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joel

 

This is Joel Marcantel. His job is more fun and emotionally fulfilling than yours will probably ever be. He is a game tester for THQ, and has been for the past few months. In an effort to find out more about this dream job, I interviewed him.

Hit the jump to find out:

• How to become a game tester.

• What the job entails.

• Why chicks dig men who get paid to play games.

DESTRUCTOID: Where do you work and what is your specific job title?

 

I work for THQ Inc. as a playtester. Technically I'm employed through a temp agency called the Acro Service Corporation, but for all practical purposes I'm a THQ employee.  

 

If you're still around after a year as a temp, they'll take you on as an official employee depending on their needs. Because THQ just opened a new office in Phoenix, the odds are looking pretty good right now.

 

There's no specific title per se: we're simply in the Quality Assurance department and call each other "testers".

 

DESTRUCTOID: How did you hear about the job?

 

I heard about the job through my career advisor at the Art Institute of Phoenix.  If your advisor has a mailing list, get on it. They provide you with useful updates about jobs around the country.  When possible, visit your career advisor personally so they get to know your interests and skills.

 

DESTRUCTOID: How did you get it?

 

I was able to get this job because my advisor knew I wanted to join THQ and got me a last-minute spot on their interview day. I asked my instructors and contacts advice about the interview process and followed it. Remember what they say about first impressions?  

 

In the games industry, showing up to an interview dressed in a suit and tie isn't a great idea. Walk in wearing something business casual; you want your interviewer to know that you'll be comfortable in a more relaxed environment.

 

DESTRUCTOID: What qualifications were they specifically looking for?

 

Versatility, creativity, and a burning passion to play games.  It's easy to hire someone who can just run through a level, but if you're being hired as a playtester they want someone who can push a game past its breaking point. Finding interesting and new ways to test the game will get their attention.

 

For instance, one of the questions was "What would you do if you've found most of the major bugs and haven't received a new build of the game in a couple of weeks?"

 

Simply saying "Play through the game a couple more times" isn't going to give them any real incentive to hire you. Let them know that you're aware of the factors involved in games and how you would exploit them, and even make references to other games you've played. 

 

If there doesn't seem to be a bug in your assigned level, see if you can wall-jump to the highest piece of geometry, start raining fireballs at every rock and tree below you, and then skydive and try to hit a passing NPC. You don't have to be completely silly about it, but they'll remember you if you give them an answer that's different from everyone else's.

 

Know your favorite game and why it's your favorite, because they'll ask.  The ability to analyze a game's structure and what makes it tick are both essential skills when the solutions to less obvious bugs are lurking in the shadows.

 

DESTRUCTOID: What does an average day entail?

 

Punch in, sit down and play an assigned game, take an hour of lunchtime (relax by playing games), play the assigned game again, and punch out.

 

Teams are divided up and put under Test Leads, and it's the Leads who determine exactly who will be doing what. Most of the time we're just allowed to run through the game causing as much mayhem as possible, but sometimes someone is assigned to test a particular level, area, or gameplay function.

 

The most important part of this job isn't necessarily the ability to find bugs, but to reproduce them. If a bug occurs, testers must backtrack every step they've taken, and then try to narrow it down to only the essential things needed to trigger the bug.  Problem-solving and deduction abilities are crucial to being able to quickly route out a bug and get on to the next.

 

DESTRUCTOID: Can you see yourself getting bored of it in the future?

 

This is a job for people who absolutely love videogames. You have to if you're going to last for more than six months playing the same game over and over again.   The programmers and designers will change things between builds, but it basically remains the same levels, same plot, etc. You may get juggled between a couple of titles depending on where they need you, but you'll usually end up coming back around to the same game.

 

One of my friends just got through a weekend of testing a game that's entered crunch-mode. He put in 12 hours a day for three days straight, and it looks like there's plenty more to come. He's tired of playing the same levels over and over, but for right now he just has to deal: it's part of the job.

 

The trick is to find new ways to approach the game, or you'll get bored out of your skull. I think that so long as I can keep this in mind, I'll be just fine.

