Playing the Game Like a Job: Who Are QA Testers and Why Are They Needed?

Contents:

• How quality control works
• What qualities does a professional tester need?

The Uncharted 4 development team discovered not only numerous bugs but also serious problems, such as a shift in tone and pacing, through testing. In an interview with journalist Schreier, game director Neil Druckmann noted that the initial feedback from testers helped him understand the reality of what was happening and identify the project's shortcomings. These comments became an important step in improving the quality of the game and its final version.

The developer noted that players may not master certain mechanics of the game. This can lead to confusion and a loss of momentum. Furthermore, they can become confused by the plot and miss important nuances that seem obvious to developers, but are not always so to players.

QA testing plays a key role in the game development process, helping to identify potential problems and flaws. A typical game development cycle takes two to three years, and during this time, developers can become less attentive to detail, leading to obvious errors being missed. Testers provide a fresh perspective on the project, which helps improve the quality of the final product. Their work helps not only detect bugs but also optimize the gameplay, which ultimately increases user satisfaction and the game's success in the marketplace.

Testing reveals not only bugs and vulnerabilities but also, as was the case with Uncharted 4, major flaws in the game design and storyline. Typically, such aspects are analyzed by QA departments within game studios or by external testing labs contracted to conduct testing. This not only eliminates bugs but also improves the overall game mechanics and narrative, providing a higher-quality gaming experience for users.

The main task of the testing studio is to assess the quality and verify the game's compliance with the requirements established by the developer or publisher. Game testing includes identifying errors, analyzing gameplay, and confirming compliance with all technical standards. This critical stage ensures a high level of user satisfaction and helps avoid negative reviews. High-quality testing contributes to an improved gaming experience and increases the product's competitiveness in the market.

Alena Karaseva is the Head of Testing at Bytex. In this role, she is responsible for organizing and managing software testing processes, which contributes to the quality of the company's products. Under her leadership, the testing team develops and implements effective testing strategies, enabling the timely identification and elimination of errors. Alena actively monitors new testing trends and implements best practices within the department, which contributes to improved results and increased customer satisfaction.

Game testers perform a variety of tasks, including verifying a game's compliance with certification requirements on various platforms. They determine minimum and recommended system requirements and identify performance issues and compatibility issues with the testing environment. Additionally, testers analyze numerous aspects of a game, such as mechanics, balance, artificial intelligence, graphics, sound, text, and localization. Their work is critical to ensuring a high-quality gaming experience and user satisfaction.

The work of QA engineers goes beyond simply testing software. They carefully review project documents, such as design documents, to gain a deep understanding of the product's functionality. Additionally, QA engineers develop test scenarios and validate them to identify potential testing blind spots. This helps ensure high software quality and minimize the risk of bugs in the final product. This approach to testing helps improve user experience and increase trust in the product.

Developers often test their games themselves. A prime example is Supergiant Games, a studio known for its projects Hades and Bastion. Every month, the team tests fresh builds and then organizes discussions to analyze any issues and comments that arise. This approach helps improve the quality of games and identify flaws early in development.

In most cases, this task is performed by qualified testers. Professional testers have the necessary knowledge and experience to ensure high software quality. Their work includes thorough testing of the functionality, performance, and security of applications, which helps identify and eliminate potential errors before the product reaches end users. Thus, professional testers play an important role in the development process and maintaining software reliability.

How Quality Assurance Works

Many people imagine QA work as a process in which a group of testers spends all day playing games on a computer. However, in reality, this is a serious professional activity. Testers often compare their work to the process of editing a film: they repeatedly play through the same section of the game, trying to identify errors and flaws. This approach ensures high product quality and improves the user experience. The importance of QA cannot be underestimated, as testing helps developers create more stable and functional games. Finding a bug is only the first step. It is important not only to identify the problem but also to be able to reproduce it. Documenting the bug plays a key role, as it allows the developer to reproduce the situation and fix the problem. A proper bug description includes the steps for recreating it, the expected and actual results, which significantly simplifies the process of fixing it. Testers use two main approaches in their practice. David Wilson, an experienced testing specialist who has worked at Microsoft Game Studios and ArenaNet, described these methods in his blog. These approaches help improve the quality of games and provide a higher level of user experience.

• Opportunistic testing: QA engineers act at their own discretion. This requires maximum creativity from them, as their main task is to find the most subtle errors.
• Experimental testing: This, in contrast, is carried out according to a test scenario written by a project manager or developer. The QA specialist tests a specific aspect of the game: for example, repeatedly casting a spell on an enemy from every possible angle.

Opportunistic testing plays a key role in identifying bugs and vulnerabilities that may not be noticeable to game developers. The book "Blood, Sweat, and Pixels" describes a case in which Patrick Weeks, writer of Dragon Age: Inquisition, discovered that character equipment would disappear if the player dismounted their horse in the wrong place. This bug was discovered thanks to the curiosity of one of the developers' nine-year-old son, who was fond of frequently jumping on and off his horse, which led to the problem. Examples like these highlight the importance of independent testing to ensure game quality and stability.

Open tests are unable to cover all of a game's functionality and often fail to identify issues with core mechanics. Therefore, the gaming industry typically employs both open-loop and experimental testing. This allows for a more comprehensive assessment of product quality and the elimination of potential flaws. This combined approach helps developers ensure greater stability and improve the gaming experience.

Testing can be performed using a variety of methods. There are numerous approaches that evaluate and validate the functionality, performance, and reliability of software. Each method has its own advantages and disadvantages, allowing you to choose the most appropriate option based on the specifics of the project and its requirements. The main testing methods include functional, regression, load, and user interface testing. Effective use of these methods helps improve product quality and user satisfaction.

