Search for:
Get Paid - Chris Jones Gaming

Get Paid To Do What You Enjoy

Transforming Your Passion into a Thriving Business: Get Paid!

Authored by Micah Norris, for Chris Jones Gaming

Starting a business is an exciting prospect, but it can be even more rewarding when you’re able to turn a cherished hobby into a full-fledged enterprise. Not only do you get to spend your days doing something you truly love, but you also have the opportunity to share your passion with others and make a living from it. However, turning a hobby into a successful business requires careful planning, dedication, and hard work. Chris Jones Gaming explores several crucial steps to help you create a thriving business out of your favorite pastime.

A Comprehensive Business Plan

The first step in turning your hobby into a business is developing a detailed business plan. This document should outline your objectives, target market, pricing strategy, marketing tactics, and financial projections. A well-crafted business plan will not only help you stay organized and focused, but it will also serve as a valuable tool when seeking financing or attracting potential partners.

Your Business as an LLC

One of the most important aspects of starting a business is choosing the right legal structure. Registering as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) can provide you with numerous benefits, such as personal asset protection, tax advantages, and increased credibility. To streamline the process, consider using a formation service to help you navigate the complexities of registering your business. Get Paid.

Thorough Market Research

Before diving into the world of entrepreneurship, it’s essential to research similar businesses in your niche. This will give you valuable insights into the competitive landscape and help you identify potential opportunities for growth. Additionally, understanding your competition will enable you to develop unique selling points that set your business apart from the rest.

Clear Goals and a Winning Strategy

Having a clear vision of what you want to achieve with your business is crucial for long-term success. Establish specific, measurable objectives and develop a strategic plan on how to reach them. This will provide you with a roadmap to follow, making it easier to track your progress and make necessary adjustments along the way.

The Art of Branding

A strong brand identity is essential for any successful business. When it comes to choosing colors as part of your branding strategy, consider the psychological effects they can have on your target audience. Different colors evoke different emotions, so carefully select a color palette that aligns with your brand’s personality and values. If you want to learn more about how color affects branding, then consider this option as a resource. Get Paid.

Your Skillset

While your expertise in your hobby is undoubtedly important, it’s equally crucial to develop skills in other areas to ensure your business thrives. These may include sales, marketing, customer service, and financial management. Invest time in learning these skills, or consider partnering with experts who can complement your talents and help drive your business forward. Get Paid.

Further Education in Business

Going back to school for a business degree can be an excellent way to sharpen your entrepreneurial skills and gain a deeper understanding of the intricacies of running a successful enterprise. Studying business administration, finance, or marketing can provide you with invaluable knowledge and resources that can be directly applied to your new venture.

Professional Industry Advice

Lastly, don’t hesitate to seek professional advice related to your specific industry. Reach out to mentors, attend workshops or conferences, and join industry-specific forums to learn from the experiences of others who have successfully turned their hobbies into thriving businesses.

In conclusion, transforming your hobby into a full-fledged business is an exciting and rewarding journey, but it requires careful planning, dedication, and hard work. By following the steps outlined in this article, you can build a solid foundation for your new venture and set yourself up for long-term success. Happy Entrepreneuring, and Get Paid!

This article was NOT helped by ChatGPT.

Land a career in video games - Chris Jones Gaming

Land a Career in Video Games

Authored by Micah Norris for Chris Jones Gaming

Land a Career in Video Games By Following These Steps

Turning a passion like playing video games into a career may sound like a fantasy, but it’s actually quite achievable if you know where to start. If you have the right training and work on building up a particular skill set, you can begin a career in the gaming industry in no time. The key is to have a clear understanding of aspects like how to stay focused and on task, sussing out customer needs, and getting the right technical training so you can bring your vision to life for your audience in a professional manner. You can also look for resources that will help you learn all you can about the video game industry, and Chris Jones Gaming is a great place to start.

Here are a few things to know about turning your love of video games into a career:

Seek out the right education

Video games are so highly advanced these days that some are visually comparable to big-budget movies, and while they’re not all at that level, most do still require developers to have a wide range of skills. Most individuals who are working in the video game industry are skilled in software design and programming. Even if your goal is to focus on just one aspect of the industry, it will be extremely helpful for you to learn about everything from coding to creating scenery since working on games requires both creative and technical skills.

