Video Game Tester Jobs - Should You Get Into Paid Video Game Testing?
Ranked #336 in Games, #7,519 overall
Being A Paid Video Game Tester- Is It Really That Great?
There are a few rather displeasing qualities to video game testing, but then again, they are necessary evils for a job such as this. For instance, when testing a video game, you may have to play a single level over & over & over simply to locate all of that areas bugs and/or glitches. As I said, this may be displeasing and even a bit boring, but it's nothing most gamers can't handle.
As for the video game tester work load, it may be a bit more than you originally thought. Video game testers don't get paid to sit on their butt and play games all day for the fun of it, they get paid to test games and file reports on their testings. It's not back breaking work, but it is work nonetheless.
Video game testing is obviously not for everyone. But, if you are a gamer that loves to play games and logs 20 hours on video game consoles every week, then a career in video game testing might be perfect for you.
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Contents at a Glance
- How To Become a Video Game Tester In 5 Easy Steps
- Should I Become a Video Game Tester?
- The Average Video Game Tester Salary
How To Become a Video Game Tester In 5 Easy Steps
5 Steps That Will Lead To A Successful Game Testing Career
If you want to make a living playing and testing video games, there's really only five steps you need to complete. And today must be your lucky day because I'm going to show you how to go from a gamer who plays for fun to someone who plays for fun and cash!First, you have to be a serious gamer. This means you have to be good at playing & beating games in all sorts of different genres. Also, experience with multiple platforms helps significantly. Think of it this way: the more consoles you own, the more opportunities you'll have to land jobs.
Second, you have to start applying for jobs immediately. This means contacting the right sources, such as video game companies, developers, and even independent publishers. Once you contact them, tell them who you are, what your skills include, and explain how you can help them produce better video games by being part of their testing team. Make your case as compelling and persuasive as possible. Basically, try to be so persuasive and confident that it makes them think "Boy, We'd be complete idiots NOT to hire this guy."
Even if you have to offer to test games initially for free, which would be to prove yourself, you just have to get your foot in the door. Create a good enough reputation for yourself and it won't be long before your beating away job offers with a stick.
Third, you must gain experience. The more testing you do, the higher your pay is going to be, period. When you first start testing, you will likely find that you're completing many jobs for next to nothing. But once you show that you are excellent at finding bugs, providing detailed feedback, and doing both in a timely matter, you'll find more & more jobs coming your way.
Fourth, develop contacts in the video gaming industry. The simplest way of doing this is helping someone else with their job/project and not expecting anything return. Simply by doing them a favor, they will easily remember you. In the future, they're likely to drop in a good word on your behalf; or they might put you in touch with a key individual that can help you get more testing experience or possibly even a video game testing job.
Fifth and finally -- don't reinvent the wheel. There are plenty of smart & successful people out there who have already figured out the best ways to land video game tester jobs as quickly as possible. Follow their systems, learn what they teach, and then apply it. This is the best way to speed through the entire "beginner" process and jump-start your career quickly.
There you have it, five simple steps on how to become a professional video game tester. If the idea of playing video games for money excites you, start taking action today; you won't regret it!
For Information On Video Game Testing and To Find Out How To Land High Paying Video Game Tester Jobs, Click Here
Should I Become a Video Game Tester?
Is Being a Video Game Tester Really Worth The Hassle?
It's a valid question...why should you, or anyone else for that matter, become a professional video game tester? To figure that out, we should probably go over the benefits of paid game testing. That way, you can decide if a career as a video game tester is something you really want to pursue.The biggest thing that makes this profession so attractive is the fact that you're playing video games and making money. Whether you want to call it testing, evaluating, analyzing, or helping, you're still playing a video game when you get down to the facts.
If you were to ask any of your friends if they want to get paid to play video games, what would they say? You already know the answer, don't you? You know because you are saying the same thing right now, HELL YES!
If you are a true gamer at heart, the idea of playing video games for money probably makes you feel all warm and fuzzy on the inside. After all, you probably never would have guessed that you could test games from your home and then collect a nice fat paycheck at the end of the week. And when you think about it, that's what being a video game tester is all about, testing the newest and coolest video games from home and then getting paid for it.
This actually brings up another good question -- How much do game testers really get paid? Well, that's yet another great thing about video game testing...most video game testers are paid quite well. It's true. To be honest, when first starting out with paid game testing, things can be a bit rough; but that usually passes quickly with a bit of time and experience.
Okay, you're probably looking for an actual figure to work with, right? Alright then, heres something for you to mull over: As a professional video game tester, you can literally make up to $120 PER HOUR!