 

DESTRUCTOID: What future jobs are now accessible to you now that you are part of the industry?

 

Ah…here's a prickly question.  While anyone who knows their stuff will tell you that getting your foot in the door, any door, of the industry is important, playtesting is no longer the golden gateway it once was. Companies grow and acquire each other, studios become compartmentalized, and sections are kept separated for efficiency reasons. Long story short: you probably won't be having lunch with game artists if you're a tester.

 

The job looks great on your resume because it shows that you have experience with game design and can work in a team, but it will still be up to you to take initiative and keep sending off your resume and portfolio to potential employers.

 

DESTRUCTOID: What advice would you give to someone who wishes to become a game tester?

 

Be creative, be outgoing, and sharpen your writing skills. Love games, love playing games, love being around people who play games, and keep up on your personal hygiene. Seriously: 180 nerds on one floor can get the place smelling mighty ripe.

 

DESTRUCTOID: Are the wages good enough so that you can live on them?

 

You wouldn't want to plan a family around it, but right now this weekly paycheck seems mighty chunky. If you're splitting an apartment with someone, you'll be able to live just fine.

 

DESTRUCTOID: Best part of the job?

 

Just look at my job description.  I play videogames for a living. I'm surrounded by a crowd who loves videogames as much as I do, and at lunch time we duke it out on Guitar Hero or Super Smash Brothers. 

 

The community is really great. Oh, and not having to deal with irate customers because their DVDs are scratched.  Big plus. (Joel's last job was at Blockbuster Video. -Rev)

 

DESTRUCTOID: Worst?

 

Tracking a single bug for six hours. Sometimes you'll want to give up, but you'll just have to soldier through.


Continue: More Industry Bullshit stories





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47 comments | showing # 1 to 47

PITT sauce's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:05
PITT sauce
Where do I sign up?
JoelM's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:10
JoelM
At your career advisor's office. If they're doing their job, they should know when opportunities like this pop up.
Stetsonblade's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:16
Stetsonblade
Joe Marcantel. Interesting. I've never thought of other Marcantels existing outside of where I live. Silly me.

--Blade Marcantel
Stetsonblade's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:18
Stetsonblade
Joel* sorry about that missing "l"!
velcroman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:19
velcroman
a true solider, fighting those awful bugs for minimum wage!!
AlbinoGeoduck's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:20
AlbinoGeoduck
But...WHAT? I was a game tester and it destroyed my soul. And I LOVE games. Everything about it was awful and the people scared me. His experience is much, much different than mine.
jeffstart's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:20
jeffstart
So it's pretty much Basic Training... A sort of hazing if you will.
Snaileb 's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:20
Snaileb
Damn. I'd stop engineering to test games. I'd be poor, but it'd be worth it. Fuck.
Toneman's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:23
Toneman
I'd rather just play finished games.
Kalakaua's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:27
Kalakaua
Albino... from my experience it depends on the company, the lead and situation. The description of a QA department in this interview is pretty much on the spot of how things are, at least from my point of view.
JoelM's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:32
JoelM
@AlbinoGeoduck: like all jobs, your experience is bound to change depending on the people around you.

Also, it's not a minimum wage job. It's not a lot, but it's a fair sum. Plus, you don't ever have to worry about coming in contact with an irate customer again, and who can place a value on that?
wardrox's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:53
wardrox
Can be good, can be bad:
*click*
*click*
"Your pony died because it wasn't cute enough"
Kif 's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 12:56
Kif
Rockstar Games have a studio where I live. I wonder if I could get hooked up with games testing...

