My Inspiration

Earn Cash Playing Video Games

2008-10-28T06:29:00.001-07:00

It's the ultimate gamer's dream- to find a way to make a living from playing video games. And the best part is- it's actually possible!

Here are the top ways to turn your video game know-how into cold, hard cash:

1. Become a game tester. Beta testers work for game companies to help work out bugs before the game is released to the public. Companies like Nintendo hire game testers frequently, but the competition for these gigs is fierce. However, game testing can also get your foot in the door for other jobs within a game company.

2. Play for Pay. Some "casual game" companies online offer cash or prizes for frequent players. These games, often single or two-player games like card games, word puzzles and mazes, make money from advertizing and many give out part of their earnings to players. If you often play things like Solitaire or Mahjong on your coffee break, switching to Pay-for-Play sites can turn your time waster into a moneymaker.

3. Win money in online games. Some of the bigger online casual game companies offer tournaments where you can win cash and prizes, everything from gift certificates to physical items they will ship to your home. There are also real-life game tournaments sponsored by major companies that you might try entering. You have to be good to win, though. If you don't get first place, you don't get to take home the money.

4. Create your own games. Game development is a lucrative industry. If you can program games, you can find a career working for one of the majors. Or you can strike out on your own. Some developers make games designed to be used on established systems that are then sold to major companies. Others design games to be played on any computer system and sell the games themselves. A growing market for games is online and mobile applications. Developing simple games for Facebook or the iPhone could bring in loads of money if the game is a hit.

5. Become a Character Farmer. This is the hidden underbelly of multiplayer online games. People pursuing this method of moneymaking develop characters in online games, earning in-world currency and collecting accessories as they go, then sell the character or the items they have acquired for real-world cash. Customers are people who like the game but don't want to spend the time building up a low-level character or searching for paltry stashes of gold until they can acquire enough to buy what they want.

6. Cash in on Second Life. Linden Labs' Second Life is one of the few online ventures that actively encourages members to create and sell new things within the game world. Some entrepreneurs have made millions in real-world cash by developing real estate, opening shops selling clothing or accessories of their own design or holding events within the Second Life world.

7. Write about your gaming. Blogs and articles that give tips and strategies for playing popular games are booming. If you style yourself as an expert, you can develop a following and get paid to write about how you consistently beat the game or other players.

As you can see, there are many options for making money from your video game habit. So next time someone tells you to stop playing video games and get to work- you can tell them that you ARE working!

Colleen St.Claire is editor of Sweetgigs.com, home to the most unique and creative moneymaking ideas online. With gig profiles, in-depth articles and resources to help you develop your perfect business, Sweetgigs aims to help you find your perfect gig and break free of the 9-to-5 grind.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Colleen_St._Claire

Managing Video Game Addiction

2008-10-28T06:23:00.000-07:00

In modern societies, playing video games and computer games have provided individuals with a great form of escape, being drawn into a world that is entirely different from their own. These forms of games have caused a fad that seems to never fade. Thanks to the constant integration of modern computer technologies, these games continuously evolve, becoming more and more engaging and appealing to players. When we thought that these games have provided the society a great form of hobby or means of passing time, think again. Compulsive gaming and many other psychological problems have related computer and video games as a major factor of addiction. Fun and entertainment are the primary factors that cause addiction. While virtual games provided both, they managed to change the trend and appearance on addiction in the modern world.

Game addicts also manifest addictive behaviors, similar to those that are observed in substance abuse. If an individual tolerates long hours of gaming or becomes miserable and irritable when prevented from doing the activity, he is already affected by compulsive gaming disorder. In worse cases, addicts can become violent or depressed when they are denied of the opportunity to play. When an individual continues to play despite being aware of the adverse consequences that are brought by the activity, then the conditions may now be considered a full-blown addiction.

The disturbing fact about this form of modern-day addiction is that it does not concentrate on a specific age group. When a child is old enough to touch and understand the workings of a video game console, he is already at risk of being affected by this gaming disorder. The sneaky thing about video games is that many parents think of them as a harmless way of spending their kid's free time. Behind the wholesome graphics, the easily attainable reward-system makes them more appealing and engaging to play, sometimes causing children to spend many hours in front of a game console. On the other hand, adult virtual games provide a great way of escape from the realities of the player's actual life. Playing computer games or online games allow individuals to create and live a new personality in a virtually created world. To some extent, these games displace friends and families in filling a person's social needs.

Until today, the diagnosis on video game addiction and computer game addiction is still debated and yet to be finalized. However, similar to those in substance abuse, computer game addiction and video game addiction manifests addictive behaviors as in tolerance of playing at an increasing length of time, constantly thinking about doing the activity, the feeling of the need to lie to cover up the growing dependence on gaming activities and the feeling of irritability and moodiness when prevented from playing virtual games.

If you feel that your child is already affected by the condition, it is advised that you start taking notes of your child's behavior on playing video and computer games. Be critical about the amount of time that the child spends on playing and the problems that resulted from doing the activity. Also, be critical in noting down the child's behavior when you implement time limits on game play. Documenting all your observations will help the doctor determine the severity of the problem. Lastly, seek medical help to immediately start with the treatments that are necessary in managing video game addiction and computer game addiction.

Derek Smithson is a keen games player, enjoying titles like World of Warcraft and Guild Wars.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Derek_Smithson

Inspired to Lead - Surprised by a Social Marketing Book

2008-10-12T05:40:00.000-07:00

Late last night, I downloaded Seth Godin's Tribes audiobook. I was prepared for more of his uncommon insights into marketing and also to see what he had to say about social marketing, The Next Big Thing. Well, I was surprised.

Not let down. Surprised. Although, I can see where the complaints will come from.

This book doesn't weigh heavy on how to make money. In fact, Godin reiterates numerous times that leading a tribe is not about money. He goes so far, once, as to say that if you try to cash in on your tribe, you'll ruin it. And I can just imagine how wonderfully that's going to go down with the marketing types who'll buy this book.

I was surprised. This is not another marketing book. This is a book about leadership. One of the best I've come across, and leadership is a genre I follow quite closely. (I even got Guiliani's post-9/11 tome, eh.)

Over and over again, Godin says that we need leaders; leaders who will do the right thing. He emphasises how each of us needs to connect--to each other, to a higher purpose. He talks about the difference between faith and religion, how faith is what we believe, and religion is what we construct to try and nurture that belief. And how religion can sometimes go awry, in that it may not promote belief but rather imprison it. And how when you then challenge those concepts of religion, people get offended because they think you're challenging their faith. How can we know that we believe in a true principle unless we're willing to put our mental constructs to the test?

Godin surprised me with this one. It's like the time I went to watch Click, expecting another trashy, brashy Adam Sandler gagfest. And found myself choking back embarrassing man-sized tears.

Sometimes it's nice to sign up for one thing and get another.

Are you looking for some inspiration? Tribes the audiobook is available for free now on Audible.com. Follow the promotional link from Seth's blog post announcing the release of Tribes. This is one of the best books on leadership that I've read (actually, heard) in a long time. And it's got some good points on marketing, too.

Alpha Lim is a professional copywriter who would like nothing better than to see every man, woman and child writing their hearts out with pathos and flair, for fun and profit.

His idiosyncrasies include trying to say as much as possible in as few words as necessary, as can be seen all over his blog about copywriting and inspiring writing at http://blog.passionista.net/

He flogs a free report about online writing at
http://blog.passionista.net/2008/08/self-publishing-paid-writer.html

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Alpha_Lim