3 Ways To Get More Game Testing Assignments
By Hitoshi • Jan 11th, 2008 • Category: Jobs In The Video Game IndustryIf you work as a freelance game tester, you already know that although each assignment can be very profitable, the trick is being able to keep a steady flow of new assignments coming in. To help make sure those game industry paychecks keep finding their way to your mailbox along with new titles to play and review, here are 3 tips all video game testers should put into action.
1. Always Follow Up
Once you’ve completed a game testing assignment from any company or publisher, you should always consider it just the beginning of your relationship with them. After your assignment has been sent in, make sure to contact the company and ask them if they received your material. Also, make sure to ask if there is anything you can do to improve your game assessments for them. If they have constructive criticism to offer, make sure to note it down and apply what you’ve learned with any future jobs.
On the other hand, if the company is pleased with the work you turned in, make sure they know you would be glad to test for them again. Following up on completed assignments and showing that you’re willing to do whatever it takes to be useful to the game publishers will help ensure they keep turning to you for more work.
2. Promote Yourself
There may be periods of times when there aren’t a lot of testing assignments available. That doesn’t mean you should stop testing and reviewing games. Instead, these slow periods are the perfect time to promote yourself on your own. Set up a website or blog and publish your own reviews and criticisms of new and upcoming game titles. Make sure to feature your name and the fact that you work as a paid game tester prominently on the site. Also include your contact information.
To promote your site, visit other gaming review sites and blogs and leave constructive and useful comments on the posts there. If available, be sure to leave a link back to your website. Also, include your website URL on your business card and along with all correspondence you have with game companies. Doing this well will help you come across as a very experienced and professional tester and increase your value and the demand for your services.
3. Attend Industry Functions
Although it is easier to stay in contact with game companies through snail mail and email, nothing will increase the demand for your game testing services like networking in person with others in the industry. Massive gatherings of video game company representatives and insiders such as the yearly E3 summit and Tokyo Game Show are the perfect places to introduce yourself to people who can provide you with more assignments. If these large shows are out of reach for you, there are usually smaller events held in major cities on a regular basis such as those put on by the Game Developers Conference.
Although the above tips are quick and easy to implement, most game testers won’t put the effort forward. If you are serious about this stream of freelance income, all you need to do is be one of the few to take action on the above tips to help ensure the assignments keep coming.
Bonus Tip: Keep your list of industry contacts up to date! If you want full access to current assignments available for video game testers, click here.
Your Data Is Secure
Hey my names Eric, I live in Kissimmee FL. I’m a full time plumber out this way and make decent money. I work the mon-fri, 9-5 schedule and it gets repetitive. Beyond being a plumber I am also a register Pro MMA fighter. But besides all that I am a huge gamer. My choice for systems is xbox 360 and I play xbox live a lot. I notice that all the games I play I am always finding little bugs and have many ideas to make games more enjoyable. This is when I started looking around on the internet to find out about game testing. I’ve looked at many sites and can’t tell which is real and which is not. So i just wanted to leave you a little bit about me and see if maybe you can lead me in the right direction on how to get involved in being a game tester. I would appreciate any advice or help you can provide for me. Thank you.
-Eric
Howdy Eric,
Thank you for your post! Please sign up on the right for my FREE GUIDE for potential video game testers. That will get you (and anyone else interested in testing video games) started!
Enjoy!
Hey I live in southern New Hampshire and I’m having a hard time finding any game testing assignments around here, the one lead I got the company was going out of business. Do you know of any companies in southern New Hampshire or Northern Massachusetts?
-Adam
Hi,
I live in Salt Lake City, UT. I have been actively searching for a game tester position all over the web and I am seeking a game tester opportunity over here around the Utah area. To my luck, a major game developer has entered my local area and has setup up offices. They have posted numerous job openings for game testers but I am not in any consideration with out experience. How can I get experience if nobody will hire me?????
Micah
Hitoshi Replies: Micah – make sure to grab my free report for potential video game testers – you can sign up for it on this page. It explains exactly what to do in your situation. Also, CALL the offices of the new company up and ask them that very question – they’ll more than likely be very helpful. Enjoy – and good luck!
Hi Hitoshi,
I’ve read your guide and I am interested in becoming a game tester. But I don’t know where to go to start. I can find any componies to see if they are looking for testers. Can you help me out and tell me where I need to go please? Thank You for the guide and your help.
Konichiwa!
I see you are programming in Tokyo. I lived there for a year when I worked in the patent field.
I am thinking of doing more programming. Twenty-five years ago, I did graphics programming that required 6502 Assembler language coding. I thought of going into game programming, but went to grad school instead.
I think video game programming would be fun. Any suggestions on where I might start?
Wade
Hi hitoshi
i have been reading about game testing alot and i love what you have posted it sounds really helpful but i dont know where to go to become one. I have been playing games since i has 6 or 5 years old and it has been a dream to become a game tester. So may you please tell me it would be most helpful and I too have xbox live its very fun my gamer tag is llxHeartlessxll
I am a big time game freak, never look to make a career out of it. But I was told to be good at what you do. video games is what I do, How do I start a respectful career in this field? I really believe I have much to offer.
hey my name is bruce, I live in Salmon Idaho. I am currently employed as a telemarketer for direct tv. I have always loved playing video games, and i have always wanted a career in the video gaming feild. However i never had the money to actually go to school for it. So my question for you is do you actually have to go to college and have some kind of degree to get any work as a video game tester or no? I have gamefly and i dont send a game back till i beat it. If i could spend every minute of everyday doing what i love which is playing video games i would be the happiest man in the world. Any advice you may have would be greatly appreciated.
Hi
I got your guide and it was help full and need to find a job testing video games i spend alot of time playing and need help to find one where i dont have to pay to get in it tryed Only 4 Gamers and i had to pay to get in but i dont have enof to get in and i ask around to get in but my perants said its a scam on there they said thay can even hire me and im 16 i have been playing games since i was like 5 years old and i have x-box live only till about July 14 and need to renew it so that is why i need this my GamerTag is DarkSn1p3R LGDG and play mostly call of duty im 10th perstigh so i just really need this job.
Aaron
Hitoshi Replies: Hi Aaron – thanks for your comments. If you are under 18 years old, you’re probably not old enough for most game industry positions and opportunities. In that case, I suggest preparing for your post high-school education if you are serious about working in the industry. Here’s an article I wrote on the topic: Video Game Design Courses.
The information is relevant no matter what area of the industry you are interested in pursuing.
Meanwhile, you might want to look at these free ways to earn income from your passion for gaming – most of these can be done at your age.
3 Easy Ways To Turn Your Video Gaming Into Money
Save your money now and study hard if you are serious about a real job in the industry in the coming years.
I hope this helps!
Sincerely,
Hitoshi Jones