FROM PIXELS TO PROFESSIONS: HOW CHILDHOOD VIDEO GAMES ARE SHAPING CAREERS

Adult gamers have confirmed that the video games they played during childhood had a significant impact on their career paths. As many young people begin to take the next step in their education this month, those entering GCSE and A-Level study are starting to refine their areas of study. Safe In Our World has teamed up with Nintendo UK to showcase these stories and encourage students to think creatively about their future academic and career choices.

Nicole McAdams (age 27) was captivated by the scuba diving adventure game Endless Ocean during her childhood. The game, which lets players explore the ocean and learn about over 200 species of marine life, inspired Nicole to pursue a career in marine biology. Reflecting on her journey, she says, “I absolutely adored playing Endless Ocean on the Wii as a kid. Now, that passion has come to life—I earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology, studying the physiology and ecology of marine organisms, and I’ve achieved multiple diving certifications, allowing me to explore our oceans in real life.”
Similarly, Redd Wolfie (age 27) grew up playing the iconic 2000s game Nintendogs, a real-time pet simulation that allowed players to care for their own virtual dogs—feeding, petting, walking, and playing with them. Redd’s career has since been shaped by her love for dogs: “I played Nintendogs religiously as a kid! Now, pets are central to my career. I’ve worked as a pet groomer, a vet assistant, and have around four years of professional dog training experience. The game definitely inspired me to pursue this path.”
For others, gaming was a gateway to the arts, sparking creativity through art-based games. Beth Massey (age 24) was so passionate about art that her mother bought her the game Art Academy to help develop her skills. Beth explains, “I was hugely into art, so my mum got me Art Academy as soon as it was released. It helped me understand different artistic techniques and shifted my focus from just playing my DS to honing my creative side. This eventually led me to study graphic design in college. From there, I applied for an art animation course, and now, three years later, I have a BA degree in the subject. If I hadn’t played the game, I’m not sure I would have explored this career.”
Emily-Jane Morgan (age 33) shares a similar story: “One of my favourite games growing up was Pokémon Snap on the Nintendo 64. The game involved taking photos of Pokémon, and I loved it—I’d revisit it time and time again. Now, it’s come full circle: I’m a freelance photographer, and I’ve even captured content for one of Nintendo’s UK social media channels. To this day, I’m drawn to any game with a photo mode.”
These stories highlight how video games can inspire diverse career paths, illustrating the profound impact they can have on shaping professional aspirations. In alignment with this, Digital Schoolhouse, together with Nintendo UK, are dedicated to harnessing the power of gaming to broaden educational horizons. Digital Schoolhouse integrates play-based learning into the curriculum, transforming how students engage with subjects like computing and creative digital skills. Notably, this has led to a marked rise in the numbers of students applying for GCSE Computer Science and Art courses, highlighting the impactful role of play during those formative years.
Shahneila Saeed, Head of Education for UKIE and Director of Digital Schoolhouse said, “Video games are more than just a pastime; they serve as an exceptional gateway into the video games industry and various other future careers. They have the potential to inspire young people to explore careers not only in video games but also in fields associated with gameplay, such as design, storytelling, software development and more. In collaboration with Nintendo UK, Digital Schoolhouse is transforming the computing curriculum by integrating play-based learning with video games, thereby inspiring classrooms across the UK to a world of possibilities within the creative digital and video games space.”