Computer games tester

Job profiles

Computer games tester

• 
• Hours
  40 + per week
• Starting salary
  £12,000 + per year

If you love computer games and enjoy working through things in a methodical way, this could be a great job for you. Games testing is a popular way of starting out in the games industry. It can be a good way to find out about the business as a whole. As a computer games tester it would be your job to play games many times to spot any bugs and mistakes that need to be fixed before the game goes on sale.

You don't need formal qualifications to become a tester. Your playing skills and knowledge of the games market will be more important to employers.

A good games tester has the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines. You will also need patience, persistence and good office computer skills.

The work

Testing is a vital part of producing a computer game. As well as finding and recording programming faults (bugs), you would also play the role of the game’s first public user. You would report on its playability and recommend improvements.

As part of a team of quality assurance (QA) testers, you would:

• play games in detail and in as many ways as possible
• test different levels and versions of a game
• check its performance against what the designer intended
• compare the game against others on the market
• note problems and suggest improvements
• try to work out what is causing a problem
• try to recreate the problem, recording the steps you took
• check accessibility options
• check for spelling mistakes and copyright issues such as logos
• check the text on packaging and in instruction manuals
• enter each 'bug report' into a quality management system
• work to strict deadlines.

You would work closely with programmers, artists and designers before a game is released, and with customer support teams after it is on the market. Some jobs may involve checking and translating in-game instructions and manuals for overseas markets.

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Hours

You would often work long and unsocial hours (such as evenings, weekends and public holidays) in order to meet deadlines, particularly when getting near to a game’s release.

The work is office-based and you would spend most of your time at a computer.

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Income

Starting salaries can be between £12,000 and £18,000 a year. With experience, earnings could reach £25,000 to £30,000.

Entry requirements

QA testing is a popular way of starting out in the games industry, particularly if you are not already qualified as an artist or programmer. It can be a great way to find out about the business as a whole.

You do not need formal qualifications to become a tester, as your playing skills and knowledge of the games market will be more important to employers. However, some basic knowledge of programming may give you an advantage when looking for work, as will experience of using databases, which are used for bug reports.

Employers will want to see proof of your knowledge and enthusiasm for the games industry. Attending games events, trade shows and expos, and keeping yourself up to date with industry news through gaming magazines and websites can help you in this.

Another useful option is to join dedicated forums on social media sites, particularly ones linked to professional bodies, games development companies and games publishers, where you can make contact with people working in the industry, seek advice and hear about opportunities before they are advertised.

Experience in games retail is another way of developing useful background knowledge and an understanding of game players' needs.

Although not essential, having a foundation degree, BTEC HND or degree in games design, games development or computing can be helpful, especially if you want to progress into programming, design or producing.

Several universities offer computer games courses. The most useful ones include practical skills and work placements. Many people find their first job in the games industry through placements. Check with universities about course content and entry requirements. You can find details of industry-approved courses on the Creative Skillset website.

• Creative Skillset - course search 

See the Creative Skillset Careers website for more information about more roles in the computer games industry.

• Creative Skillset Careers - computer games 

• Training and development

  You will mainly develop your skills on the job, although your employer may train you to use their bug reporting software and design test plans.
  You could increase your skills by gaining Professional Certification in Software Testing (formerly known as ISEB) through the Chartered Institute for IT. See the Institute's website for more details.
  • Chartered Institute for IT 

  • Skills, interests and qualities

    To become a computer games tester you will need:
    • excellent analytical and problem-solving skills
    • a passion for playing computer games and an ability to play at high levels
    • good written and spoken communication skills
    • an understanding of quality assurance processes
    • the ability to work well as part of a team
    • a tactful manner
    • good negotiation skills
    • the ability to work under pressure and meet deadlines
    • patience and persistence, for repetitive work
    • a methodical and disciplined approach
    • excellent attention to detail
    • a good knowledge of the games market
    • a willingness to work flexibly
    • good office computer skills.
    Foreign language skills are also useful for testing games aimed at overseas markets.
    
    saurce : nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk