Is your Play Station controller soldered to your hand? Did you buy a Wii before anyone else? Do you like nothing better than spending hours in front of the TV playing Halo? Instead of playing those games for fun, why not play them for a paycheck?
Sound too good to be true? Video game testers are a critical position in the game development industry. Video game creators and computer programmers spend years creating and designing games, and testers are the ones who make sure the game is ready for release.
If you are interested in computers and are beginning your college search to earn a degree, majoring in computer science will make you the ideal candidate for this dream job.
Not All Fun and Games
It may sound like a dream position. After all, who wouldn't want to earn a living by playing games all day? In truth, playing video game testing can be exhausting. Testers often begin working with the game long before it's finished, and are required to keep meticulous records of every bug they find in a game. Sometimes it can take hours just to get through the early levels because you have to pause the game so frequently to record the bugs.
In order to be a video game tester, you need to have solid writing skills, be able to communicate effectively, and have an excellent eye for detail. After all, bugs can range from something as small as a missing brick in a wall or ear on a character, to major issues that halt play completely. You'll need to document every single error.
Know the Business
You will never get a call for an interview with a gaming company if you send in your resume with a cover letter that says "Dude! I want to play video games all day!" You need to be familiar with the business, and having a degree in computer programming or video game design is a great place to start.
Video game testers are consider quality assurance staff. Knowing the lingo will suggest your seriousness and help get you in the door. Once you get that coveted interview, don't merely discuss how much you love gaming; be prepared to talk about the company itself and your commitment to high quality work. Be sure to fully test all the games made by that particular company prior to your interview. You want to be appear both enthusiastic and knowledgeable.
Sounds Great! What does it pay?
Because video game testers are considered entry-level positions in the gaming industry, they are often offered jobs on an as-needed basis rather than a regular nine-to-five position. But this doesn't mean the job doesn't pay well, because it can-anything from $10 to over $100 an hour.
While games can take two to three years to go from concept to store shelf, game testers usually only begin testing about half way through the process. As deadlines loom, video game testers can find themselves in high demand. They can often work more than twelve hours a day-sometimes on the same few moments in a game-working out the kinks with the programmers. As one company's site put it, "a good tester is a programmer's worst nightmare."
Most video game testers work on site at the company, but once your work becomes trusted you can often work from your home.
Get Educated
While you can't (yet) earn a college degree specific to video game testing, it is a good idea to look into computer programming courses, design courses, and other computer science degrees. Some colleges offer two- and four-year programs in video game design, and these degrees will go a long way to helping you break into the gaming field.
http://www.computermajors.com/become-a-video-game-tester
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