Unlock Google Cloud Mastery with this 6-Month Arcade Plan

#cloud #gcp #googlecloud #arcade

Hey Devs! 👋

Are you looking to level up your cloud computing skills and add real-world Google Cloud experience to your resume? The Google Cloud Arcade is a free, gamified learning program that is perfect for students and beginners.

Here’s a detailed, step-by-step guide on how to maximize your participation over six months.

1. Account Setup: The Foundation
Before you can play, you need to create the necessary accounts.
It’s crucial to use the same Google account for all three steps to ensure your progress and points are correctly tracked.

Step 1: Create a Google Cloud Account
This is where you'll get access to the actual Google Cloud Platform (GCP).

Action: Go to https://cloud.google.com and click the Start free button.
Sign-up Process: You will need a valid Gmail account and a credit/debit card for identity verification. A nominal, refundable amount will be charged and refunded to confirm your payment details.
Benefit: New users get $300 in free credit, valid for 90 days, to use on any GCP product. You also get free usage of over 20+ products, such as Compute Engine and BigQuery, up to monthly limits, which are separate from your free credit.

Step 2: Create a Google Cloud Skills Boost Account
This is the learning portal where you'll complete hands-on labs and quests.

Action: Head to https://www.cloudskillsboost.google and click "Join" in the top right corner. You can sign in directly with the same Google account you used for GCP.
Confirmation: If you're manually entering information, you will receive a confirmation email. Be sure to check your spam folder.
Benefit: This platform hosts all the hands-on labs, courses, and quests needed to complete the Arcade challenges. It tracks your progress and the skill badges you earn.

Step 3: Join the Google Cloud Arcade Challenge
This is the final step to officially enter the gamified learning program.

Action: Navigate to the Arcade page at https://go.cloudskillsboost.google/arcade and sign in.
Subscription: You will need to "subscribe" to the Arcade to get started. This activates your participation and ensures your points are counted toward the rewards.
Benefit: Once you join, you will be eligible to participate in monthly games, earn points, and redeem rewards.

2. What the Arcade Is
The Google Cloud Arcade is more than just a course; it's a global learning event.

6-Month Learning Event: The program runs over six months, with new "games" and challenges introduced each month.
Gamified Learning: You complete games, which are collections of hands-on labs and quests, to earn points and digital badges.
Point System: Earn points for every activity you complete, such as finishing labs, badges, or trivia. Higher points unlock rewards and certificates.
Rewards: Points can be redeemed for prizes like Google Cloud swag (t-shirts, backpacks) and digital certificates when the Prize Counter is open.

3. How It Works
Understanding the mechanics of the Arcade is key to a successful journey.

Games: The core of the Arcade, these are collections of practical, hands-on exercises within a real Google Cloud environment.
Points: Every completed lab, badge, game, and trivia challenge contributes to your total points. Aim for consistency to accumulate enough points over the six months to reach higher reward tiers.
Leaderboard: The leaderboard shows your monthly progress and how you stack up against other players.
Goal: The program aims to help you accumulate 80–100 points over the 6-month period, which is typically enough to reach the "Legend Tier" for top-tier rewards.

4. The 6-Month Learning Path:
Your Roadmap to Success

Month
Focus
Key Actions

Foundation

Learn core cloud concepts and establish your base.

• Finish the Google Cloud Essentials course.
• Complete the Arcade Base Camp game.
• Earn at least 3–5 skill badges.
Infrastructure

Dive into compute, storage, and networking services.

• Take the Cloud Computing Foundations: Core Infrastructure course.
• Play the Level 1 Arcade game.
• Earn 5–7 more skill badges.

Practical Labs Get intensive hands-on experience and build muscle memory.

• Finish Google Cloud Fundamentals: Core Infrastructure.
• Do the Level 2 Arcade game, which includes more advanced concepts.
• Add 5–7 badges to your profile.

Data & AI Explore advanced, in-demand tracks like data analytics and machine learning.

• Start the Baseline: Data, ML, and AI Quest.
• Play the Special Arcade game of the month.
• Earn another 5–7 badges.

Certification Prep Start preparing for a real-world, industry-recognized certification.

• Begin the Associate Cloud Engineer (ACE) prep course.
• Continue playing the monthly Arcade and trivia games to earn remaining points.
• Earn 5 badges.

Completion Finalize your learning and collect your rewards.

• Finish any pending quests or labs to maximize points.
• Make your Skills Boost profile public to showcase your achievements.
• Check your points on the Arcade dashboard and redeem your rewards when the Prize Counter opens.

5. What to Track
To ensure you stay on track, keep an eye on your progress:

Labs Completed: Keep a count of the hands-on labs you finish.
Skill Badges Earned: Track the number of digital skill badges you collect. These are verifiable and look great on your resume.
Monthly Game Completion: Make sure you complete each month's games before they expire.
Trivia Points: Participate in the monthly trivia challenges to rack up extra points.
Total Points: Regularly check your total points on the Arcade dashboard to ensure you are on track for your goal.

6. After 6 Months
If you follow this path, you will have a solid foundation and tangible proof of your skills.
Skill Badges: You will have accumulated a portfolio of 30–40 skill badges.
Arcade Points: You will have enough points to reach the Legend Tier and be eligible for the best rewards.
Certification Readiness: You will have a solid foundation to attempt and pass the Google Cloud Associate Cloud Engineer (ACE) certification, a major career booster.

7. Key Links
Here are all the essential links to get started: