Becoming a Video Game Tester Is Easy But You Need To Know This First.
What gamer doesn’t want to become a video game tester? It sounds like the perfect great job! Playing games all day, sitting at home and not having to drive through traffic to work each day. Whilst it sounds like there are no negatives, there are some important factors that you need to consider before you quit your job to become a tester.
Firstly, you must realize that the work can be long, repetitive and boring. When you first get the game to test, you may enjoy it. After all, it is a new game that no one has played yet. After the one hundredth time, it may no longer be fun and you may begin to hate the game! You may even be asked to test the game within one week.
Although it may seem very easy, going through the game over and over again to test each character and weapon can be very time consuming.
Each map must also be tested thoroughly for glitches. Each glitch or error must be jotted down in a detailed report. Every error or technical problem you encounter must be listed. The reason? If the developer made a mistake in a line of script, you must find it. This error is your responsibility to find and report! If it isn’t, the company may lose millions of dollars in returns.
As many companies are under pressure to get the video games out, you may experience short deadlines, resulting in long working hours for you. However, it isn’t all doom and gloom! If you love gaming and playing the latest games, then this line of work will probably suit you. Don’t expect to get the better games (think Call of Duty) early though. You need to get experience first.
Some of the things you must know before applying for a job include:
• You must be 18 years of age (mainly for tax purposes).
• A degree or education isn’t a prerequisite. Good writings skills will help though.
• Initial pay is between $10 and $30, although experience testers earn double this. You need to start with the smaller companies to gain experience first however. Build up your resume and the big checks will come.