Gaming is a great hobby, and it’s a lifelong passion for many of today’s most avid players. Even if you hold a full-time job and take care of a family, you always find time to make some room in your schedule for your favorite titles. Not to mention there are positive impacts of gaming that you can take advantage of. But what if you didn’t have to squeeze in game time whenever you’re free? As a beta tester, you can get paid to play and help major development teams make their games even better before launch.
What is a Games Tester?
Testers are quality assurance professionals. They play through games prior to launch, offering targeted feedback, catching bugs and helping the dev team fix errors. Some testers work from home while others head into work every day at a game development studio. Game testers, also known as QA or QV testers, offer detailed feedback of any problems they detect in a game. In addition, they share their thoughts and experience to ensure that a product is not only flawless but also enjoyable for its audience.
What Do You Need to Become a Game Tester?
A love of video games is the most basic qualification. You’ll spend the majority of your day working through a studio’s current projects. If you have a hard time focusing or staying on track, this may prove challenging. But don’t worry as it can also be a good way to sharpen your attention to detail and build discipline. Most companies require applicants to be at least 18-years-old and have a high school diploma. However, to secure the best positions, a college degree and experience in quality assurance is preferred. For example, you may decide to major in game development, business or computer programming. This can help you present your unique skill set as a valuable asset to the company hiring testers.
The Right Hardware
QA testers must also have the latest consoles and computers capable of handling the games they’re testing. If you work in an office, you’ll have access to all the equipment you need. If you plan to work from home, then you’ll need to already have a good gaming setup prior to applying. Gaming can get expensive, especially if you’re buying the latest consoles and capture software. To make payments a bit easier, you can look into second-hand devices, trade-ins or even borrow a personal loan from a private lender. The latter allows you to buy gaming consoles even on a budget, then pay back what you have borrowed over time.
How Much Do QA Testers Get Paid?
The cost for your services will vary depending on whether you work freelance or for a studio. You may decide to do one-time gigs for a set rate, or you could earn a salary. The average salary for quality assurance testers ranges between $35,000 to $53,000 annually. You may want to build a resume before you apply to big-name studios; in that case, looking for part-time jobs or temporary QA testing positions is a good start. These positions tend to pay $12 to $15 per hour.