Tasticle

By Nathan Jones

The video game industry has seen a significant increase in popularity in recent years, with more and more people playing games as a form of entertainment. However, there is a notable lack of video games that feature protagonists who have learned a valuable trade.

When we think of video game protagonists, we typically think of characters who are warriors, adventurers, or other similar roles. These characters are often portrayed as being powerful and skilled in combat or other forms of physical activity. While these types of characters can be fun to play as, they do not reflect the reality of many people’s lives.

In the real world, most people do not spend their lives fighting monsters or exploring dangerous dungeons. Instead, they learn trades and develop skills that allow them to work in various industries. Yet, despite the prevalence of trades in the real world, they are largely absent from the video game industry.

This lack of representation is particularly striking given the increasing number of people who are interested in trades and vocational education. According to a report by the Bureau of Labor Statistics, jobs in the skilled trades are expected to grow by 4% between 2019 and 2029, which is about as fast as the average for all occupations.

Video games that feature protagonists who have learned a trade could help to promote the idea that trades are valuable and important. Such games could also be an opportunity to educate players about different trades and the skills required to work in them.

For example, a video game could feature a character who is a plumber or electrician, and the player would need to solve puzzles or complete tasks that require knowledge of these trades. This type of game would not only be fun to play but could also help to educate players about different trades and the skills required to work in them.

There are a few video games that have touched on this idea in the past, such as the “SimCity” series or “Harvest Moon,” which allows players to farm and learn about agriculture. However, these games are few and far between, and they often do not focus exclusively on the trade itself.

In conclusion, the video game industry has a lot of room for growth when it comes to representing characters who have learned a trade. By including such characters in games, game developers could help to promote the idea that trades are valuable and important, and educate players about different trades and the skills required to work in them. It’s time for the industry to recognize the importance of trades in the real world and reflect that in their virtual worlds. There is still a very deprived market for these games who thirst for the experience of repetitive manual labor. The hope that developers are listening to fans who cry out for more is still alive as we see a slow trickle of games in this genre such as the popular Power Washing Simulator and various Truck Driver simulators.