TAFE NSW students Ryan Horwood and Jack Cooper are studying Diploma of Digital and Interactive Games and aim to crack a spot in the lucrative industry.

"The career options are endless in the gaming industry," said Mr Horwood.

"You can do programming, audio design, engineering, script writing, creative lead, 3D modelling.

"Whatever creative outlet interests you."

Mr Cooper said opportunities appeared more available overseas rather than joining smaller Australian indie game developers.

"There is many other opportunities in other countries but right now a lot of the local gaming jobs are centralised in specific parts of Australia," he said.

"Australia is only known for its indie studios at the moment but we can hope that it will receive more support in future."

Australia's professional gaming tournament industry is predicted to grow in value from $8 million in 2017 to $21 million by 2022, according to TAFE NSW.

TAFE NSW information technology and creative industries teacher Jason Vallely said the global games market is on track to reach about $190 billion this year, but unfortunately Australia is already lagging behind.

"There's this whole generation that are growing up with games as their main form of entertainment," Mr Vallely said.

"If young people gain formal training in game programming skills now, they can position themselves to be the movers and shakers in the new way of doing business in the future.

"Although the gaming industry is still in its infancy it is the biggest industry in technology in the world at the moment.

"People in the industry really need to be aware and try to get a piece of that pie."

Brisbane video game developer Halfbrick Studios Pty Ltd is a major success story for the Australian industry after producing Fruit Ninja in 2015.

The mobile game was focused on a player slicing fruit with a blade controlled via touch screen. It has been downloaded more than one billion times.

Mr Vallely said there are still misconceptions about people working in the industry.

"Many people still think that people working in the industry just sit around playing games all day," he said.

"It actually involves skills in programming, digital sculpting, graphic design, motion capture and voice acting.

"It's something we need to get on with because this is a serious industry, the people in it are passionate and creative."

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