10 Misconceptions You Have About Working In The Games Industry
3. Testing Takes Skill
Sony Computer EntertainmentIts certainly true that different companies treat their testers with different standards of respect, with some employers being notorious and others supportive and brimming with job perks. Whats simply not true is that testing (or Quality Assurance, as its more officially known) is a role with no particular talent required. Testers need to be smart. Some of the nastiest bugs ones that can wipe player progress or ruin the balance of an online match require a particular set of circumstances before they can be recreated reliably; if the tester doesnt narrow down those variables through experimentation and deduction, then any fix for that bug cant be guaranteed to work. If the tester cant predict and pre-empt the exploits of an online cheater, the multiplayer may wind up deserted while the team struggles frantically to patch the problem. Testers need to be patient; testing rarely involves simply playing the game like a member of the public would, unless its pretty much out of the door and youre only looking for showstopping bugs like crashes. When the amount of game content is slender - for a demo version or trade show build - theres a strength of mind needed to stay alert during a very tedious and repetitive task. Often able to speak multiple languages, write their own automation tools and multitask as a matter of course, testers deserve respect and its a shame that so few people recognise their efforts.
Sony Computer EntertainmentIts certainly true that different companies treat their testers with different standards of respect, with some employers being notorious and others supportive and brimming with job perks. Whats simply not true is that testing (or Quality Assurance, as its more officially known) is a role with no particular talent required. Testers need to be smart. Some of the nastiest bugs ones that can wipe player progress or ruin the balance of an online match require a particular set of circumstances before they can be recreated reliably; if the tester doesnt narrow down those variables through experimentation and deduction, then any fix for that bug cant be guaranteed to work. If the tester cant predict and pre-empt the exploits of an online cheater, the multiplayer may wind up deserted while the team struggles frantically to patch the problem. Testers need to be patient; testing rarely involves simply playing the game like a member of the public would, unless its pretty much out of the door and youre only looking for showstopping bugs like crashes. When the amount of game content is slender - for a demo version or trade show build - theres a strength of mind needed to stay alert during a very tedious and repetitive task. Often able to speak multiple languages, write their own automation tools and multitask as a matter of course, testers deserve respect and its a shame that so few people recognise their efforts.