| I've been testing video games for the past two | | | | salary so that you can save them money by |
| years now I'm only 21 years old and I stated | | | | reporting any and all bugs. I can almost guarantee |
| when I was 19. I never really gave it much | | | | you that as a game tester you will not work |
| thought to it until I decided to see what people | | | | from home. You have to remember that you are |
| were saying about video game testers. I was | | | | testing games that haven't been released yet |
| surprised what I found online because there were | | | | which is why companies make you sign a |
| so many scams about how to become a video | | | | confidentiality agreement which can sometimes be |
| game tester and a lot of wrong information. | | | | the size of a dictionary (yikes I know). This |
| Well that's when I decided to take some action | | | | basically states that you will not tell any rival |
| and help my fellow gamers out so they won't get | | | | companies or in that case anyone about what |
| mislead with bad information. I'll just give you a | | | | you encounter during the job. |
| basic guide on how to become a video game | | | | What are the requirements to becoming a game |
| tester; this simple summary will include what a | | | | tester? |
| video game tester does and what the | | | | I too asked this question many times before I |
| requirements are. | | | | started as a game tester and like I stated before |
| What does a video game tester do? | | | | several websites lie and state that you don't need |
| A lot of information found online about game | | | | to have any experience at all which isn't true at all. |
| testers are completely misleading and inaccurate. | | | | This is a normal job and therefore the more |
| For example, most websites state that game | | | | experience you have the better chance you have |
| testers can work at home and get paid to have | | | | landing the job. So what exactly is required to land |
| fun and play games, this is false. What a game | | | | the job? First you have to have a passion for |
| tester actually does is go to the company they're | | | | gaming and I strongly recommend applying to |
| hired by and go to what is known as the beta | | | | companies that match your criteria. For example, |
| room in most companies. It is basically set up with | | | | I love first person shooters and MMORPGs which |
| everything you will need to test the game | | | | is why I applied to activision blizzard because they |
| completely. Once you start playing the game you | | | | offer both fields. Another requirement is that you |
| have to test it for bugs, glitches, errors, etc. So | | | | have to be at least 16 years old which is another |
| you are basically running around the levels, | | | | lie that the websites about becoming a game |
| jumping against corners and walls, etc. | | | | tester state. They state that you have to be at |
| I'll admit that it is still fun, but just not as much | | | | least 18 years old and this isn't true at all you can |
| fun as actually playing the game since it's a job. | | | | start as soon as 16 years old I have even seen |
| You have to remember that there is no free | | | | kids ages 10-14 participate in beta testing, but I |
| meal in life and these companies are paying you a | | | | won't go into that now. |