Key Metrics for QA in Games: What to Track?
1. What are the main metrics in QA?
Each project is unique. The choice of metrics is often determined by business requirements. But there are metrics that Cherish DEV specialists use constantly. They are the basis of any QA process.
Number of bugs detected and fixed. This allows you to evaluate how thoroughly testing is carried out and how quickly the team responds to detected problems. However, it is worth remembering that the quality of work doesn’t always correlate with the number of errors found. Pay attention to subjective factors, such as the impact of a bug on the gameplay.
Time from bug discovery to fix. This metric demonstrates how quickly and effectively the QA team is able to respond to problems. This is important to maintain game quality and player satisfaction.
Gameplay quality. Various aspects of the game, from performance to controls, must be carefully checked. This metric influences the player's overall impression of the product.
The importance of user experience (UX) testing. UX metrics can include player feedback, loading times, and other parameters that directly affect the user’s interaction with the game.
2. What are the features of metrics in QA games?
Metrics in game quality assurance cover a wide range of indicators. They include both technical aspects - the number of bugs and the time to fix them, and factors related to user experience - the usability of the interface and system response time. Some may be subjective, such as user satisfaction ratings. It may depend on individual preferences and expectations.
These metrics are often dynamic and change during development. This is especially true when using flexible methodologies, where testing goes along with development.
The metrics themselves are not always self-sufficient and require analysis and interpretation. For example, a large number of bugs may indicate both the effectiveness of testing and problems with the quality of the source code.
The importance of each metric may vary depending on the specific project. For example, in mobile games with short sessions, loading times may be more important than in PC games with long gaming sessions.
When ensuring the quality of games, it is important to use a variety of metrics, including both technical aspects and user experience. Here are a few key metrics to consider:
The choice of specific metrics will depend not only on the type of game, but also on the specifics of the development process, project goals and user requirements.
3. How to analyze metrics for QA in games?
Just tracking metrics isn't enough – you also need to analyze them and apply the findings to improve your gaming experience.
Data analysis
Step 1:Use statistical analysis techniques to evaluate your data. Calculate means, medians, standard deviations, and other metrics that will help you get an overview of your data.
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Step 2:Visualize your data. Use charts and graphs. . Create time-course plots, histograms, scatterplots, and other visualizations. This will give you a better understanding of trends and patterns in your data
Step 3: Search for correlations and patterns. Explore whether there are relationships between different metrics. For example, if response time to bugs increases, this may correlate with the level of complexity of the problems found.
Interpretation of results
Step 1: Interpret your results in the context of your goals. If you see an increase in the number of bugs, then either your testing process is becoming more efficient, or there are problems with the quality of the code.
Step 2: Don't jump to conclusions. If you see changes in your metrics, make sure you consider all possible explanations and don't miss key factors that could be influencing your results.
Application of results
Step 1: Determine what actions to take based on your results. If you see areas that need improvement, develop a plan to correct them.
Step 2: Make changes and track how they affect your metrics. Make sure you evaluate the effectiveness of the changes implemented and adjust your approach if necessary.
Do not consider the analysis process complete. QA is an ongoing process. You should review your metrics regularly. Learn from experience, adapt to change and continually improve your processes.
4. What tools can I use to track and analyze metrics?
Tools for tracking metrics, like all others, should be selected specifically for each project and business requirements. But no matter what the industry is, there are several tools that have proven effective in tracking and analyzing metrics. Here are a few tools that can be effective for QA metrics in games:
In addition to choosing the right tools, it is also important to ensure that there is sufficient training and engagement for the team to effectively use these tools in the QA process.
Conclusion
Metrics play an important role in ensuring the quality of games. These include both technical metrics, such as the number of bugs found and fixed, the time it takes to open and close a bug fix, and user experience scores, which include player feedback, loading times, and performance.
All these metrics require detailed analysis and interpretation in order to improve the quality of the game, taking into account the specifics of the project. Metrics analysis is an ongoing process that should be involved in every stage of game development. Using tools like Jira, TestRail, Google Analytics, Firebase, and Tableau, you can effectively track and analyze metrics.
Quality management in games is not just about tracking errors and fixing bugs. It's turning data into valuable information that helps improve the game, making it more attractive to players. With the necessary QA metrics in place, teams can make informed decisions and continue to improve their products to deliver the best gaming experience.