Video Game Testing - Become A Video Game Tester In 5 Simple Steps

Step One: Be Proactive!

You won't land any video game tester jobs if you just sit around and wait for a "Game Testers Wanted" ad to appear in the paper. It won't happen. So instead of sitting back and waiting for a miracle to occur, just get out there and find the perfect video game testing job for you.

Head straight to the game companies and developers and apply for testing jobs. Since they aren't looking for you, the only logical step is to actively search for them. Once you find them (which shouldn't take too long), apply for a game tester position with them and then repeat the process for as many different companies as humanly possible.


On your application/resume, brag about all of your video game achievements, such as the consoles you own, the games you've played, the games you own, the MMORPGs you are apart of, and anything else that shows how much experience you have with video games. And if you want to help your cause even further, create a website/blog that talks about video games, gives reviews, previews, cheats, hints, tips, etc.

You have to remember that experience and professionalism count for a lot in this industry. Therefore, the more experience you have and the more professional you are, the better your chances are for getting a video game tester job.

Step Two: Step Out of Fairy Tale Land and Into Reality

You have to realize that video game testing is a job. Yes, it's a really fun job, but it is still a job nonetheless. This means that you have to treat it as such and take every part of it seriously. Don't merely sit down and play the game to have a good time. Sit down and play the game so that you can collect a paycheck when you're through.

Many "wanna-be" testers believe that being a professional video game tester is a "no work, all play" type of career. Honestly, they couldn't be more wrong. Although there aren't huge amounts of work that a game tester must wade through, there are still a few things that he/she has to complete. For instance, filling out reports. Surprised? Well, most aspiring young testers are when they hear that there is actual work involved with video game testing.

Contrary to what you may have thought, you won't be simply playing games and giving your opinion on whether they are good or not. You will actually be testing them. You will play through a game, find any bugs or glitches, and then fill out reports on any problems that you come across. This is to help the developers and programmers locate and fix those problems. You don't have to be an English professor or a college graduate to write bug reports, but you will have to have basic writing skills. Aside from the reports, you will also be required to fill out numerous questionnaires; which are typically opinion based.

Step Three: Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to become a better video game tester is to practice. You've heard it before, "practice makes perfect". Well, that usually is the case for being a game tester.

You're probably thinking "how can I practice-test video games?" Honestly, the same way you would practice doing anything else; you just do it. While you are in between jobs, do what you always do, play video games. Except this time, play it like you are testing the game instead of simply having fun with it.

Just like with actual testing jobs, go over every game you play with a fine tooth comb and look for any bugs or glitches while you are playing. Obviously, there aren't going to be a significant amount of bugs/glitches due to the fact that the game has already been tested, fixed, & released. However, nobody is perfect and something was bound to be missed.

Will you find anything? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that you are looking, and in doing so you are testing the game as though you were being paid to. This type of mentality & practice will get you prepared for testing jobs. Not only that, but it will sharpen your awareness skills and allow you to spot bugs and glitches much more easily.

Should you practice 24 Hours a day, 7 Days a Week? Of course not. You should still take time out of your day to just play games and enjoy them with no strings attached. After all, if you just test & test & test, you might find yourself hating video games after awhile. With that being said, it's okay to test the games you play, but don't be afraid to take some time out and genuinely enjoy them.

Step Four: Make Contacts!
Networking is a vital part of any video game testers career. It's possible to be successful without a network of reliable contacts, but it's definitely not as easy. Therefore, you should try to get acquainted with as many people in the gaming industry as possible; testers, developers, programmers, graphics designers, artists, sound/audio specialists, and anyone else who is around games daily.

Your network of contacts can help your career drastically and allow you to land testing jobs a whole lot easier. Whether it be just putting in a good word for you or letting you know when new testing jobs have opened up, a network of contacts is something no game tester should be without.

Step Five: Never Give Up!
No matter what happens, don't give up on your dream of becoming a professional video game tester. You need to keep in mind that things will not always go your way. The job you were absolutely sure you'd get might go to someone else, and the check that you thought was going to be huge might not actually be so big.

There will be times when you have a lucky streak and get testing job after testing job. Then again, there will also be times when you hit a dry spell and get nothing-zippo-nadda for a couple of weeks. But still, no matter how big or small the speed bump happens to be, just do your best to get over it and keep on going.

Don't stress over not landing your first testing job either. The first one is always the hardest to bag. Some people get lucky and get one in their first week, others can go months before getting that first "You're Hired" notification. All in All, you just have to go with the flow and keep working on your video game tester career.

In conclusion, always remember that a professional video game tester has the blessing of having a genuinely fun job. Most people aren't excited about going to work and working a boring 9-5 shift. You, on the other hand, get to do what you love and get paid for it. So, have fun with your career and enjoy the video games you are testing. After all, it really doesn't get much better than getting paid to play video games!