Game Academy: Translating gaming skills into real world careers
Game Academy has launched in early access. Game Academy is a service that analyses players’ gaming stats to advise them on career choices.
Image credit: Game Academy
As the team explains on the official site:
We’ve analyzed gaming data of thousands of players, matched it with career track record and found games with predictive powers for particular occupations (tech, management). We’ve analysed tons of existing research about gaming and skills to help you understand what you are good at, learn new skills and get a better job.
The idea behind the platform is that, for example, Civilization players are naturally good at strategic thinking, decision-making and problem-solving. World of Warcraft makes players sharpen their skills in leadership, communication and system thinking. The list can go on.
And it’s not just skills profiling and career advice. Based on players’ stats, the service will offer a number of courses on soft skills. One course on decision-making is already available, with more to follow. Moreover, the service already offers actual employment opportunities in esports, as well as non-gaming industries.
The project is still in its infancy, but apparently, employers specifically targeting gamers is a thing, as chronicled in the team’s Twitter.
@YourGameAcademy From today’s paper. pic.twitter.com/XSE0HeIVxI
— Oli Barrett (@OliBarrett) October 29, 2019
In this instance, the UK Royal Navy recruiters visited EGX 2019 (17-20 Oct.), the county’s biggest gaming show, to sign up additional submarine personnel. As Captain Pete Viney, recruiting director for the Royal Navy, explains: “The mental demands of round-the-clock watching and listening – while remaining undetected – can be intense and require resilience and skill. Many of those with a natural affinity for video games already possess the core skills needed for a successful career as a Royal Nave submariner.” According to the newspaper, the recruiters are specifically interested in gamers’ ability to remain “holed up in confined spaces late into the night with their eyes glued to flickering screens.”
As spotted by Game Academy, The Guardian also featured an article exploring how gaming skills can translate into real life careers. It follows an emergency medical technician who played lots of Battlefield 3, a pilot and archaeologist who played flight simulators and Assassin’s Creed games, and a lawyer that was inspired by Japanese title Phoenix Wright: Ace Attorney.
Game Academy’s analytical tools are only available for Steam users for the time being, but the creators plan to expand to other platforms when they can.
Behind the service is Game Academy LTD, a portfolio company of the social impact accelerator ZincVC, based in London.
