When you think of becoming a video game tester, you probably picture yourself sitting in a chair all day, playing video games, having fun, and receiving a fat pay check. It sounds glamorous doesn’t it, not doing any real “work” and getting paid for it. Well gamers, I’m hear to tell you that this is not the case, especially if you have little or no experience as a video game tester.
In reality, a novice video game tester makes around $10 – $15 dollars an hour. On top of that it may also be hard to find jobs due to the fact that big game companies won’t deal with you. So on average, as a beginner, you will probably make $250 – $300 a week. The rate of pay for any tester all depends on the types of skills they know and the amount of experience they have. For example, the only way someone could earn $80 an hour is if they were an expert video game programmer who has over 10 years of experience. So obviously as a beginner with no experience and only a basic knowledge a video games, it will be hard to get high paying jobs. Although this is the case for most novice game testers, there are ways to get hooked up with the big game companies and higher paying jobs early on.
All you have to do is become a member of a game testing site. They will help you find the best jobs and give you everything you need to maximize your income as a video game tester. You have to be careful because though because there are some game testing sites out there that are scams and will do nothing but steal your money. But if you do find a good honest video game testing site, then you can usually get you your first job in under a week! Also with the high quality customer support and guides that these sites offer you will have no trouble finding a job that pays good money.
After you get your first job the game company will send you a game and an assignment. The assignment can be anything from taking a survey on the game to finding bugs within the game. Some time these tasks can get boring and tedious, although in my opinion it is well worth the pay. Just remember not to give up no matter how tough it gets because as you test more and more games, you will start earning more and more money.
By: Brendan Webb
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Filed under Business by on Nov 20th, 2010. 
There are some people who absolutely love playing video games. Naturally, the perfect job for this person would be video game testing. While it is fun work, it is also a serious job. Game testers are responsible for testing through all the steps while it is still in the development phase. Since it may be full of bugs, it is essential for a game tester to have patience.
Game testers must be organized and disciplined because they need to follow strict procedures. This job is not just about generating the highest score, but rather following a precise course of action to determine if the game is functioning as intended. An eye for detail is a must in this position, as is a cursory understanding of game programming and game design, so that any flaw found can be documented and fixed before the finished product is sent to market.
Video game testing is serious business. All testers must have a working knowledge of computer hardware and software. In addition, excellent communication skills are needed so that he or she can note the flaws in the game and evaluate/communicate its overall performance to designers. Therefore, testers must posses great eye-hand coordination and effective communication skills.
Bringing a new video game into the marketplace is time-consuming and expensive. Writers create the game’s characters, and illustrators give them life. Code programmers create the world the characters will operate in. Typically, game testers are introduced to the game early in the development process to help iron out flaws along the way. Game testers are called on often during the development stage to test the game at certain intervals and ensure quality.
Video game developers take the testing process seriously. Should a flawed game be sent to store shelves it can cost the manufacturer in terms of both lost revenue and a tarnished reputation. ******** video game enthusiasts want their games to work perfectly. Lose the gamers trust, and the game company risks losing market share. Yes, testing is serious business, and the worst case scenario is recalling a defective game from store shelves.
Game testers are problem finders. Some game testers only test the software, while others test for hardware compatibility and potential issues. Repetitive testing is applied to make sure problems do not crop up. If problems do arise, it might only happen in certain situations, and the tester is responsible for finding and noting the defect. Hardware tests might be implemented to the controller to see how the game performs under heavy use.
Many enthusiasts may think being a tester is all about playing. Some testing can be menial; for example, an entry-level tester may be required to turn the console on and off hundreds of times. Another tester might be asked to download movies while playing, just to see how the system responds.
However, if you are an individual that enjoys gadgets and tedious detail, then perhaps the career of video game tester is the job for you. You will have an inside look at how video games are tested for market, and furthermore, you will know what video games are coming out before they are actually released.
By: Gina Kraft
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Filed under Business by on Nov 19th, 2010.
There are a lot of online video game suppliers to choose from but who among them are the best video game suppliers you can really rely on? It is true that the online marketing zone is filled with both the best and the rotten tomatoes. Do you have the luxury of time to sort through the pile of tomatoes and separate the good from the bad ones? I think not. As busy entrepreneurs, most of us only have time to find our target market before our competitors do and promote our products if we are lucky. Time is money!
