Game Testing - Basic Information

2009-01-20T06:06:00.000-08:00

If you have some knowledge in the gaming industry, you probably know that the big companies out there cannot afford releasing games that have bugs in the system. If they did that, they would probably encounter great financial losses.

This is why game testers are mandatory. Programmers cannot find all the problems just by looking at the code, so the manufacturer companies have to hire regular gamers to go through the whole game and report every malfunction they run into. If you think of giving game testing a try, here is a list of real things you should know:

Unfortunately, you will not be able to make $120 an hour just from testing games, as some websites out there state. At the beginning of your gaming career, no company will pay you more than $30/hour (usually $10-$15 an hour for beginners in this field), for the obvious reason that they have no clue what you are capable of. After testing a few games and prove yourself useful, there is a good possibility you will get $50/hour or even more (usually up to $80 an hour).

Even though getting free video games and doing a pleasant job from home sounds great, you should know that game testing is not all about playing. For each game you receive, you must make sure that going all the way through it is totally possible. This way, the company that hired you won't release a game that cannot be completed.

While trying to finish the game, you will most probably run into a few bugs, which you must report. For instance, if your Need for Speed car goes straight when it should turn right, you have found a big problem. Such bugs can make millions of people not buy the game, which can lead to great financial losses for the company that released it.

It is the testers' job to make sure everything works smoothly. Sometimes, game testing can even get boring, once the tester gets familiar with the game. This is where the difference between $20/hour testers and $80/hour testers occur. The last category makes sure that every weapon, every map and every character is flawless, and that is why they get paid even better than an average programmer.

Unfortunately, you cannot find game testing job offers everywhere, simply because thousands of people would probably apply for each position and it is just too much for gaming companies to deal with.

Because of this, every game tester out there finds it hard to get noticed at first. If you want to get a position in this industry, I recommend you visit Testing Guru and register there (it costs about $35 to sign up, but it's worth it - you can get your investment back in about 2-3 working hours). A couple of years ago, two friends and I registered with them and actually got our first jobs in gaming (I was in college at that time). I chose to resign from game testing half a year ago, when I was contacted by a company offering me a very attractive salary (I was making $28/hour at that time, solely from testing games).

Once registered with Testing Guru, every member receives a free guide covering every step that needs to be taken in order to get paid to play Need for Speed, World of Warcraft, Grand Theft Auto or any other games you like. It also provides a nice list of available gaming companies (about 50), all in need of game testers.

Turning a passion into a paying job is not impossible...

Frequently Asked Questions

2009-01-19T06:27:00.000-08:00

1. Why would someone pay me to play games?

The Gaming industry is a business; each business wants to sell a product that it's consumers will like and recommend to others. If a game company sells games that they do not test, what do you suspect will happen? The untested games will have bugs in them and most customers will find those bugs and return those games due to all the glitches and this game company will not make any money. A business that does not make any money will not be in business for long. If a Game company pays 100 people to test their games and because of their testing 100,000 people will NOT return that game, this company has just made a profit.

2. Is there a limit to how many games I can beta test, or how much money I can make?

The only limit to how many games you can play/test and the amount of money you can make is your time. If you wish to put full-time effort into beta testing, then you will make more money. Your income will be completely dependent on your effort and attentiveness.

3. What is the method through which I'll be paid? How often will I be paid?

This will depend on the company that you work for. Most companies pay bi-weekly by check or direct deposit. You will have to talk with the Human Resources department of that company about further details.

4. Are there jobs available for residents of Canada, United Kingdom, and Australia, Africa, or other countries?

At this moment we only list jobs for: US, UK, and Canada. No other countries are supported at the moment.

5. What if I don't have all the platforms? Will I be provided with a new XBOX 360, PS2, PS3, etc? What if I have a slow computer?

This will depend on the company. The job description will dictate whether you will be provided with a new system (if you don't have it) or whether having the new system is a requirement to land the job. This will be disclosed to you when you apply for the job.

6. Is there an age requirement?

Yes, there is. In order to apply for a job you MUST be 18 years of age or older, there are no exceptions. This is due to child labor laws.

7. Where do I sign up?

I recommend you register with Testing Guru, as they have helped me and a couple of friends of mine get our first game testing jobs. It costs about $35 to register with them, but it's totally worth it. There are other such agencies out there, but you have to be very careful not to get involved with scams, or you'll never get a paying job.

Become Game Tester

Game Testing - Basic Information

Frequently Asked Questions