Video Game Testers

Career summary

Creating a video game is a group process:

• Designers work together to combine their expertise in art, technology, storytelling, sound production, and world creation.
• Programmers write the code that makes all the parts work together.
• Testers make sure everything works correctly.

When testing, testers use a methodical system to work through video games. When they find an error (bug), they report it to their supervisors or the programmers. They document the sequence used during testing so they can keep an accurate record of bugs.

When bugs are fixed, testers go back through the sequence to see if they can recreate the error. They often review the same section of a game many times trying to locate errors.

Video game testers also review games to see if they are user friendly and to make sure people will have a good experience playing the game.

Related careers

This career is part of the Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications cluster of careers.

Related careers include:

• Computer Engineers
• Computer Operators
• Computer Programmers
• Computer User Support Specialists
• Information Security Analysts
• Quality Control Inspectors
• Video Game Designers

Education and training

Educational programs

The programs of study listed below will help you prepare for the occupation or career cluster you are exploring.

Programs of study directly related to this occupation

• Computer Science
• Game and Interactive Media Design
• Project Management
• Quality Control Technology

Training

To work as a video game tester, you typically need to:

• have a high school diploma or equivalent; and
• have experience playing video games.

One of the best ways to prepare for this occupation is to play a lot of video games. Pay attention to the details of the game. Compare them to each other. What is good about one and not the other? You can also read game magazines to learn about individual games as well as the industry. Finally, play all types of games whether they are online, handheld, or use a console.

Education after high school

There are no formal education requirements beyond high school. However, a college degree will show employers that you are able to set goals for yourself and follow through. A college degree is especially helpful if you want to use your game testing job as a stepping stone for higher positions in the video game industry.

Video game testing is a fairly new occupation with few official training programs. A small number of colleges and universities offer gaming minors as part of a computer science program. Many training programs are also available via the Internet. A list of college, university, and online training programs worldwide is available at Game Career Guide .

Note that this is not a complete list of schools. Exercise caution when enrolling in online programs in this area. Because this is an emerging area of study, the industry does not yet have training requirements. As a result, the quality and depth of information provided by programs vary widely. You should investigate the schools you are interested in.

Work experience

You can gain experience as a tester by working as a beta tester. A beta tester is a volunteer who tests for free from their home.

On-the-job training

Game testers do not receive much formal training once they are hired. Most of your training would focus on the best way to track bugs and communicate with coworkers about your findings.

Helpful high school courses

You should take a general high school curriculum that meets the state's graduation requirements . You will be required to take both math and science classes to graduate. Video game testers do a lot of writing so you should take several English courses.

Helpful electives to take in high school that prepare you for this career include:

• Computer Applications
• Computer Programming

The courses listed above are meant to help you create your high school plan. If you have not already done so, talk to a school counselor or parent about the courses you are considering taking.

You should also check with a teacher or counselor to see if work-based learning opportunities are available in your school and community. These might include field trips, job shadowing, internships, and actual work experience. The goal of these activities is to help you connect your school experiences with real-life work.

Join some groups, try some hobbies, or volunteer with an organization that interests you. By participating in activities you can have fun, make new friends, and learn about yourself. Maybe one of them will help direct you to a future career. Here are examples of activities and groups  that may be available in your high school or community.

Things to know

• The work can be repetitive as you play the same sections of a game over and over again.
• Periodically video game testers work long hours to meet deadlines. They are usually paid hourly and earn overtime for working more than 40 hours a week.
• Although the video game industry is large--and growing--there are more people trying to enter the field than there are available jobs. As a result, competition for jobs is very strong.
• In the video game industry, game testers who work full time at a company are known as quality assurance testers. Game testers who volunteer to test games at home are known as beta testers. Beta testers who do a good job may be able to get their foot in the door for a paying job.
• As appealing at it sounds, few testers actually work from home. Thus, you must live within commuting distance of a game development company. To find out if there are companies near you, go to: http://www.gamedevmap.com 
• According to a recent survey of game testers, the average salary for testers with three years of experience or less is $25,000 per year. Those with three to six years of experience earn an average of $38,500 per year.

Other resources

Gamasutra 
303 Second Street, Suite 900
San Francisco, CA 94107
415.947.6000

International Game Developers Association 
150 Eglinton Ave. East, Suite 402
Toronto, ON M4P 1E8 Canada

Washington Interactive Network 

References

Career cluster

• Arts, Audio/Visual Technology, and Communications

Career path

• Realistic (Technical)