It may seem like a dream job: Getting paid big bucks by tech companies to sit at home and play video games all day. Furthermore, there are online sites that say it’s entirely possible:
The BEST Ways To Make Some Quick CashHow much does a Game Tester make? The national average salary for a Game Tester is $38,446 in United States. Filter by location to see Game. Tester salaries in your area. Salary estimates are based on 31 salaries submitted anonymously to Glassdoor by Game Tester employees. Earn $10 for each 20-minutes of work (up to $60 per test). To become a website tester. A career as a game tester can serve as an entry into the gaming industry. While the position is low on the experience level and pay scale, it can lead to higher positions in video game development and design. SEE ALSO Cadbury Shifts to Profitability With ₦350 million Revenue in 2017. Video game testers are often paid a minimum salary. As a tester, you have one job and one job only Play games and report any bugs, errors, or glitches you come across. That’s what it comes down to. Of course, there are a few specific things that they want you to look out for. Some of the features that testers need to inspect are: compatibility. 14 Best Games Tester Jobs 1. Twitch is the world’s leading live streaming platform for gamers. There are multiple ways you can monetize. Youtube (Reviews). Being a Youtube reviewer, you’ll be creating content reviewing pros and cons of the game. Nintendo allows you to.
- Opinion Outpost - The #1 survey site that doesn't suck. Short surveys, high payouts, simply the best.
- Survey Junkie - Test out new products and get paid to answer questions about them! Work with companies like Apple, Nike, and Amazon!
- Inbox Dollars - Get paid to check your email. $5 bonus just for signing up!
- Nielsen - Download their app and get paid $50!
But is it really that easy to find a job, and make money, as a video game tester?
The harsh reality of video gaming
It may seem like sitting home all day and playing all kinds of cool video games would be a dream come true. However, most video gamers don’t last very long, and here are three big reasons why:
You are doing the same task repeatedly. Imagine watching your favorite movie, but instead of watching it from start to finish, you must watch the same 30 seconds of it over and over and over. Why? Because your job depends upon you finding bugs or errors. Should you spot some kind of issue with your video game at level 3, for example, you will need to reproduce that error and catalog where/how/when it occurs. Some bugs don’t always repeat, which can be maddening when you’re trying to prove they exist.
You won’t get paid a lot, if ever. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics estimates that the average salary earned by professional video gamers is about $50K/year. That sounds great, in theory…until you realize that these gamers have been gaming for years and years. Also, many gamers are programmers by trade, so they can not only spot a bug, but fix it.
In contrast, contracting and beginner video gamers earn $8-$10/hour. If they stick around a few years and prove their worth, their pay gets bumped up to about $14/hour.
You’ll rarely get to pick your gig. If you think you’ll be playing in-demand games like Grand Theft Auto or Call of Duty, think again. Sure, it’s not an impossibility, but games like that are usually handed off to senior beta testers who can quickly run through the game objectives and even fix the errors as they pop up. You, meanwhile, may end up testing a children’s puzzle game.
Crunch time means having no life. In the product launch world, there is a period of time, right before launch, called “crunch time.” This period of time is characterized by developers and testers putting in 18 hour days, getting little sleep, and barely seeing their families. As a tester, you might be asked to run through several different scenarios or to catch X amount of bugs…and all before Tuesday. Get really comfortable with your couch or office chair because you won’t be leaving it for a while.
With those disclaimers aside, it can be really fun and exciting to be a part of the video game testing world. Sometimes, you’ll score free games on top of getting paid for your efforts. You’ll also have the chance to connect with developers, programmers, and other gaming enthusiasts.
So, which companies can you sign up with to increase your odds of becoming a video game tester?
VMC
This rather promising company offers off-site gamers the opportunity to play top-notch games that have huge budgets and tight deadlines via its Global Beta Test Network. New GBTN jobs are posted weekly, and the only real requirements for applying are that you are at least 18 years of age and own one or several game consoles.
Volt
Akin to sites like Monster or CareerBuilder, Volt is a recruiting firm that matches applicants with suitable jobs. However, Volt goes one step further and also helps you polish up your resume and submission materials. You can also just post your resume on this site and receive notifications of jobs that match your qualifications and experience.
Its job board is free to peruse, and the site often lists video game tester positions that are available for weekly (or longer) terms.
Upwork
You might assume that this site is only for freelance writing gigs, but Upwork also offers a good amount of game testing jobs. A quick search of the site using the terms ‘game testing’ pulled up the following results:
These freelance jobs are a good way to find out if you enjoy being a gamer, or if you might like other aspects of gaming, such as writing the product specs, generating content, or even marketing the games.
ModSquad
This agency often works with developers to test games- which means that it occasionally needs off-site game testers. Check the site’s gaming area for more information.
A final note about scams…
Because at-home video gamer jobs appear to be the ideal way to make money by doing nothing, various scam sites have latched onto them as easy bait. As a result, if you do a Google search for video game tester jobs, prepare to be inundated with “opportunities,” like the one featured above. Such websites promise you up to $100/hour for playing video games, while other scam sites try to charge you money to “teach” you how to find such jobs. However, unless you locate a site that teaches you programming or debugging skills, it is a waste of your time and money.
And this free video will show you exactly everything you need to do to get started. Click here to watch it now.
Do you want to earn big bucks playing games? Sounds like a dream, right?
Big video games firms hire video game testers. The job is to basically test the games being developed and report whatever bug you encounter.
An alternative name for game-testing is “ play-testing”. This term has been romanticized in the past as people often think that game testing is an easy task. But it can be quite the opposite.
For starters, the pay is low. Video game testers are often paid a minimum salary.
As a tester, you have one job and one job only…
Play games and report any bugs, errors, or glitches you come across.
That’s what it comes down to.
Of course, there are a few specific things that they want you to look out for.
Some of the features that testers need to inspect are:
- compatibility
- compliance
- functionality
- localization and beta
- regression load
- locating faults that may cause crashing of console, freezing of games, erasing of programs or distort visuals.
You may not always get a testing job for a game you like. but sometimes you may get lucky and get assigned to test play one of your favorite games.
Game Tester Earn Money Online
It’s a simple process that can be broken down into 4 steps.
How To Make Money As A Game Tester
Here’s how it works:
- Play the game, looking for bugs and errors.
- When you find a bug, you’ll have to reproduce it.
- Type a bug report via the provided form (usually part of a bug-tracking software.)
- Submit your report to the developers of the game so they can fix it.
In some cases, the game developers may contact you for more details.
Normally, you can find video game tester jobs on third-party platforms that specialize in connecting testers with software companies.
That said, manufacturers of video games – Namco, EA Sports, Sega, PlayStation, Capcom, Sony, Konami, Apple – also offer video game testing jobs from time to time.
It’s important to note that in most aces you won’t be hired as an employee. Game testing jobs are offered on a contract basis. Meaning, you’ll be working as an interdependent contractor.
Here are a few companies offering video game testing jobs:
- iGameLab – https://community.panelpolls.com/iGamelab.php
iGameLa is a part of PanelPolls, a market research company.
- Nintendo – https://careers.nintendo.com/
Nintendo hires testers through two different contractors/temp agencies – Parker Staffing Services and Allegis Group.
- UserTesting – https://www.usertesting.com/get-paid-to-test
UserTesting is a great site for getting paid to test not only games but also websites, apps and other tech products.
- Betabound – https://my.betabound.com/welcome/
Betabound is a website that allows you to become a beta game tester without requiring much experience of any kind. You need to be 18 years of age or older.
- Bananatic – https://www.bananatic.com/
Banantic is another testing site that rewards you for testing online games