I'm sure you've seen this claim on advertisements or websites before, and you were probably thinking that it was just hype or a scam; well, it's not. Admittedly, you won't make that much when you first start, but you can reach that level with more experience and better references. As a new game tester, expect to make anywhere from $20,000 to $40,000 a year; depending on your dedication & work ethic of course. You will only get work so long as you are active and willing to test games constantly. That means if you stop applying for jobs and/or positions, the money will likely stop rolling in.
What other perks are there? Well, aside from the fact that you are testing games from home, you also usually get to keep the games you test. You heard correct, you actually get to keep the video games you test for game companies. And although they aren't technically finished, many of the games are in the final stages of development, which means that there will only be a few bugs to deal with and you're getting the game almost 100% complete. Okay, so it's not exactly perfect, but a free video game is still a free video game nonetheless. Not to mention, you get to play the newest & coolest video games before anyone else; that's got to count for something, right?
So, what's the verdict? Does this sound like a career that you could really enjoy and make money from? If it does, I suggest you get started ASAP. Game companies and developers are always on the lookout for bright, new testers, so just get yourself out there.
If you don't know where to start, you should check out This Great Website. It has everything an aspiring game tester needs to get started with professional game testing. Honestly, no video game tester should be without the information they offer. Do yourself a favor and check it out. I guarantee you won't regret it!
The Average Video Game Tester Salary
How much can you earn with video game testing?
Being a professional video game tester is obviously great. You get to play the newest video games and you get paid to do so. Honestly, what more could any gamer ask for? However, the big questions is: how much does a video game tester get paid? After all, if the pay isn't any good, why would a person continue in that line of work?The average video game tester salary can range from 15-20 thousand dollars per year all the way up to 80-100+ thousand per year. How much a game tester makes is directly related to how many jobs he gets as well as what developers hire him. However, since most game testers work on a job by job basis and not on a contractual salary, let's break down the yearly figure into an hourly and a weekly figure.
Starting game testers are typically paid $12-20 per hour, depending on their level of experience. For this example, let's take the middle ground and go with $15 per hour for a new video game tester. Game testers tend to put in a lot of hours each week (40 to 50+), which is usually due to a developer's inflexible deadlines. With that being said, let's say the tester works the typically minimum (40 hours) and is paid the aforementioned $15 per hour of testing work. 40 hours x $15 is a weekly paycheck of $600 dollars, assuming the tester were to work that many hours each week. Sounds like a nice paycheck, right? You bet it does, and most gamers would be thrilled to cash a check like that every week.
The big downside to being a video game tester, as mentioned above, is that your career progresses on a per job basis. You won't get a testing job every month, nor will you get one every week. As a matter of fact, it is fairly common to have a long wait in between many of your testing jobs. So, unless you are at the top of your game and tons of game developers know of you, be prepared to wait in line like all the rest. Fortunately for you though, there is a way to increase the amount of job openings that are available to you, and it's called networking. To read an article about video game tester networking, Click Here.
Does a career as a professional video game tester peek your interest? Well, it should. Game testing is a great job and anyone who does it will say the same thing. The few drawbacks that come with video game testing don't even come close to making it an "iffy" decision, and that's simply because this career is genuinely fun!
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Improve Your Video Game Tester Skills With Practice
You Thought You Needed a Degree? Heh, All You Need Is Some Practice
Although many gamers don't realize it, they can actually practice & improve their game testing skills without actually being a professional video game tester. "Is that really true?" Yes, it's 100% true. You don't have to have an actual testing job to be able to practice game testing; you just have to own a console and have a few games."Okay, I have a next-gen console and I have games, now what?" Well, it's really quite simple; you just play the game(s) as a video game tester would. What that means is you can't just sit down and have fun with the game; you have to analyze it, evaluate it, and be aware of everything that is going on on-screen. In retrospect, you won't be playing the game, you'll be testing it. Although that may not mean much to regular gamers, it means all the difference in the world to a video game tester.
To begin practicing, simply start up the game and begin playing it. While you are playing, try to relax your eyes and let yourself take in the entire screen. This will help you to locate more bugs and glitches, as your eye "reflexes" will be more susceptible to irregular movement. This may sound a bit strange, but it actually works.
