How To Become a Video Game Tester - A Few Very Powerful Tips
Executive Summary By Sean
Saunders
Being a professional video game tester is a
dream job. Most gamers would love the chance to be able to play great video
games and get paid for it. Unfortunately though, most gamers think that paid
video game testing is too far out of reach and will remain a dream forever.
Well luckily, it's not a "dream" and anybody can be a paid video game
tester with the right amount of experience and guidance.
The following tips should help you get started
with a career in professional video game testing.
Tip 1: Don't Wait For Jobs to Find You, Get Out There and Find Them.
Video game tester jobs are not going to fall
from the sky, so you can't expect to find them with a few glances at the Sunday
newspaper. Therefore, instead of just sitting around and waiting, be proactive
and actually chase those high paying testing jobs.
Make a beeline straight toward the game
developers and present your case, no matter how poor or excellent it might be.
Let them know who you are, what you do (game tester), and why you would make a
great addition to their team/project.
It's important to remember that developers
aren't going to hire you on the spot; so, don't let rejection get you down.
They have lots of video game testers applying for projects and jobs, which
means they can literally be as picky as they want to be. With that being said,
be as confident as you can and be sure to let them know of all your gaming
accomplishments and deeds. They should know about what games you play
frequently, what consoles you own, what communities you are apart of, and any
websites/blogs you own or help operate. No matter what the gaming
accomplishment, big or small, it will help with landing you a job.
Tip 2: Don't Think "Hobby with Pay", Think "Career With Benefits!"
You have to keep in mind that developers pay
video game testers as part of a job. They are not paying testers to merely
enjoy video games at their own expense. Therefore, when you land a testing job,
don't simply play it to have fun; play it like you are earning a paycheck. Does
that mean you can't have any fun? No; it simply means you shouldn't make
"fun" your top priority while testing video games.
If you take each and every testing job
seriously and give it your all, you should have a much more successful game testing career.
Tip 3: Know What To Expect
The biggest part of being a professional video
game tester is knowing the golden rule; which is "You are paid to test
games, not to play them." There may be a fine line between the two, but
any real game tester will tell you that the difference is definitely there.
The subtle difference between testing and
playing is, well, work. A game tester will have to do actual work, such as
filing reports & filling out questionnaires; as opposed to a regular game
player, who will just relax and play the game at a leisurely pace. Admittedly,
the work isn't back breaking, but it is work nonetheless.
The questionnaires are the easier part of game
testing, as all the video game tester has to do is answer some general
questions about the game and give his/her honest opinion. The reports, on the
other hand, are a bit more difficult to do. These reports need to be filed on
every bug/glitch that the tester comes across, and they have to be remarkably
accurate. In each report, the video game tester has to describe what happened,
where it happened, and how it happened. With this detailed information in hand,
the developers & programmers will then fix the problem and find out why it
happened in the first place. Every video game goes through this basic cycle,
which is precisely why video game testers are so vital to the gaming industry.
As you can see, there really isn't all that
much work involved with video game testing, but that doesn't mean it isn't a
serious profession.
Tip 4: Build up a Network of Reliable Contacts.
Networking is a crucial part of professional
video game testing. Although it is quite possible to have a prosperous career
without a reliable network, having one just makes things easier.
A network of contacts can actually help your
career in many different ways. The biggest thing it can do is give you heads up
about new job openings and testing assignments that have been announced. Also,
some of your contacts can even act as valuable references when applying for
testing jobs. And, as if those two things weren't enough, your network can give
you the inside scoop about what's going on behind closed doors.
Much like a video game tester job, a reliable
network is not going to just jump out at you. Therefore, you will have to build
it up all on your own. The best way to do that is by getting to know the
industry and the people who work in it. Anyone that spends time around video
games (professionally, of course) can be included in your network; game
testers, developers, programmers, concept artists, art designers, graphics
designers, technical support specialists, audio specialists, etc. Basically, if
they know video games and work with video games, you want them in your network.
Tip 5: Don't Give Up. Keep Trying!
The unfortunate fact is that you are not going
to land a video game tester job whenever you want one. As a matter of fact, it
may be weeks or even months before you land your first testing job. However,
that doesn't necessarily mean that you don't have what it takes; it just means
you have to keep trying & giving it your best. Not many newcomers start off
at the top of their game, which means you likely won't either. Hence, just give
it time. After a few months and a few jobs, you should be able to get your
footing and begin advancing in your career as a professional video game tester.
Do You Think You Are Ready For a Career as a Video Game Tester? Are You Prepared To
Make Up To $120 an Hour Testing Video Games? If You Are, Click Here To Find Out How To Get Started With YourVery Own Game Testing Career.
