If you are passionate about gaming and want to work in a gaming-related career, you will be glad to hear that opportunities are blossoming. There are plenty of options to choose from whether you want to get into the techy side of things as a game developer, work on creating components for consoles and gaming PCs, or start your own business as a gaming content creator with a blog, YouTube channel, Twitch channel, or TikTok profile. Another option that you might want to consider is a career in game testing. This is a great job for anybody who loves gaming, as you’ll be spending your time playing games that haven’t been released to the public yet, identifying any issues and providing feedback for improvements.
What Does a Games Tester Do?
As a professional games tester, you are responsible for testing games and making sure that they are released to other players in the best form to provide an excellent experience. It can be quite repetitive, as you might be testing the same area of a game over and over for quite a while, so it’s a good job for perfectionists and those who don’t mind doing the same thing repeatedly to get the best results. You will be provided with design documentation and required to test the game features alongside it to ensure that it runs smoothly and is as expected. You might be employed or working on a contract basis.
What You Need to Test Games
If you want to start a career in games testing, then you might need to invest in some equipment, especially if you’re planning to get into this line of work as a self-employed contractor. You’ll need to ensure that you have the right equipment to play different games on. This might include the latest console versions such as the Xbox One Series X or the PlayStation 5. If you’re mainly going to be testing PC games, then you will need to have a top-spec gaming PC with a high-end graphics card – click here to find out more.
Qualifications and Skills
The skills and qualifications that you will need to get started with testing games can vary depending on the game developer that you are going to be working for. Some might not require games testers to have any qualifications, but you will need to show that you are a skilled and dedicated gamer when you apply. Since the job can be quite repetitive, you’ll need to be patient and able to deal with problems like stress or getting bored, as testing games can often be quite different compared to playing them for fun. If you’re going to be working on a contract basis, you’ll need a set of good transferable skills including time management, communication, and organisation skills.
If you love gaming, then a career testing games might sound like a dream. But before you dive into this line of work, it’s important to know what it entails and what you’ll need to do it successfully.