We are covering almost all topics from software testing industry. Very less testing professionals are aware of Game Testing industry and Jobs. Game Testing industry is expanding really fast and now there are many “game design” and “video game testing” openings available in market. Here is a very interesting article on game testing which will give you a brief idea about game testing industry!
This is a guest article written by a Game Testing Expert “Malini”.
Game Testing Industry Introduction:
The video game testing industry is set to become the largest industry. In spite of the recession, there was no dearth in the sales of the game titles, although the game console sales were hit and the game testing companies had to revamp their strategies.
Gaming had its ups and downs over the years but it continues to grow leaps and bounds. Facebook application games are really path breaking with budding developers experimenting their knowledge. Episodic games are the new thing. Games for the iPhone are the new frontier.
So, no one in the game industry knows where games will be even two or three years from now. The only thing they know is that everything is changing and that the games that are released in a few years will be different from what we have now.
Following Jobs are made available by Gaming Industry:
- Video game programming Jobs (designing video games)
- Video game testing jobs
Designing Video games requires skilled and experienced video game designers. Testing video games is equally challenging as game tester needs to have a solid writing skill, very good communication skill and habit to keep attention for details.
Video game testers play critical role in game development industry. As video game programmers spend years deigning video games and video game tester needs to make sure it’s ready for release in very short time span.
What is a typical Game Testing Process?
Computer games take from one to three years to develop (depending on scale). Testing begins late in the development process, sometimes from halfway to 75% into development (it starts so late because, until then, there is little to play or test).
Once the testers get a version, they begin playing the game. Testers must carefully note any errors they uncover. These may range from bugs to art issues to logic errors. Some bugs are easy to document but many are hard to describe and may take several steps to describe so a developer can replicate or find the bug. On a large-scale game with numerous testers, a tester must first determine whether the bug has already been reported before they can log the bugs themselves. Once a bug has been reported as fixed, the tester has to go back and verify that the fix works – and occasionally return to verify that is has not reappeared.
Game Testing Strategy:
Evaluation of game rules:
Game rules adequately explain operation of all components of the game including features, free games etc. Game functions as defined by rules.
UI, Functional, Performance and Compatibility test:
Verify Games outcome and data are correctly shown when games are played. Verify Game Functionality such as Game Progress, game outcomes, handling of incomplete and re-started games, multi player games.
Verification the Integration points:
Check if game win determination aligns with game rules.
Reviewing gaming procedures:
Procedures will be reviewed by System management, player account management, tournaments and promotions.
Infrastructure and security review:
Require to verify all equipment and network implementation. Secure and reliable operation for example time synchronization, OS reliability and security.
How to Test Games?
This process is almost similar to product or web application testing. Here is the typical game testing process:
Identification: First analyze and identify the game rules and behavior
Functional Testing: Ensure game works as intended. This also includes integration testing with third party tools used if any.
OS and Browser compatibility: Most critical game testing part is to ensure game works on required Operating systems. For online games check functionality on all intended browsers.
Performance testing: This becomes critical for online games if gaming site handles betting on game. Game testers must verify if Game Testing site smoothly handles customer load.
Multi player Testing: For multi player games you need to verify the game functionality to handle all players and functionality with fair distribution of game resources to all players.
Reporting: Bug reporting to developers. Bug evidence need to produced and submitted through bug reporting system.
Analysis: Developers hold the responsibility to fix the bugs.
Verification: After the fix, bug need to be verified by the testers to confirm that it shouldn’t reappear.
Game Testing Tips:
1) Understand Random Number Generator evaluation (RNG): This is very important to add unpredictability in game. In most games this RNG system is used to map game outcomes.
2) First identify the “game algorithm” from Source code to identify issues in game application.
3) Verify the source code for appropriate use of random numbers and error handling. (Only if you know the source code)
4) Validate and evaluate the game predefined rules.
5) Verify consistency of game rules.
6) Make sure offensive content or material is never displayed.
7) Regularly Check Game history and system event logs.
8 ) Make sure Games outcome are displayed for a reasonable time.
9) Irrespective of Single/Multi player games we need to validate bandwidth and client software.
10) Verify Minimum/maximum limits of bets, deposits and other critical game symbols.
11) Verify correct game and system operation after game fail over and recovery.
12) Always verify all reports for data accuracy. Verify reports for date, time, number of wins, money etc.
