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Is your Play Station controller soldered to your hand? Did you buy a Wii before anyone else? Do you like nothing better than spending hours in front of the TV playing Halo? Instead of playing those games for fun, why not play them for a paycheck? Get paid to pay video games!
Sound too good to be true? This is an actual video game job. Video game testers are a critical position in the game development industry. Video game creators and computer programmers spend years creating and designing games, and testers are the ones who make sure the game is ready for release.
If you are interested in computers and are beginning your college search to earn a degree, majoring in computer science will make you the ideal candidate for this dream job. While you can't quite get a gamer degree at your local gamer college, (or a video game degree), there are many other game related computer science degrees available today. It really is true--you CAN get paid to play video games.
Not All Fun and GamesIt may sound like a dream position. After all, who wouldn’t want to earn a living by playing games all day? But let's face reality; in truth, video game testing can be exhausting, as can any video game job. Testers often begin working with the game long before it’s finished, and are required to keep meticulous records of every bug they find in a game. Sometimes it can take hours just to get through the early levels because you have to pause the game so frequently to record the bugs.
In order to be a video game tester, you need to have solid writing skills, be able to communicate effectively, and have an excellent eye for detail. After all, bugs can range from something as small as a missing brick in a wall or ear on a character, to major issues that halt play completely. You’ll need to document every single error.
Know the BusinessYou will never get a call for an interview with a gaming company if you send in your resume with a cover letter that says “Dude! I want to play video games all day!” You need to be familiar with the business, and having a degree in computer programming or video game design (often called a gamer degree) is a great place to start.
Video game testers are consider quality assurance staff. Knowing the lingo will suggest your seriousness and help get you in the door. Once you get that coveted interview, don’t merely discuss how much you love gaming and flaunt your video game degree; be prepared to talk about the company itself and your commitment to high quality work. Be sure to fully test all the games made by that particular company prior to your interview. You want to be appear both enthusiastic and knowledgeable. They don't let just anyone get paid to play video games, you know.
Sounds Great! What does it pay?Because video game testers are considered entry-level positions in the gaming industry, they are often offered jobs on an as-needed basis rather than a regular nine-to-five position. But this doesn’t mean the job doesn’t pay well, because it can—anything from $10 to over $100 an hour. Pretty good for a video game job!
While games can take two to three years to go from concept to store shelf, game testers usually only begin testing about half way through the process. As deadlines loom, video game testers can find themselves in high demand. They can often work more than twelve hours a day—sometimes on the same few moments in a game—working out the kinks with the programmers. As one company’s site put it, “a good tester is a programmer’s worst nightmare.”
Most video game testers work on site at the company, but once your work becomes trusted you can often work from your home.
Get EducatedWhile you can’t (yet) earn a college degree specific to video game testing, it is a good idea to look into computer programming courses, design courses, and other computer science degrees. Some colleges offer two- and four-year programs in video game design (the gamer degree), and these degrees will go a long way to helping you break into the gaming field.
Search just a few of the schools offering programs or video game degrees, or do a search in your state above.
Westwood College
DeVry University
ECPI College of Technology