You have to realize that as you play a video game, you get accustomed to seeing certain things. After awhile, these "certain" things become oblivious to you and it's almost as if they weren't even there. This means that when you relax and just let your eyes do all the work, you will be much more likely to pick up things that don't quite belong in the picture; rather than accusing everything you see as being a bug or a glitch. Having the "is that a bug/glitch?" fever is something that you definitely don't want. Before long, you will be interpreting everything you see as a bug/glitch and you won't be able to handle any type of testing jobs. This is precisely why relaxing is so important; because you can't force the bugs and glitches to come out, you have to sit back & wait for them to show themselves.
Since you are playing a finished game, you obviously won't come across nearly as many bugs or glitches as you would have otherwise. However, that usually isn't a problem. Why isn't it? Because you're looking for bugs/glitches and that's what really counts. Whether or not you find anything matters little; it's the fact that you are getting into the habit of actually testing video games, rather than just playing them.
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Improve Your Resume & Get More Video Game Testing Jobs
Get More Paid Game Tester Jobs With Some Resume "Improvements"
"Improving my resume? Do you mean lie?" No, you won't have to lie to improve your video game tester resume. You don't have to embellish, exaggerate, fib, and/or stretch the truth. All you have to do is tell the truth. Worried that telling the truth will result in "Sorry, you don't have enough experience"? Well, don't be. There is a simple way for you to legitimately gain more experience and display that fact on your resume; and contrary to what you might think, it's not by "playing more games".It's true that playing more video games will indirectly help get you more testing jobs, but thats not the "way" we're talking about. To show the, for lack of a better word, illusion of expertise, all you have to do is set up a simple website or blog. The purpose of this website/blog is to openly display your video game experience for others to see; more specifically, game developers.
How does a website or blog help? Basically, it allows possible employers to see, at some level, how involved you are with the video game industry. Obviously, they aren't going to base their entire decision on how pretty your website looks. However, it will play a small part in you being hired or rejected. So, with that being said, be sure to put some decent effort into your website or blog.
Although not having a website won't hurt your chances, having a poor website can. If you set one up and display poor information and/or act like a clown, you won't score any points with the company or developer you're applying to. As a matter of fact, you'll probably lose points.
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If you don't know much about creating websites, the best thing you can do is set-up a free blog at blogger.com. Choose a pre-made template and then work from there. Blogger blogs look quite nice and can give you that professional look that you're going for. It's either that or you set up your very own website and do everything completely on your own. Your choice.
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Your goal here is to present yourself in a professional manner and provide as much accurate information as possible. What you add to the website/blog really doesn't matter so long as it is video game related and contains some sort of useful info. You can add reviews, previews, hints, cheats, tips, strategy guides, walk-throughs, and/or anything else that you can think of. You have to remember that these developers and game companies are looking for professional video game testers, not occasional game players who think of gaming as a "weekend hobby"; therefore, the more detailed information and content you provide, the better off you'll be.
If you're busy and don't have time to write and then add video game related information to your blog, you could always outsource it to someone else. What does that mean? It simply means you would pay someone to write the reviews, previews, and other information. Some may consider this to be a bit sneaky and dishonest, but that's up to you to decide. Generally speaking, most testers would rather be "sneaky and have an actual video game tester job" than be "honest and without a job."
Having a website/blog listed on your resume is a great reference all on it's own. It clearly shows the company your level of experience with video games and makes you appear dramatically more professional, which is exactly what you want.
If You're Not Worried About Your Game Testing Resume and Just Want To Get Started With Paid Game Testing, Click Here!
4 Tips For Finding Video Game Tester Jobs Fast
Learn to Find Video Game Testing Jobs Faster and Easier
- Don't quit! This may seem obvious to you, but it's the main reason why most starting game testers don't make it. They apply for their first video game tester job and are rejected, leading them to believe they don't have what it takes to be a game tester. This is simply untrue. Just because you've been denied once, twice, 3 times, 4 times, or more it doesn't mean you can't hack it as a tester -- it just means the developer needs someone more experienced for the job.
- Don't be afraid to test games for free. Testing video games for free, although hard to stomach, is a great way to get your foot in the door. Developers won't have to worry about wasting money on another "newbie" tester because you'll be testing for free. If you do a good job, not only do you have a potential employer, but you'll have a great reference for future video game tester jobs.
- You're not going to find testing jobs in the local newspaper, so stop looking! Seriously, testing jobs are not going to find you, so stop pretending that they will. You won't find them by asking your best friend, you won't find them by reading an ad, and you won't find them by reading the classifieds section of the newspaper -- it's just not that easy. Yes, testing jobs are out there, but they aren't being advertised on a large scale basis. Game developers know that professional testers will come to them; not the other way around. That being said, get yourself out there and head directly to the companies!