Bah, a man can dream.
Mabec's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 13:06
Mabec
Intresting interview, more stuff like this on my favorite site, please.
LieutenantFrost's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 13:08
LieutenantFrost
The only downside I could see to this kind of job is forgetting what the sun looks like.
Lightthrower's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 13:50
Lightthrower
Man can dream? Heh if some of you live near Montreal please tell me we're currently hiring (won't tell the company, company rules meh, ask in private).
DaveRudden's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 13:53
DaveRudden
I interviewed for a testing job once with a company that made games I really enjoyed. I was pretty much told, once crunch time hits, I lose any semblance of a life or control over work hours and days off. Free pizza and soda, though... w00t! Just because I like videogames doesn't mean I'll become an indentured servant to one.
Mxyzptlk's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 13:53
Mxyzptlk
Props to you for doing the grueling work to make sure our games get to us as bug-free as possible!
Rabunis's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 17:08
Rabunis
ROFL @wardrox

flawless victory
brad drac's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 17:22
brad drac
Methinks I'd rather work retail. I like games too much to have them ruined by constantly playing the same (not neccessarly good) one over and over and over and over and over...

The best route I can see into the games industry is just making my own free/shareware stuffs. Even if you don't make it in, at least you're doing what you want to do.
tronfanusa's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 18:49
tronfanusa
Reality Check:
There is no place in the industry for this crack head...game testing is a grind, you are treated like slave labor and with disdain from all above and around you. I'm sure THQ is a nice place to work, probably have more money than sense being in Arizona. Think you're an employee of THQ? Try asking for a raise or calling in sick...watch how long you last.
Also try testing in California and see all your money evaporate from taxes, rent and food. Average work week during Crunch-Time™ is about 80+hrs for 4-8 months. You never see your friends, never see your family and lose touch with reality. The checking account at the end of the grind is nice, but you're more likely to be laid off, fired, let go, not needed anymore, dismissed, sent on "vacation", disappeared with extreme prejudice, or simply burnt to a crisp and dead inside you never show up again.
This is the stupidest article I've ever read...might as well ask G.W. how much fun it is being President. Let's hear from some real testers...not dooshes who worked for a few months.

Digital Coal Miner #041503-3112-319
Trixwon's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:03
Trixwon
As a game tester for the last 4 years, I can recognize the new tester optimism a mile away. Sure you have been there a few months, but i can give you a 99% guarantee that at the end of your contract assignment you will be laid off. You are not "for all practical purposes" an employee of THQ. Do you have free health, are you invited to company parties, are you allowed to make eye contact with the devs? Testing can be great, just be prepared to get laid off. I busted my ass and managed to get to the lead status at my company, but many many friends came and went. I even worked with tronfan up there... and i can attest to those 80+ hour weeks, upon first getting hired as a tester my hours were 7am-8:30pm and was told "Yes there is a good chance when your contract is up you will be hired." I maintained that schedule for 6 months.

I wish you luck, but you will soon be as jaded as the throngs of constantly laid off game testers. Try working in silicon valley.
battle royale boy8's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:16
battle royale boy8
Qualifactions are "Versatility, creativity, and a burning passion to play games?" HAHAHAHA! You just have to have working thumbs, one decent working eyeball and from some of the writing samples of some coworkers, elementary school level english skills and the ability to stay somewhat awake after 60-80 hours a week of crunch time.

And don't fool yourself. You're not a THQ employee. You're a temp and you work for the temp company meaning you'll be the first one laid off after your game is done.
numba1testah's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:19
numba1testah
Hey deez foos above me got it all wrong man. I been testin about 3 - 3 1/2 years now and i'm almost an assistant lead man. About a year ago i got a dollah raze and i didn't even hafta ask for it! These doodz up in here think they know all of everything that it is to be a tester, but they ain't got a clue. I don't know what kinda companies y'all been workin for, but mine is great. I only got laid off twice, and it was only for a few months. Sometimes, they let us do a 24-hour shift, and i even make double time dollahs! That's major cash right there man. Plus, it's the most rewardin thing in da world when i can open up a ps2 or gba game and show mah friends, HEY! DATS ME IN DA CREDITS! It earns me major street cred wit da homies man. I say tsk tsk to these "jaded" testers above me, testin is da life. I'm getting PAID TO PLAY VIDEO GAMES! Just like the commercials man. This one time, the boss had me tighten up the graphics on level 3, and I did it, and I felt like i really contributed to making dis a better game. Testing 4 life!
drizzle's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:26
drizzle
==== battle royale boy8 says:
02/08/2007 19:16
...one decent working eyeball and from some of the writing samples of some coworkers...