Make your resume stand out

It can be a challenge to stand out in a sea of talent when you’re ready to look for a job, which is why it’s essential to make sure your resume is all it can be. Think outside the box and get potential employers to notice you by adding a bit of creative flair, but don’t forget to put an emphasis on your skills and achievements. Keep in mind that you can create a fantastic, professional resume by using a free online template that allows you to customize it with your choice of colors, fonts, copy, and images. This will take some of the pressure off as you prepare to find your dream job.

Put in the time in order to find a job

Even with a great resume, you’ll need to put in some time when it comes to finding a job. This includes playing a variety of different games to learn all you can about design and gameplay and can also involve starting a gaming blog or vlog to get your name out there and provide a base for networking. You might even create your own game and give potential employers an idea of your skills. It’s also a good idea to remain open to internships, which can help you get your foot in the door and start connecting with like-minded creators.

Start your own video game business – Land a career in video games

As you start working on your blog and begin the search for a job, you might consider the benefits of starting your own video game-based business. There are tons of options available these days for individuals who have the skills and tools, from building a great app for a mobile game to creating a coding tool that other developers can use.

If you have marketing experience, you might start a business using those skills to help video game developers share their creations with the world. Whatever you decide to do, just make sure you have some protection on your side in the form of a business structure like an LLC. Forming an LLC will provide tax benefits and keep your personal assets safe, and while every state has its own rules about formation, you can read up on the steps and hire a service to file the paperwork in New York.

Getting involved in the video game industry can take a little time, whether you want to find a job with an established company or start your own video game-based business. Try to remain patient as you build your skills, create a stellar resume, and gain experience in the developing world.

Have a video game question? Get in touch with Chris today.

Land a Career in Video Games By Following These Steps

The Right Timing

Sci-Fi Short Story close to release

Updating this post I’d like to say that the short story is close to release.

I’m quite proud of this.

Here is a small blurb from it.

“What Just Happened? Just then the intercom in the Captain’s quarters beeped. Dane responded with “Briggs here, what is it?” His First officer, second in command, came on and said, Happy Birthday, Sir. The Crew would like to wish you a Happy Birthday in person. There’s a cake with your name on it in the lounge”.

Watch for updates here.

Cover illustration by Olsie.

As for the game I mention in that previous post, it is still in concept stage, based on the final edits of the short story.

Update Sept 19, 2022 – The Short Story has been released on Amazon – Click this!!!

Golf Club: Wasteland

This is no ordinary golfing game: it’s a surrealist post-apocalyptic golfing game.

You walk and jetpack your way around the remainders of life on earth as you play ball.

To be released on September 3 by the publisher Demagog Studio on Steam.

The story of Earth’s last hurrah is told from multiple points of view, building as the game progresses.

The Game has 3 different modes, from casual to expert.

The art style has a dream-like vibe, with the haziness and destruction of the background fitting perfectly with the depopulated planet that used to be our own

From the Steam Page

Rail Route: The Train Dispatcher Simulator Game

Early Access on June 23

Hypnotizing with it’s elegant minimalism, the spray of numbers and times across the screen a soothing balm to the organized mind. It’s the base form of a puzzle game, meant to challenge you and engage you, driving you to do better than yourself, to improve times, and techniques, and flourish in one of the most classic forms of transportation: the Train on the Rail Road.

The Game engages with that base videogame urge to watch numbers go up, to streamline your new ability to the best of your power.

Upgrade your trains and railways, solve the puzzles given, and even build your own Railways. Edit and Automate your maps to create the smoothest ride anyone’s ever seen in Rail Route: Train Dispatcher Simulator.

An example screenshot from the Game’s Steam page

 

Hacker vs. Corporation: the Card Game a.k.a. , “Android: Netrunner”

While researching Magic the Gathering (I had heard it was a fun play), I came across something else that piqued my interest: an extinct game by the name of Android: Netrunner.

At the Brain-dead hour of 4 am, the fast-paced commentary on the Netrunner U.S. Nationals 2019 The Cut was a pleasant listen. From what I’ve gathered on a brain full of sleep soup (probably better known as melatonin), I’ve gathered that it’s a combination of Magic the Gathering and Poker.

The game runs as follows: You and another player oppose eachother; one plays a corporation, and the other plays a hacker. Each team has to get 7 “agenda points”. Hackers gain them from taking the cards from the corporation, and the corporation from completing agenda card requirements.

Entertaining, or at the very least, compelling!

This game involves Resource management, and much like our own monetary system, there is some complexity. The game involves 6 kinds of tokens, most of which are double-sided to signify different things.

