8 answers
amanda
Student
1
Question
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Why would you recommend being a video game tester?
I am in 6th grade.
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8 answers
Michael Howard
Creative Director
16
Answers
Los Angeles, California
Updated
Michael’s Answer
Hi Amanda,
I see a lot of great answers already, so I won’t repeat too much, but I wanted to share my perspective based on 15 years in the video game industry. I started as a video game tester, professionally known as Quality Assurance (QA), which is often a gateway into the industry. Many professionals I’ve met—engineers, coders, graphic artists—got their start in QA before moving into other roles. That said, breaking into QA requires persistence because many people assume it’s their dream job.
In reality, QA isn’t for everyone. You don’t just play games all day—you play the same unfinished levels over and over, encountering frequent crashes and bugs. The job involves reproducing issues and writing detailed bug reports so developers can fix them. Some bugs stay in games for months and never get fixed—leading to the classic industry joke: “That’s not a bug; it’s a feature.”
QA also comes with challenges, like hitting bug quotas (yes, you’re expected to find a certain number of bugs daily) and working long hours during crunch time—sometimes 16–20 hour days before a game is submitted for release.
If you’re considering QA, approach it with a problem-solving mindset, not just as a way to play games. The job is about breaking the game—using features in unintended ways to find vulnerabilities.
After three years in QA, I transitioned into marketing for NBA 2K, which was a blast. My advice? Learn the game development process and how QA fits into it. If you’re serious about getting started, research developers and publishers in your area—many are always looking for QA testers. Indie games are also a great entry point!
Hope this helps, and best of luck!
Best,
Michael
I see a lot of great answers already, so I won’t repeat too much, but I wanted to share my perspective based on 15 years in the video game industry. I started as a video game tester, professionally known as Quality Assurance (QA), which is often a gateway into the industry. Many professionals I’ve met—engineers, coders, graphic artists—got their start in QA before moving into other roles. That said, breaking into QA requires persistence because many people assume it’s their dream job.
In reality, QA isn’t for everyone. You don’t just play games all day—you play the same unfinished levels over and over, encountering frequent crashes and bugs. The job involves reproducing issues and writing detailed bug reports so developers can fix them. Some bugs stay in games for months and never get fixed—leading to the classic industry joke: “That’s not a bug; it’s a feature.”
QA also comes with challenges, like hitting bug quotas (yes, you’re expected to find a certain number of bugs daily) and working long hours during crunch time—sometimes 16–20 hour days before a game is submitted for release.
If you’re considering QA, approach it with a problem-solving mindset, not just as a way to play games. The job is about breaking the game—using features in unintended ways to find vulnerabilities.
After three years in QA, I transitioned into marketing for NBA 2K, which was a blast. My advice? Learn the game development process and how QA fits into it. If you’re serious about getting started, research developers and publishers in your area—many are always looking for QA testers. Indie games are also a great entry point!
Hope this helps, and best of luck!
Best,
Michael
Sneha Deb
Tech Consultant
52
Answers
Edison, New Jersey
Updated
Sneha’s Answer
Hey Amanda! Being a video game tester can be a fun way to get involved in the gaming world, especially if you love playing games. You get to try out games before they are released and help find bugs to make them better. It's also a great way to learn how games are made and could be the first step toward a future career in game development!
Teklemuz Ayenew Tesfay
Electrical engineer, researcher and Software Developer
93
Answers
Ethiopia
Updated
Teklemuz Ayenew’s Answer
Being a video game tester lets you play games and get paid for it, while also helping improve them by spotting bugs. It’s a great opportunity to learn about game design, coding, and how games are created. You’ll get to solve problems, and it can be a stepping stone to other gaming careers.
A game tester usually doesn’t make a ton of money at first. It’s often considered an entry-level job, so the pay can be on the lower side, especially when you're just starting out. However, the pay can vary depending on the company, the type of game, and how much experience you have.
In the beginning, you might earn an hourly wage, which could range from $10 to $20 per hour. If you work for a big company or have more experience, you could make more.
A game tester usually doesn’t make a ton of money at first. It’s often considered an entry-level job, so the pay can be on the lower side, especially when you're just starting out. However, the pay can vary depending on the company, the type of game, and how much experience you have.
In the beginning, you might earn an hourly wage, which could range from $10 to $20 per hour. If you work for a big company or have more experience, you could make more.
Bright Komor
Nurse
261
Answers
Accra, Greater Accra Region, Ghana
Updated
Bright’s Answer
Hello there . This should help
Becoming a video game tester can be a fun way to get into the world of gaming and technology. It allows you to play games for work while helping to find bugs and improve the experience for others. As a 6th grader, it could be a cool way to start exploring a potential career in game design or technology, and it also helps build skills like attention to detail, problem-solving, and teamwork. Plus, it can be a great first step in learning more about how games are made!
Becoming a video game tester can be a fun way to get into the world of gaming and technology. It allows you to play games for work while helping to find bugs and improve the experience for others. As a 6th grader, it could be a cool way to start exploring a potential career in game design or technology, and it also helps build skills like attention to detail, problem-solving, and teamwork. Plus, it can be a great first step in learning more about how games are made!
Yunus Adiyaman
8
Answers
Updated
Yunus’s Answer
Yo, being a video game tester sounds like a dream job for anyone who loves gaming, especially in middle school when you’re already living for games, right?
Here’s why it’s pretty cool:
You get paid to play games! Like, imagine sitting down, controller in hand, and calling it work. That’s living the dream.
