Become a Game Tester TM
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Become A Game Tester TM Become A Game Tester Matthew Johnson http://www.BecomeAGameTester.com ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. No part of this report may be reproduced or transmitted in any form whatsoever, electronic, or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any informational storage or retrieval system without express written, dated and signed permission from the author. All cases of illegal sharing will be prosecuted. DISCLAIMER AND/OR LEGAL NOTICES: The information presented herein represents the view of the author as of the date of publication. Because of the rate with which conditions change, the author reserves the right to alter and update his opinion based on the new conditions. The report is for informational purposes only. While every attempt has been made to verify the information provided in this report, neither the author nor his affiliates/partners assume any responsibility for errors, inaccuracies or omissions. Any slights of people or organizations are unintentional. ©BecomeAGameTester.com Page 1 Become A Game Tester TM Table of Contents Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................2 Introduction ................................................................................................................................... 3 Chapter 1: What It Takes To Be A Game Tester ............................................................................ 5 Requirements ............................................................................................................................. 5 Skills ............................................................................................................................................ 6 Qualifications ............................................................................................................................. 7 Experience ...................................................................................................................................... 8 Salary .......................................................................................................................................... 9 What Exactly Does A Game Tester Do .......................................................................................... 11 Types of Testing ........................................................................................................................ 12 How to Improve Your Skills ...................................................................................................... 12 Working Hours .......................................................................................................................... 14 How To Prepare To Be A Game Tester ........................................................................................ 15 Gaining Experience ................................................................................................................... 15 Beta Testing .............................................................................................................................. 16 List of beta testing site: ........................................................................................................ 17 Establishing Yourself as a Gaming Expert ............................................................................... 18 Writing Reviews .................................................................................................................... 18 Writing Blogs ............................................................................................................................ 20 Writing Articles .......................................................................................................................... 21 Preparation is Key ................................................................................................................ 24 How To Find A Game Tester Job ................................................................................................. 24 Where to Start Your Search ..................................................................................................... 25 ©BecomeAGameTester.com Page 2 Become A Game Tester TM List of Gaming Job Sites ...................................................................................................... 26 List of Gaming Companies in the US ........................................................................................ 27 List of Gaming Companies Outside the US ............................................................................. 34 Other Gaming Companies ........................................................................................................ 41 How To Apply For A Game Testing Job ...................................................................................... 65 Writing a Winning Resume ...................................................................................................... 65 Resume Basics .......................................................................................................................... 66 Resume Appearance ................................................................................................................ 67 Specific Resume Topics to Include ......................................................................................... 68 Cover Letter ............................................................................................................................. 70 Preparing for Your Interview ...................................................................................................73 How to Ace an Interview ..........................................................................................................75 What Gaming Companies Are Looking For ................................................................................. 77 Helpful Links And Information .................................................................................................... 78 Video Game Review Sites ........................................................................................................ 78 Keyword Generators ................................................................................................................ 79 Free Article Submission Sites .................................................................................................. 80 ©BecomeAGameTester.com Page 3 Become A Game Tester TM Introduction When it comes to the video game market, business is booming. It is actually the fastest growing market in the world due to the explosion of popular games – both PC games and console games. And, with all of the different gaming companies out there, there are always jobs ready and waiting for those with the right training. One of these jobs is a video game tester. Now, before we even begin this book, you need to know that a video game tester's job is not just to play a game and say whether they like it or not. Video game tester jobs are not normally 9-5 and they are also not normally from the comfort of your own home either. A video game tester's job is an actual job and you will have bosses and requirements that you have to adhere to before you can even get a good game tester position. But – it is not just all sweat and no fun! There are some ways of sneaking around the red tape and putting yourself in front of the right people to give you an advantage over all of the others out there on the video game tester job market. And, if you want to learn these secrets, then my friend, you have come to the right place. This book will help you learn what you need to do and how to do it so that you can get the video game tester job you want to have without going through some of the hard channels that other people take. So, let's get right into the book and what it actually takes to be a video game tester. Enjoy! ©BecomeAGameTester.com Page 4 Become A Game Tester TM What It Takes To Be A Game Tester When you hear the term “game tester”, it sounds like a dream job right? Playing video games for a living... ah, heaven. But, the job itself is a bit harder than it sounds. In this first chapter, we will go through what it takes for you to become a video game tester, such as the requirements that you will have to meet, the skills you should have, and what a normal salary actually is for a tester. It does take a lot to be a video game tester, but I will show you exactly how to do it. Requirements Let's start out with the requirements that you will need in order to be a video game tester. Now, keep in mind that these are base requirements, and just about every gaming company out there will have a different version that will suit their company and games. But, here are some of the main requirements that you will see with most of the gaming positions out there today (don't get scared – these are not absolute requirements for all game testing positions): 1. Experience with Adobe Photoshop illustration and painting 2. Experience with Adobe Flash illustration and 2D animation 3. Experience with traditional 2D sketching and animation skills 4. Ability to enjoy iterating and brainstorming within a team environment of various disciplines 5. Ability to adapt artistic style as needed by the project 6. Contribute to the leadership, direction, and growth of the business intelligence team 7. Develop, manage, and communicate goals, strategies, tactics, project plans, timelines, milestones,