What is gametesting?
Game testing, often called QA (Quality Assurance) testing, is the process of playing a video game to find bugs, glitches, and any issues before the game is released to the public. Testers follow a set of instructions, try different actions, and report problems so developers can fix them.
Let's break it down
- Play the game: Testers play the game just like a regular player, but they focus on trying to break it.
- Follow test cases: They use written steps that cover every part of the game (menus, levels, controls, online features).
- Report bugs: When something goes wrong, they write a clear report with screenshots or video, describing what they did and what happened.
- Retest: After developers fix the issue, testers play that part again to make sure the bug is really gone and nothing new was broken.
Why does it matter?
If bugs reach players, they can cause frustration, crashes, or even loss of progress. Good game testing ensures a smoother, more enjoyable experience, protects the studio’s reputation, and can prevent costly post‑release patches.
Where is it used?
- Big studio releases: AAA games for consoles and PC.
- Mobile apps: Games on iOS and Android stores.
- Indie projects: Small teams often hire freelance testers.
- Live services: Ongoing games with updates, like battle‑royales or MMOs, need continuous testing.
Good things about it
- Helps deliver a polished, stable game.
- Gives testers a chance to play many games before they launch.
- Provides valuable feedback that can improve game design, not just fix bugs.
- Can be a stepping stone to a career in game development or QA management.
Not-so-good things
- Repetitive work: testers may have to repeat the same steps many times.
- Tight deadlines: bugs must be found quickly, leading to long hours.
- Low pay compared to other tech roles, especially for entry‑level positions.
- Some bugs are hard to reproduce, making reporting and fixing frustrating.