Our primary aim is to explore in-depth the topics related to the Software Testing industry. Only a handful of testing professionals are aware of the Game Testing industry and the opportunities it affords.
The Game Testing Industry is expanding at a fast pace, and currently, there are numerous “Video Game designing” and “Game Testing” vacancies available on the market. This engaging tutorial on game testing will give you a concise overview of the Game Testing industry!
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Here’s What You’ll Learn:
Introduction to Game Testing Industry
The Video Game Testing industry is positioned to become the leading sector within the business.
Despite economic downturns, the sales of game titles remained robust, although the sales of gaming consoles took a hit and game testing enterprises had to rethink their strategies.
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The terrain of gaming has seen ups and downs, yet it continues to progress at a rapid pace. Facebook app games are becoming a game-changer with emerging developers experimenting with their skills. Episodic games are another revolutionary concept. The iPhone gaming scene is also on the rise.
Hence, nobody in the gaming industry can precisely predict where video games might be even two or three years down the line. All they are certain of is that everything is in a state of flux and the games slated for release in the coming years will be starkly different from what we have presently.
Current Vacancies in the Gaming Industry:
- Jobs in video game programming (designing video games)
- Video game testing positions
Designing video games demands skilled and experienced video game designers. Testing games is equally demanding as the tester must possess commendable writing skills, excellent communication abilities, and a keen eye for detail.
Video game testers play a crucial role in the game development industry. As video game programmers spend years crafting video games, it is the task of video game testers to ensure its readiness for release within a relatively short time-frame.
What Does a Typical Game Testing Process Look Like?
The development of a computer game can take anywhere between one to three years (depending on the magnitude). Testing commences late into the development process, usually anywhere from halfway to 75% into development (it begins this late because, until then, there isn’t much to play or test).
Once the testers receive a version, they get to work playing the game. Testers must meticulously document any anomalies they encounter. These can vary from bugs to art issues to logic errors. Some bugs are easy to document, but others are tricky to explain and might require several steps to reproduce so that a developer can pinpoint or replicate the bug.
In a large-scale game with multiple testers, a tester must first ascertain whether the bug has been reported before if they can log the bugs themselves. Once a bug has been said to be fixed, the tester has to go back and validate that the fix is functioning correctly – and often returns to assure that it hasn’t reemerged.
Strategy for Game Testing
The Game Testing process entails several strategies.
Here are a few of them:
#1) Evaluation Of Game Rules: Game rules provide a comprehensive explanation of the functioning of all aspects of the game, including features, free games, etc. Each game operates according to the rules specified.
#2) UI, Functional, Performance, and Compatibility Test: This includes verifying game results and ensuring the data is accurately displayed when games are played. Check Game Functionality such as Game Progress, game results, management of incomplete & restarted games, and multiplayer games.
#3) Verification Of The Integration Points: Confirm if the Game win determination complies with the Game Rules.
#4) Examining Gaming Procedures: Procedures can be examined by System management, player account management, tournaments, and promotions.
#5) Infrastructure And Security Review: Necessary for validating all equipment and network implementation for safe and efficient operation. For instance, Time synchronization, OS reliability, and security.
How Should Games be Tested?
This process bears a close resemblance to product or web application testing.
Here is the general game testing process:
- Identification: Initially analyze and identify the game rules and its behavior.
- Functional Testing: Confirm the game operates as planned. This also covers integration testing with any third-party tools used, if any.
- OS and Browser compatibility: A major part of game testing is to ensure that the game functions on the predetermined Operating Systems. For online games, ensure its functionality on all targeted browsers.
- Performance Testing: Performance Testing Technique is crucial for online games if the gaming site permits betting on the game. Game testers must ensure that the Game Testing site can comfortably handle the visitor load.
- Multi-player Testing: For multiplayer games, it is necessary to validate the game’s ability to serve all players and distribute game resources fairly to all players.
- Reporting: Bug reporting to developers. Must produce and submit proof of bugs via the Bug Reporting System.
- Analysis: Developers take on the responsibility to rectify the bugs.
- Verification: After the rectification, testers must verify the bug to confirm it doesn’t recur.
Useful Tips for Game Testing
- Understand Random Number Generator evaluation (RNG): This is crucial to add unpredictability to the Game. Most games use this RNG system to determine its outcome.
- Firstly, decipher the “game algorithm” from the Source code in order to pinpoint the problems in the Game application.
- Verify the source code for correct utilization of random numbers and error handling. (Provided you understand the source code)
- Validate and evaluate the predefined rules of the game.
- Verify the uniformity of the game rules.
- Ensure no objectionable content or material is ever exhibited.
- Regularly verify the game history and system event logs.
- Make sure the Game results are displayed only for a reasonable duration.
- No matter whether it’s Single/Multi-player games, validate the bandwidth and the client software.
- Verify the minimum/maximum limits of bets, deposits, and other significant game symbols.
- Check the accurate game and system operation post game failover and recovery.
- Consistently verify all the reports for data accuracy. Verify reports for the date, time, number of wins, money, etc.
- System requirements testing is crucial in Game testing. Verify all the infrastructure and security requirements, game equipment, network, and game synchronization with the OS.
- Ensure that sufficient information is always accessible to our users to safeguard our Game players.
Game Testing Jobs
The gaming sector is continually getting better and a career as a Game Designer or Game Tester is extremely promising. There are countless game testing professionals earning a decent amount of money as video game testers, working right from their homes.
The current Internet culture is fostering incredible innovations and development scope. IT and Non-IT individuals are spending their leisure time playing video games or any online game. “Home-based game testing” is becoming a popular trend to make money. We can see this trend emerging in our daily activities.
The Game Testing Career opportunities are growing hotter by the day in the market. If you are trying to break into the gaming industry, you must bring your innate passion and enthusiasm to drive you towards success. With the addition of extensive and complex new games, Game QA is no less specialized than standard software QA.
Game testing was previously regarded as a “stepping stone” position, but is now transitioning into a full-time job opportunity for experienced testers.
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The Conclusion
If you have a passion for games and a sound understanding of testing methods, then becoming a successful game tester should be a breeze for you!
About the Author: This is a guest article written by a Game Testing Expert named “Malini”. Malini brings over 10 years of experience in IT including development, testing, and project management. Her passion lies in promoting the profession of software testing.
Her technical articles and white papers are published on numerous prominent websites. She holds an MBA in IT and a GNIIT degree. Check out more about Malini on her Blog.
If you’re engaged in the Game Testing Industry, your valuable input will help our readers learn more about Game Testing. Please share your thoughts and suggestions on Game Testing in the comment section below.