Game testing is a crucial part of the game development process, but it can also be challenging and time-consuming. How can you design a game testing strategy that ensures quality, efficiency, and user satisfaction? In this article, you will learn some tips and best practices for planning, executing, and evaluating your game testing strategy.
Before you start testing your game, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure your success. What are the main features and functionalities of your game? What are the expected performance and usability standards? What are the potential risks and issues that could affect your game? What are the feedback and data sources that you will use to evaluate your game? By defining your goals, you can align your testing activities with your game objectives and prioritize the most important aspects.
Snr. Gaming Data Analyst | Ph.D. in behavioural economics | Tableau | SQL | Python | ML
When you're getting ready to test your game, start with a solid plan. Think about what your game's all about—its key features and what you want players to experience. You need to know what good performance looks like and be aware of anything that might throw a wrench in the works. I always make sure to keep an eye on competitor data to see how things should be going. It's also essential to really understand who's going to play your game. What will make their experience special? And don't forget about the business side—figure out how you'll make money and set some clear goals to hit. It's all about staying focused on what matters most for your game's success.
First we need to review the features and their functionalities. for example: - Gameplay mechanics - UI elements - Multiplayer - Any unique selling point Then there is the "expectation part" in which we expect the "Outcome/Performance/Usability Standards" of the flow and testing. After that, there is the "Prioritizing part" which literally means "what to test first".
Depending on your goals, budget, and timeline, you can choose from different game testing methods and techniques. Unit testing verifies the functionality and logic of individual components or modules, while integration testing checks how different components interact with each other and external systems. System testing looks at the game system as a whole to test its functionality, performance, reliability, security, and compatibility. User acceptance testing examines the game's usability, accessibility, and satisfaction with real or representative users. Beta testing uses a large and diverse group of users to identify and fix bugs, glitches, and errors. Lastly, playtesting assesses the game's gameplay, mechanics, story, and aesthetics with players. Automating or facilitating your testing processes can be achieved by using tools such as game engines, testing platforms, debuggers, emulators or analytics software.
Snr. Gaming Data Analyst | Ph.D. in behavioural economics | Tableau | SQL | Python | ML
Picking the right methods is key. Start with unit testing to make sure each part of your game is solid on its own. Then, move on to integration testing to see how these parts work together. Don't skip system testing—it's your chance to check if the game as a whole is ready for prime time, looking at performance, reliability, and more. Playtesting isn't just playing; it's about critically evaluating the gameplay and mechanics. Since we're focusing on mobile, pay extra attention to load times, crash rates, and how smoothly players can navigate your game. Use tools and analytics to streamline this process. And always, always playtest with your team—it's a game-changer to see your work through a new lens and ensure everything feels right.
When deciding on your testing methods, you must create a testing schedule and allocate resources accordingly. Factors such as the scope and complexity of your game, the dependencies between components or modules, the availability and skills of your testing team, the duration and frequency of your testing cycles, and the deadlines and milestones of your development process should all be taken into account. Additionally, you should plan for contingencies and buffers in case of unexpected delays, changes, or issues. It is important to communicate your testing schedule and expectations clearly to stakeholders, team members, and testers.
Snr. Gaming Data Analyst | Ph.D. in behavioural economics | Tableau | SQL | Python | ML
When setting up your testing schedule, consider how detailed your game is and how all the pieces fit together. Make sure you know who's available to test and what they're best at. Break down the testing into cycles, and keep track of your development milestones. Always have a backup plan for those inevitable hiccups. Communication is key—everyone involved should know the plan and what's expected of them. I've seen how easy it is for new ideas to keep popping up (that's feature creep for you), but staying focused on getting the core of your game right is crucial. Aim high with your goals, but keep them achievable. Remember, a solid foundation will make your game stand out.
When executing your tests, it's important to follow the testing plan and procedures that you have established. You should also document your testing activities and results in a consistent and organized fashion, which includes test cases, test scripts, test data, and test reports. Additionally, you should review and validate your test results regularly and report any issues or deviations to the appropriate parties.
Why is it important to stick with the plan? because there may be noises (other minor/major issues) during the testing. And without having a test plan and checklists, team members will easily get derailed by these noises. The noises could be kept in notes, and wait until testing is finished.
Snr. Gaming Data Analyst | Ph.D. in behavioural economics | Tableau | SQL | Python | ML
Sticking to your testing plan and keeping detailed records is crucial. This means tracking everything—from your test cases to the outcomes. Regularly check your results and make sure any problems are flagged up to the right people. QA is definitely your ally in this journey. Whether you have an in-house team or partner with external experts, thorough testing is a cornerstone for both the product's quality and its growth. Remember, testing isn't a one-time deal. Every time you make updates or changes to your game, go through your testing protocols again. It's all about maintaining a high-quality experience for your players.
After executing tests, you should evaluate the results and compare them with your goals. Utilizing feedback and data from testers, users, or analytics tools can help to measure and improve game quality, performance, and user satisfaction. You should analyze the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of your game based on the testing results. Additionally, interpreting the causes, effects, and implications of the results is necessary. Reporting and presenting the findings to stakeholders or team members is also important. Once you understand the results, you can implement and monitor the changes that need to be made. Lastly, updating your testing plan and methods as needed is crucial for reflecting any changes or improvements made to your game.
Snr. Gaming Data Analyst | Ph.D. in behavioural economics | Tableau | SQL | Python | ML
Really dig into the results and see how they stack up against what you were aiming for. Use the feedback and data you've gathered to pinpoint where your game shines and where it needs work. This analysis helps you spot opportunities to make your game even better and identify any threats to its success. In the mobile gaming, you're aiming for stability—keep those crash rates and ANRs below 1%. Also, ensure your game loads quickly; anything over 10 seconds can test a player's patience. By understanding your game's strengths and areas for improvement, you can make informed decisions on what to tweak. The cycle of testing, analyzing, and improving is key to producing a quality game that provides player satisfaction.