Technology is stretching the creativity of people to design games others will enjoy. But games are being made more meaningful through Web 3 technologies as gamers and non-gamers, including overseas Filipino workers or OFWs, can participate in an economic system that allows them to sell digital assets and market products wherever they are.

Mench Dizon, country manager of YGG, said a growing number of gamers now earn from digital currencies or cryptocurrencies and digital tokens as tradable prizes.

"The things you work for in a game are the gamer's own. And so, he can go out into the world and exchange this with others who are also playing the game or might be interested in owning assets from the game and exchanging it for money," she explained.

YGG is a global group that promotes Web 3-based technologies consisting of NFTs, blockchain, and cryptocurrencies.

Like other commodities, digital assets gain their monetary value based on their demand or their rarity. Blockchain, a digital database, facilitates their trade transactions.

In earlier times, she explained playing games was seen as idling or an aimless activity.

However, the growing popularity of games has also encouraged people to study computer science and create games as a livelihood or a business venture with global investors.

"We'd like to see the younger ones also consider this as a possible career path, and those who would like to shift careers as a possible path for them," Dizon said.

YGG has prepared a Web 3 Games Summit, where 600 game developers can meet angel investors to jump-start operations of their games or venture capitalists to improve their games further and market them to a bigger pool of gamers.

Focus on local mart

"The world is looking at how this tiny country, this emerging market in Southeast Asia is really a driving force in Web 3," Dizon said.

The summit will be held on 18 to 25 November in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

Aside from playing and creating games, gamers can also make money through content creation.

"Another path now that more games are coming to market is game operations. This is how Filipinos can be part of game operations, providing their unique knowledge in terms of playing the game and at the same time doing customer support," Dizon said.

She added gaming with the help of metaverse or virtual reality technologies now also provides social media users opportunities to earn money by helping brands market their products.

Technology experts predict that the metaverse can show products through the actions of game characters or place products within their environment in the game.

"So these community managers become leaders people look up to and who brands can work in committee activation for their respective products," Dizon said.

With this range of job opportunities and support from game developers like the YCG summit, she said gaming could be a better source of income for overseas Filipino workers as games are played and promoted online.

"We create that opportunity where our families will remain intact. They can work and participate in this space and even share it with their children. They will have fun together because they share in the spirit of play and fun," Dizon said.