June 12, 2007

The Ugly Side Of A Video Game Tester Job

Just imagine you could play games as 'part of your job' and not snatching some moments off from your work. And that you would get all the top game titles for keeps even before the games were released in the market? Not just that, but you could also comment on the general playability of the games while they were being developed and in a small way contribute to how the end product would shape up to be? Does this all sound too fascinating? Well then, this is actually what a person in a Video Game Tester Job does!

Most people think that a Video Game Tester Job requires one to do nothing more than play a couple of unreleased games on their PCs or consoles and that’s all there is to it. But is that really the case? Can anything sounding so good be real? Or is there some hidden loophole in this profession? Frankly speaking from my experience, a Video Game Tester Job does have its shortcomings. It's just not fun, fun all the way. There are some things that people in the job do not think of before, and they hit them in the face later.

First and foremost, your PC or console must be well-equipped to play the games on offer. Newer and newer games are being released every day, and their specifications are just mounting up. There is increasing demand on RAM and ROM, graphics requirements, game acceleration, etc. That means, a video game tester needs to keep the specifications upgraded all the time. Such upgrades can be very expensive, especially the graphics cards. Sometimes, a person in a Video Game Tester Job will need to buy a new video graphics card as soon as it hits the market to keep up with the game requirements.

An eye for detail is a very important requirement for a Video Game Tester Job. You cannot afford to play it like a person on a mission, but you will need to stop at every stage and literally smell the roses. You will have to check out the graphics backgrounds, the maps of the levels, the playability of each point, and whether there are any jarring or unreal elements in the scene. If there is any mistake, you will have to make a record of it in your assignment report. This is a tedious task to do, because your explanation will need to detail exactly where the fault is. It is difficult to describe a visual into words.

The playability of the game needs to be checked also. You will have to see if all the game levels are interconnected in the right fashion, and if the game has teleporters, the job becomes much more complicated. You will need to check that each teleporter takes you to the intended place, and that would mean loading and reloading a saved game repeatedly.

And you must remember that since you will not have a walkthrough or strategy guide in most cases, you will have to use your own brains to complete the games. Now, this could really be the most frustrating thing to do, especially if the game does not hold your interest.

Well, these are a few of the limitations of a Video Game Tester Job. If you feel you can easily handle them, then this is certainly the job for you. Go ahead and watch your bank balance grow as you play.

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Tags: Video Game Tester Jobs For Teens, Work At Home Game Tester, Game Tester Job Openings

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June 5, 2007

Three Easy Ways To Get Video Game Tester Jobs

Nothing sounds as interesting as earning while you are playing. However, with Video Game Tester Jobs, that’s exactly what you get. You get to play beta versions of games that are to be released, and you have to check them for their game play and graphic authenticity. You may also have to make comments about how enjoyable the game was for you. That’s really all there is to it. And you get a fat check at the end in your mail.

But is it really all that easy? Can anyone get Video Game Tester Jobs? And, most importantly, can this be a steady source of income? Well, there are many questions people like to ask before taking upon video game testing jobs as their primary occupation. This article attempts to give some tips on how to get a game tester job and how to retain them.

                (i)     Scour Video Game Tester Websites

The easiest place to try to get a video game tester job is the Internet. There are some sites that provide Video Game Tester Jobs about registering with them. One such site is the http://gametesterguide.net/. These sites require registering for membership, which could be something like $50 to $60 for a lifetime membership. Once you become a member, you will get the first game assignment in the mail. However, you need to be very cautious here, because there are some scam operators in the business. If you make a wrong decision, you could forfeit your membership, and won't get any game to test either. It is better if you join a website which has recommended by someone you know. However, all major gaming sites like those of EA Games, ID Software, MAXIS, Sony, etc. have advertisements for video game testing jobs on their site itself. These are by far the safest to accept.

    (ii)    Do the Footwork Yourself

Game developing companies generally do not advertise in the newspaper classifieds that they need a game tester. So, you will have to actually make a resume and schedule a meeting with these companies. Once there, you will have to convince them about your penchant for gaming and your eye for detail. You might be asked to give a test in the company. If they are satisfied with you, you could walk out with a gaming assignment. However, it is very difficult to convince game developers. You will need to do a lot of homework about the game titles already released and will also have to be equipped with your observations on them, which you can let them know.

    (iii)    Search for a Contact in Game Developing

Today it is impossible that you do not know anyone working in the field of computers. All around us we see IT professionals, programmers, software and hardware engineers, etc. It is very possible that someone in your know might be working with a game developing company. If you find such a person, you could request for a few initial small assignments and then build a resume.

Then of course you can register on freelance work sites which are a dime a dozen nowadays. But your chances of getting an assignment through this source is very slim, especially if you do not have an initial experience.

Make an attempt, and you will surely land up with a first assignment. Then it is up to you to be prompt in your feedback that will help you retain the job. All the best!

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Tags: Video Game Tester Job, Work Game Companys Game Tester, Video Game Tester Jobs

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May 29, 2007

How To Go About Getting A Game Tester Job?

Enough is already said about how fascinating a Game Tester Job is. It has been hyped up as a job in which there is all play and no work, and of course, a fat check at the end of the week. Well, a person who is actually a Game Tester will solidly disagree with this fact, and I am in total accord. A Game Tester Job is hardly a party, but that is not the purview of this article. You can read my other articles to find out what Game Tester Jobs actually entail.

Anyways, the purpose of writing this article is to tell you some of the easiest ways to get a good Game Tester Job. Here they go:-

(i)    Play some games –
Well, obviously if you are trying to get a Game Tester Job, you will need to have some initial experience. You will actually need to purchase some game titles – original ones, mind you! – and play them. Get games from a wide genre, from the classic simulators to the hardcore action games. Register your name on the portals of some games, and play multiplayer sessions. Do everything that a hardcore gamer would do, and enjoy the experience. This will also be a ground for you to assess whether you will enjoy the Game Tester Job or not.

    (ii)    Make a resume –
You have to make a resume if you are planning to give some interviews to game developing companies. Your resume need not be thoroughly professional, but it must detail the kind of games you have played, whether you own them, and whether you are cognizant of the gaming world at large. Also, if you have done some freelance jobs testing games, you should mention that.

    (iii)    Scour for offers –
This is by far the most difficult part of the hunt. You will have to find where the game testing jobs are. The Internet is the best place. Every gaming site worth its salt – like EA Games, Sony, ID Software, Sierra Entertainment – will have a Game Tester requirement on their home sites. Then there are also some sites such as http://gametesterguide.net/ which offer some initial game testing assignments to people who become members of the site. Of course, that entails an initial payment.

    (iv)    Impress your employers –
However, you might need to do some actual footwork also. You will need to go out and give interviews to companies. There your resume will certainly come in handy, and you must be able to flaunt your knowledge of the gaming world. There will, in most probability, a test to face. Here your skills at observing the shortcomings of games will be noted. This is where your initial impressions will be made, and the employers will decide whether or not to give you the gaming job.

    (v)    Be dedicated –
Despite whatever you might have heard to the contrary, the Game Tester Job is not a game. You will have to be prompt in making reports on the game, and you will have to be very observant. You will also have to be a workaholic, and might need to test games for as many as 12-14 hours a day, especially as the deadlines are approaching. Only then will you be able to make it out as a successful Game Tester.

Getting a Game Tester Job might be an easy thing to do, but retaining it is the difficult part. Be dedicated to the job as you would with any other, and don’t treat it as just a game. These are some of the most basic steps to be a successful Game Tester.

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Tags: Looking For a Job As a Video Game Tester, How To Become a Video Game Tester, Find Game Tester Jobs Online

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