Is it realistic to become a game tester?

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You should try and get an internship at a game publisher or developer. This would be a good starting point and would give you a good insight into the production side of the industry.Game testing is a popular entry level position. From this position you could work your way up to become a designer, programmer, artist etc but to do thisI would advise you to do a degree in something you are interested and which is useful such as computer science or art. Also from what I've read and heard you should stay away from 'video game design' degree courses. I think it was EA who said they won't hire anyone with this type of qualification. I hoped this helped and I wish you luck for the future.

You should try and get an internship at a game publisher or developer. This would be a good starting point and would give you a good insight into the production side of the industry.Game testing is a popular entry level position. From this position you could work your way up to become a designer, programmer, artist etc but to do thisI would advise you to do a degree in something you are interested and which is useful such as computer science or art. Also from what I've read and heard you should stay away from 'video game design' degree courses. I think it was EA who said they won't hire anyone with this type of qualification. I hoped this helped and I wish you luck for the future.

LazyMushroom

EA said that? Really? You would think that most game developers would hire people that have a lot of experience in the industry, not the other way around. That's interesting!

[QUOTE="LazyMushroom"]

You should try and get an internship at a game publisher or developer. This would be a good starting point and would give you a good insight into the production side of the industry.Game testing is a popular entry level position. From this position you could work your way up to become a designer, programmer, artist etc but to do thisI would advise you to do a degree in something you are interested and which is useful such as computer science or art. Also from what I've read and heard you should stay away from 'video game design' degree courses. I think it was EA who said they won't hire anyone with this type of qualification. I hoped this helped and I wish you luck for the future.

Metamania

EA said that? Really? You would think that most game developers would hire people that have a lot of experience in the industry, not the other way around. That's interesting!

I think they meant graduates. Obviously if you have a 'video game design' degree and are established like Ken Levine or whatever then it doesn't really matter.

It is realistic, but for a good reason: Game testing is kind of a terrible job. You don't get paid too well, you're told what to test, and testing consists of replaying the worst parts of a game over and over, getting the circumstances right for a bad glitch, then turning it in. Not to mention the overtime that goes into many bigger companies, the horror stories abound, and the Vegas odds of getting promoted to developer or rising up in the game world.

Check out The Trenches(written by the creators of Penny-Arcade as well as PvP). Its a comic about a guy trying to make it in game testing, but the real meat comes from the stories of people in the industry. Its relatively new so you could read all the strips and stories in like 5 minutes, but they are really worth reading. I can't seem to link it (thanks gamespot), so can someone link it for TC to read?

It is realistic, but for a good reason: Game testing is kind of a terrible job. You don't get paid too well, you're told what to test, and testing consists of replaying the worst parts of a game over and over, getting the circumstances right for a bad glitch, then turning it in. Not to mention the overtime that goes into many bigger companies, the horror stories abound, and the Vegas odds of getting promoted to developer or rising up in the game world.

SPYDER0416

I was going to mention this. A lot of people are under the impression that game testing is insane fun all of the time when in reality it isn't.

[QUOTE="SPYDER0416"]

It is realistic, but for a good reason: Game testing is kind of a terrible job. You don't get paid too well, you're told what to test, and testing consists of replaying the worst parts of a game over and over, getting the circumstances right for a bad glitch, then turning it in. Not to mention the overtime that goes into many bigger companies, the horror stories abound, and the Vegas odds of getting promoted to developer or rising up in the game world.

LazyMushroom

I was going to mention this. A lot of people are under the impression that game testing is insane fun all of the time when in reality it isn't.

It's true that it may be a whole lot of fun, but the one consistent thing I hear about game testing is that it is one of the easier ways to get your foot into the door of the gaming industry.

i can imagine i would start hating to play videogames in my free time if it would be my job , thats why i rather keep it as a hobby

Hello, I just signed up as I am trying to figure out my future career and I was wondering is it realistic to test games for companies? JohnJohnWar

I have worked for a couple of game companies as a tester. First off, the monies not great, but a lot of testers progress to team leader and often into game design. This however would still take time.

On the plus side the job isusually fun. Plus its nice to know that your names in the credits of games and the company usually provide staff with a copy of the games they work on so you get to keep it.

You should try and get an internship at a game publisher or developer. This would be a good starting point and would give you a good insight into the production side of the industry.Game testing is a popular entry level position. From this position you could work your way up to become a designer, programmer, artist etc but to do thisI would advise you to do a degree in something you are interested and which is useful such as computer science or art. Also from what I've read and heard you should stay away from 'video game design' degree courses. I think it was EA who said they won't hire anyone with this type of qualification. I hoped this helped and I wish you luck for the future.

