Famously, John Lennon\u2019s aunt told him that \u201cA guitar\u2019s all right, but you\u2019ll never earn your living by it.\u201d And, as soon as he did, Lennon responded by affixing a brass plaque with those words to the instrument that brought him worldwide fame.<\/p>\n
Several generations later, Millennials and Gen Zers who have grown up being told that they play too many video games \u2014 and that their hobby will never result in anything worthwhile \u2014 can now feel vindicated: Gaming is a huge market, and making a living playing video games is no longer a flight of fancy, but rather a serious career prospect \u2014 from streaming to online reviews to unboxing videos.<\/p>\n
For instance, since 2014 \u2014 when the first varsity esports programs were established \u2014 competitive gaming has become an important part of college sports. In fact, ESPN reports that there are now more than 125 such programs in the U.S.<\/p>\n
Even before the pandemic, gaming could be pursued either as a job or as a hobby from pretty much anywhere. All you needed to get started were a stable internet connection and a computing device. But, what if you\u2019re also interested in sharing your passion with other like-minded individuals at conventions or still enjoy browsing at your local video game or equipment store? Or, what if you even want to get into competitive gaming in college?<\/p>\n
If any of these scenarios sound like you, CommercialCafe has drawn up a list of 10 U.S. cities for gamers who are looking to access a wider range of gaming experiences. Keep reading to find out what these places have on offer.<\/p>\n