The Artwork is lovely as well!

An Example of the art
“The Personal Touch” Card Art

For those who want a true cyberpunk experience, this is the game for you.

Since it was cancelled in 2017, there’s no chance of getting new cards, but there is an online deckbuilder/play site here.

Ultimate Universe

Ultimate Universe Mod

The Ultimate Universe is/was a total conversion modification of the PC Game, Star Trek: Legacy (released in Late 2006). It is a collaboration of many individuals driven to make the best of Star Trek Legacy. 

 

You MUST start with a Fresh Clean unmodded Legacy install. If you try installing over UU1.0 or 1.5 you will CERTAINLY have problems! This is part 1 of a 2 part installer. Be sure to grab Part 2 of 2 as well, both are required!. UU2.0 is a FULL INSTALL.

Now that’s out of the way. You will find a new menu structure, more
races, enhanced missions, the new Vs Armada, and Instant Vs modes. As
well as the new “Exploring History” mode which is a mostly non combat
mode that explores Earth and Mars development from the NX-01’s time to
the NCC-1701F.

Great new intro, loading screens and main menu
graphic by Mindwipe. Three interviews with the CoWriter of the Stock
Campaign Derek Chester done by Mindwipe himself and a TMP Theme music
vid with Mike Shaw. Rebuilt main menu by Muldrf. Enhanced Explosions and
weapon effects by Miri as well as some nice new glow work on some of
our favorite starships.

Here’s my Favorite Miri Explosion sequence!

New Terran Empire ships by Nix and new Section
31 by Gan as well as some other offerings. Additional ships by Maxloef.
New Map Editor menu structure with easier navigation setup by Tjoz with
nearly all flyable 2.0 ships as well as the stock components.

A fair number of ships by MRJohn have been added. And lets certainly not
forget DJ Curtis’s beautiful Century and Vivace Class starships.
Enhanced UUTools utility and the new LMTools Modding Utilties have been
released as well, also the Legacy Mission Editor is included although the
LMTools has full mission building abilities built in. I have included
the Modinstaller for good measure for any aspiring modders out there
who might find use for it.
Ultimate Universe 2.0 - Part 1

————————————-
Nov 27th, 2009 – Part 2 of 2
You will find a new menu structure, more races, enhanced missions, the new Vs Armada, and Instant Vs modes. As well as the new “Exploring History” mode which is a mostly non combat mode that explores Earth and Mars development from the NX-01’s time to the Ncc-1701F.

Great new intro, loading screens and main menu graphic by Mindwipe. Three interviews with the CoWriter of the Stock Campaign Derek Chester sone by Mindwipe himself and a TMP Theme music vid with Mike Shaw. Rebuilt mainmenu by Muldrf. Enhanced Explosions and weapon effects by Miri as well as some nice new Glow work on some of our favorite starships. New Terran Empire ships by Nix and new Section 31 by Gan as well as some other offerings. Additional ships by Maxloef. New Map Editor menu structure with easier navigation setup by Tjoz with nearly all flyable 2.0 ships as well as the stock components. A fair number of ships by MRJohn have been added. And lets certainly not forget DJ Curtis’s beautiful Century and Vivace Class starships. Enhanced UUTools utility and the new LMTools Modding Utilties have been released as well, also the Legacymissioneditor is included although the LMTools has full mission building abilities built in. I have included the Modinstaller for good measure for any aspiring modders out there who might find use for it.
Ultimate Universe 2.0 - Part 2

————————————-
April 7, 2011 – Hosted by Moddb
Ultimate Universe 2.2 Update (Build 2) – This release includes updates to a fair number of existing ships to add features to them such as breaking nacelles with plasma effects, animated bussards, reduced torpedo circling, bump maps, and some torpedo circling prevention work. There are also a number of new ships, Wagaugusto’s Olympic Class. Phoenix’s TOS Proxima which was released to public in December is now included. The ole Marauder from BC ported by Muldrf with Acidfluxxbass’s take on it’s textures and Miri and Gan’s effects and weapons. Galaxy X (Evolution) Class, The Icarus Class. There are also numerous ships by Rudianos. Additional texture work by Gan and Acidfluxxbass on various ships. Great new effects work by Miri as usual. New Destruction Damage work by Gan making it a bad idea to get to close to a dying ship..

