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So I got a job as a game tester
- Thread starter Oblivion
- Start date
I tested games for one of the worst companies around. When I made it to E3, I saw one of the company's former producers and we shared a laugh about our hard time.
I once saw a guy playing a game while he was asleep. And I swear, I recreated the scene from Office Space where the guy tries to rush out without his boss signing him up for work on Saturday.
It's not as terrible as everyone says. I made a lot of good friends at that job. It might be problematic, however, if you bank on the job to get you a better position (in game development). There are lots and lots and lots of testers and not a lot of development jobs.
I once saw a guy playing a game while he was asleep. And I swear, I recreated the scene from Office Space where the guy tries to rush out without his boss signing him up for work on Saturday.
It's not as terrible as everyone says. I made a lot of good friends at that job. It might be problematic, however, if you bank on the job to get you a better position (in game development). There are lots and lots and lots of testers and not a lot of development jobs.
Thoren said:
I applied to almost every major game company back in the spring for internship positions. I wanted to get some experience as a programming intern to compliment all the projects and stuff I've done in school.
Sadly the best I got was a once a week unpaid gig doing tools scripting for one game company's animation dept. I'm glad to have the opportunity but its not what I want to do full time when I graduate.
The Bookerman
Member
Median said:
There's Rockstar Toronto that's working on Manhunt 2 for Ps2.
If I remember correctly.
I sent in general emails to game companies in the city just to try my luck. I used the general company email if they didn't have a job email.DoctorWho said:
To summarize the emails, they went something like this
"heys i lieks game and want to make games. I hear testing is a good way to start I want to be animator. So do you have any QA job or positions avable? if you do pls email back with the job positions and I will write cover letter and send resume"
Jumpman Jr.
Member
MC Safety said:
I once fell asleep testing a two person game...and won.
Two suggestions for aspiring QA testers:
1) Remain objective at all times - in the database, e-mails, or reports.
2) Don't piss anyone off. The industry is so small, you can't afford to have people not want to work with you. This applies whether you're at a large publisher or a small dev team.
1) Remain objective at all times - in the database, e-mails, or reports.
2) Don't piss anyone off. The industry is so small, you can't afford to have people not want to work with you. This applies whether you're at a large publisher or a small dev team.
monkeylite
Member
Eddz said:
Quoted because it is true. Today I spent 2 hours on GAF compared to nul hours playing games.
John Master Lee
Banned
Everyone starts somewhere, and it might as well be in QA. First jobs are never the dream jobs. They are the ones that get your foot in the door. So whether the job sucks, or is fun, spend all your time learning the ropes. If the place sucks, learn why it does. Understand the company dynamics. What is a bad game getting created? If the place is great, understand what makes a great game and great place to work.
I tell all the interns who work at our company if they ever have to spend the day doing photocopying (though we don't do that really!) read through each page. You just got an inside chance to understand how a business works.
That's the sign of someone who's an up and coming star. QA is filled with a real mix bag of people. The ones that never rise to the top will always criticize the work. The ones break into the industry successfully will tell you something similar to what I have.
Good luck! While sometimes I did wish that I didn't mix hobby with work (because it takes the magic out of your passion sometimes when you actually see how games are made), I'd rather be doing this than making adult diapers, or auditing for the IRS. No slam against diaper makers or the IRS
I tell all the interns who work at our company if they ever have to spend the day doing photocopying (though we don't do that really!) read through each page. You just got an inside chance to understand how a business works.
That's the sign of someone who's an up and coming star. QA is filled with a real mix bag of people. The ones that never rise to the top will always criticize the work. The ones break into the industry successfully will tell you something similar to what I have.
Good luck! While sometimes I did wish that I didn't mix hobby with work (because it takes the magic out of your passion sometimes when you actually see how games are made), I'd rather be doing this than making adult diapers, or auditing for the IRS. No slam against diaper makers or the IRS
I got an offer to be a QA tester.
I want to get into producing (or something), so I figure this would be the way I have to start.
I also want industry experience because I have none and I'm having a tough time getting my foot into the door.
Could someone answer these questions for me?
1. What's a typical day like as a tester? Do you get to do other work to break up the monotony of playing or is it just stright through?
2. How big are the QA teams?
3. Do I get me name in the credits/manual?
4. What are the working conditions like? Are the offices generally nice or do they put you in the basement with no light?
thanks
I want to get into producing (or something), so I figure this would be the way I have to start.
I also want industry experience because I have none and I'm having a tough time getting my foot into the door.
Could someone answer these questions for me?
1. What's a typical day like as a tester? Do you get to do other work to break up the monotony of playing or is it just stright through?
2. How big are the QA teams?
3. Do I get me name in the credits/manual?
4. What are the working conditions like? Are the offices generally nice or do they put you in the basement with no light?
thanks
Median said:
Small list of notable developers in Toronto and GTA
Koei Canada (Downtown Toronto, nice studios too)
Rockstar Toronto (Oakville, near the QEW and Winston Churchill blvd. Been there, quite nice too)
Capcom (mobile game studio in Burlington)
Pseudo Interactive aka Full Auto (downtown Toronto)
Groove Games
Both Digital Extreme and Silicon Knights are in London, but that's not much of a stretch... it's only 2 hours out of downtown Toronto.
Those are the major companies in Toronto but the large majority of game developers in the city specialize in the Java and/or mobile game platform.
SouthernDragon
Member
First thing that came to my mind.
You're ****ed.
And then I saw who it was.
And I felt bad. : (
Good luck!
You're ****ed.
And then I saw who it was.
And I felt bad. : (
Good luck!
Reilly said:
Well, I chose to work at a relatively small company. So generally it's a lot less stressful than one might imagine. We're in crunch time now, though, so the rest of the week is pretty hectic. However, we have been working at a pretty good pace so far.
The teams aren't really too big, but two of us have been working pretty much every day we can come in, and that seems to work just fine.
Chances are you won't get your name in the credits until your second or third game. So don't get your hopes up right away. Just be happy to find a company you like or a genre you wouldn't mind sticking to for months at a time.
The working conditions in a smaller company are pretty nice actually. At least where I'm employed. Not sure how it operates elsewhere, but everyone I work with is very friendly and lenient on schedules. It really depends where you find your job. I hear the bigger places like Activision and EA are pretty much hell, so be careful.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=spSGNMJhWV0Ristlager said:
Have you never seen the commercial?Ristlager said:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UJ-QSJmEgHU
EDIT: Beaten ;_;