- It's not what you know, it's who you know. This couldn't not be more true when it comes to video game testing. Knowing more people (in the video game industry) ultimately means more testing jobs for you in the long run. Networking with others will not only make it easier to find available testing jobs, but you'll have more references to offer future employers, you'll get insider information on the newest gaming developments, and you'll even learn about long-term positions that have opened up with some of the most powerful game developers in the world. In short, you'll be way ahead of the curve with a network of reliable contacts.
Is this all you need to know about professional video game testing? Of course not -- But, with these 4 tips, the challenge of landing video game tester jobs should be drastically easier!
Additional Video Game Tester Information
Video Game Tester FAQ
Question: Can I Become a Video Game Tester Without a Formal Education?Answer: Absolutely! Although having a college degree will likely help, it is by no means required to begin a career in video game testing. As a matter of fact, there are some testers who haven't even graduated high school.
Question: Will I Be Able To Get A Testing Job As Soon As I Start?
Answer: Well, that depends completely on you and your dedication. If you only try game testing for a week, apply to 2-3 companies, and then just sit around and wait, odds are that you won't be very successful. The trick is to keep going & going & going, just like the energizer bunny. If you don't get the job you wanted, search for another and another. There are plenty of game companies out there and one of them is bound to accept you.
Question: Lets Say I Get A Game Testing Job, How Much Will I Make?
Answer: You can make up to $120 per hour as a video game tester. However, lets be realistic. If you are just starting out, you won't make anywhere near that amount. So, when you see ads that say "Make up to $120 Per Hour", they aren't technically lying; they're just not telling the whole story.
You can make UP TO $120 per hour, you just won't start there. Realistically, you will start at about $12-$20 per hour, which isn't bad considering your playing video games. How fast you climb up the "pay ladder" will directly relate to how many jobs you get as well as how well you do your job. So, if you want bigger pay, you'll just have to work harder.
Question: Is The Work Hard?
Answer: Well, if you think sitting on your butt playing video games is hard, then yes, it's very hard. Honestly, In terms of being difficult, game testing is not in the least bit. On the other hand though, video game testing can be boring and quite tedious.
As a Video Game Tester, you won't just be playing a game and beating it. You will be playing levels over & over and you'll be repeating things again and again. Therefore, if you not a fan of repetition, video game testing may take it's toll on you after awhile. However, if your a true gamer, this small speed bump won't get in your way.
Question: What Does A Game Tester Actually Do?
Answer: Basically, he/she tests video games that are in the later stages of development. The basic form of testing, which you will likely be doing, is playing a game and looking for glitches and bugs. When a glitch/bug is found, the tester will write a short descriptive report on it detailing what happened and how it happened. This will allow programmers and developers to find the problem, figure out what caused it, and then fix it quickly. The programmers rely on these reports to fix video games, so some level of writing skill is needed by the tester.
Question: Is There a Specific Age I Have To Be To Get Into Paid Game Testing?
Answer: Nope. You can be 16 years olds, 18 years old, 30 years old, 40 years old, and anywhere in between. Realistically though, you should probably wait until your 18. Honestly, I don't know of many game companies hiring 16 year old teenagers to test video games, but I suppose anything is possible.
You have to realize that it's experience that matters, not age. Who do you think a game developer would bet his money on: a 20 year old guy that has some experience with video games? Or, a 36 year old guy whom has years of experience in the video game industry? The safer bet would be the more experienced applicant.
So, As I Said But A Minute Ago, Age Doesn't Matter, EXPERIENCE DOES!
Question: How Can I Get Started Immediately?
Answer: By being active. Sitting around and looking though the paper isn't going to help in your job quest. This means you have to start actively searching for jobs and applying to as MANY different companies as humanly possible.
Unfortunately though, you probably don't know what companies you can apply to or what companies are looking for testers, right? In that case, you're going to need a lot of help, and luckily for you, you can get all the help you'll ever need by clicking the words "Get Started" directly below.
Get Started Now!
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TheIvyStar wrote
in reply to GameTester09 If you dont mind me asking, what freelance website did you land your first project with? Im really interested in becoming a game tester and Im looking at about 3 different websites to get an idea and not to get scammed.
Posted October 27, 2009
chris wrote
can i do this from south africa. chris_stow@live.co.za
Posted October 08, 2009
henry wrote
how old do you have to be to be able to test games im at age 12?
Posted August 11, 2009
GameTester09 wrote
Great lens. I started out testing video games off of one of these freelance web sites. A lot of people think it's a scam, i don't blame them i got scammed into a couple. But when i found the right one i averaged $17/hour on my first project.
