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How’s this for a job ad?

Qualifications: Engaging personality, video game experience.

Duties: Play games, have fun, interact with fans.

Compensation: Free rent, utilities.

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Perks: Possible fame.

It probably sounds too good to be true, but it is now an actual opportunity in Albuquerque thanks to a group of local entrepreneurs looking to cash in on the public’s growing interest in watching other people play video games on the Internet. Stream House ABQ has openings for three charismatic gamers who can move in early next year, broadcast their activities online and start building an audience.

Jason Montoya, part of the group launching Stream House, said there is money to be made in this realm, citing the likes of PewDiePie. PewDiePie — real name: Felix Kjellberg — was ranked YouTube’s top-earning personality by Forbes, making an estimated $12 million over the past year “all for providing expletive-heavy commentary as he plays video games.”

That’s clearly an extreme example, but Montoya said the right talent can develop a big audience, which in turn generates ad revenue and sometimes subscriber fees or donations.

“I’m sure most Americans hear (this and think) ‘You watch other people play video games? How lame is that?’ Or ‘You give people money to watch them play video games?'” said Montoya. “I know it sounds really weird — even being a gamer I understand that — I even had my skepticism four years ago, five years ago.”

But the 42-year-old Montoya — himself hooked on video games since the Atari days — said it’s not just about watching someone else obliterate digital aliens. He subscribes to streams through YouTube and the gaming-specific site Twitch and said the appeal varies. The host may be an expert player full of tips or he or she may just be a colorful, captivating character who plays games but also has interesting thoughts on movies, comics or pop culture.

“Sometimes the personalities become bigger than the game,” Montoya said.

And people are watching — Twitch says it gets more than 100 million unique visitors a month, and the average person spends 106 minutes per day watching.

Montoya, whose partners include Albuquerque attorney Simon Kubiak, said they already have put out a casting call seeking streamers for the house, a three-bedroom residence in Northeast Albuquerque that will be outfitted with streaming equipment. Compensation includes rent and utilities, and Montoya said the streamers will ultimately share in revenue should the enterprise become profitable. In turn, they’re each expected to stream between two and four hours, five or six days a week.

“They need to be likable. They need to understand gaming culture — that’s pretty important; gamers are some of the smartest, savviest people I know and if you try to pull the wool over their eyes, they’ll call you out in a second,” he said, noting that the goal is to pick the final three by December for a move-in date of Jan. 1.

The founders have invested more than $200,000 but expected to recoup that within four years, he added. They aim to have 10,000 total subscribers via YouTube and Twitch within six months and 300,000 within two years.

For more information, go online to nmism.com/streamhouse.