In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I read you a free chapter from my book, “Land a Job as a Video Game Tester.”
In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Blake, who asks, “I want to become a game tester, but I am not sure if I have the right qualifications. So I was wondering, are there any special requirements for doing this job? Also, I’m 16 years old. How old do you have to be to get this job, and how much do you get paid for your work?”
In this episode of Game Industry Career Guide Podcast, I answer a question from Sabrina M., who’s wondering whether she needs a college degree to become a video game tester?
Of all the jobs in the game industry, testing video games might be the one that gamers around the world dream about most. Today we’re talking with a guy who’s not only tested games on just about every platform, but he’s also turned the job into a rich and rewarding career.
Bill Schneider has worked as a game tester for over a decade, and you can see his name in the credits of over 40 shipped titles – everything from Harry Potter to The Sims, and from Bejeweled to Assassin’s creed. Let’s find out how his career has taken him from a front-line game tester, to a manager and leader of entire testing teams at major game studios. Read more »
Of all the jobs in the game industry, Video Game Tester inspires the most excitement, curiosity, and passion. Maybe it’s the appeal of “getting paid to play games” (spoiler alert: testers don’t just play games all day). Or maybe it’s the dream of trading your soul-crushing job for a new career you’ll truly love.
Being a QA tester isn’t a top-paying job, but it’s not a bad way to earn a living. And it’s a common starting point for newbies to break into the game industry — in fact, I started my own career as a game tester, and used it as a foundation to build a successful (and, frankly, highly-paid) career making games.
But there’s a lot of bad information out there, including scammy websites that prey on the passion of young people. It’s hard to know what’s true, and what’s hype. That’s why I compiled this in-depth Q&A, based on my own career as a game tester, plus advice and insights from many other testers I’ve worked with over the years.
After reading it, if you still have questions about a career testing games, just ask me in the comments section below.
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When I was a kid, everybody dreamed of growing up to be an astronaut or firefighter, a ballerina or doctor. Things have really changed! Ask a modern kid what they want to become. Even the old standbys of “rock star” and “pro athlete” have been bumped off the wish list, replaced by something that once seemed out of reach: a job as a video game tester.
By now, most grown-ups know that getting a job as a video game tester doesn’t mean you sit around and play games. But it’s still a great way to break into the game industry. In fact, I’m the poster boy for starting as a tester. I began my career in quality assurance (another name for testing, or QA). Later I went on to become a designer and an engineer, and eventually a director in charge of multiple departments. I did go to school to learn programming, but only after I’d started my QA job.
After you’ve done your research on what a video game tester actually does, you may wonder about a more practical matter: What is an average video game tester salary? Read more »
If your child loves games and is showing interest in making one, why not help them get started? Learning how to modify existing games, or even make new ones, is a great way for kids to learn fun and useful skills like art, programming, and design.
It’s never too early to start nurturing your child’s talent and curiosity, so let’s look at some of the best online tools and resources for getting started. Then we’ll discuss some tips for helping them along successfully.
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A great resume might be the key to landing your dream job, but it won’t make a difference if nobody reads it. That’s where your cover letter comes in. A great cover letter helps you stand out from the crowd. And it makes that recruiter or hiring manager eager to learn more about you — rather than passing you over.
In short, a great cover letter can be your key to getting noticed, scoring an interview, and ultimately landing your dream job.
So let’s dive in and learn exactly how to craft a strong cover letter, step by step. We’ll offer specific advice, look at cover letter examples and samples, and provide a cover letter template you can copy-paste to get started writing your own.
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Video games have evolved a lot since the days of Pong and Pac-Man. Along the way, they’ve played a significant role in shaping other forms of media — especially the world of cinema. Do you love games and movies? Then don’t sleep on these classic movies featuring video games (real or fictional) as a key element driving the theme, story, and characters.
Ranging from 1982 to 2018, each one is like a time capsule, capturing a snapshot of the way video games were impacting society’s hopes and fears. So grab that futuristic brain-computer interface, jack in, and transport yourself to the world of classic movies where video games take center stage.
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If you’re an aspiring game designer, you’ve probably heard about the importance of a Game Design Document (GDD). A GDD is like a blueprint for your game. It oulines everything from the story to the game mechanics, and can even include your thoughts about art style, game economy, and more.
In this article, we’ll dive into why a GDD is essential, who writes it and who reads it, the key sections in a GDD, and the steps you can take to get started writing the GDD for your game.
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