The video game production and development industry often gets a lot of flack for the way it works — but the truth is, not many people fully understand how it works. In fact, if you’re new to the industry it can seem quite opaque! Let’s take some time to look at the basics of how this industry is run. What better place to start than a popular channel of entry-level work? Here’s the skinny on how testing and QA are run in the gaming industry.
Who wants QA?
In general, there are three teams that work on the games we know and love. The first ones are the people who make the actual game — the developers! They create all the original content for the game. Working alongside these designers are auxiliary companies, who help build the game according to the developers, and deliver the design. The third player is the publisher. It’s here where the bulk of testing and QA takes place. Because the publishers are the ones that are in contact with the market, it’s their job to make sure the game upholds certain standards — and pleases both the end-users and physical manufacturers.
Three types of testing
Functionality QA, platform certification, and localization QA. These are the three possible types of testing a game undergoes in the production process. Functionality testing has to do with making sure the game works bug-free (or at least something resembling it!), platform certification has to do with meeting the technical standards and requirements of the hardware, and localization services are used in the case that a game is translated into foreign languages. When you’re picturing video game testing, chances are what you’re thinking of is functionality testing — it is vital to the game working properly. But keep in mind that platform certification is a huge bottleneck, too: game release delays are often due to the fact that the game in question doesn’t uphold the console-makers’ stringent standards. The same thing goes for localization services. If a game doesn’t use the right terminology, slang, and cultural references, it can have a devastating effect on the game’s ratings. And god forbid someone’s left a placeholder word in there!
Procedural parts
The procedure used to test a game is as varied as the games themselves. Every game, company, and person has their own process. In general, testers typically play and re-play builds of a game in multiple variations and combinations, scouring the program for bugs. Since the combination of scenarios in a game is nearly infinite (just think: the same quest, but wielding different weapons, or interacting with different characters… the possibilities are endless!) it’s no small undertaking. Being able to recreate bugs and issues using a tester’s notes is key, too. Some may take a spatial divide-and-conquer approach to a game, while others might focus on one issue at a time — starting a triage system that addresses “showstopping” problems first, and smaller quirks later. An example of a common QA process is “collision testing.” This is the exciting process of running your character into every game surface to see if the models are solid enough. It goes without saying that this isn’t exactly relaxing on the couch with your favorite video games!
QA qualms
And that brings us to a main problem in the testing world. It simply doesn’t get enough credit. QA is often taken too lightly — just think about how video game testing is often portrayed as just relaxing on the sofa playing FIFA. In reality, however, it’s a lot more difficult than getting paid to play. Successful video game testers actually have to make a shift from thinking about games as entertainment, to games as large, open-ended puzzles. A lot of the job is searching for problems or bugs in the game. It’s something that needs to be done methodically — which can easily turn into tedious if you’re working for the low wages testers often get paid. One of the problems is, game testers only get attention when something isn’t working properly. It’s a job many don’t keep for long — careers in gaming QA usually function via temporary contracts. However, there are plenty of people who use it as a viable option to get started in the games industry. It’s a good starting point for climbing the career ladder — and escaping to other areas of game development!
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