| The world of a video games tester is different | | | | games, and not the beta testing, then the kinds |
| than most people think. Most game testers do | | | | of duties and responsibilities you would perform as |
| not sit at home on their couch and get paid to | | | | a new games tester may include: |
| play video games. This is a real job, and like most | | | | - repetitive tasks such as turning the gaming |
| other jobs you are required to report to the job | | | | device on and off multiple times to ensure it |
| location, work your scheduled shift, and produce | | | | works after extend periods of use |
| results. There are however some unique duties | | | | - playing and replaying the same level in the game |
| and obligations that make these testing jobs | | | | numerous times to check for any glitches, |
| different than most people imagine them to be. | | | | freezes or other "bugs" in the game level |
| It is important to clarify that video game tester | | | | - testing out the controller pads for durability and |
| jobs are very important. No gaming company in | | | | ease of operation -checking out in-game |
| their right mind would attempt to market a game | | | | communications such as instant messaging |
| knowing it was full of problems or "bugs". It would | | | | features |
| ruin them financially as well tarnishing their | | | | - looking for missing graphics in the game |
| reputation for product quality in the very | | | | animation, character flaws, etc. |
| competitive gaming marketplace. As a video | | | | - providing detailed reports on any problems that |
| games tester, your primary job is to find and | | | | you find during your testing |
| report on gaming "bugs" so that they can be | | | | - not sharing information about your testing with |
| fixed before the game is released to the public | | | | anyone outside your workplace under the penalty |
| consumers. | | | | of instant firing and possible criminal charges. |
| Now you would think that given this responsibility | | | | Depending on your level of testing expertise, you |
| of ensuring the quality of games before they are | | | | may never get to test out the full version of the |
| released to the public would mean game testers | | | | game and sometimes get stuck having to test |
| would be highly paid. Unfortunately they are not, | | | | out the early versions, minus any graphics or |
| however the low starting pay does not mean | | | | video clips. Nothing is said that you will even get |
| there is no variety in the types of game testers | | | | to game test the types of games you happen to |
| jobs. | | | | enjoy playing. |
| Being a games tester does imply that you do get | | | | As with any job, once you become more |
| paid to play video games, however often not in | | | | experienced and demonstrate good skills as a |
| the way you might imagine. Most of us get | | | | video games tester, the odds will increase that |
| confused by terms "game beta testing" and actual | | | | you will be given more demanding and interesting |
| "game testers jobs". It is very important to | | | | game testers jobs. At this point you may also be |
| realize that beta testing of games is generally | | | | given some choice in the types of games that |
| done by volunteers, playing the full version of the | | | | you wish to test depending on the company |
| game just prior to its release to the customer, | | | | product line. |
| sometimes playing at home, and for free. Notice | | | | Clearly there appears to be many misconceptions |
| the words "for free" and "volunteers", in other | | | | out there about what a games tester actually |
| words you are not being paid to test out the | | | | does, the amount they get paid, and even the |
| game. This is a totally different set of job | | | | types of personal qualities you need to be a |
| conditions as those experienced by most paid | | | | successful game tester. Hopefully this article has |
| video game testers. | | | | helped to clarify some of the misinformation |
| If you are actually interested the side of the | | | | about video game tester jobs. |
| gaming industry where you get paid to play video | | | | |