How to become a video game tester..for real!?

i want to learn how to become a video game tester.. I've searched online and all i can find are ridiculous sites that are just rip offs.. also can you go to school to be a video game tester?? i really need some information, this is something I've always wanted to do.. I've also tried looking on job websites like monster.com and everything and nothing shows up on there. i also live in Pennsylvania and i'm afraid that theres nothing in the video game industry for me here.. if anyone can give me information on how to become an actual 100% legit video game tester i would really appreciate it..

How to become a video game tester..for real!?adult myspace

Hi

So you want to be a video game tester?

I wouldn't mind having a job like that now. Becoming a game tester requires that you have great communication skills. Your job will be testing for bugs in the game. Some testers will try to critique the quality of the game instead of finding the broken parts of it. It really depends who you work for I suppose.

Communication and good writing skills are good to have. When you find something that isn't working you need be able to tell the programmers everything about it. Where did you find it? How did you do it? Can you do it again? Also having a keen eye for subtle mistakes. Some bugs aren't as easy to find and may exist in places in the level where players do not frequently visit.

You're good to ignore those site that ask you to pay money to be a tester. It's just a scam. You shouldn't have to pay money for a job. A lot of game testing may be unpaid though while others will pay you for around $10/hr or more. I tested for the Everquest game on the PS2 and it was unpaid but it was fun to be part of a community helping find game bugs.

A lot of the big companies would like you to work in their facility. So you need to be living in the area they are located. Some of them allow you to test remotely but these usually do not pay. It would help to have some kind of degree. It sounds like you like game a lot since you are specifically wanting a job like this. You can join closed or open betas of games and become well known in the community. Write on the forums and create a presence so people will known you. The company will then recognize you and may have you do other things if you work well.

There really isn't a college to teach you how to become a game tester. I told you the basic skills. It is basically communication and writing. I'm sure companies wouldn't mind if you had some knowledge in programming and video games. Sometimes you can work your way up from Game Tester to Game Designer but you have to be pretty good and be with them for some time.

The job sites won't list jobs like that so often. You would have to go directly to the company site. The bigger companies will already have a group of people so it might be harder getting to be a tester with them. I recommend you start small. Find a game in closed beta and join it. Do your best in assisting the developers with its bugs and be social with the rest of the community. You probably won't get paid but it is experience you will have for the next job you take. Work on your skills and work on getting experience.

Remember.. as a tester your job is to break a game and find its bugs. It is not to be the first one to complete it or have the highest score. No one would care because the game you test is usually only partially finished. You may be given direct orders to test certain aspects of a game and you may not always test games you like.

Here is a website that talks about game testing and actually has some jobs listed. Also I don't know if i mentioned earlier but most places want you to be 18 years old to play.

http://www.gamestester.com/

I hope this helps

Good luck

-Fox

How to become a video game tester..for real!?bad girls club myspace.com

a couple ways

it depends what exactly you want

you could join up with a magazine and be the guy who writes reviews

or you could become a developer

the developers work on the games but they are the first to try it, so they can "work out the kinks"

or if you join some major league gaming group or something and prove your skill at playing games you might get picked

after all they can't just take your word for it

a lot of people have no skill and want an easy job, so they need a bit of proof
Becoming a video game tester usually requires having some sort of college degree. There was a commercial on tv advertising about how ITT Tech can train you to become one, and I'm pretty sure there must be a college where you live that has the degree. Be warned, though, that the tester is usually at the bottom of the ranks in video game design. I would only use it as a stepping stone to advance higher in the industry.