Of course the basic step in establishing your online store requires you to have products to sell, right? There’s no use of opening a store with empty shelves. Naturally, the first thing you have to do is to find wholesale sources if you wanted to open up a major offline store offline or on the Internet.
So how do you easily determine the most famous contact partners for your business and how do you avoid suppliers that only show you how to dig but without the shovel? Probably one could say “I would have to deal with all the suppliers first and learn from experience if they are the ones I’m looking for, right?” Wrong! What if most of the suppliers you’ve found sell you in bulk – it happens, been there done that!
Some known baits used by sellers to lure resellers into their trap include extensive bulk selling and so much more so you can be the next rags to riches serial Trump. That is so funny. Most of the items provided in the unbelievable deals of rotten suppliers include products that you don’t need and things that you never wanted. Ask yourself what’s your purpose before buying, that’s so easy to do!
Drawing the line between the best and the rotten online video game suppliers is easier to do when you can identify their differences. You have to take note of the following criteria such as product quality, business track record, prices, deals, credit terms, payment options, delivery services, and customer feedback. The best suppliers have exemplary ratings on all the criteria mentioned and most of the best video game manufacturers entrust their popular products by providing licenses to people who will carry the modern tradition of 2008.
Be sure you know what you want, what you need and to whom are you selling an item in auction sites or on your own private e-commerce store. It’s the difference between pipe dreams and illusions. Online video game suppliers are another of my profit monopolistic profit venture; it’s just a secret not many will get to know. Now, what do you desire? What do you want or need? That’s the questions that all of us ask. Duh, right? So simple and millions and even billions around the world still don’t grasp it. Make sure you and your loved ones understand the meaning, I know I need to remind myself often – it should be a habit!
By: John A. Roberts
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Read more on Why Most Video Game Suppliers Online Sell In Bulk – Careful!…
Filed under Business by on Nov 18th, 2010.
Game testers are essential in order to test and review all the latest games before they are released to the public. There are many people around the world who get paid to play and test the latest video games and for anyone who enjoys playing video games, then this really is a dream job.
The gaming industry is currently a multi-billion dollar industry. Before game developers release a new game into the market, they need real people to carry out a genuine and honest review on the game itself, they need to know how the game can be improved and by gaining the opinions of real people, this enables the game developers to produce the best games on the market.
The career can be very satisfying, rewarding and lucrative. If you have a passion for playing video games then you should really consider this as a genuine career opportunity.
It used to be very difficult to get into this profession. However with the advance in internet technology it has now become much easier and most of the game developers recruit through various internet websites.
There is no actual face to face interview involved, however you should always inform the company of your relevant skills and gaming experience, as this will be an important element of the selection criteria.
When you are selected to work for a game developer, the company will send you the latest games, along with an explanation of what they require you to do, usually they will require you to give your opinions on the game and state what you liked and disliked, along with how you think the game can be improved. You will then send them your review online through the game developers website and they will then pay you for your time, this is usually in the form of the cheque which is sent to your home address.
If you really enjoy playing video games then take advantage of this great career opportunity and become a video game tester today.
By: Jon Amos
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Filed under Business by on Nov 17th, 2010.
Do you know all the game consoles in the market and spends hours playing video games with your friends? Your parents would probably think that you don’t have a viable future since you have obviously become addicted to that video game in your computer. But what your parents didn’t know is that you are so addicted to video game playing that you and your friends have started considering looking for video game tester jobs.
You are not just the regular bum or that lazy good-for-nothing game fanatic after all. You do have a future in the game industry. Flipping through the pages of the latest game magazines, you’ve discovered that as console manufacturers develop more and more games, they are also in the look out for staff. From computer programmers, quality assurance team or staff who as that intense passion to video game playing, the video game industry is expanding and taking on more people to fill in the video game tester jobs in their human resources list.
Video game tester jobs can either be regular or temporary positions. Some companies accept high school graduates for temporary posts. Depending on the qualifications, from game video tester to quality assurance to a more complex position like the actual game developers which require advanced studies and a college degree related to computers and gaming.