10 out of 10 times, Comments, the word 'from' is used rather than 'form'.

Don't listen to these chumps. I've been working pretty hard for the last 8 years as a contract tester at namco, and Glen told me that I'll probably get hired soon. Sweet!
Excal_Z's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:32
Excal_Z
Thanks for this laugh of an interview. Joel may be a part of the department but it's painfully obvious that he's new and beside himself with childlike excitement and giddiness. I work with Trix and Twon and have since 2004, and I've been in the industry since 2002. I've seen a lot of hopefuls like Joel come in with a smile and leave with a shattered heart when they were unexpectedly terminated. The bottom line is to be a successful tester, you have to be able to deal with a lot of stress. There's the stress of management, your leads, your peers, and the frustration of playing a broken game. It's the lead's job to act as a ruthless taskmaster, constantly whipping Joe-six-pack testers that they scraped up off the pavement into functioning members of a cohesive unit. When you make a mistake they'll berate you until you shape up. Leads will also do anything to marginalize you - after all, they've seen tons of people like you in the past - so don't present yourself as a fanboy.

If THQ is anything like the QA departments of established top-name companies I've worked in, QA is an entirely separate entity and is completely isolated from the other departments. All that's needed to properly test a game is rudimentary problem-solving skills and an attention span greater than an ADD-afflicted toddler. Management knows that testers are just warm bodies hired primarily for the sake of meeting manhour quotas, so your access will be severely restricted and it will become exceedingly difficult to interact with anyone that's not in QA. That's not to say QA people never make connections or move up in the company, but you've got to really work for it, not sit on your carebear cloud and think happy thoughts.

If you do not give your all every day and show that you are more than just another tester robot, you will get fired (diplomatically speaking, your "contract will expire"). This means stepping up to do overtime, up to and including 24-hour shifts, as well as being extremely creative and writing up bugs that anyone can understand without confusion.
Mike_Stevens's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:51
Mike_Stevens
Ahem... Yuuuuup, that sounds about right, though, um, to get hired you have to work really hard. Umm, QA work is a, you know, serious job, but there is a lot of... rewards to it.

One thing about being a lead is to... you know... know where to hide confiscated items (like radios or walkie-talkies). Garbage cans work good. Um... you see, the testers under you will do whatever they can to slack off, and if you want to get promoted like me, you'll have to stay on top of things and make sure everyone around you stays on task.

Also... um... appearance is important. Khaki vests and goggles are fine, but t-shirts alone are not. You don't... you know... want to look like a slob.

I highly recommend game testing. It is the most honorable way into the industry.
yourcontractisup's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 19:52
yourcontractisup
I know who you all are and you all need to get back to work. You will all be jaded testers soon with your contracts ended if you do not. You know that there are no breaks and no internet usage while at work. You have no privileges and are all locked up in the "QA Room" so you cant interact with anyone else. So deal with it!

Your Pal,

Management
TurkeySandwich's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 20:15
TurkeySandwich
its pretty easy to get into game testing. i was lucky sence a recruiter from a temp agency happend to meet me at an unusual time. i had just got done getting a turkey sandwich at togo's and hopped on the bus to go home and fell asleep, and i woke up with a grunt and the recruiter was sitting next to me. he must have been intimidated by my army jacket (vietnam-era) and my angry noises because he suddenly started up a conversation. he said he had openings in the game industry for a major comapny and offerd me a job. then right after that he pointed out that i might want to cut my scraggly beard for the interview lol.

