How to Make Money Playing Video Games

Earning money while playing video games has been the dream of many people from teens to adults. Who wouldn’t want to get paid while doing something they really like? These are some ways to make money playing videogames.

THROUGH E-SPORTS

E-sports is the abbreviation of electronic sports though many people still argue that this is not a real sport. It is playing videogames competitively around the world that started from PC games such as Dota, Half-Life: Counterstrike, Starcraft and Quake. The emergence of console games that featured online multiplayer sessions have also contributed to making competitive gaming very popular.

To be a professional gamer requires exceptional skill and talent. Hard work is the key to achieve mastery and to be able to compete in the big league gaming tournaments. Pro gamers usually practice 8-12 hours a day and sometimes even more. Once you reach the level to compete with them through practice, you can upload videos to gain popularity or sometimes scouts can just check your account for stats and invite you to join a professional team.

One of the testaments as to how big e-sports now is the recent Valve’s Dota 2 tournament called The International. A whopping US$1.4 million was given away as the grand prize.

Pro gamers also earn money through sponsorship from companies that offer gaming peripherals, like alienware and MSi. In this respect, gamers are just like professional athletes earning money through sponsorships from Adidas, Nike, and other famous brands.

BE A BETA TESTER

Big companies usually hire beta testers to play their games before releasing these to the public. The beta testers’ job is to check the bugs and glitches players may encounter while playing the game. To be a beta tester, first you have to be involved in the gaming community. Search for companies that are entering the beta testing stage and e-mail them. Once accepted, you will start playing the game repeatedly to run down the bugs and provide feedback on what to improve upon in the game to make for a better gaming experience. Beta testing might sound cool but it requires you to work for long hours just for a somewhat meager salary.

WRITE A VIDEO REVIEW

Writing video game reviews is getting popular nowadays. A lot of freelancing sites like odesk.com, fiverr.com and getfreelancer.com are offering jobs for it. It is a good way to earn money if you play a lot of games. You will provide a recording of the game you play while adding running commentary for the features of the game. Getting a lot of views is the goal here though the competition can be really tough.

DOWNLOADING APPS

If you have a smartphone or tablet, there are websites that will pay you money or rewards for downloading their apps. The reason why advertisers do this is they think users like you like their apps.

One of the sites where you can earn credits and gift cards is Free my Apps. They only require you to sign up and register your device. Once done, you’ll just have to download and install the app. The site will then detect the installation and credit you the gift card that you can use in Amazon, iTunes, Google Plus, Fandango and Hulu Plus.

However, if you’re into writing reviews, App Rebates is the place to go. It requires you to download specific apps and write honest reviews about them that will be posted in the App Store. You’ll then earn around $.50 to $2.00 and get refunded for the downloaded app if you paid for it.

This is one easy way to earn money though you won’t be earning a whole lot through this approach alone.

BE AN EXPERT ON SOME GAMES

Are you addicted to a certain game that is very popular and you think you already know everything about it? Then write an eBook about it and sell it on sites like Clickbank.com. Make a comprehensive guide and include everything you know, from how to play the game and to tips and tricks that will maximize anyone’s gaming experience.

SELLING VIRTUAL GOLD AND ITEMS

If you’re a gamer that is into massive multiplayer online games, then farming up in-game gold and items is another way to earn money. It was illegal back in the day as it may put any gamer’s account at risk of being banned. 

However, it essentially became a generally accepted activity when Diablo 3 implemented its gaming auction house and when World of WarCraft integrated selling in-game items and gold in exchange for real life money.

It requires patience and perseverance to gain items that may be valuable to other players, but it is really good especially for hardcore MMO gamers. You’re not just playing the game you really like but you also earn money from it.