Game Testing

Jedi Guardian · Post by **Jedi Guardian** » 2006-02-17 06:21pm

This is most likely to be my last topic. Saying that if you didn't like your current job, how many of you would consider game testing?

Info- 7 hours a day you start out with $4.50/h, after training you get $7.00/h, and if you get a raise you get $8.00/h. My friend's brother came in and told us he has a job like that, I think not even I could play 7 hours a day! But on the bright side, you get to tell the designers what you like and don't like, and it's something I like. So what do you think?

Uraniun235 · Post by **Uraniun235** » 2006-02-17 06:35pm

I'd look for another job. That's pretty shitty pay.

Elheru Aran · Post by **Elheru Aran** » 2006-02-17 07:01pm

Indeed... iirc $4.50 is way below federal minimum wage.

Sharpshooter · Post by **Sharpshooter** » 2006-02-17 07:08pm

They could always say that they're taking out the cost of "training", whatever that would be.

But what is this, anyway? If it's a short-term gig I could do for a few months between spring and fall college semesters, maybe I'd bite, but never full-time.

I don't know if I should be sad or disturbed, but I'm actually sort of interested at the prospect...

Master of Ossus · Post by **Master of Ossus** » 2006-02-17 07:35pm

If this is just for the short-term when you're trying to make a little money then it's okay, but those are some LOUSY prospects for a long-term job description, unless you have nothing in the way of an education.

InnocentBystander · Post by **InnocentBystander** » 2006-02-17 07:57pm

Decent pay for a highschool kid, but unless the job is really valuable experience I'd expect double that, at least, for a regular intership.

Jedi Guardian · Post by **Jedi Guardian** » 2006-02-17 08:21pm

Seriously i'm not fully sure if it's 8 bucks an hour it could be more.

Praxis · Post by **Praxis** » 2006-02-17 08:23pm

The funny thing is, where I live, $7 an hour is below minimum wage.

Simmon · Post by **Simmon** » 2006-02-17 08:49pm

Bad idea

1. Your vision with drop like mad. 7 hours of computer screen a day is not good for you.
2. You will go insane playing the same parts and places over and over to weed out gliches.
3. Already said. Crappy pay.
4. What is you don't like the game in question? It would be maddening to have to play it.

Laughing Mechanicus · Post by **Laughing Mechanicus** » 2006-02-18 03:49am

I used to work at a games company doing testing, they were however well known for treating their testing staff alot better than most companies - so we got £7 and hour and paid overtime (which is a rare thing in testing). It was actually extremely enjoyable and I'm hoping to go back again soon. The other downside ofcourse is job security, they only employ you for 3-6 months and if theres no game in a stage of develpment where it could be tested they let you go.

That said while I was there I heard a fair few horror stories about what it was like for testers at other companies, they get paid about half of what we did and had mandatory unpaid overtime.

Also despite the seemingly popular belief, you don't just play games all day - so it really doesnt matter if you like the game or not.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-02-18 04:32am

I did over the summer mobile game testing, it was fun, but its not something you want to do for more then a few months, it gets boring.

Let me tell you, clicking the same button 3000 times over a day, hurts.

General Zod · Post by **General Zod** » 2006-02-18 12:50pm

Not something I'd recommend for anything more than a short term job unless you have a lot of stamina. Though it could make a helpful resume builder if you plan on getting into the computer field.

Ace Pace · Post by **Ace Pace** » 2006-02-18 12:53pm

General Zod wrote:Not something I'd recommend for anything more than a short term job unless you have a lot of stamina. Though it could make a helpful resume builder if you plan on getting into the computer field.

Agreed, unless you have the stamina needed to maybe struggle into a QA manegment job.