What is a Video Game Tester?

A video game tester is a real job.

Did you know that video and computer games can take on average from 1 - 3 years to develop and to become a reality? Nearly 3/4 of the way through the development of a new video game, it is necessary that the new game be test driven. That is where you come in if you have chosen video game tester as your career.


Video game testers get new game disks to test out and have a schedule of testing that can vary on a daily or weekly basis. Each new video game is tested for errors and durability. The video game tester will also check the integrity of a disc, i.e., how many times the video game can be dropped or bumped or carelessly handled before the video game become unresponsive? Video game testers also play video games to find out how damage or certain glitches affect the play of the game.

Video game testers are on a careful schedule. From the moment a video game tester receives a new video game to test, they begin playing the video game while keeping a notepad nearby. Video game testers note any glitches or errors that are discovered throughout the video game. These video game errors or glitches can be anything from "not realistic - must fill in missing floorboard" to "nothing was in the secret box when I opened it". This evaluation during play and testing of a video game can become several paragraphs. If a video game tester knows that other video game testers are evaluating the same video game also, the video game tester must check a log / report to see what errors or glitches have already been reported. Lastly, once a video game company has reported that the error or glitch has been remedied, the video game tester must return to the video game for additional play and evaluation.

So, at first, the title of Video Game Tester sounds like a dream job to any video game junkie out there; however, it can be a challenging and even boring position. Oftentimes, since the video game is still in its infancy, it can be more work than fun to play it. To make matters worse, the game will need to be played over and over again. Because of the high level of burnout and subsequent turnover in the professional life of a video game tester, this position is often used as a springboard to other related positions. This is usually a good entry level job for other video game related fields.

There are oftentimes strict deadlines for a video game tester. A video game tester can spend several hours a day playing a "not so fun" game as it is unfinished and being played for purposes of observation and evaluation only.

If a video game tester does not meet deadlines in this strict environment, it can mean a video game will not be released as scheduled and when the public is anxiously awaiting the video game's arrival in their local stores.

So, on its face, Video Game Tester sounds like a dream job, like a "blow-off" job, but it is every bit a worthy and challenging profession to be in.