13) Test System requirements. This is very important in game testing. Verify all the infrastructure and security requirements, Game equipments, network and game synchronization with OS.
14) Make sure sufficient information is always available to users to protect game players.
Game Testing Jobs:
Gaming field is getting much better day by day and Game Career as a Game designer or tester is very bright. There are many game testing professionals making decent amount of money as a video game testers, working from home. Present Internet generation bringing massive innovations and scope to grow. IT and Non-IT people are willing to spend their free time to play online and video games. “Game testing from home” is now a new trend to earn money. We can clearly see that it’s getting into our daily activities.
If anyone of you is trying hard getting into gaming industry then you need to have interest and passion that drives you to success. Due to addition of vast and complex new games, Game QA is no longer less technical than general software QA. Game testing was widely considered as a “stepping stone” position but now it’s becoming full-time job opportunities for experienced testers.
If you have passion for games and good understanding of testing methodologies, becoming a successful game tester is not difficult for you!
About the Author
Malini has over 10 years of experience in IT including development, testing and project management and her passion is in advancing the profession of software testing. Her technical articles and white papers have been published in many leading websites. She holds an MBA in IT and a GNIIT diploma. Read more about Malini on her blog.
If you are in Game Testing Industry, your valuable inputs will help our readers to know more about Game Testing. So please share your thoughts and tips on Game Testing in comments below.
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63 comments ↓
If you are really serious about game testing then there are some real bucks for you.
Game testing companies are very selective in game testing openings as they get thousands of profiles for this dream job.
Once you get your first gaming job then breaking into next high paying is not a hard task.
that is my 2 line experience for you.
Is that really true…..!!!
It is good to hear
@ Malini,
Good article. Keep writing more articles…
Hey, very nice article.
You mention something about testing from home, is it really possible, if so i would love to do it, could you please guide me for that?
Malini,
Very Good article. Thanks.
In additions to your points, Games applications can also be test automated. Automated tools such as experitest can be used for automating Games applications.
hey malini, thnx for the wonderful article. Its very helpful for me, as i am confused to take s/w testing as my profession, this article is a real relief. I wanna know how much experience is needed in testing field to be a game tester??
nice to here about test automation in Gaming Applications.
I heard that Chineese earn money playing beta version games. Apart from developing the formal gaming testing techniques, one should also have strong interest in playing games.
(May be this is true in my case 
).
Generally, you will see most of our parents shouting at us when they see us playing games on computers
Per my knowledge it will be a lucrative career for someone who have great passion for playing computer games and should be creative.
For someone who are interested in gaming career can look out for opportunitites with companies like -
EA Sports
GameLoft etc
Game Testing is challenging as well as interesting job.
Person who is good in mathematics can understand the rules of the game quite easily.
Game testing has plenty of business availability in the future
Thanks for all your comments and valuable inputs.
Hi Jasdeep,
I am glad that my article helped you. Basic testing skill should be more sufficient than anything else. As you know that testing skill compresses of Logical and analtical. if you know how to test normal application functionality then you wll be able to do so. If you have testing experience of one to two years then it would be great to take up this role.
Thanks
Malini
Hi Tejaswini,
It is very much possible. companies worldwide looking for people who are passionate about gaming and who can really help them in testing. if you have internet access at home then its easy for you to find out on your own. Everything is available at your mouse click and key stroke.
If you need any specific help then you can reach me through my blog.
Thanks
Malini
I don’t see much in your article about education.. Many of these jobs require college degrees in communication/writing. You need to be able to write a LOT.. like a Journal about your experience and it needs to be in such a way that everyone can understand it and it is written in a coherent way. The sad truth is, the general gamer does not have much of this ability.
If you like games, don’t get into game testing. It will ruin the experience for you. It’s very repetitive. You end up doing the same thing over and over and over and over.
Hi,
@Malini
Nice article.
Would u provide the blog url so that I can reach you.
I have spent three years as a game tester, and I can tell you first-hand that it is not as much of a dream job as it sounds. You do not get paid for playing games all day. You get paid for playing ONE game all day, every day, and that game is broken. By the time the game has reached a point where it would be considered “fun”, you will never want to see it again.
Testing video games is not the same thing as playing video games. It is real work. It can be very tedious and boring, and there are periods of crunch time where you will work very long shifts (my longest was 16 hours, but some testers may work 24 or more). Most tester jobs are temporary, which means you will not get benefits, and you can get laid off very quickly when the company you’re working for doesn’t have any games ready for testing.
