| If you are entering the exciting world of testing | | | | specific developers and specific games. If you can |
| games for a living, then there is one factor that's | | | | establish yourself as an expert you can get paid |
| not only puzzling but also one of the most | | | | much better when you specialize like this. |
| debated amongst games testers. Should you | | | | The downside is that if you specialize you narrow |
| specialize as a games tester? Whether you decide | | | | down your opportunities to a very select area of |
| to specialize or not, there are pro's and con's to | | | | the market. You might struggle to find jobs if |
| either specializing or generalizing your skills as a | | | | your focus is too narrow - especially if you are |
| gamer. Lets briefly look at the pro's and con's of | | | | first starting out. |
| both to help you make a better decision as to | | | | Generalizing: |
| where you are steering your career testing | | | | The obvious advantage of going after any and all |
| games. | | | | games testing jobs is that you will have a ot |
| Specializing: | | | | more jobs to choose from. If you are a jack of |
| Game testing jobs come a dime a dozen these | | | | all trades then you will find that there's an |
| days. With thousands of games being launched | | | | immense amount of jobs to choose from. |
| every year the market is expanding with every | | | | The obvious downside of this approach is that |
| piece of technology that hits the market. This | | | | you will have very little that sets you apart from |
| leads to even more options for you to specialize | | | | the rest and you will just be "another tester" with |
| in. | | | | a resume that just blends in with all the rest. The |
| You can either specialize in different genres of | | | | pay is usually mcu8h lower and you will find |
| games or you can specialize in different game | | | | yourself getting jobs testing games you may not |
| platforms. Game platforms are expanding rapidly. | | | | like that much. |
| PC, console, mobile and even online games are all | | | | However, this can be a great way to get into the |
| different areas that require different expertise | | | | testing world. If you need to find your feet and |
| and by specializing in any of these areas you can | | | | get your feet wet, then this is probably a much |
| make yourself unique and become a specialist. If | | | | better approach. If you have a long term |
| you want to you can go very specific. For | | | | strategy and if you are serious about turning this |
| instance you can specialize in online MMORPG's. | | | | into a lucrative career then I'd suggest you start |
| When you specialize you will stand a much better | | | | specializing as soon as possible. |
| chance of getting games testing jobs from | | | | |