Paid To Beta Test Video Games- The Downsides Of Paid Game Testing

By Sean Saunders

I'm not going to lie to you -- being a professional video game tester is a sweet deal. You get money playing video games in the comfort of your own home. But it's not all a bed of roses. In fact, video game testing is not for everybody. In this article, I'll discuss some of the downsides that are involved with being a paid game tester.

I want you to imagine playing a video game that has no ending. You just play it and play it, and then you reach a certain level and the game stops. Sound like a great game? Well, if you're a game tester, you may have to test games that are like this, uncompleted.

Typically, a game takes about one to three years to completely develop. Testers get their hands on the game around 75-80% of the development stage. Sometimes, this means getting a game that isn't completed from start to end. Some people find it unsatisfying playing a game without being able to beat it.

Also, bugs are sometimes hard to document. Admittedly, a lot of the bugs and glitches are going to be pretty simple, like "every time I jump, I lose my weapon." But, there will also be several bugs that are more subtle and harder to recognize, as well as a few that confuse you altogether. This makes it a challenge to document and is something that may take a few pages of writing to capture.

In addition, you're not the only game tester being paid to test the video game. This means that you have to compare any bugs you find with those on the list of already identified bugs. Nothing is worse than turning in a report on a bug or glitch that has already been found by another tester, especially considering the fact that it makes you look lazy.

Finally, the stop and start process of having to constantly document your play is grueling for some people. Equally grueling is the process of having to play some levels over & over & over again, especially after an update has occurred and you're forced to re-check the game.

If these things are going to be a problem for you, then maybe you should reconsider wanting to be a paid game tester. For most video game testers though, these are just necessary evils that aren't too bad to put up with, considering you are still getting paid a lot of money to test video games. Most agree, it's a worthy trade for a career in professional game testing.