| For a lot of people - particularly gamers, getting a | | | | game that has masses of bugs in it, so they hire |
| job in the video games industry is their dream, | | | | hundreds of testers to help them out. This is |
| but also something that they realistically think will | | | | where there's a real potential for people such as |
| never happen, so they choose not to pursue it. | | | | you to get a real job in the industry. An |
| Video games jobs are now more popular than | | | | established games tester can make upwards of |
| ever, with the number of games being released | | | | $20+ an hour, although I'm sure many of them |
| each year at an all time high, and the number of | | | | would work for free! |
| employees required per game being higher than | | | | There are, however, a few downsides to this job |
| ever (due to the need for artists and coders), the | | | | (as there are with any job). Firstly, I would not |
| video game industry is at it's peak. | | | | recommend it to just anyone - you really have to |
| Despite this, the majority of video games jobs | | | | love playing video games, as you will need to |
| are not half as appealing as they sound. Since | | | | work a 'normal' day (9-5 usually) in order to treat |
| most jobs are for artists and coders, and give | | | | it like a genuine business. Secondly, you may |
| you virtually no creativity, let alone allow you to | | | | sometimes have to play a game in a certain way, |
| even play the games, they can become | | | | to deliberately look for bugs, should the |
| extremely tedious, and not at all what you'd | | | | developers require you to, and you'll also have to |
| expect. The only job that you might then | | | | fill out extensive report forms to pass on any |
| consider that retains the excitement of actually | | | | bugs that you find. |
| playing through video games is that of a video | | | | The best way to apply for one of these jobs is |
| games tester. | | | | to get a guide that can teach you how to get the |
| A tester is basically someone who plays through | | | | edge on your competition, and land that dream |
| a game, testing it out and looking for any obvious | | | | job. |
| bugs. Obviously companies don't want to release a | | | | |