How To Become A Game Tester?

A game tester, often known as a video game tester, is someone who plays video games, evaluates their features, and finds defects and bugs before the game is released. Game testers frequently work for video game firms, collaborating with game creators and programmers to develop games and ensure they are ready for customers.

You need a keen understanding of video game design, a love of gaming, and attention to detail to succeed as a video game tester. A top-notch video game tester is familiar with the psychology of a gamer and takes note of any details that might hurt the product's sales performance.

Responsibilities Of A Video Game Tester:

• Playing the game through to the end
• Exploring every level and completing all side quests
• Finding and exploring locations that the game designers were unaware of
• Making a list of all game bugs and glitches
• Gaining all XP points and character leveling
• Achieving the highest level of character
• Playing around with various characters
• Letting the game designers know about any errors
• Suggesting game additions or changes
• Rate the game in terms of fun and difficulty

Tips To Become A Game Tester

There are several ways you can choose to become a game tester. To investigate your options and acquire the qualifications and expertise required to land a position in game testing, follow the steps listed below.

1. Improve your gaming technique

The most crucial step to becoming a game tester is to initiate playing intentionally and responsibly. Your goals should include:

• Play a variety of game genres, including sports, real-time strategy, and multiplayer online battle arenas, to gain experience.
• Learn how to play games on a variety of gaming consoles, as well as on desktops, laptops, and mobile devices.
• Determine what elements would make games better.
• Get comfortable describing in great detail your gaming adventures.

2. Enhance technical expertise and game-testing skills

Utilize a strong base of technical skills to supplement your gaming practice:

• Learn the fundamental duties of a game tester, such as playing through the entire game, looking for bugs and glitches, and suggesting improvements to the developers.
• Find out what terms like playtesting, code release, performance testing, and minimum viable product mean in quality assurance.
• Learn about renowned gaming studios and businesses such as Electronic Arts, Nintendo, and Ubisoft.
• Boost your analytical, reporting, technical writing, and strategic thinking abilities.
• Study technical writing and reporting.

3. Take part in public beta testing

Public beta testing is a fantastic way to gain knowledge about upcoming games, fine-tune your testing abilities, and earn in-game rewards. To find opportunities in open tests, look through beta testing websites for gamers like Game Tester, Alpha Beta Gamer, and BetaBound - Games. Keep track of everything you learn by documenting your procedure for each test.

4. Build a resume for a game tester

Create a resume that highlights your qualifications as you gain experience, knowledge, and skills in game testing. Include a list of your formal game tester training, credentials, degrees, and experience, as well as your actual game tester skills.

If you've taken part in any open beta testing, list the games you played, the bugs and glitches you found, the gameplay elements you assessed, and the date the game was (or will be) made available to the general public.

5. Apply for game tester vacancies

You might find it helpful to conduct job searches on various job sites for this step, including general job sites like Indeed and Glassdoor and websites specific to the gaming industry, like Gaming Jobs Online and Hitmarker.

Pay close attention to the salary details, the skills and qualifications needed, and the related tasks and projects for each job posting.

Benefits Of Working As A Video Game Tester

Playing the newest games before the public

While it seems like technologies are being released at the speed of light, the testing phases between game software development and release can last for years. This is a fulfilling aspect of the job for those who are passionate about the game and find passion in being involved in its development.

Getting started in the industry

Although a video game tester's position has low experience requirements and pay, it can lead to better opportunities in the design and development of video games. Employees who begin as QA testers can develop their networks, learn about the most recent advancements, and eventually advance to higher-paying roles in design or engineering.

Flexible enough to find a balance

Part-time online degree programs in computer science, game design and development, software engineering, and other fields are available worldwide. A great benefit for the aspirant industry leader is the ability to balance an online degree while working as a game tester.

Ready To Become A Game Tester??

Quality control testers for video games are increasingly in demand. Small mobile phone game programmers also frequently offer game testing positions, so it's not just the big development studios like Electronic Arts, Sony, or Ubisoft that do it.

In the end, you might want to stay in the position of game testing for a short time. Consider switching to a position as a QA manager, game programmer, graphic designer, or game technical writer after gaining the necessary experience as a game tester if you want to have a successful career in the gaming sector.