Here are stages that modern computer and video games undergo before the manufacturers release them to consumers. The first two stages are localization testing and then beta testing which where most game testers come in. Beta testing can happen off-site or within the offices of the company. Beta testers are the first line of bug finders. Once the bugs are detected the game testers need to play that level again and again in order to reproduce the bugs and create a complete report on it. A certain level on knowledge is important in beta testing but an even higher qualification is needed for quality assurance testing.
After beta testing, the regression testing begins wherein the coders who have fixed the bugs will send it back to the testing team for another grueling task of checking if the bug has been completely fixed and if the correction created other bugs in the game. This type of testing is called the halo testing. The next types of testing include compatibility, load, unit and soak testing.
Bottom line is, being a video game tester is not a kid’s game and computer and video game development is not a big playground where everyone can just chill and do what excites them for a fee. Being in this industry requires diligence, patience and technical expertise. It is not as lucrative or as fun as everyone wants to think. Who wants to play video games repetitively and the same level for hours at that? Most temp staffs are paid a minimal amount by the hour.
By: Rita R Philips
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Filed under Business by on Nov 14th, 2010.
As always, new opportunities for earning money are met by some people with skepticism. The appearance of video game testing jobs in the employment scene is no exception to this rule, particularly when the playing of video games is not considered by most people as real work. This is only natural because of the concept that work is not something an employee would usually enjoy.
Playing with video games can provide a person with so much fun and enjoyment that many parents are worried that their children could be addicted to these to the detriment of their studies. How could something that would offer so much entertainment be called work?
In addition to the above, games tester jobs need not be full-time – these could be done part-time so a person would only need to work for at least two hours a day. At a minimum of $30 for beginners, this kind of job could really appear to be a dream job.
The answer to the original question is actually not that simple. Many criminals are always on the lookout for these kinds of trends to exploit them without offering real jobs. Skeptics are indeed justified in this particular case.
However, video game companies are indeed looking for games testers, because they stand to lose millions or more if they market their products and it turns out that these have serious flaws. Game developers are not necessarily gamers, while expert and passionate gamers have a different way of looking at the games. It has been proven in many game forums that gamers can really find the serious bugs in games, which could destroy the reputation and profitability of the company.
Thus, there are legitimate offers for games tester jobs. However, applicants need to be very careful in choosing the real ones and avoiding the scams.
By: Alexx Lee
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Playing games at home and getting paid for it doesn’t.
Click HERE if you agree.Visit GamesTester.Org for your BEST chance at progressing as a games tester.
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Filed under Business by on Sep 14th, 2010.
With the high amount of sales in the video game industry testing is in large demand. There is no particular type of education or degree required for video game testing. Once a person acquires this job their opinion about video games may change especially if they are expecting it to be all fun. The problem is that the job will require playing the games over and over again to identify problems and mistakes. While some of the mistakes will not be hard to locate, others will be extremely difficult to find. Problems must also be documented. Testing the game repeatedly for sporadic problems is hard because they may happen only at a particular point during the game and that has to be repeatedly tested.
Video game testing takes someone who is goal-driven, has a passion for the game and a high tolerance for exhaustion. Although the job may be hard for some, the pay compensation for it because it can pay up to $15 per hour. You also get to keep the games which keeps you from having to purchase so many in the video game store.
The games that are tested require various game system console platforms. They include Xbox, Xbox 360, Playstation 2, Playstation 3, Nintendo Game Cube, Nintendo Wii, and PC computer games. You will receive many games which haven’t been tested yet. Beta testing is done at the last stages of creating a video game This is a critical stage where issues with playability and bugs in the games are tested and reported. The three primary kinds of video game tester jobs are video game developer tester, a publishing company tester, and a reviews and guides tester.
Game tester clubs are a good tool for those who are interested in getting a good start as a game tester. This is especially true for developers who want to get their product tested extensively. If you want to become a video game tester, you should consider joining one of these clubs and begin making money.
Finally, here are some good resources that can help you begin working as a video game tester:
Game Tester Guide-This program has a lifetime membership. You receive the games through the mail. You play the games, fill out the survey, and send it back. You will then receive a check. Gamer Testing Ground-They get you connected with game testing opportunities quickly. Through this program you can receive game titles which haven’t been released yet. They put you in touch with contacts who will help you find work quickly. Memberships are available to suit all budgets.
