How to get into the games industry

The Games Tester

• Introduction
• The games development process
• A perspective from Eurocom
• The Project Manager
• The Producer
• The Designer
• The Artist and Animator
• The Programmer
• The Sound Designer
• The Games Tester
• In Final - links and resources

A Tester's job is much harder and less exciting than you may think! It's true that you'll spend most of your day playing games, but you must remember that this means testing the same game again and again, from the earliest stage of development until the game is finished. This can get incredibly monotonous. However, if you can take on the challenge the end rewards and opportunities are worthwhile.

Game testing can start from a very early stage in the game development process. It could be as soon as the graphic engine or some of the artificial intelligence routines are ready. You will have to report bugs, re-test and verify fixes and changes. You will have to note all the bugs in a bug report clearly explaining the problem and suggest solutions where possible. You must be a good communicator, with attention to detail. Prior and possibly during the project you may have to research/review other game material to broaden your knowledge. There are many deadlines to work to so you must have a flexible approach to working hours. You'll be constantly in touch with the programmers, artists and producers. You'll learn and understand what compromises you'll have to make to achieve an optimum game, given the capabilities of the system you are working on and the talents of the developers. A real benefit of being a Games Tester is that you'll be directly involved in the making of the game. You'll be able to suggest alternative solutions to gameplay or structure.

To be a Games Tester some useful pointers would be to play lots of games and do your homework. Remember, you won't just be playing games all day. Once you have found problems you'll need to explain the bug that you've found, so written skills are important. You will be working with the programmers and artists on the project and they will have to read and understand clearly what you are explaining in your bug reports. Communication of ideas and solutions to problems are key skills. Testers need to have a good eye for detail, are able to think outside the box to create problems for the games, be very patient to withstand the repetitive nature of the job and be a good communicator both written and verbally.

In terms of qualifications, basic grade C or above in English and Mathematics is a must to become a Games Tester, but far more important is your ability to demonstrate a keen enthusiasm for games, as well as a good understanding of how they work and, more importantly, how they don't work. At the interview, be expected to talk extensively about your understanding and appreciation of games. You may well be expected to demonstrate your gaming abilities, too, as well as participate in a mock testing session. This could mean that you will be given a set amount of time to sit and play an older version of an existing game and note down any bugs you can find, so try keeping an eye out for faults in games as you play them at home. Getting a position as a Games Tester is incredibly competitive, not least because it stands as the gateway position into the games industry for many people. If you can demonstrate a knack for exploring games in unique and thorough ways and an attention to detail, your chances of breaking into the industry will be improved considerably.