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What Is a Game Tester and How Do You Become One?

Written by 糖心vlog官网观看 Staff 鈥 Updated on

Explore what game testers do, how to become one, and where the gaming industry is headed.

[Featured Image] A game tester in a blue shirt holds a VR headset and reviews information on his laptop.

What is a game tester?

A game tester, also called a video game tester, plays video games, tests their features, and identifies glitches and bugs before their public release. Game testers often work for video game companies and collaborate with developers and programmers to improve games and ensure they鈥檙e ready for users.听

There are two leading roles that a game tester typically takes on.听

  • Playtesters focus on testing the user experience of a game, such as where it becomes boring or vague, how fun it is to play, and how many victories you can experience on the way to meeting the game鈥檚 objective.听

  • Quality assurance testers focus on identifying technical issues with a game, such as glitches, bugs, and inconsistencies.听

According to The Economic Times, the gaming industry has seen an unprecedented rise in recent years and is now one of the top mobile gaming markets in the world. Growing at 38 percent, it鈥檚 home to 420 million gamers, second only to China. The industry is expected to reach $3.9 billion by 2025 [闭.听

AmbitionBox reports that game tester salaries in India range from 鈧1,50,000 to 鈧5,90,000, with an average annual salary of 鈧3,90,000 []. Given these figures, you may be able to find many opportunities to game test as a side hustle and even pursue a new career path.听

Why become a game tester?听

In addition to earning money, becoming a game tester can be a rewarding experience. As a game tester, you鈥檒l typically gain access to the latest games, which means you鈥檒l have an insider鈥檚 view of the gaming industry. Testing video games will likely appeal to your abilities and interests, particularly exploring new worlds, paying attention to detail, and thinking strategically if you enjoy playing video games.听听听

If your goal is to be a part of the gaming industry for the long term, becoming a game tester can open up several career opportunities, from game development to , quality assurance engineering, or even .听

What does a video game tester do?

You can contribute to the gaming industry and community as a game tester. Testers help developers identify and address glitches, troublespots, and detractors before releasing games. Avoiding post-release errors helps keep costs down. Effective testing supports overall game quality and customer satisfaction, helping set games up for commercial success.听

The games you test could go on to become iconic games that inspire and delight players for generations.听听

Video game tester responsibilities听

Video game testers are responsible for several important tasks. Most importantly, they are expected to play video games with a more critical eye than when playing games for entertainment. That way, they can identify technical and creative problems that could result in a negative user experience, including:听

  • When a player becomes trapped in a section of the game

  • When a movement graphic doesn鈥檛 work听

  • When the controls don鈥檛 feel intuitive

  • Areas of the game that aren鈥檛 enjoyable

  • Confusion about the game, its concept, or the objective听

To identify these problems, game testers may be asked to perform specific tasks, such as switching the game on and off, downloading games while playing other games, playing the game on different devices and platforms, and recreating sequences that lead to glitches.听

Sometimes, game testers are asked to participate in a series of testing rounds. For example, Techopedia, an IT news and trends site, describes a four-part process for playtesting, including:

  • Gross playtesting: An initial test using the basic running model to find problems in gameplay (how users interact with a game), usually carried out by the design team

  • In-house playtesting: A more comprehensive test to find remaining glitches in gameplay, usually carried out by in-house or contract game testers听

  • Blind testing: When playtesters with no prior knowledge of the game experience it as users and provide feedback听

  • Final playtesting: The last test before the game is released to improve design and aesthetic rather than function

How do I become a game tester?听

If you鈥檙e interested in becoming a game tester, there are several ways to enter this field. Follow the steps below to explore your options, gain professional skills and experience, and discover career or side hustle opportunities.听

1. Upgrade your gaming practice.听

Becoming a game tester is the most important part of becoming an intentional and conscientious gamer. Your goals should include:

  • Gain varied experiences by playing different genres of games, such as real-time strategy, multiplayer online battle areas, and sports.

  • Gain proficiency in and familiarity with playing games on different game consoles, desktops, laptops, and mobile phones.听

  • Identify features that would improve games.听

  • Practise describing your gaming experiences in detail.听

2. Build technical knowledge and skills in game testing.

Supplement your gaming practice with a strong set of technical skills.

  • Learn the primary responsibilities of a game tester, including playing every stage of a game, detecting bugs and glitches, and recommending improvements to developers.听

  • Learn QA terminology like playtesting, code release, performance testing, and minimum viable product.听

  • Become familiar with top gaming studios and companies like Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and Ubisoft.听

  • Improve your strategic thinking, analysis, reporting, and technical writing skills.听

  • Learn reporting and technical writing.听听

To build these skills, consider taking courses, getting certified in specific skills, or earning a degree in game design, computer programming, or related fields.听

3. Participate in public beta testing.

Public beta testing can be a great way to learn about upcoming games, practice your skills as a game tester, and even earn in-game rewards. Explore beta testing sites for gamers like , , and to find opportunities to participate in open tests. With each test, document your process and keep a running account of everything you learn.听

4. Build a game tester resume.

As you acquire skills, knowledge, and experience in game testing, you鈥檒l want to build a resume that represents your capabilities. Be sure to list your game tester training, certifications, and education you鈥檝e earned, as well as concrete game tester skills.听听

If you鈥檝e participated in any public beta tests, list the games, the bugs and glitches you found, the gameplay features you evaluated, and when the game was (or will be) released.听听听听

5. Apply for game tester jobs.听

For this step, it is helpful to conduct job searches on various job sites, including general jobs sites like Indeed and Glassdoor and sites specific to the gaming industry, like and .听

For each job listing, pay attention to salary information, skills and qualifications required, and the role鈥檚 related tasks and projects.听

Get started in gaming with 糖心vlog官网观看

Consider taking online gaming courses to build your baseline skills, discover what鈥檚 possible for you as a game tester, and familiarise yourself with how the gaming industry works.听

Article sources

1.听

Economic Times. ", https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/business/big-bang-growth-of-indias-gaming-industry/articleshow/92053190.cms?from=mdr." Accessed March 29, 2024.

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