viewers may utilize tips to pin messages in the chat window of your channel, making them more visible. Users may also purchase Super Stickers, which are animated chat animations, on YouTube, and you receive a percentage of each sale.
- Twitch allows viewers to “cheer” using Bits, The virtual money of the platform. If you’re a Twitch affiliate or partner, you’ll receive about $0.01 for each Bit that viewers use to applaud. The audience is allowed to write a message that will be shown with a special type of emoting known as a Cheemote.
- Facebook’s tipping service revolves around Stars, Viewers may buy and send you a type of virtual product worth $0.01 each Star. To use Stars, you must be a part of Facebook’s Level Up program. Facebook also facilitates charity donations for 501(c)(3) organizations based in the United States.
10.Regular viewer payments on the streaming platform
It’s fantastic to get a tip from your viewers now and then, but it’s much better to earn regular payments. These payments are normally only a few dollars each, but they build up quickly if you make enough of them.
To be eligible for this type of sponsorship, you must normally satisfy specific criteria, as platforms reserve it for members of their content creation programs. Because it’s a popular way to generate money while streaming, streaming platforms that don’t have regular payment systems will likely implement them in the future.
Here’s a rundown of some of the most popular platforms’ recurring payment options:
- YouTube has a channel membership program It allows users to pay monthly for channels they want to watch. You must be a member of the YouTube Partner Program and fulfill additional qualifying conditions to be eligible for this offer.
- Twitch has a paid subscription program If you’re an Affiliate or Partner, you can make money from paid subscriptions. Twitch Prime viewers pay one free subscription, and others may be purchased using PayPal, Amazon Pay, or credit cards.
- Facebook Gaming extended its Fan Subscriptions feature To help content developers in the gaming industry level up The feature is only available in select locations and requires a particular number of returning weekly viewers.
11.Revenue from ads
Half of the internet, including Google services and Facebook, is already powered by advertising dollars. Why not you as well? You may start making some nice ad money if you join the correct streaming platform or social network.
However, not every streaming platform provides ads to producers. Indeed, some people are adamantly opposed to ads. Others have yet to include a third-party advertising network.
youtue ads revenue
Join these platforms if you want to make money from ads:
- YouTube offers pre-roll and mid-roll ads, as well as display and overlay ads.
- Facebook Live offers mid-roll ads if you meet the viewership number criteria.
- Twitch offers in-stream ads, as well as display and native ad opportunities.
Advertising in live streaming is a hot topic and a source of debate regularly. Try to keep as much control over the advertising that appears during your streams or on your channel as possible. Also, keep in mind that some viewers may use ad-blocking software to prevent some ads from appearing. As a result, relying solely on advertisements to monetize your live streaming may not be the best decision.
12.Brand deals and sponsorships
Brand deals and sponsorships, which are less contentious than regular ads, are another way to make money while streaming by collaborating with corporations in a mutually beneficial relationship. Brands will reach you with offers if you have a huge following on streaming platforms. You can contact them if they don’t reach you.
It pays to be professional and detail-oriented when working with brands. To make sure you’re on the same page about your commitment, you’ll want to negotiate every part of the arrangement.
You may make money streaming through deals with brands in a variety of ways, including:
- Sponsorships, where whole streams are sponsored by a brand.
- Banners and other types of advertisements you can display during your streams or on your channel or profile page.
- Sponsored content, like when a game developer pays you to play their game.
Your audience is what will get a brand’s attention. You should be able to attract a sizable audience and have a good understanding of who they are, their interests, and the types of problems they are looking for solutions to. When brands agree to pay you as part of the agreement you agree to, you make money. Avoid making deals that make you appear to be a sellout. Your audience may not like this, and if you lose your audience, you will lose your sponsors.