anyway i took the job and had a good time. i sometimes fell asleep especially after lunch but my coworkers were cool with it and nobody ever said anything. it's a fun atmosfere too, one time the president of the company came and one of our qa members said he was going to chalenge him to a duel for ownership of the company. his pos replica samurai sword wouldnt stand a chance against the real thing tho lol. but srsly though we all had good times and everyone has a good sense of humor. except for me sometimes i get pretty pissed off when i lose at games. i swear under my breath and people are afraid to talk to me sometimes rofl.
numba1testah's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 20:20
numba1testah
Hey! Turkey! They didn't call you back from da lay-off's yet? I been testin dis kick azz game for awhile now. I needa hurry up doe cuz da boss has another game she needs designed. I hope day call you back soon dawg, but 'til then, keep livin da dream!
HOLLER's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 20:40
HOLLER
Hello fellow holler...If you want a blue c-holler job like a QA tester, you are going to be in for a few surprises...First of A-holler, you must realize that your work my not be appreciated by the people above you...You may make a few d-hollers extra if you become a lead...But like a dog on a c-holler, you are pretty much stuck with nowhere to go...Even if you think you're a sc-holler, your intellect will not get recognition...I suggest next time you see your temp agency representative, you c-holler up on the phone and tell her you want a new job...You want a real job where you can become a b-holler and make some real loot...

HOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLERRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!
Eleo's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 20:41
Eleo
In all honesty this sounds boring as hell. As a gamer I wouldn't want to do this for a living. Then again, it's probably better than flipping burgers.
sigmastar's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 20:49
sigmastar
He is bright eyed alright. But that was all of us when we first started. Is being a playtester hard work? Hell Yes. Does it all pay off? More than likely no. Give it a shot. But be prepared, for anything and everything. If you cant sit in a chair for 8+ hours dont be a "playtester". If you cant spend more time at work than with your friends, girlfriend, family, dont become a playtester. Think of the game your think is the worst, the game that would rather set on fire, if you cant play that for 8+ hours a day, do not become a playtester.

Don't expect perks, don't expect free games or schwag, expect to work alot and often, on weekends and on holidays. Expect for people to treat like crap for the simple fact that your a tester. Anything else you dont like about your current job or past jobs expect that. Do it for 4 years like me trix, excal, dtrizzle and all the rest of you guys. Then write an article.
MasterChef's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/08/2007 22:30
MasterChef
I tested @ EA (and a few others) for a bit. The only thing you needed to get a job testing was a pulse. I thought it would be a foot in the door but at the rate people got promoted I think I'd be 40 before I got out of the testing department.

I don't recommend it, I in fact discourage it. Anyone who is the least bit intelligent and personable comes to their senses and leaves after a few months if not weeks.

If you still think this is the job for you get out your dog collar(company badge), put it on and when someone says jump you should already be up in the air. Oh yeah- the pay is shit, respect from everyone above you is non exsistant, there is no job security, benefits, and 9 out of 10 folks get fat(take out and long hours sitting on your ass.)

I tested for about 8 months total. Anyone who can test for over 2 years has to be crazy or stupid. And if you have been testing for that long and arn't crazy or stupid try to start a f***ing union for god's sake. It'll make games better and you might actually get some respect at work.
redsoag's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2007 11:01
redsoag
MasterChef is telling the truth, i've been working for a testing company for years already, luckily I could get some decent position but if you are a tester you really get the dirt. Without union (not going to happen soon I guess) testers will never get any good respect. Anyway gotta go, i'm on the job and i'm hearing the whip cracking.
jinster's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2007 11:23
jinster
As a former game tester, it is interesting to see the type of responses this article has provoked. There seems to be misconception about this job. Everyone you tell about it will say how lucky you are, and each time you hear that, you can become a little angrier because most do not realize how stressful it can be. But with any job, there is the good and the bad.

The tone of may responses from people who are in the industry should clue you in on how stressful the job can be. When your job is to find mistakes that other people has made, and you have pressure from above to find lots of them, you become critical of every last thing. This often creates a rift between QA and the Devs. There is a reason why regular testers and developers cannot directly talk to each other: they will kill each other. There are always too many inane or dumb bugs written up, and there are too many bugs that are already written but ignored by the devs, who ask a month later, "Why didn't anyone write this up?"

All of this tension could easily be remedied by meeting face to face, as it is easy to be biting and sarcastic through a database. For this reason I would recommend finding a QA job at a developer rather than a publisher. You may work on less games or be stuck on a really terrible game, but the work environment is much better.

