Being a professional video game tester is a dream job. Most gamers would love the chance to play great video games and get paid for it. Unfortunately, however, most gamers think that paid video game trials are too out of their reach and will remain a dream forever. Well, luckily, it’s not a “dream” and anyone can be a paid video game tester with the right amount of experience and guidance.
The following tips should get you started on a professional video game testing career.
Tip 1: Don’t wait for jobs to find you, go out and find them.
Video game tester jobs aren’t going to fall out of the blue, so you can’t expect to find them with a few glances at the Sunday paper. So, instead of just sitting and waiting, be proactive and look for those high-paying trial jobs.
Go directly to the game developers and make your case, no matter how bad or how great it is. Let them know who you are, what you do (game tester), and why you would be a great addition to their team/project.
It’s important to remember that developers won’t hire you on the spot; So don’t let rejection get you down. They have a lot of game testers applying for projects and jobs, which means they can literally be as picky as they want to be. With that being said, be as confident as possible and make sure you let them know about all your achievements and feats in the game. They should know what games you play frequently, what consoles you own, what communities you are a part of, and any websites/blogs you own or help operate. No matter what the game achievement is, big or small, it will help you get a job.
Tip 2: Don’t think “paid hobby”, think “career with benefits!”
You should be aware that game testers are paid by developers as part of a job. They are not paying testers to just enjoy the games on their own. So when you get a test job, don’t just play for fun; Play like you’re earning a paycheck. Does that mean you can’t have fun? Not; it simply means that you shouldn’t make “fun” your top priority while playing video games.
If you take each and every test job seriously and give it your all, you should have a much more successful game testing career.
Tip 3: know what to expect
The biggest part of being a professional video game tester is knowing the golden rule; which is “You get paid to try games, not play them.” There may be a fine line between the two, but any real game tester will tell you that the difference is definitely there.
The subtle difference between testing and playing is, well, work. A game tester will have to do real work, such as filing reports and completing questionnaires; unlike a normal gamer who will just relax and play at a leisurely pace. It is true that the work is not exhausting, but it is work nonetheless.
Quizzes are the easiest part of game testing, as all the game tester has to do is answer a few general questions about the game and give their honest opinion. Reports, on the other hand, are a bit more difficult to do. These reports must be submitted on every bug/issue the tester finds, and they must be remarkably accurate. In each report, the game tester has to describe what happened, where it happened, and how it happened. With this detailed information in hand, developers and programmers will troubleshoot the issue and figure out why it happened in the first place. All video games go through this basic cycle, which is precisely why game testers are so vital to the gaming industry.
As you can see, there really isn’t a lot of work involved in video game testing, but that doesn’t mean it’s not a serious profession.
Tip 4: Build a Network of Trusted Contacts.
Networking is a crucial part of professional video game testing. While it’s quite possible to have a thriving career without a reliable network, having just one makes things easier.
A network of contacts can help you in your career in many different ways. The most important thing you can do is tell him about new job openings and trial assignments that have been announced. Plus, some of your contacts can even act as valuable references when applying for trial jobs. And, as if those two things weren’t enough, your network can give you the inside scoop on what goes on behind closed doors.
Just like a video game tester job, a reliable network is not going to attract attention. Therefore, you will have to build it all on your own. The best way to do this is by getting to know the industry and the people who work in it. Anyone who spends time with video games (professionally, of course) can be included in your network; game testers, developers, programmers, concept artists, art designers, graphic designers, technical support specialists, audio specialists, etc. Basically, if they know about video games and work with video games, you want them in your network.
Tip 5: Do not give up. Keep trying!
The unfortunate fact is that you won’t get a video game tester job when you want one. In fact, it can be weeks or even months before you land your first trial job. However, that doesn’t necessarily mean you don’t have what it takes; it just means you have to keep trying and doing your best. Not many newcomers start out at the top of their game, which means chances are you won’t either. Therefore, just give it time. After a few months and a few jobs, you should be able to settle down and start advancing your career as a professional video game tester.