Do you have the characteristics, skills and patience to become a game tester?
With so many careers buzzing in the news, game testing is often lost in the sea. This job is a coveted treasure for video game aficionados. Although the job is popular, many people actually don't have a clue about how to become a game tester.
Requirements for the job are minimal, but video game testers must have several skills to carry out the tasks of the job effectively. Landing a job in the industry means demonstrating and highlighting a few key strengths that are indispensable.
The most important thing a tester must possess is a passion for video games beyond casual play. While playing the games can be enjoyable, testing your picks and favorites is rare. Oftentimes testers play games that don't exactly fit their interests, often for hours on end.
Understanding that testing is more than just playing a game is essential for excelling in this career, as the work can be tedious and is limited to playing a single game over and over until the project is complete. Having a passion for the video-game design process helps make this tiresome work more bearable and interesting.
Being detail oriented and having critical-thinking skills are also important, as a tester needs to be able to spot miniscule errors or issues with game play. This may be something as large as a stuck level or as small as a background glitch in the scenery. Spotting these errors is a key task in video game testing, and failing to catch such issues can be detrimental.
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In addition, testers must be able to effectively communicate the errors to the game designer. Having solid verbal and written skills is essential for this task, as noting and explaining a glitch thoroughly can be difficult, especially when the glitch itself is complicated.
Landing a job in this in-demand career can be difficult, as jobs can be few and far between. Those interested in becoming a game tester should flex their communication muscles and reach out directly to video game companies to get their foot in the door. This method is effective, as making much-needed connections will get a job seeker's name in the pool of potential testers.
Also, sometimes job seekers search with the incorrect term, as the job is typically referred to as a quality assurance tester rather than a game tester. When looking to become a game tester, you should be careful in your search. Dozens of scams exist that trick unsuspecting people into paying money for unnecessary services. These scams often charge hundreds of dollars for bogus courses and prey on young people who don't know any better. Being aware of such scams is a must for those looking to get into the industry.
Though a tricky job at times, becoming a game tester won't require formal training classes or the like. However, having an educational background in tech, game design, graphic design or Web design may help.
Understanding the ins and outs of the career and having a true passion go a long way in finding a game-testing job. By sharpening your skills, checking Reply! for education options, and making the right connections, reaching your goal to become a game tester may be just around the corner.
Photo credit: Xbox 360 game controller by Alfred Hermida via Compfight CC.