LazyMushroom

[QUOTE="Metamania"]

[QUOTE="LazyMushroom"]

You should try and get an internship at a game publisher or developer. This would be a good starting point and would give you a good insight into the production side of the industry.Game testing is a popular entry level position. From this position you could work your way up to become a designer, programmer, artist etc but to do thisI would advise you to do a degree in something you are interested and which is useful such as computer science or art. Also from what I've read and heard you should stay away from 'video game design' degree courses. I think it was EA who said they won't hire anyone with this type of qualification. I hoped this helped and I wish you luck for the future.

LazyMushroom

EA said that? Really? You would think that most game developers would hire people that have a lot of experience in the industry, not the other way around. That's interesting!

I think they meant graduates. Obviously if you have a 'video game design' degree and are established like Ken Levine or whatever then it doesn't really matter.

when did this happen? i know a lot of people that went to schools like that and got hired at EA even before they graduated.

Hello, I just signed up as I am trying to figure out my future career and I was wondering is it realistic to test games for companies? JohnJohnWar

such a great job would bring such great burden...but the career path should b awesome...

[QUOTE="JohnWar"]Hello, I just signed up as I am trying to figure out my future career and I was wondering is it realistic to test games for companies? Johnfend_oblivion

Why show a video like that if all it does is discourage the person of interest? I know it's just trying to show arguments from both sides, but the video shows some biasism.

Why show a video like that if all it does is discourage the person of interest? I know it's just trying to show arguments from both sides, but the video shows some biasism.

Metamania

Game testing isn't a luxurious job by any means. All the stories you hear from those involved in it usually don't have nice things to say about it. If you're looking for a way into the upper echelons of game development, however, it's a great way to get your foot in the door. If you want to give it a shot, I say go for it. Might as well if you're already interested, after all.

Check out The Trenches(written by the creators of Penny-Arcade as well as PvP). Its a comic about a guy trying to make it in game testing, but the real meat comes from the stories of people in the industry. Its relatively new so you could read all the strips and stories in like 5 minutes, but they are really worth reading. I can't seem to link it (thanks gamespot), so can someone link it for TC to read?SPYDER0416

Done. The trick is to use BBCode.

It's realistic to become a game tester, but it's not realistic to think that it's some kind of dream job. However, it's a good way to get into the industry. Guys like David Jaffe started out as a tester.

Why don't you try to become a game developer instead of game tester? Game developers are highly in demand through out the world while game testers have limited opportunities.

Why don't you try to become a game developer instead of game tester? Game developers are highly in demand through out the world while game testers have limited opportunities.

johnstevebravo

Yes, please. We need some more people developing games. They are all more or less the same and over in 12 hours or so. :p

Only thing I can say: If you like playing games, do not become a game tester, it'll ruin the fun of them forever

Its realsitic, but its an awfull job, you over worked and payed next to nothing.

If you want to be a game dev, go to college and get a degree, and try to get an intership at one of the companies.

i want to try this out too but know that this job not all fun, instead you will have to fight your way through coz many apply for this job. you are expected to catch even the smallest defect, suggest a solution for it n play a level repeatedly.

go for it only if you have real passion for gaming industry. getting the first job can be challenging but after it the way will be easy cruise ahead.

if you guys read that article i posted earlier it is a real good read. I have seen the bias and unbias but I still think it would be a good jobJohnWar

I don't think game testers have a real job. I see more of a part time thing for college kids/ high school kids. Honestly I doubt it's all it's cracked up to be. You're forced to play games that you may not necessarily like in order to find bugs/glitched. Imagine being 30 years old, your friend says he's an insurance agent or whatever and you say you're a games tester...weak imo..lol

[QUOTE="JohnWar"]Hello, I just signed up as I am trying to figure out my future career and I was wondering is it realistic to test games for companies? Johnfend_oblivion

I love that video.

Never been a tester myself but I work with them since I'm a programmer, and it seems really tedious. Not only do you play the same game over and over for weeks, when you encounter a bug you have to keep playing that section over and over so that you can try to determine working repro steps for the bug. And then you start from the beginning and do it again. Plus it's something a lot of people want to get into but it doesn't require a lot of qualifications, so it's tough to find a job and the pay is crappy.

I would think a Bachelor's degree or higher in Computer Science would be helpful.

What about a CIS degree, that's what I'm currently going to college for. Wouldn't I be able to get a job in the video game industry with it? I should learn some programming, and if I was to get into the industry that's what I want to do.