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Game Testing: The Other Side of Game Development

The gaming industry has experienced rapid growth over the last decade. In 2021, total revenue reached $180.3 billion, and the industry employed 273,379 people in the United States alone. In addition, the job market for gaming and eSports and the video game industry continue to expand to keep pace with demand. 

As gaming becomes a more credible career path, more job seekers try to find the right position to break into the industry.  

In 2021, total revenue reached $180.3 billion, and the industry employed 273,379 people in the United States alone.

One of the most cited and sought-after careers is Quality Assurance or QA Tester. Like gaming, app development and software companies also employ QA Testers to screen apps before going live. However, there are common misconceptions about QA testers and what the job entails with the growing interest.

What is QA Testing?

Quality Assurance Testing is an aspect of early and mid-stage game development. QA Testers troubleshoot games for glitches, bugs, coding errors, narrative issues, and replayability. While it may sound fun on the surface, QA testing requires more intensive documentation and process design than many realize. 

QA Testers design and execute systems to check for issues, record the outcomes of test cases, develop standards and procedures to check the quality of product, and confirm market readiness. They also have to be proactive in developing tests for user experience issues. QA Testers must work under tight deadlines to not interrupt or delay production. 

Types of Testing

Testing isn’t just reserved for professionals. Depending on the production stage and goals of the developer, fans and consumers can test by playing video games, PC gaming, or application games before they are officially released to the general public. 

Alpha Testing

QA Testers conduct alpha tests while the game is still developing. At this point of testing, games may not have full functionality or be fully built graphically. An alpha test reveals any glitches that compromise the game’s overall performance and ensures features run properly without system crashes. A QA Tester performing an alpha test is required to keep meticulous documentation of hardware and software failures so that the game developers can fix them before it reaches consumers.

At this point of testing, games may not have full functionality or be fully built graphically. An alpha test reveals any glitches that compromise the game’s overall performance and ensures features run properly without system crashes.

Beta Testing

Beta testing is when game developers release an early version of a new game to consumers before its release. This type of testing is typically performed towards the end of the production cycle. Often, it’s part of the marketing strategy to build buzz around the game priority to release. Beta testers tend to be consumers and fans rather than paid employees. There are two types of beta testing:

  • Open Beta 

Open testing is when the beta version is made available to anyone interested. Players try out the game for a predetermined time frame and share early reviews with the development team. The publisher may use these reviews in marketing collateral to build hype around the game.

  • Closed Beta 

Like a focus group, closed testing occurs when the publisher chooses a select group of people to play the beta version before its release. 

What is Early Access and How Does it Impact QA Testing?

Early access is a funding method for consumers to purchase and play a game in different pre-release development cycles, including alpha and beta. These games are distinct from demos and pre-orders because they are incomplete and unpolished. Instead, developers use those funds to complete the development of the game. In addition, they can use feedback to fix bugs and glitches and incorporate new features to improve overall gameplay.

Early access has grown in popularity over the last decade, especially for indie games where full funding is still in question. Platforms like Steam give developers a direct line to gamers. In turn, gamers feel more included in the development process. For some developers, early access has become their primary funding source and community building.

Early access is a funding method for consumers to purchase and play a game in different pre-release development cycles, including alpha and beta. These games are distinct from demos and pre-orders because they are incomplete and unpolished.

As early access continues to be a featured aspect of game testing, there has been some criticism that it impedes QA testers. Although QA jobs are still popular on career sites, full-time opportunities have given way to part-time contractor openings. Whether or not this is directly related to early access is hard to say; like many other industries, Covid-19 has impacted employment in the gaming industry as businesses search for ways to reduce overhead costs. However, as long as large publishers drive gaming, QA testers will have a place in the industry.

For more information on QA testing and other careers in gaming, check out Yellowbrick’s Gaming & eSports Industry Essentials course.

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