| A lot of sites will say that video game testing is | | | | they look at. When they develop a game they |
| an 18 billion dollar a year industry and the most | | | | usually have a target audience in mind, for |
| basic tester make about $30 per hour. The | | | | example if they are making a game with a bunch |
| question that comes to mind when you hear this | | | | of blood and guts their target audience is probably |
| is: how much of this is actually true? Well the part | | | | not going to be anyone under the age of 17. This |
| about it being a multi-billion a year industry is a | | | | means that they will pay more to people that are |
| proven fact. The part about starting out testers | | | | between 17-21 because that's their target |
| making that much, really on a lot of factors. Let's | | | | audience. |
| start off with the common question, why are | | | | They will then look at where you live. This is |
| companies willing to pay you to play video | | | | something that is not as important as age but it's |
| games? | | | | not something they will overlook. Where you are |
| Well that question is very easy, in any business | | | | located has a lot to do with your interest. |
| there is a thing called field research. During this | | | | Sometimes a company wants to know what a |
| research companies test out their products for | | | | particular region is interested in. They will use this |
| quality assurance. These companies have to do | | | | data later when they are marketing for future |
| this because if they don't there is a chance of | | | | games. |
| releasing a product with bugs. Imagine if you | | | | The last thing they will take a look at is what |
| spend $60 on Halo2 only to find that it's full of | | | | console you're using, they will usually have a pre |
| bugs, your weapon won't reload sometimes, your | | | | determined number of tester they want to hire, if |
| enemies are sometimes invincible, or there is level | | | | they know that the PlayStation 3 version is |
| that is just unreachable. How would you feel | | | | perfect then they will only hire people using Xbox |
| about buying Halo3? Video game companies don't | | | | 360 consoles. All of these things take into affect |
| want this to happen so they hire people like us to | | | | when determining how much you are going to get |
| play these games before they are released to | | | | paid. Getting paid at least $30 an hour is very |
| report any bugs that they game might have. | | | | easily possible if you are in all three of these |
| How much they pay you really depends on | | | | categories. |
| several factors. How old you are is the first thing | | | | |