Game Academy is firm on their belief that gamers can make it to the real world. The endless battles in the virtual world, the ton of practice players put on just to win a couple of games and the skills that they have mastered overtime are just some of the assets that they can replay in “real-life work situations.”

But are these specific skill set enough for players to include them in their resume? BBC said yes in a recent article.

The outlet even pointed to one hidden gem: “There is already a growing acceptance that gaming skills are tranferable.”

Kid gamers do better in school
A new study found that children who play online video games tend to fare better in school especially in science, math and reading tests. However, children who spend too much time on social media sites are likely to fare poorly. SPENCER PLATT/GETTY IMAGES

What Game Academy and BCC agreed on is the fact that “businesses are waking up to the skills gamers can bring to the workplace.” They're not talking about the entire corporate industry, but they aligned IT to puzzle games and strategy-based titles like Star Craft, Civilization or X-Com to the brainstorming methods used by managers when they are called to strategize a plan.

As an example, BBC's write-up echoed a statement of a military branch when the topic was brought up.

A spokesperson from the Royal Air Force said that gamers are often attributed to certain skills such as their ability to “assimilate information,” and staying calm under pressure while reacting swiftly and “co-ordinate actions.”

There is no telling whether the RAF is hiring gamers to be a part of storied brigade, but what the spokesperson mentioned are just some of the skills that they looking for “in a variety of roles.”

Chinese Gamers
Chinese gamers. Reuters/Ming Ming

“Skills acquired through gaming can be very relevant in certain areas,” the representative added.

But is it enough for one to put their Match Making Rank MMR in DOTA 2 or Overwatch on their CV?

Ryan Gardner said that it would be how gamers – especially those who would venture into the real world – to shuffle the skills that they have learned through gaming and “making it relevant to the job” that they are applying for.

“There are plenty of soft skills that gamers can utilise in a professional setting, such as teamwork, problem solving and strategic planning,” said the Hays Recruitment regional director.

What Game Academy Founder David Barrie wanted to impart is their vision to help gamers “identify, grow and transfer” their in-game skills in real life through certain tools, achievement trackers, online educational courses and other resources.

It's a simple approach that will eventually break the stigma of gamers as antisocial figures who cannot make it in the real world.

Gaming