What is the Video Game Tester Employment Process
In the other articles we have looked at how to become a
video game tester, getting paid, being a video game tester.
However now were going to take a look at it from the game company’s side of things.
The interior of a gaming company is probably pretty much how you would expect it to be, however when it comes to hiring video
games testers they take their work very seriously.
Within any given game company there is a kind of hierarchy of bosses, developers, team leaders, administration etc…
The job of hiring a video games tester will generally come down on the administration side of things.
Those involved in actually doing the hiring of video games testers will probably be using their own contacts with previous
video game testers whom they have a good relationship with (this is why all those polite e-mails, proposals and reports can really do some good for your career).
They will also be using websites where video game testers sign up at and submit proposals and
résumés.
Once they have the testers they would like to use (hopefully you included with them) picked out from the bunch, they normally send the testers
a short e-mail asking them for their desired hourly rate, or suggesting one suitable to the particular project.
Game companies don’t mind spending a little extra if they know they will be getting a good tester. That’s why it is a good idea to keep copies
of the report forms you send in so you can show them to potential clients, if needs be, to bag your next assignment.
Once the price is agreed upon between both sides, they send out a copy of the game, either via a download link or on a disk by post.
Of course you must keep all aspects of the game within the walls of your mind because game companies like to keep certain parts of their games
(if not all) under wraps until the release date. The reason for this is to keep the ‘hype’ about the game up.
Keep in mind that you’re self employed. That means that when you get hired by a company it’s likely to be for short term, and although there
may well be repeat projects in store for you in the future, it’s a good idea to keep your market wide open and test a variety of games
from sports to sci-fi.
Game companies are a lot more likely to employ someone who loves all types of video games and knows the industry like the back of his/her
hand. Also, game companies aren’t fussy about what kind of people they hire.
Everyday game lovers are hired as video game testers. These range from fully grown men to female
high-school students.
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