QA at a game company?

Phyre

United States1288 Posts

July 24 2008 05:55 GMT

Still unemployed currently but one of the companies I interviewed at said they may be in need of a freelance QA person so their calling me back in. So, I'm a programmer by skill set and all I know about QA is that you need to be able to critique games well and then put those thoughts into words clearly.

Does anyone have any tips regarding being a QA tester?

Before anyone mentions that QA pays absolute crap, I know. The plan is to get in and prove my worth and hopefully squeeze into programming eventually.

prOxi.swAMi

Australia3091 Posts

July 24 2008 06:04 GMT

I started out as a QA Engineer, am now a developer. I think the key is just assume nothing when testing. Don't use the app as they tell you it should be used, because users never _ever_ use it exactly the way you expect them to. You need to show initiative in your ability to think of all sorts of quirky circumstances.

About squeezing into programming eventually, I'm sure it's possible. Don't just expect them to say "ok ur a programmer now" though. You have to show pro-activeness, perhaps write a useful intranet launch page for the company to link them to frequently viewed servers, tools, etc. Just write little useful tools without being asked. If your code quality is good, they'll see you're a potential asset on the development team.

ThatGuy

Canada695 Posts

July 24 2008 06:20 GMT

I've worked as a QA Tester for 2 years. Just make sure you treat it as a job rather than playing games. Even if you're testing 16-player functionality on a real awesome game, if you're having too much fun you're not paying enough attention for issues. Swami was correct in not assuming anything; just report it as you see it. Listen to your superiors and follow instructions properly, and ASK QUESTIONS! If you are not 100% sure on how to proceed with something, do not try to wing it; ask for advice all the time. At worst, if anything goes wrong you have someone to share responsibility with, or at best you may have avoided doing the wrong thing altogether.

Swami, thanks for the tips on writing tools. Unfortunately for me I work for an outsourcing company so they have no place for me as a programmer, but I'll remember that for later on. I do QA not for the pay, but to hone my skills in identifying issues, and try to come up with logical conclusions as to why they occur (in my head, of course

).

EDIT: By 2 years, I mean 2 summers. With 2 different companies.

freelander

Hungary4707 Posts

July 24 2008 08:40 GMT

Right now I am doing lingual testing right now on an FPS, which be released at the end of august.

I am quite new to this job actually.. Check everything really carefully, try out everything in unorthodox ways.. What proxi said

Too_MuchZerg

Finland2818 Posts

July 24 2008 11:13 GMT

If you are testing console game, always make huge stress test on menus. I managed to crass Nintendo DS game what I was part of making (as programmer) by just massing key strikes on menu (and going back and forward on menus too):D

Myrmidon

United States9452 Posts

July 24 2008 14:41 GMT

I'd think playing to break the game (your job) would be quite different than playing to enjoy the game, so you might have to unlearn some habits. If you demonstrate an uncanny ability to find errors, rough edges, crashes, etc. while documenting them professionally, it can't hurt their appraisal of how you might be as a programmer, hm?

Not like you should listen to me though, just talking out the ass.

GeneralStan

United States4789 Posts

July 24 2008 17:00 GMT

On July 24 2008 23:41 Myrmidon wrote:
I'd think playing to break the game (your job) would be quite different than playing to enjoy the game, so you might have to unlearn some habits. If you demonstrate an uncanny ability to find errors, rough edges, crashes, etc. while documenting them professionally, it can't hurt their appraisal of how you might be as a programmer, hm?

Not like you should listen to me though, just talking out the ass.

I guess knowing how to break a game can demonstrate good knowledge of how that game is put together in the first place.

Phyre

United States1288 Posts

July 26 2008 00:31 GMT

Thanks for all the tips guys. By the way...

GOT THE JOB! FUCK YEAH!

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