Ultimate Universe 2.2 Update (Build 2)

Please note that this does not represent (yet) the full extent of the mod. This site will, when time permits, contain credits and readmes for the many great talents involved in the making of the mod.

See the Full Mod with more notes at MODDB!

Thank you for years of Support!

Ultimate Universe
Click for BIG Picture!

 

Chris Jones Gaming - 2008 Logo
Ultimate Universe Mod by Chris Jones Gaming

Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077 logo

This long-awaited game out of CD Projekt Red finally arrived on PS4, Xbox One, and PC on December 10th. First announced all the way back in 2012 and delayed from the previously announced release date in November, this has been among the most highly anticipated video game releases of all time. The game sold over 8 million copies through digital pre-orders alone. This game features a wide array of game mechanics that inspired an incredible amount of hype for the game. All in the first person, Cyberpunk features drivable cars, gunplay, melee combat, stealth elements, expansive skill progression, choice over the story’s direction, character customization, and the list goes on. With so much to potentially accomplish, some of these mechanics might be hit or miss for certain gamers with high standards. But what most can agree with is that the rich and unique story is among the highest quality that you can find in a game.

Residents of Night City sit at a table with a drone on it
Residents of Night City often augment their body with cybernetic implants.

Night City

Taking place in an alternate future, the setting for Cyberpunk 2077 is beautifully crafted. The graphics are among the highest quality that you can find on these systems today. You’ll need a high-end PC if you want to see the real potential of this game. You play as a named character named V, but the player has a great deal of control over who V really is. The player controls everything from what they look like to where they came from. The game starts with three paths that will influence the direction that your character takes in the story throughout the game. With Keanu Reeves casted as one of the main characters, the game’s focus is largely geared towards its storytelling. There are multiple endings that will be shown based on your decisions throughout the game. There are also various side quests that will directly influence your character and sometimes the city as a whole. Cd Projekt Red really wanted the player to feel like they control V’s destiny.

A corporate executive stands in front of a luxury car
V can come from 3 different backgrounds: Nomad, Street Kid, or Corpo

Wake up Samurai

Cyberpunk 2077 has so many gameplay features that it’s hard to compare it to other games. It wouldn’t be fair to expect driving to be at the quality of a racing game or for gunplay to be at the quality of an FPS game. Cyberpunk is really about giving the player the opportunity to choose how they want their character to go about completing the game’s quests. There are currently a wide range of bugs and issues that players have been running into, but these are very likely to be patched out in the near future. It’s possible that some of the specific mechanics might also be adjusted to improve the game even more. CD Projekt Red worked on Witcher 3 after its release and made very real improvements to the game. You can nearly guarantee that they will do the same for Cyberpunk.

#Cyberpunk2077 #Cyberpunk #SciFi #CDProjektRed

Who has the Right Voice for your Game?

Got a Game? Who has the Right Voice for that Game? Someone with Passion! Having spearheaded a major game modification that garnered 10 of thousands of downloads, I have an idea of what is needed as far as voices go in a game. I added my own voice, and many others, to our modification.

Who has the Right Voice for your Game

Your Game’s greatness depends on your public perception, and will be enhanced greatly by the voices you choose. The final voice decisions begin with a conversation. The conversation is where I can gain insight into your personal aspirations and core values. This is essential for me to understand how you want to portray a character within the game.

I have a Gaming background, the game modification I spoke of earlier was for Star Trek: Legacy known as, ‘The Ultimate Universe‘.

Regarding my Voice: My original Love for Radio translated into sales for a few years and came into a new light in early 2019 when I began accepting clients in need of a new ‘Voice’ for Games, Social Media, website advertising, in addition to anything that needs a new sound, a new perspective, or a fresh take.

You get a professional specializing in voicing in addition to producing your gaming voice. This is an absolute passion, as well as a full time labor of love that has me as a member of the Adirondack Regional Chamber of Commerce. It starts with you and I having a conversation. 518-223-6044 chrisjones@chrisjonesgaming.net. This is what I sound like!

I wear a Bowtie and know a bit about voiceover, so hence the tagline..

The Bow Knows VO - The Right Voice
LA Games Conference

LA Games Conference

Los Angeles, California

April 18, 2018 – Digital Media Wire has announced the agenda and speakers for the 12th annual LA Games Conference, a one-day event focused on the future of games and connected entertainment. The conference brings together leaders and decision-makers in Hollywood and gaming at the W Hotel in Los Angeles on Tuesday, May 8th. This Annual Industry Confab Brings Together Top Leaders from NBCUniversal, Blizzard, Super League Gaming, EA, Zynga, Twitter, and Many More..