However, that doesn’t mean it’s a terrible job! I really enjoy it, and I want to keep doing it. Just keep in mind that if you think it’s a job where you can just slack off all day, testing may not be for you.
Best of luck!
Hi Alice, Thanks for sharing your experience and views. all the best to you
Hi Friends
Any one can pls. post on mobite testing…
Pls. fwd me data about mobile testing to my mail id
shripatil19@gmail.com
@Malini
Good artivle about game testing.., but one question i need to ask you, that alice have said ic correct on this domain.. Companies can lay youoff at any time in testing domain..
Hi Venkatesh,
Thanks for you comments.
Alice may be correct in his point of view. I see it in this way, Its not just gaming domain. if the company doesnt have much business on any specific domain then they will definitely take a serious decision. Its applicable for all the domain just not for gaming.
Is there any Mobile games Tester ? with whom I can discuss about some issues..
As per my opinion…plz dont fall into the mobile game testing…
I’ve recently joined in a mobile game testing company as a fresher in gaming industry. please let me know how is the growth and opportunities in mobile game testing?if you have positive/negative opinion for mobile game testing, then why such?Share your knowledge please.
I love games & I interested in testing I looking for a job for game testing.
@ Abjt Can you plz elaborate it? hw?
Hello actually I have been working on mobile games and location based application for 2 years. This is very challenging field as same as desktop testing. Some buddies think this not futuristic, but I wanna tell them that the next(i think today’s) technology is wireless, so doing testing on wireless devices is more interesting.!!:)
@ rani , if you r working on application rather than games, then there is more opportunities to growth.
Very nice & interesting article….
Very nice information for tester……..
Hi Malini,
First of all thanks to ur nice article abt game testing process..
What are the qualifications we need to have to get the job in this field? any tools we need to be expertise?
Hi Malini,
Thanks for sharing such useful information to all of us.
I would like to add my exp in this article as i do have over all 5 years of exp in IT which includes more than 4 years in Testing.
My last org where i was working as QA & Testing they use to develop some games for mobile handsets as i said that i hve exp in testing that includes Web aps and mobile aps i did testing for 4-5 games but i hvnt found any thing that is interesting in that but some ppl like that very much…
one more thing is that org not paying much to any game tester… at some level the get stuck…
Thanks
Manish Birthariya
Will game tester experience will help for sofware testing?
i’m a multimedia student, i’m trying to find out is there any software to test windows based game. or How we can test a windows based game?
I agree with Alice. As a game tester you don’t play game to enjoy but to find bugs and to break the game. As a tester (game or application) your focus is on finding bugs, you have to think beyond normal user mindset to predict the scenarios where bugs can be found. In my opinion game testing is more challenging than application testing because in case of application we know the flow but in game (especially one that uses random nos.), flow might depends on how player plays.
Comparing to testing a game on PC, testing it on mobile is more challenging because of the screen size, memory and handset’s processing speed. And the most tiresome and killing job in mobile testing is testing the same game multiple times on multiple handsets (including one having very small screen size). With todays smart phones having accelerometer, GPS, proximity sensors etc, mobile game testing is becoming more difficult.
Some of the points to remember while testing mobile games are:
1. Check the UI of the game on all the supported handsets.
2. Game pause behavior on receiving Call or SMS or any other interrupt.
3. If game supports touch functionality then touch area of all the game objects should not be very small, it should be big enough for normal user finger.
4. Game behavior on Flip/Slider close.
5. If game has some sound then apply Suspend/Resume while sound is being playing.
6. If game has some sound then apply Suspend/Resume when sound just starts to play.
7. Repeat step 6 & 7 for animation & video.
8. Network loss scenario if game fetches (or uploads) data from (to) sever.
9. Game behavior in case of low battery.
10. Game behavior in case of low memory. To perform it make the handset memory full, and perform some operations within game which create files (like new user or saving user data)
11. Game behavior if game is loaded on SD Card.
12. Backup & restore.
13. Uninstallation of game. All the game related files should be deleted on uninstallation.
14. Interruption (Call / Flip close etc) while game is creating or deleting any user data file.
15. Speed should not get slow after playing for some time.
16. If game interacts with some native apps of the handset (like Address book / Messaging etc), game should not adversely affect those apps.
