Game Testing Careers - How To Start A Great Career Testing Video Games

There are a number of ways that someone can start down the path of a game testing career. In fact, many people are already starting down that path, trying to learn what they can do to become a video game tester and then move on to even better careers in the industry. Here are four of the bigger career paths available to anyone who wants to start a game testing career in the video game industry and then take it to a higher level.

Programmer

Programmers will need to have degrees in computer science or mathematics and a profound knowledge of languages like C++, Java and XNA. However, for many game dev testers, just working on games will give them many of these skills. A little extra college and some hard work in your job can quickly set you up for a position much higher in the hierarchy that will allow you to become a programmer in a few short years. Many programmers got their start as game testers, so if you are ambitious and driven to learn and succeed, and want to build and design games, not simply test them, then this is a career path to give serious consideration to.

Game Designer

Designers are the men and women behind the ideas that games are built on. They develop the systems, the story, and the basic art style before anyone starts creating the game. They will also consult on the game throughout its development cycle so that the programmers, artists, and writers can have a set point to refer back to. They will determine overall gameplay and strategy, character balance, plot development and the overall physics and rendering styles of the world within the game. For those who have ever dreamed of a great idea for a video game, this is the career path for you.

Game Artist

The artists will work to illustrate and animate the imagery from the game with their own specific style set. Those interested in becoming artists will need degrees in illustration and 3d animation from an accredited art school, but being a game dev tester can definitely help in getting started in the industry. There are many game artist programs available now online, and the career options for those acquiring these skill sets are extremely in demand and will only grow higher. If drawing is your thing, or you would like to combine a passion for art with a passion for games, consider becoming a game artist after starting your game testing career.

Game Producer

The producers are responsible for running the whole ship, telling men and women in every role how to get their jobs done. For a producer, the main skill that needs to be displayed is a knowledge of programming and organization - two things a tester has in spades.

For anyone interested in the gaming industry, the four careers above are things that you can very much be hopefully about getting involved with some day. While it might seem like a stretch that someone starting a game testing career as a video game tester can someday become a game producer, the truth is that there are always people out there who are working their way up the ladder - why not you too?