Finding work, one of life’s great wonders. Sometimes, you can find it more easily in your area of study, or other times, you’ll have to take on a lot of different jobs that you dislike to finally earn your position in something more fulfilling and aligned with what you wanted to do. Or, you can daydreamabout a fictional job in a video gameyou’d rather be doing instead. I’m like that sometimes.
Though most video games have protagonists who have real-life jobs,like a writerin the Alan Wake series (who I most identify with), or an architect in Heavy Rain, and a security guard in Five Nights at Freddy’s, there are still some odd jobs only found in video games that I would jump at as a career opportunity. Here are some of those.
8Runner - Mirror’s Edge Series
Parkour Courier
There’s the runner position you might know from the military, and then the runners seen in the Mirror’s Edge series. They both essentially have the same task of being couriers, but in Mirror’s Edge, runners do their jobwith some parkour flair. Learning to parkour is a bucket list activity of mine, so having it as a work requirement and getting the whole cityscape to try it out sounds like a fun opportunity. Though I admit, I’m afraid of heights.
There are also some occupational hazards, of course, like the city that you’re running in beingthe dystopian City of Glass, controlled by a totalitarian regime that sends goons your way. Let’s just say that this line of work isn’t viewed as legal in the City, so I’ll always have a target on my back. But the parkour abilities make it worth the risk. There’s the risk of falling from a building, too, since I am clumsy. Good luck to me, I guess (hopefully I won’t die).
7DedSec Hacker - Watch Dogs Series
Hacking Away Tyranny
This would be more of a volunteer position, but sign me up anyway. Getting to go after a totalitarian surveillance state and ultimately taking it down by messing around with some cool tech sounds like living the absolute dream. Good riddance to fascism and mass surveillance of citizens around the globe. Not on my watch.
I’ll admit,I’m not that great of a programmer, and hacking has never been my area of expertise, but DedSec in Watch Dogs makes the process seem laughably easy and accessible to anyone. With just a smartphone, I can hack into cars, traffic lights, cameras, people’s personal devices, and just go ham. Though if I abuse it like in the actual game, I think DedSec is probably changing hideouts and not sending me the new address.
6Riverport University Researcher - Quantum Break
For Science
Time travel is an area I’d want to be working on and studying, regardless of whether it’s fictional or not, but since we’re not quite there yet in the real world, all I’d have is Quantum Break’s Riverport University time travel experiment. It’s called Project Promenade and is led by Paul Serene and William Joyce, who invented a time machine at the university that goes awry when activated.
The effects of the experiment allowed Paul Serene and protagonist Jack Joyce (William’s brother) to gain Chronon abilities,which include manipulating time. These powers are epic and make you feel like an X-Men mutant, so, for that alone, it’s extremely worth it to become a researcher on their team at Riverport and expose yourself to Chronon particles. But it would also put me in the crosshairs of Monarch Solutions, so that’s going to add some fun danger.
5Porter - Death Stranding Series
The Amazon Of The Future
I already know what you’re thinking. There I go again, putting myself into another dangerous and miserable situation by wanting to be in the world of Death Stranding. Hear me out. I’m a writer, ok? My exercise is very limited. This way, I’ll literally get paid to walk long distances and take in some gorgeous landscapes and views. Of course, I’ll probably have to sign a waiver for rough terrain, BTs, and Mules.
And if my cargo doesn’t make it to its destination, I’ll probably be fired instantly and end up stuckin this post-apocalyptic tar-filled worldwhose lore and mysteries I still don’t understand despite having played the game once. But hey, at least I’ll also get to try out some fun futuristic Kojima-manufactured technology while I’m at it. The soundtrack is pretty good too.
4FBC Agent - Control And Alan Wake Series
Coffee, Donuts, And The Supernatural
When you think about federal law enforcement jobs, they do sound kind of boring and lame. The FBI is overrated, sorry Saga Anderson and Dale Cooper. But now the Federal Bureau of Control? Where you get to deal with all sorts of paranormal and extradimensional phenomena that make the cases in The X-Files look like child’s play, now that’s where I’d set out to make a difference.
I’ve always loved detective work and am a huge fan of horror, so working at the FBC would combine those two interests. Like Agent Kiran Estevez, I’d be ready to go into incredibly terrifying situations and give those paranormal entities a taste of some FBC weaponry. And I’d answer directly to our FBC Director, Jesse Faden,one of the most exceptional female protagonistsin video games.
3A Witcher - The Witcher Series
Toss A Coin To Your Witcher, And Also Don’t Forget To Tip
I recognize that Geralt of Rivia is the most famous and successful Witcher to have lived, as he’s the protagonist of the books written by Andrzej Sapkowski and the video game series based on them, but I think it could be my time to shine. Sharing is caring, Geralt, and I would love to have your powers and go out and slay some monsters to protect the citizens of the Continent.
I’m also a huge lover of the fantasy genre, books,Slavic mythology, and monsters, so this profession feels like my calling. The Witcher outfit is pretty cool, you get a horse companion, and the magical abilities are just impressive and fun to wield. And who would pass up that free housing of Kaer Morhen with the job?
2Pokemon Trainer - Pokemon Series
The Coolest Job In The Video Game Sector
Working with animals is always awesome. I have plenty of pets myself, including fish, a bird, and a dog, and being a Pokemon Trainer is an ultimate dream come true. I also grew up collecting Pokemon cards and plush toys, as well as playing various Pokemon games on the Game Boy and the Nintendo DS, so this would make that child in me quite happy and fulfilled.
I loveall types of Pokemon that existin the bestiary (even the scarier ones; again, horror fan), but the other perk of the job would be getting to travel to new spots and meet and battle fellow Pokemon trainers. Though I should question the ethics of keeping such majestic and precious creatures inside little plastic balls and forcing them to participate in fights with other Pokemon.
1D&F Fortunes Employee
Working For The One And Only Nathan Drake
I mean, this would be the most incredible opportunity I’d ever get in my life. I love Naughty Dog’s Uncharted games,one of the first PlayStation seriesI got to try out, and the main trio of characters, Nathan, Elena, and Sully, have stuck with me forever, as have their adventures. In Uncharted 4, you learn that Nathan Drake has been working for a salvage company, Jameson Marine Inc., which Elena then buys for them to be the new co-owners.
Now re-branded as D&F Fortunes, Nate and Elena get to on amazing archeological discoveries and document their work. To be a part of the salvage crew that helps them recover ancient artifacts and explore unsolved mysteries would be the most amazing line of work. Getting to hear all the stories Nate has of his adventures, and some that might’ve not made it into the games, absolutely sweetens the deal.
