Want to play computer games all day and be paid for it? Don’t videogame testers spend their days playing games for fun and profit? Actually, this is a common misconception. Individuals who are employed to test videogames are employees, and they are paid or compensated because they perform a service.
Playing versus Testing Computer Games
The individual who has a job testing computer games does not play games for enjoyment; instead, the tester ensures that the games are free of glitches and other problems. Most videogame enthusiasts have encountered at least one game that had poor controls – the characters didn’t respond well to manipulation of the controller, and most gaming enthusiasts have encountered glitches during gameplay.
Computer game glitches cover a wide variety of technical malfunctions, but a glitch is basically an action such as “freezing” of the game or maladjustment of character movement during gameplay - characters fall through floors, walk through solid walls, fly through the air etc. due to malfunction. Basically the actions that occur with a glitch are not a deliberate design of the game and result in compromised gameplay.
Identifying Glitches and Poor Gameplay
Computer game testers are employed to identify shortcomings in game design and function prior to release of games to the public. The many videogame forums devoted to computer game glitches and “bugs” are evidence that many games are released with such malfunctions despite the best efforts of manufacturers.
Nonetheless, the companies that manufacture computer games make an effort to eliminate as many malfunctions as can be identified before release. After commercial release of a videogame, of course, any programming problems cannot be corrected; therefore, companies employ computer game testers to ensure that the games are of quality before release.
Skills Necessary to Being a Computer Game Tester
Because the videogame tester has a specific task or function, the tester needs certain skills. As already noted, the computer game tester will be testing the game and annotating malfunctions and other impediments to video gameplay. Prospective employers will look for some of the following skills:
- Patience – The tester will be required to evaluate portions of the game repeatedly to find any faults in gameplay. Also the computer game tester will not have the option of choosing his or her favorite genre of games (sometimes the tester may be given the option of choosing a category).
- Communication Skills – The tester must communicate his or her findings and recommendations in writing; thus, good writing skills are a necessity. Verbal communication skills are also important.
- Professionalism – The computer game tester will be testing games that have not been released to the public, and the tester is expected to maintain confidentiality. The games tested are strictly for private evaluation and formal reporting. The testing process is not meant to be an opportunity for videogame previews with friends or family.
- Basic Understanding of Computer Gaming Systems – Although full-time professional computer game testers may have an extensive education in computer game development or design, a novice freelance videogame tester can begin a career with just a basic understanding of gaming systems.
A career as a computer game tester is an appealing prospect to many computer game enthusiasts who already play games on an hourly basis; to be paid cash for playing games equates to a dream job. However the aspiring game tester needs to understand that producing a quality videogame is a serious business in the computer game industry, and a job in any capacity is to be taken seriously. Becoming a computer game tester is a challenging prospect, but a modest beginning in the computer gaming industry may burgeon into a long-lasting career for the persistent computer game tester.
References
"Become a videogame tester." Funcareers.com, (n.d.).
Fevers, V. "How to get paid to play videogames." Edubook.com, 2009.
Corder, C. "A career as a video game tester: is it for fun or money?" Edubook.com, 2008.
 |
 |
 |
 |
 |