• Black-box testing: the tester does not have access to the game software.
• White-box testing: the tester uses engine functionality or a third-party program (usually a debugger) to obtain data on the game's operation.
• Gray-box testing: a combination of black-box and white-box testing: the tester only partially knows the program's structure.

The second option may seem preferable, as it provides more information. However, using additional software can cause problems that would not have arisen without its participation, and can even lead to the prevention of some bugs. Therefore, an experienced QA engineer always seeks a balance between various testing methods to ensure maximum efficiency and minimize risks.

There are various types of testing, which depend on the set goals. Bytex Lab implements the following types of testing:

• Modular - testing individual game components;
• Integration: testing the interaction of subsystems and their integration into a single overall system;
• Systemic: testing the game as a whole;
• Acceptance: checking the game for compliance with the publisher's or studio's requirements.

The procedures carried out during the alpha testing stage are an important stage of closed testing carried out by the QA team. After successful completion of the alpha test, beta testing begins, during which the studio attracts regular users to evaluate the product. This transition from alpha to beta testing allows us to identify additional bugs and improve quality based on real user experience.

Pre-release game testing is necessary not only to gather audience feedback. During development, testers become deeply immersed in the project and can lose objectivity, leading to the overlooking of certain testing "blind spots." Feedback from regular players becomes crucial in this context, as it allows for the identification of flaws and issues that may have been missed by quality assurance specialists. This enhances the final review process and helps create a higher-quality and marketable product.

Video games have a unique feature: their complexity and high interactivity make automated game testing challenging. Therefore, QA specialists in the game development industry must possess specific skills and qualities. These professionals must be able to thoroughly analyze game mechanics, identify bugs, and ensure high-quality gameplay, which requires a deep understanding of game logic and user experience.

What qualities does a professional tester need?

Chloe Crooks, Senior QA Analyst at Team17, recommends that newcomers to the video game industry demonstrate to employers their motivation and desire to work in this field, and not just a passion for games. It is important to focus on professional skills and an understanding of development processes in order to confidently declare your intention to contribute to the industry.

According to Alena Karaseva, it's crucial for a QA specialist to possess certain skills and knowledge. First and foremost, it's essential to understand the fundamentals of software testing, including various methodologies and approaches. It's also important to be able to create and execute test scenarios, analyze results, and identify defects. Knowledge of programming languages ​​and test automation will significantly improve work efficiency. Furthermore, teamwork skills, communication skills, and attention to detail are essential qualities of a successful QA specialist. It is important to constantly update your knowledge of new testing tools and technologies to remain competitive in the job market.

• have extensive gaming experience;
• understand how gameplay mechanics work;
• know the specifics of gaming platforms;
• keep up to date with modern IT technologies.

Game testers need to understand the features of game engines, as they determine the technical capabilities of a project. For example, the running mechanics in Unreal Engine and Unity have their own unique characteristics, which affect the types of errors that may arise. In-depth knowledge of these platforms allows testers to more effectively identify and analyze problems, as well as propose solutions. This knowledge is critical to ensuring the quality of gaming products and increasing their competitiveness in the market.

Knowledge of the editor allows a specialist to identify potential problems associated with its use in advance. The main defects can include issues with performance, compatibility, and system stability. Understanding these aspects helps to effectively resolve emerging issues and prevent negative consequences.

Alena Karaseva is the Head of Testing at Bytex. Under her leadership, the team delivers high-quality software testing, ensuring the high reliability and functionality of products. Alena has extensive experience in testing and project management, allowing her to effectively organize processes and achieve goals. Under her leadership, Bytex implements innovative testing approaches, which contribute to improving service quality and customer satisfaction.

Testers must be prepared for a significant workload. Many applicants enter this profession expecting to spend their days playing games, but the reality is different. Chloe Crooks emphasizes that a tester's work involves serious tasks with set deadlines. This requires a high level of concentration, attention to detail, and responsibility. It is important to understand that testing is not just entertainment, but a complex process that requires effort and professionalism.

As the release approaches, the number of tasks and deadlines increases significantly, which almost inevitably leads to overtime. This situation raises another problem: regular testers are usually hired on a contract that ends with the end of development. This means they lack the benefits of permanent employees, as well as uncertainty about job security after the release.

Testing should not be perceived as an easy entry into the industry. As Alena notes, quality assurance is a path that provides significant experience.

A QA specialist is responsible for assessing the quality of software based on requirements developed by game designers, programmers, marketers, analysts, producers, managers, and publishers. In the process, they accumulate significant experience and knowledge, which allows them to confidently develop in the video game industry. High-quality software testing helps identify defects, improve user experience, and enhance the overall product, making the role of a QA specialist critical to successful game development.

Alena Karaseva is the Head of Testing at Bytex. Her responsibilities include managing software testing processes, developing quality assurance strategies, and coordinating the testing team. Thanks to her experience and deep knowledge of testing, Bytex achieves high quality standards in its products. Alena actively implements new methodologies and tools, which optimizes processes and increases the department's efficiency. She is committed to continuous development and learning, which contributes to the creation of innovative solutions and an improved user experience.

The expert notes that there are professionals in the industry with 15 years of experience who have achieved significant success in quality assurance (QA) and have become true masters of their craft. These specialists play a key role in raising the standards of software quality and efficiency.

Experienced testing specialists have the opportunity to advance their careers to the level of test managers. These professionals are highly qualified and play a key role in the software development process. They maintain constant communication with developers and manage testing teams, which entails significant responsibility for the quality of work and testing results. Test managers ensure quality standards are maintained and facilitate effective communication within the team, which is essential for successful project completion.