The event features panels, keynotes, and roundtable discussions on topics including virtual and augmented reality, esports, influencer marketing, global markets and Hollywood and games, as well as opportunities specific to the City of Los Angeles as it further solidifies its status as a media-tech center and growth hub for game development.

The LA Games Conference includes a keynote session as follows:

Keynote conversation with Bernard Kim, President of Publishing, Zynga; interviewed by Stephanie Chan, Reporter, VentureBeat

Confirmed speakers include:

  • Shiraz Akmal, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer, SPACES Inc.
  • Sinjin Bain, SVP, Global Head of VR/AR, Method EXP
  • Lydia Bottegoni, Senior Vice President, Story and Franchise Development, Blizzard Entertainment
  • Bjorn Book-Larsson, VP, Product, HTC Viveport, Board Member, VRChat
  • Josh Brooks, SVP, Brand Strategy & Marketing, Jam City
  • Michael Cai, President, Interpret
  • Dustin Califf, Managing Partner, Tool of North America
  • Malcolm CasSelle,CIO, OPSkins, President, WAX
  • Anthony Castoro, GM, Daybreak Games
  • Rishi Chadha, Head of Gaming, Twitter
  • Ben Cohen, Partner, Umbrella Games
  • Carlos Figueiredo, Director, Community Trust & Safety, Two Hat Security
  • Michael Frasier, Vice President, Business Development, International, InComm
  • Javon Frazier, EVP, Strategy & Business Development, Studio71
  • Eric Goldberg, Managing Director, Crossover Strategies
  • J Goldberg, Head of Community, Daybreak Game Company
  • Jon Goldman, Managing Partner, Skybound, Venture Partner, Greycroft
  • Eric Gradman, CTO & Mad Inventor, Two Bit Circus
  • Deepak Gupta, Chief Revenue Officer, Machine Zone
  • Minard Hamilton, Managing Partner, Driver Ventures
  • Dewey Hammond, Vice President, Games Research, Magid Advisors
  • Ann Hand, CEO and Chairman, Super League Gaming
  • Chris Heatherly, EVP Games and Digital Platforms, NBCUniversal
  • Chris Hewish, Executive Vice President, Interactive, Skydance Interactive
  • Arnold Hur, Chief Growth Officer, KSV eSports
  • Bernard Kim, President of Publishing, Zynga
  • Chang Kim, CEO and Founder, Tapas Media
  • Paul Kim, Managing Partner, ICO’s
  • John Linden, President, Seismic Games
  • Dave Madden, SVP, Global Brand Partnerships, EA
  • Yvette Martinez-Rea, COO, ESL
  • Morris May, CEO, Specular Theory, Inc.
  • Michael Metzger, Partner, Drake Star Partners
  • Jay Moore, Alchemist of Fun, Convergence 4D
  • Dan Murray, President, Skybound Interactive
  • Jonathan Pan, Esports Instructor, University of California, Irvine
  • Andrew Paradise, CEO, Skillz
  • Rick Phillips, President of Games Publishing & Licensing, FoxNext Games
  • Joanna Popper, Global Head of Virtual Reality for Location Based Entertainment, HP
  • Nanea Reeves, CEO and Co-Founder, TRIPP
  • Carter Rogers, Senior Analyst, SuperData Research
  • Michael Salmon, Game Consultant, Something Fishy Consulting
  • Ted Schilowitz, Futurist, Paramount Pictures
  • Ari Segal, President & COO, Immortals & LA Valiant
  • Tony Sheng, Product Lead, Decentraland
  • Ned Sherman, Counsel/Director, Manatt Digital
  • Julia Sourikoff, Executive Producer, AR/VR/360, Tool of North America
  • Louisa Spring, CEO, VARI
  • Andrew Stalbow, CEO & Co-Founder, Seriously
  • Mark van Ryswyk, SVP, Glu Mobile
  • Bruce Vaughn, CEO, Dreamscape Immersive
  • Margaret Wallace, CEO, KijiCo
  • Dan Winters, Head of Business Development, Amazon Digital Games, Amazon
  • Careen Yapp, Senior Vice President of Global Business, Mixed Dimensions
  • Michael Zhang, CEO, Firefly Games
Gaming News and the Ultimate Universe