Are you enthusiastic about games? Do you know your way around video games and game developments on different levels? Is this a passion that you feel can earn you extra bucks? The good news is that it is possible and doable. If you think you’re capable of testing games to ensure that they work flawlessly, then a Video Game Tester job might be the right job for you.
In this article, we will look at what exactly Video Game Tester jobs are, the requirements necessary to start your job, rates expected, and how you can get started applying for a position today to turn your passion into a money-making venture.
What Are Video Game Tester Jobs?
Video game testers typically review video games to make sure there are no glitches, and if there are, it will be your role to clearly describe what they are, where they exist, and how they can be rectified. As a video game tester, you will also check revised editions of games and make sure they are perfect and ready to be released.
To do this job well, you should be results-oriented and self-motivated with a keen eye for detail. You must be a perfectionist and never at any point release a half-baked game.
Nature of Video Game Tester Jobs
Before a game is released, you will receive copies for you to thoroughly check for perfect working order. It doesn’t matter if the game has more than one mode of play, such as beginner, intermediate, and advanced; as a game tester, you must play through each level and part of a game to identify if there are any glitches and rectify them.
The game tester must also discover hidden bugs during gameplay. This can be done by attempting to do certain things, such as trying to get stuck in a wall within the game frame, for example. This is something an average player cannot do. You must identify such glitches and other game malfunctions.
You will finally be required to write a description clearly explaining what happened, give directions, and also describe how to find the bug in the game. Often, you might be required to test revised editions to come up with a better edition.
Video Game Tester Job Rates
Video Game Tester job rates and incentives will vary depending on many factors. When you are just starting, your rate could be be as low as around $14 per hour, but as you improve and gain experience, it could be between $40 and $150 per hour. If you are lucky to be employed within a large company, you will be able to enjoy typical employee benefits, such as vacations and paid leaves.
Video Game Tester Job Eligibility
Although most companies prefer a bachelor’s degree in software, computer engineering, or other related fields, others might be interested in technical capabilities. You should be familiar with Alpha and Beta testing, as well as many software configurations. Computer science and psychology courses might come in handy, too. If you want to take it a notch higher, you can take up courses such as gaming, game testing, and DigiPen.
You must be a very observant person with excellent logical and analytical reasoning abilities. You must also have excellent oral and written communication skills, an eye for detail, enthusiasm, and patience.
How to Apply for a Video Game Tester Job
There are plenty of video game tester jobs posted on freelance job sites such as FlexJobs, Indeed.com, and Craigslist. Many of these are with renowned game companies such as Sony Interactive and Activision, but there are also positions listed with smaller companies.
Some game companies post available positions on their websites, so be sure to check the websites of companies that make games you like playing. You can also send your proposal with your cover letter directly to the company’s human resources department and hope that it will be forwarded to a manager responsible for hiring.
So, what are you waiting for? If you think you could succeed as a video game tester, get started with your job search today!
