You may think it sounds too good to be true, but you can actually work online testing video games as a freelancer or as a remote job. If you’re looking for online work and you love to play video games, then this might be a good option for you. Video game testing is a crucial part of game development. Developers hire game testers to find flaws in various parts of a game which are essential for maintaining the quality of their products. Video game testing is generally a contract-based job arrangement, so there’s always some work from home options available in the industry.
The requirements for being a videogame tester are fairly low. It is a fantastic option if you have a passion for video games and would like to earn some cash doing what you love.
Required Qualifications
There are very few academic requirements for game testing jobs. Most of the requirements come in the form of game knowledge and computer skills. The job is similar to being a beta tester, but on a less completely polished and more “bugged” game. Game testing is a tedious process, and you will need to do repetitive tasks a lot. You will also need to be able to communicate clearly what is wrong and send detailed feedback so the errors can be corrected. You are ultimately the troubleshooter.
- ISTQB: ISTQB is the international software testing qualifications board. You can take a few of their courses and get a certification from them. Games are software, so it pays to have a software testing certification so that you can deal with minor software issues by yourself.
An ISTQB certificate is not necessary in order to be a game tester. However, the game developers tend to prioritize those with certification over those without.
Here are the basic skills one needs in order to become a videogame tester:
- Communication Skills: Communication is the most crucial skill for video game testers. Testers are needed to solve a game’s problems, so your job will be finding and reporting the issues, clearly and effectively.
You will need decent communication skills to work on teams with the people responsible for solving different areas of problems. Each team member has an important role in testing.
- Good at Grinding: Video Game Testing is a repetitive process, it isn’t an exaggeration to say it is one of the most repetitive jobs on the planet, you need the mindset and skills to handle doing the same thing over and over again.
If you test a game with 10 playable characters, then all of them need to face each other at least once. That is the most barebone basic level of testing you will need to do.
- Decent Gaming Skills: Game testers need at least a rudimentary level of game knowledge. There are a lot of gaming terms that you will need to know. You will also need to know how people play games and emulate their behavior, otherwise you will not find all the issues.
Where to Find Video Game Tester Jobs
Every video game company regularly hires game testers. Here are some of the major companies in the video game industry where you can apply for a job as a game tester:
You can also try looking for remote video game testing jobs on Glassdoor. You can almost always find small startup companies and even some major companies looking for video game testers on websites like these.
How to Apply for Video Game Testing Jobs
Finally, have you decided to apply for a video game testing job? Now you are probably wondering how the application process works for this sort of job, right? Thankfully, it’s fairly similar to standard job applications.
First, make a specific resume that lists all of your educational and technical achievements. Next, list your computer skills, including all certifications that are relevant. Go to your favorite video game company’s website and apply. Make sure to use keywords that the company website and job offer sites use throughout your resume, as this will help the automated systems choose your resume.
Once you have applied, you should follow up regularly to make sure you aren’t lost in the pile. Be bold and go for what you want.
Video game testing is a crucial aspect of game design and development. The developers generally choose people who have prior experience in this sector, or at least have a passion for video games. So, try to express your personality and love for video games as much as possible. I’m sure there’s a company out there just waiting to hire you!
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