One thing that was pleasantly surprising about the job was that a great variety of people work it. They are definately not all video game nerds (and some of them did not even seem to play video games outside of work.) When you work 12 hour days with the same people over and over, it is good to know that certain people can make you laugh and hold a conversation and have interesting things going on in their lives. On the flip side, there are some with hygiene, weight, or speech problems. Some will have genuine psychological problems. I had one co-worker try to fight me (physically) because I had a faster playthrough time than he did. Usually you will make fun of these people with your newfound friends. And you will have enough stories to write a book (or atleast Grandma's Boy.)

Newcomers to this industry do not appreciate how stressful it can be. They think that since they can play at home 12, 13, 14 hours a day that they would have no problem with working 8. Imagine the worst part of your favorite video game. Now imagine the game freezing or crashing after playing through that part, and being unable to save the game. Now repeat that for a whole work day. You have to find the cause of that problem, and it can easily be frustrating.

At the same time, when you do figure it out, you feel a sense of pride and ownership with the game. You saved some other poor soul out there who would have gone through the same agony. You will also see some outrageous bugs that you will rarely see in the final product, things that will cause you to laugh uncontrollably at 2 AM when deadlines are looming in. And when you show it to your co-workers they will also laugh hysterically.

One last note: When you find a bug in a finished game, 90% of the time, a tester has found it, reproduced it, written it up, and send it to the developers, but for some reason or another, it still slips through. Please do not blame the QA testers on this fact. As for the other 10%, I leave you with a bit of math:

50 testers (a pretty high number for most projects) x 4 months of testing (pretty average) = 50 x 16 weeks x 40 hours = 32,000 hours of testing. This can seem like a ton of testing, however..

1st day release: 30,000 buyers x 3 hour (if they only play for three hours each and never touch the game again) = 90,000 hours. In just the first day alone there is more testing done by consumers than in four months of in-house testing. In reality the ratio is even worse, especially for popular games.


SideBustingGirl17's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/09/2007 12:43
SideBustingGirl17
Oh newbies, they make me laugh. Don't forgot about the sidebusting. Long work days, not seeing your family and friends, and then someone will sidebust into your conversation! That can really send you over the edge.

Holler to the old peeps!
RandomJackhole's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/10/2007 14:06
RandomJackhole
Hey! I’m some random jack hole that makes accounts for the sole purpose of griefing others!!! Just look at what the kid is saying folks! Does he want to be doing this the rest of his life? No. Is he happy where he is now? Sure! How miserable with yourself do you have to be to go out of your way to make such hate filled comments for no reason?!! When he’s had his fill he’ll leave for better things, unlike the dumbasses redsoag, drizzle, Trixwon, tronfanusa and the rest of that group who apparently know how to COMPLAIN about how shitty their lives are but can’t DO anything about it because they’ve shoved their heads so far up their asses.
Joel: my advice is to remember that testing aint all fun and games. You obviously know that you’re only testing in the short term, so remember that this isn’t the place to have a career.
Everyone else: Testing > flipping burgers at McDonalds for 5.15 an hour. If I was still young and needed the money, I’d have taken testing over those shitty summer jobs any time.
QASlutNumba1's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/11/2007 00:00
QASlutNumba1
OMG!! Like.. whatEVER... QA testing is like.. totally the best thing evar!!!!! Especially when you're the only girl in QA!!! It's like... SOOOOOOOOOOOOO MANY MEN!!!!!! ALL THERE FOR THE TAKING!!!!!! And they all like.. play video games... and yeah....It's like.. so great!!!!!! And they totally flirt back because.. um.. hello!!!! I'm a girl.. and I like VIDEO GAMES!!! Oh yeah, girls.. QA testing.. .hellz yah!!!!
tronfanusa's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2007 12:32
tronfanusa
I'm not complaining about the job, just the idealized version that's presented in this article. I mean if they were going to write an article about Race Car Driving, you think they'd find someone who hasn't just been driving cars for 3 months. The article and subject of the article are flawed, it paints a newbie's (aka, it's better than McDonalds) view of Game Testing. Even at McDonalds you would get a raise or a promotion after 4 years and not be laid off in 6 months and then have to go to Burger King, and then get laid off there and have to go to Jack In the Box, and then get laid off there and eventually come back to McDonalds...