17. CLEAR key and END key functionality.
hi.. am an animator and a prof gamer havin public servers.. how do i get in to a game testing job.. i game 18hrs a day
xD
Its a wonderful post and the kind of information you have given here is so helpful for those who wants to make their carrier in gaming industry.
Does mobile game testing experience is counted as a manual testing career?
Because most IT companies require applicants having exp. in web application testing or database testing
game testing s very interesting job…..no work pressure…. right now i am doing d same
How mobile game testing exp. future is?
Does this exp. counts for the web application testing or s/w testing?
Hi, very nice article.
Actually i was into elearning field for 4 years & was doing coding on flash, & I have 2 years of break in my career But now i want to switch to Testing how could I ? can u please guide me on this?
I read something about testing from home, is it really possible, if so please guide me for this also?
hello games this is jeff the game I always wanted to make Is a game with dragons and the masters that battle with them with magic spells and great power but this is just a teast of my world of games . thanks again for letting me put this on you web site you guys rock
Hi to all,
The article is so good now am get some confidence in this field thanks madam.
I normally love games and now am finished advanced software testing course and currently am joined one small company and am looking for game testing openings if any knows about the opening plz plz plz send a mail to me
help me plz…… my mail id is selvarajpoy87@gmail.com
i do require a effective resume(cv) for game testing job…
well, i am very confused what to do whether to join a gaming company or not is there is any body who can guide me, the most important thing which i feel is money, can any body tell me how much ill be getting per month in rupees if i gain a exp of one year….i have done my engg. from electronics and communication
Could you pls provide me names of an websites that provides opportunity to work from home for testing game appplications.
hi,
Great info, i am in QA too , but wanna do something interesting like every one else.Is there any kind of certification required or any other skill for getting into game testing and where to get the info about job opening.i am desperate to do something…waiting for your reply.
Thanks and Regards
Vikas Garg
I like playing video games I’m interested for the job.
i have done soft testing course but till now i have not given any interview please tell me about soft testing requirement
hi i am new to the soft ware testing . i wanna start my carrer with manual testing /can any one suggest the way of approach of getting a job in the testing feild.and i am in uk at present. Plz some one help me out
hey i really want to be a game tester and be paid but i have no idea were to go i have tryd many sites for the past 2 months and ive got nuthing. i need help. any on
As I have 3 years of QA experience, am looking to learn more about game testing. I want to go for “working from home” option. Can anyone let me know the oppurtunities on game testing.
Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for stopping by and reading my article and most importantly taking your valuable time to post your comments and requirements.
I see here many wants to opt for a game tester especially working from home. Thats really nice option to go with it however you all must understand that its not that easy, why because you need to have a high end environment and high speed internet connectivity to perform testing.
If at all you wanted to work from home then try to see the options in Utest.com or 99tests.com. Hope it helps!
Thanks again for all your comments and encouragement.
Cheers!!
hello..
I am working as a game tester from 1 month in a company. can anyone tell me that
game testing is a good field ? how it different from software testing. is game testing experience count as a software testing experience? can we apply for software testing job with game testing exp? actualy i want to do a software testing job n i also have done a cource in software testing.
how game testing different from software testing?
Hi Friends, thats very useful and Interesting topic. I am in game testing from the last 2 years.I love playing games.I want to change my current company. If anyone knows about vacancy in any game testing in pune or delhi plz mail me at studfromdelhi@gmail.com
good article for who are planning to look forward to game testing.
look i want to get payed to play game and i play ps3 all day so let me know ok i love games
Great Stuff(usefull)
im realy good games how i get started. where do i sign up
HI,
Can YOU help me out in finding Gaming Industry in Bangalore.
I am very much interested in Game testing.
Hey Malini,
This is Ashish. I am currently working in gaming industry as QA Engg for past 1 n half year. I am very passionate about games, so love my job.
But m bit confused as what extra to be done??? should i continue wid the gaming industry or shd i switch to the software industry??
Is there any certification available for a game tester ??? as there r some certifications fr Software testers…. I don’t want to leave the gaming industry… bt not sure if it provides me the scope for future… If u have any suggestions then please let me knw….
Cheers,
Ashish
Hey Malini,
I m very much interested in playing games and I m looking forward to get into the gaming industry as a tester,so can you please suggest me about the process or courses to get a job in gaming Industry and my educational qualification is M.C.A.
Sir article is too good. But i have query, is game testing experience count for software testing ?
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