How Online Gaming Could Enhance Your Career Prospects. (February 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Wallinheimo, Anna-Stiina; Hosein, Anesa; Barrie, David; Chernyavskiy, Andrey; Agafonova, Irina; Williams, Peter
• Is Part Of: Simulation & gaming. Volume 54:Number 1(2023)
• Page Start: 28
• Page End: 44
• Publication Date: 2023-02
• Subjects: online gaming behaviour -- digital soft skills -- career planning and interests -- training -- employability -- gender; Social sciences -- Study and teaching -- Periodicals; Simulation methods -- Periodicals; Game theory -- Periodicals; Sciences sociales -- Étude et enseignement -- Périodiques; Simulation, Méthodes de -- Périodiques; Jeu de rôle -- Périodiques; Éducation; Jeu d'entreprise; Jeu de simulation; Méthode de simulation; Sciences sociales; Théorie des jeux; Périodique électronique (Descripteur de forme); Ressource Internet (Descripteur de forme); 003.3
• DOI: 10.1177/10468781221137361
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1046-8781

Abstract

Background: Online gaming motivations are differently associated withcareer interests . However, very little is known aboutonline gaming behaviour based on the actual games played and howcareer interests are reflected in what people play. Hence, we investigated the actualgaming behaviour of individuals from an extensive secondary data set to further support gamers' future career planning and professional training. Methods: The study comprised 16, 033 participants playing a different number of games on Steam. Our study was based on the 800 most played games only and included participants where we had access to gender and job details. We employed a secondary data analysis approach by using an existing data set (O'Neill et al., 2016), looking into the actualgaming behaviour of Steam users and additional administrative data (i.e., job details and gender) provided by Game Academy Limited. We used logistic regression on the participants' top ten games, allowing us to investigate any possible associations between different professions, gender, and the games played. Results: We found that IT professionals and engineers played puzzle-platform games, allowing for enhanced spatial skills. Managers showed an interest in action roleplay games where organisational and planning skills can be improved. Finally, engineers were associated with strategy games that required problem-solving and spatial skills. There were apparentgender differences too: females preferred playing single-player games, whereas males played shooting games. Conclusion: Our study found that onlinegaming behaviour varied between different job categories, allowing the participants to gain differentsoft skills . Thesoft skills gained could assist gamers withtraining that leads to a particular career path. The reasons for these findings and suggestions for future research will be discussed.