Posted July 11, 2009
Joshua wrote
This would be fine if you didnt have to pay for a membership, it would be awsome but .....oh well
Posted June 22, 2009
nate wrote
hey you need to be at least 18 to be a gamer and if the website says its free then its too good to be true dont get it your just signing up for spam and you will have to pay money so im sorry but ya it sux.
Posted June 07, 2009
Terrence wrote
Thank you for this information. I will love to join you.
Posted May 25, 2009
Samuel Olivares wrote
That is a lot of great information. The only other question would be where I could / should get started. I am currently a student in College. I understand that video game testing is really an entry level position, so I was wondering where I should get started. Thanks in advance. My email is sam.olivares@live.com
Posted May 12, 2009
Jade wrote
I work as a writer and editor for a video game developer, but I started out as a tester. I cannot sufficiently express how VITAL it is that video game testers know how to spell and use punctuation effectively. Our entire testing department was made up of older women because their attention to detail and their ability to explain articulately the why's, where's, and how's of glitches and bugs was first-rate.
An inarticulate tester, one whose grammar and spelling skills are not top-notch, cost game developers time and money: I have been on the receiving end of poorly-worded, misspelled bug reports and have wasted precious time trying to decipher just what this tester is trying to say and trying to locate a bug that could cost the developer tens of thousands, hundreds of thousands, even millions of dollars. If this bug is discovered hours or days before a deadline and we can't understand your report and we lose precious time and money, you are fired. It's that simple.
Posted April 27, 2009
the main man wrote
why dont alot of companies hire people under 18 when they are least likely to have a game system then? why not 16 yaer olds, when they get systems almost every year. how long does it usally takes to make up to $250 an hour?
Posted March 24, 2009
Speed wrote
What is the lowest age you can be to get a job from here?
Posted February 20, 2009
Travis wrote
OKAY, i signed up for a membership here that was like 50 bucks. NOW how do i get a assignment? What do i have to do to get games shipped out to me so i can test them? I have been trying to figure this out for about 4 days now! Any help from anyone would be great. Thanks
Posted February 20, 2009
shanielle wrote
in reply to Psychopathiyc Assassin you crazy
Posted February 09, 2009
miyamoto_mushashi wrote
Wow! There is a lot of information here. I have also reviewed about game testing jobs. See it here
Posted November 19, 2008
James wrote
Thanks for giving the real facts about game testing information. I've been wanting to learn about this for quite some time. Awesome information!
Posted October 01, 2008
doug rouse wrote
I love playing video games, ive played them just about all my life but,there is a probaly i dont know how to get started.
Posted August 16, 2008
doug rouse wrote
I love playing video games, ive played them just about all my life but,there is a probaly i dont know how to get started.
Posted August 16, 2008
Brad wrote
Hi im 12 years old i live in Hobart,Indiana were can i find a game testing job for free i played games since i was 6 plz tell
Posted August 06, 2008
Bradley Boswell wrote
can i be 12 years old and be a cideo game tester
Posted August 06, 2008
James wrote
I really want to test games and I think id be good. But I don't know how to find testing jobs... Should i buy one of those guides that list the companies hiring or no?
Posted July 29, 2008
GameTestingGuru wrote
No, you do not need a college education to be a game tester. There are degrees that may make landing a testing job easier, but by no means is a degree required.
Posted June 18, 2008
brandon wrote
do you need a college education to be a video game tester?
Posted June 11, 2008
Tom wrote
can i get a job as a videogame tester if i am under 16?
Posted May 24, 2008
atina23 wrote
Interesting lens. The facts in this lens are intriguing and informative. Thanks a lot for sharing the information. Would like to share with you an informative site about Software Testing Templates on Software Testing Templates Please visit this site to find a lot of stuff about Software Testing Templates.
Posted May 23, 2008
James wrote
I've wanted to be a video game tester for as long as I can remember. This information is outstanding!
Posted May 20, 2008
Jake wrote
Wow, awesome information. I'll definitely be back for more!
Posted May 20, 2008
mark wrote
i love to play games. i play games all day. i can do a game in a week......
Posted May 19, 2008
Dylan Biddix wrote
Hello.I am 12 years old and live in a town just outside of Raliegh NC and love video games.i though that it was impossible to test games at my age until a boy moved in down the street who is 13 and gets PAID to test REAL video games and got to test "The Orange Box".How can i get involved.Please message me at rwevrydayjoe@gmail.com
Posted April 29, 2008
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