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For any kid who grew up in the 90s, playing video games was a pastime you enjoyed on your own or with friends. No matter if you picked up your three-pronged N64 controller on the weekend or ran to your best friend’s house after school to race around the Mario Kart track. Needless to say, the popularity of gaming has gone from strength to strength, becoming the multi-billion dollar industry we know today. The video game culture is thriving more than ever, with video game stores in abundance and online gameplay becoming a thing of normality in the gaming world. With gaming so popular, where is the best city for gamers, and where does LA rank in this list?

Seattle – Washington

In the entire United States, Seattle takes the top spot for gaming, which is not surprising for many. Various gamers reside in this city: those who like to play online poker for fun and those who want to enter tournaments in a more serious setting. Regarding gamer development, the West Coast has a significant presence from the big tech groups, the largest being Microsoft. With this abundance of growing tech, many opportunities are regularly available for those who love gaming.

For any kind of development, of course, the internet has to be fast, and Seattle only falls behind Virginia Beach. The rainy weather seems to lend itself to the life of a gamer, making people more inclined to play video games when stuck inside the house.

Orlando – Florida

Orlando is quickly becoming one of the greatest places you could ever be if you’re a gamer. It could be down to the culture that Disney has created over the years, but one thing we know for sure is Orlando is not only exclusive to fans of the franchise. Although the internet speeds are not as great as some other places such as LA, Orlando has vast opportunities for jobs and gaming developers but also offers lots for video game enthusiasts regarding how great the community is.

Los Angeles – California

Los Angeles is one of the best cities in the world if you’re looking for an opportunity within the gaming lifestyle. Although the gaming opportunities are high, the internet speeds could be a little faster. In LA, you will find lots of video game stores, including those that specialize in some of the rarest vintage consoles on the market – this is a palace for the true lovers of nostalgia or gaming in its original form.

Austin – Texas

Austin was never going to be a surprise addition to this list, especially when you factor in that this is the home to Dell, one of the largest personal computer companies. Dell and other large tech firms calling Austin home make this city a desirable city for gamers, creating a lot of opportunities for those looking to start their careers within the industry.

Atlanta – Georgia

When it comes to entertainment, Atlanta is quickly becoming the Los Angeles of the East Coast; this place is becoming a true gamer paradise. The environment that surrounds the city is why gamers are attracted to this place so much, but the growth in opportunities within the sector does have some room compared to other cities in our list. The main thing you have to think about in Atlanta is the internet speeds. They are okay but they could be a lot quicker, which in serious online tournaments could be the reason between winning and losing.

Las Vegas – Nevada

Your first thought when it comes to video games may not be nightlife, but when you think of nightlife, you will almost certainly think about the gambling capital of the world, Las Vegas. The truth is that nightlife and video games go hand in hand, especially when you consider the type of characters you would find on the Vegas Strip. Vegas has a huge community and culture surrounding tournaments, events, and video game meet-ups. Las Vegas has been known to host some of the largest video game conferences and tournaments in the world, thanks to the already huge gambling culture and exciting environment this city creates.

The Best Cities for Gamers

If your city has a balance of big tech and big nightlife, you will have all the ingredients for a big gamer city. One of the initial things that jumps out for us when we look back at our list is that video gaming cities have either a large tech sector, or it is already known for entertainment. No matter what, if you’re the type of gamer who is looking to move to a city that encourages your way of living, we hope this list is the perfect help for you, and if LA was on your hit list, you know it’s a good choice making our top 10.

Published by: Aly Cinco