By: Matt Murren
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Filed under Business by on Sep 5th, 2010.
What Is The Average Video Game Tester Salary?
Being a video game tester is one of the most enjoyable jobs in the world. Getting to play and find all the secrets to the newest and greatest games before anyone else. For someone who loves video games it is the perfect job! But can you actually make a living doing it? Fun is fun but fun doesn’t pay the bills.
Lucky for you the average video game tester salary is definitely enough to pay the bills. It can range anywhere from $20,000 per year all the up to $100,000 or more. How much you get paid is directly related to the amount of jobs you do. Most game testers are hired on a job to job basis and not a yearly salary so it is a little harder to judge.
Generally a video game company will pay out on an hourly rate. That rate is usually $10-$20 per hour to start depending on the company but as you get more experience and get your name out there more you can achieve much, much more. Sometimes as high as $100 per hour! So as you can see the pay is very reasonable, especially since you get to do it from home and get to have a lot of fun.
The biggest downside to it all is since it is job to job you may not always have a steady stream of income if you do not get selected to test games for a period of time. That is where it is important to get your name out there and let the big video game companies know who you are. But how exactly can you do that?
By: Jason T Hunt
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Filed under Business by on Sep 4th, 2010.
If you are looking for video game tester career information, then you have hit the jackpot. This article will give you an idea of what you need to be able to make a career of games testing, and what is the best way to start.
1- Getting A Job
I got involved in games testing via contacts I had with a friend who worked as a game programmer. Today there are far easier ways to land game testing jobs. There are some legitimate game tester guides available which will connect you with the best jobs available at gaming companies. You do need to be wary, as there as also some scam products out there.
2 – Game Testing Is A Career Not A Hobby
Obviously you are reading this article because you are serious about making video game testing into a career. This is very important as despite the fact getting paid to play video games is pretty much a dream job, you need to take it seriously – and gaming companies will reward you for doing so.
3 – Always Meet Deadlines
When you get you first job, make sure that you deliver on time. You will most likely be expected to fill out a survey form in relation to the bugs and issues you find with the unreleased game. Make sure you get the job done on time, and gaming companies will reward you with more jobs. Trust me, this is good video game tester career information.
4 – Be Specific When Describing Bugs And Issues
You need to be able to be as specific as possible when describing potential issues with games. A game programmer will be dealing with your feedback, so there is certainly no need to simplify or summarise the issues you find. Again, I know for a fact the more information and the more specific you can be, the more you will be rewarded.
Conclusion
Hopefully this article has given you some video game tester career information, and perhaps a direction in starting your journey to becoming a video game tester. Be persistent and show that you are thorough, and you will have no problem making a career out of it.
By: Dave S Jackson
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http://www.becomeavideogametester.info/gametesting.html
Filed under Business by on Sep 3rd, 2010.
If someone where to ask you to test a new video game they just finished making, would you do it? I would and I know anyone who players video game would jump at the chance to play a game before anyone else.
That’s pretty much what game testers do. Except, they get paid a lot to do just that.
So I decided to look into getting me a job testing video games. I figured, “Heck, I spend enough time sitting here playing video games everyday, so why not?” And I think I made one of the smartest decisions that day. Getting paid to playing video games is seriously a dream job for me.
The best part about it is there are practically no requirements. So anyone can do it basically, but I recommend that you have a passion for video games, it helps when you’re sitting there playing the game for a long time lol.
All you need to qualify as a game tester is:
- You must be 18 years or older.(Although some companies will hire you as long as you are 15.)
- A next-gen console (Xbox360 PS3 Wii), or a good computer to test video games.
- Connection to the internet so you can send your feedback to the companies. (which I’m sure you have if you’re reading this you have LOL.) Although some companies will mail you your assignments.
That’s all you need to “qualify” as a video game tester. The rest of the skills, like knowing what to look for as you’re playing a game, can be developed later on once you get more seasoned with your new job.
Getting a job as a video game tester can be really difficult on your own. Fortunately, you don’t have to do it alone. There are membership communities all over the internet that help you with everything you need as a new video game testers. Although, some of these communities ask for a monthly subscription. But if you look for the right ones you SHOULD only pay once.
By: Diego Pires
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Filed under Business by on Sep 3rd, 2010.