Confessions of a Game Tester

Moving on

Where are you now? Are you on the path you expected/wanted when you started testing? Where will you go from here?

Tester A: I'm a producer and yes I'm doing what I expected to be doing at this point.

Tester B: I got out of the testing business after just 6 months. I found work in a non-gaming company that paid about four times what I was making. Being a tester is a lot like starting up a band; I remember sometimes 3 or 4 guys would all live in the same 2 bedroom apartment to save on rent, eating rice and beans, hoping that they could get promoted to supervisor or producer if they put enough time in.

Above: A future in the games industry lies ahead of most of our interviewees. Rumor has it Tester B has a big project up his sleeve as well

Tester C: I've been given a design position and have no plans on returning to school.

Tester D: I am an Associate Producer, which is just like what it sounds. I basically poke people in the behind to get them moving. It is a bit like herding cats. I often listen to people's pissing and moaning about this and that. I get to have an opinion and I am often responsible to making sure things get done.

People have a tendency to get lost in the details, which is good, but you don't want them trying to lead people at the same time. I am happy with how far I have come in the industry and I look forward to trying to break new ground in interactive art.

Want more information on what it's like to work in the games industry? Check out ourConfessions of a Game Store Clerkfeature.