FYI, That crappy QA job is in the past, I found a good company to QA test for, and after 6 months I was hired full time, after 3 months of that I was promoted. Many people in my new company have moved out of QA and into the other areas of development.

Is that complaining enough for you?
numba1testah's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2007 13:06
numba1testah
It's me! Numba1Testah! BOOYAKASHA! Aight aight aight, lemme break it down fo ya:

Douche: Hey! I’m some random jack hole that makes accounts for the sole purpose of griefing others!!!

Numba1Testah: Das right foo, you is some random jack hole. Infact, griefing griefers is just as bad. Shoot, dis one time I was chillin wit mah homies an' dis foo was like, y'alls a bunch of fakers! So I was like, you just some random jack hole foo! I really said dat. I woonit be surprized if dis wuz dat same dood.

Douche: Just look at what the kid is saying folks! Does he want to be doing this the rest of his life? No. Is he happy where he is now? Sure! How miserable with yourself do you have to be to go out of your way to make such hate filled comments for no reason?!!

Numba1Testah: Foo, i'm happy wit mah job dawg. Last week, I got to work 20 minutes early and I was able to still get a donut. Den later mah lead came over and tried to "WTFPWN" me at dis game, but he was so bad we just wound up clownin' on him all day. Dat foo had da nerve to call my skills "suspect". I'm just livin' da dream yo.

Douche: When he’s had his fill he’ll leave for better things, unlike the dumbasses redsoag, drizzle, Trixwon, tronfanusa and the rest of that group who apparently know how to COMPLAIN about how shitty their lives are but can’t DO anything about it because they’ve shoved their heads so far up their asses.

Numba1Testah: Well das da point ain't it? He won't "Have his fill and den leave", he's gonna get his ass laid off as soon as his projects done. I mean, I love mah job. I love getting a 2 - 4 month vacation throughout da year without pay. It's coo. I can just chill wit da homies and earn more street cred. Mah momma let's me stay up later now cuz I been wit da company fa so long, it's pretty sick. "who apparently know how to COMPLAIN about how shitty their lives are but can’t DO anything about it because they’ve shoved their heads so far up their asses." Was the "shitty lives" and "heads so far up their asses" pun intentional? Cuz dat was pretty funny.

Douche: Joel: my advice is to remember that testing aint all fun and games. You obviously know that you’re only testing in the short term, so remember that this isn’t the place to have a career.

Numba1Testah: Good advice jack hole, dass about da only intelligent thing I read in yo little rant.

Douche: Everyone else: Testing > flipping burgers at McDonalds for 5.15 an hour. If I was still young and needed the money, I’d have taken testing over those shitty summer jobs any time.

Numba1Testah: I flip burgers on da weekends dawg! Supplimentil income iz wut its called. I got big plans man, I got big ideas! Ya'll don't even know! Shoot. Just you wait, ya'll will see mah chewin-gum-bug-repellent in stores soon 'nuff. Oh yeah, minimum wage is 5.15 where you live? That sucks. Payce!

- Numba1Testah "Testin' fo life!"
Chainrxn's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/12/2007 15:21
Chainrxn
I cant say I'm surprised by the comments expressed here. There are alot of things to be frustrated with in the Video Game QA industry.

However, I see nothing wrong with expressing enthusiasm and love for your job. I've been a tester for a year and a half and have loved every second of it, even through the difficult parts. I've never lost my passion for playing games and still play regularly on my free time. And, there are more of my coworkers who feel this way than don't.

Joel obviously loves his job. More power to him. I imagine he'll become a grood tester and use this job to springboard into something great.
numba1testah's Avatar - Comment posted on 02/13/2007 12:44
numba1testah
Quick question Chainrxn, do you work for a developer or a publisher?
dewrock's Avatar - Comment posted on 05/05/2008 13:52
dewrock
hell ill do it sign me up >=D :)
NAVYSEAL26's Avatar - Comment posted on 10/06/2009 07:52
NAVYSEAL26
i like lost of war games playstation can make nintendo can start making
(super mario boxin) playstation can make toy guns like nintendo
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