How Does One Become a Game Tester?

Posted by Cliff on Wednesday March 26, 2003 @04:20PM from the a-want-ad-with-serious-wang dept.

Rick the Red asks: "This is similar to other stories about game development. I'm a software tester, and I just saw this job posting: 'Jobs just do NOT get any better than this! We have multiple openings at one of the world's most successful software companies for experienced game testers of varying skill levels! Platforms and tools are not important. If you love video games and have at least 6 months experience you CANNOT miss this awesome opportunity!' OK, I'm an experienced software tester, and I have video game experience of varying skill levels, but I have zero professional game tester experience. Damn! So, how does one get experience if the jobs all require experience? I know, it's the age-old question, but are there any game-testing-specific answers?"

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Are you sure you want to be a tester? by CoolVibe · 2003-03-26 20:31 · Score: 2, Insightful

I'd suggest you do the following first:
1. lock yourself up in the broomcloset until the urge to become a game tester subsides. If that doesn't help:
2. run into a wall several times until the urge to become a game tester subsides. Oh, you're still game for the job? Well:
3. have your dog sick you in the genitals until the urge subsides. Hmm you don't have a dog huh? Oh well...
If you can stand that, _AND_ still want to be a game tester, you might be the right man/woman for the job.
Seriously, being a game tester will totally _spoil_ the games you are testing for yourself. You have to HATE the game to find the smalles bugs in it. The game is done when there's no reason for the game testers to hate it anymore. Oh, and when they can stand playing it several _more_ times.
It's not at all a glamorous job, and the beginning stages of development of a game is usually painful (for you, blech, lotsa bugreports). pre-pre-pre-alpha-tests are not end-user quality.
You have been warned :)