Make Money Playing Video Games

Make Money Playing Video Games - Xtratic War

09-05-2008

posted Friday September 5th, 2008
Video games have evolved a lot since the days when pong and pac-man ruled the home entertainment industry. A new breed of competition has evolved that not only trancends borders, it smashes them. Anyone can play! One example in being able to make money playing video games is the free to play Xtratic War.

xtratic war video game screenshot

Free to play but with cash prizes of up to $600.00 a month - Xtratic War.

Way back in 2004 the NYTimes reported in this article that in Korea alone there were 1000 kids making a good living playing video games online and that figure has grown exponentialy as the number of online games, and their followers, has grown tenfold. There are hundreds of similar games online that offer cash prizes and endorsements for top performances, I’ve chosen Xtratic War to demonstrate simply because it’s been around a while and has done well.

In Xtratic War players sign up for free and chose to play a Marine, Soldier or Offensive player and then proceed to build an army and attempt to increase their net worth. Players can attack each other with tanks, fighters and pretty much every type of military unit in existence and the top players receive cash awards at the end of every round. A new round starts every 10 days with 2 versions.

Xtratic War Cash Prizes

Most games that allow players to make money have been browser based and revolve around turns every set amount of time but even that old standby is no longer a must. CBSNEWS reported last November that even first person shooter games are getting into the mix by giving players cash for hitting other players, of course the players lose cash if they get hit too. Rankings are kept and medals are given to players in their profiles for bragging rights.

XtraticWar Rankings
The browser interface on xtraticwar, like most competitive online games, looks daunting to new players and parents alike but kids that have grown up in this video game era adapt to the complexities with lightining speed and even embrace the fact that it’s not “too easy” to play. More variables means more possible tactics available to win afterall. But… what do parents think?

Shock, horror and disbelief all at the same time. Many parents have been contemplating puting an end to their childs video game time when they disapear into the basement for an entire weekend but what is a parent to say when they emerge and casually say “I just won a video game tournament, let me know when my 4000.00 check arrives in the mail” ??

The subject of video games and parental responsibilities isn’t a new one, even Good Housekeeping has written this guide to help parents keep their kids safe but even the guide makes no mention of a kid making more then his/her parents playing “silly games”. Worldwide boundaries have fallen, anyone can play and the very best show off their medals with pride.

This new industry is by no means secure and kids shouldn’t be encouraged to drop studies in favor of games, in reality the number of hours required to become a top competitor are extreme. Yes, the top half of half of half… of half of one percent might make a good living from time to time but for the rest, you’d make more at McDonalds flipping burgers. Ask a kid however and you’ll quickly be reminded that “hey, if you’re going to play anyway why not try to make some cash”… and there is no defending the now complete accuracy of that statement. Games have come a long way indeed.

xtratic war medals