A professional game tester is someone who plays through video games for flaws before they are made available to the general audience. During the testing phase, the game is played several times by the testers so they may find bugs and other difficulties. A person seeking a career as a game tester must meet specific requirements.
Required Education and Experience
Having a degree in game design, computer science, or a similar discipline is helpful, but not needed, for game testing roles. It gives the applicant a solid grounding in computer programming, game design, and game creation. Candidates having a background in game design or computer programming are also a plus for certain gaming studios. Since making games calls on a deep understanding of mathematical, physical, and technical principles, a background in these disciplines might be useful.
You may get the skills you need to become a game tester by enrolling in one of the many in-person or online training programs available. Classes in game design, coding, and testing are taught in these programs. Courses in game creation and game testing may be found on many online sites, such as Coursera, edX, and Udemy, and can be taken at the student’s own speed.
The International Game Developers Association (IGDA) and Quality Assurance International (QAI) both provide courses leading to certification in game testing. Obtaining one of these credentials might help a candidate stand out in a crowded job market by attesting to their familiarity with best practices in game testing.
Game testers should keep up with developments in the industry by enrolling in relevant courses, participating in relevant seminars, and going to relevant conferences. Because game production is a dynamic industry, it is crucial that game testers keep up with the most recent developments in testing tools and techniques.
While a four-year degree isn’t required for game testing jobs, it might be helpful if you have one in game design, computer science, or a similar profession. Learning the skills and information necessary to work as a game tester may be accomplished through participation in training programs, certification courses, and continuing education. In addition, it is crucial for game testers to keep up with the newest developments in their profession by continuing their education.
Abilities Needed
It takes a multifaceted set of abilities for a game tester to do their job well. Understanding how games function and how to spot flaws requires technical abilities such as programming and game creation. Game testers need to know how to program in languages like C++ and C# and be conversant with a variety of game engines like Unity and Unreal Engine.
Game testers need to have a keen eye for detail and the ability to think critically in order to find and report any problems with the game. For the sake of efficiency, it is important that game testers have excellent analytic abilities and the ability to see patterns and trends.
Since they must collaborate closely with the game’s creators and other members of the development team to find and fix bugs, game testers also need strong interpersonal and communication skills. Testers for video games need strong interpersonal and communication skills so that they can properly report and discuss any concerns they encounter with the game’s creators, designers, and producers.
Gaming Testing as a Profession
Junior game tester positions and internships are common entry points into the gaming testing industry. They can advance to higher-level positions like lead game tester or game tester manager as they gain expertise and experience in the field. Additional duties, such as supervising other game testers and liaising with programmers, are common in these positions.
Game testers can advance in their careers in the traditional sense, or they might focus on a subset of the industry, such as mobile game testing or virtual reality game testing. They may also pursue associated careers like game design, programming, or quality control.
Many people in the video game testing industry prefer to operate independently as consultants or freelancers, offering their skills to different companies on an as-needed basis. Video game testers that want autonomy, scheduling freedom, or the opportunity to put their expertise to use may benefit from this arrangement.
Job Prospects and Income Predictions
The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 5% increase in demand for game testers from 2019 to 2029, which is roughly as fast as the average growth for all jobs. The gaming business is expanding as more people play video games, which in turn is creating more opportunities for game testers.
A game tester’s remuneration is quite variable, both in terms of field and region. Glassdoor estimates that the average annual income for a game tester is $44,000. A game tester’s salary might vary widely depending on where they work, however it is often greater in big gaming centres like Seattle, San Francisco, or Los Angeles. It’s also worth noting that the compensation of game testers working for the industry’s larger publishers are often greater than those working for the industry’s smaller studios.
Conclusion
In conclusion, folks with a love for games and a keen eye for detail may find success as game testers. The quality of a video game is directly related to the efforts of the game testing team, who find and fix all the game’s defects before it is published to the general public. To work as a game tester, you need to have a firm grasp on game design and programming. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts a 5% increase in demand for game testers from 2019 to 2029; the median salary for this occupation is also around average. If you’re thinking about making a career change into game testing, it’s in your best advantage to learn as much as possible about the subject.
