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Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital role, testing, tuning, debugging, and suggesting the detailed refinements that ensure the quality and playability of the finished game. Their job involves play-testing the game in a systematic way, analysing the game's performance against the designer's intentions, identifying problems and suggesting improvements. They test for bugs in the software, from complete crashes to minor glitches in the programme. They also act as the game's first audience, reporting on its playability, and identifying any aspects which could be improved. Testers are employed by design studios and publishers. They might have to work long hours, under pressure, depending on the release schedule for a game, and at times the work can be hectic and stressful. What is the job? Playing games all day for a living might sound like an ideal job to some people, but this is in fact a highly disciplined role. Testers are responsible for assuring quality in the final product and for finding all the flaws in a game before it goes public. They look for programme bugs - spelling mistakes, localisation problems (variations of the game are required for different territories), graphical or audio glitches, and also any copyright issues (such as 'branded clothing' etc). Not all issues can be addressed before a game is released onto the market, so Testers must know which are the most important and be able to prioritise. They work to deadlines and must have an understanding of production and marketing schedules. They normally use a software quality management system to document findings. Testers work in teams, sometimes playing together on a multi-player game, and a team might 'own' part of a game. Testing involves playing a game over and over again, testing different levels and builds (incomplete 'development versions' of a game, sometimes with various features missing). The work can be repetitive and tedious, but Testers have to test long after the novelty and fun factor may have worn off. They must be diplomatic when communicating with other team members and accept that they can have only limited influence over the design. They also need to be able to anticipate different ways the game will be played, and test accordingly. They might also have an on-going relationship with customer support teams once a game is launched. Progression might be to QA Team Leader or QA Manager, which involve managing a team of testers and organising the test plan/schedule. Typical career routes This is a popular entry level role, particularly for those not already qualified as an artist or programmer, and an excellent way to find out about the business as a whole. Games Testers can progress into other roles such as level design, production management or marketing, although to move into more specialist areas of game development they would usually need an existing skill or aptitude such as 3D modelling or programming. As a first job in the industry, competition can be quite high, but a successful work experience placement can be an effective way in. Working in computer games retail is another route offering useful background knowledge and an awareness of audience needs. Essential knowledge and skills Testers must be analytical and methodical. They must have a good knowledge of games titles on the market so that they can evaluate a game against its competition. They should also have an understanding of how games are put together, and how the different elements of a game contribute to the playing experience. A good tester will not only identify and record a problem, but also try to work out what is causing it. Key skills include: excellent communication skills; ability to communicate tactfully with other members of the team; good attention to detail persistence and patience; ability to play games for long periods; good negotiation and conflict resolution skills; passion for games playing; knowledge of the requirements of the relevant Health and Safety legislation and procedures. Training and qualifications There are no specific qualifications required for Testers, although some programming knowledge or experience is desirable, and a good standard of English (both written and verbal) is necessary in order to document findings and communicate them to colleagues. Above all, Games Testers must be avid games players. They must be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the industry, including the different platforms and games styles and genres on the market. IT competence, including use of spreadsheets and database packages, is also required. Where to go for more information Skillset Careers is the UK's only specialist media careers advice service; visit the website Skillset's careers services More Websites Trade Associations and Regional Support Networks Recruitment Agencies and Job Information Magazines, Trade Publications and Websites Download: 
QA Tester - Computer Games
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