You help make games better. You’d find bugs and glitches (like when your character starts floating for no reason), so other players have a smoother experience. You’re basically a behind-the-scenes hero for gamers everywhere.
Learn how games are made. It’s like getting a sneak peek into how developers create levels, characters, and mechanics. Perfect if you’re curious about coding or game design later on.
It’s a foot in the door. If you wanna work in the gaming industry someday, starting as a tester is like unlocking the first level. You build experience and make connections.
It’s just fun. Honestly, it’s like solving puzzles or trying to break stuff on purpose. And if you love gaming, it’s hard to beat that.
Low-key, you’d probably still need to be a little older to get into it for real, but learning about coding or game design now could set you up perfectly for the future.
Maybe start making your own games in tools like Scratch or Roblox Studio! Who knows? You might create the next big hit. 🚀
Here’s why it’s pretty cool:
You get paid to play games! Like, imagine sitting down, controller in hand, and calling it work. That’s living the dream.
You help make games better. You’d find bugs and glitches (like when your character starts floating for no reason), so other players have a smoother experience. You’re basically a behind-the-scenes hero for gamers everywhere.
Learn how games are made. It’s like getting a sneak peek into how developers create levels, characters, and mechanics. Perfect if you’re curious about coding or game design later on.
It’s a foot in the door. If you wanna work in the gaming industry someday, starting as a tester is like unlocking the first level. You build experience and make connections.
It’s just fun. Honestly, it’s like solving puzzles or trying to break stuff on purpose. And if you love gaming, it’s hard to beat that.
Low-key, you’d probably still need to be a little older to get into it for real, but learning about coding or game design now could set you up perfectly for the future.
Maybe start making your own games in tools like Scratch or Roblox Studio! Who knows? You might create the next big hit. 🚀
Adrian Draghici
2
Answers
Bucharest, Romania
Updated
Adrian’s Answer
Usually teenagers and young people love to play videgames, so if you can combine your hobby with an activity where you may earn some money, that would be great.
This will introduce you also into the real world of business, it will be your first contact with business operations and other corporate insights. Unfortunately, when I was a kid I didn't have this opportunity since the gaming world was just at start, but nowadays that's just a considerable choice when deciding to start your career.
This will introduce you also into the real world of business, it will be your first contact with business operations and other corporate insights. Unfortunately, when I was a kid I didn't have this opportunity since the gaming world was just at start, but nowadays that's just a considerable choice when deciding to start your career.
Thank you, this is really helpful.
Side
Vijay Karani
Software Engineer
5
Answers
Fremont, California
Updated
Vijay’s Answer
First and foremost remember, Game Testing and Game development is a very big industry.
Second thing to remember is people who play games are the ones who understand the pain points of other gamers, and can justify building faster and engaging games.
With those being clear, at an early age like 6th grade ... You are using your game playing skills with something that will earn money. That is a great attribute to building oneself and being financially independent.
In terms of learning, the game testing will teach you the following:
- Breaking the game, or finding corner cases when the game chokes
- Finding areas of games that frustrates you or the game playing person
All of these skills will be helpful in the future when you choose a career for your personal growth.
Today, the game playing is just a console, with VR gear. We will be seeing a VR being used in real life too, so we will be living our lives in mixed reality.
If life takes you to become a game development individual, you will use your skills to design better, and know those corner cases which frustrates the game playing person to build better games.
If you choose to become a game tester as profession, still a very rewarding career.
Best wishes for a great career evolution
Second thing to remember is people who play games are the ones who understand the pain points of other gamers, and can justify building faster and engaging games.
With those being clear, at an early age like 6th grade ... You are using your game playing skills with something that will earn money. That is a great attribute to building oneself and being financially independent.
In terms of learning, the game testing will teach you the following:
- Breaking the game, or finding corner cases when the game chokes
- Finding areas of games that frustrates you or the game playing person
All of these skills will be helpful in the future when you choose a career for your personal growth.
Today, the game playing is just a console, with VR gear. We will be seeing a VR being used in real life too, so we will be living our lives in mixed reality.
If life takes you to become a game development individual, you will use your skills to design better, and know those corner cases which frustrates the game playing person to build better games.
If you choose to become a game tester as profession, still a very rewarding career.
Best wishes for a great career evolution
You rock thanks for the advice.
Side
Dr H
Dr. H's Research
1334
Answers
Australia
Updated
Dr’s Answer
It’s awesome that you’re already thinking about careers like game testing! If you're into playing video games, being a game tester could be super fun. Here's why:
1. **Get Paid to Play Games** – Yes, it's true! As a tester, you get to try out games before they are released and make sure they work properly. It's kind of like being a behind-the-scenes hero in the gaming world, finding bugs so the game is better for everyone!
2. **Learn How Games Are Made** – You'll get a sneak peek into how developers create the games you love, which could lead to more cool career paths in game development, coding, or even design.
3. **Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills** – You'll be looking for glitches or problems in the game, and that can help improve your skills in problem-solving and attention to detail. These skills will come in handy no matter what career you choose!
4. **It's Fun and Creative** – It's like playing detective while having fun, and it’s a great way to build skills that are useful for many other jobs, too.
The only downside is that, as a beginner, the pay might not be huge—usually around $10-20 an hour at first. But it’s a cool starting point and can lead to bigger things if you keep working in the industry!
Keep on exploring your interests and who knows—you might even end up making your own games someday!
1. **Get Paid to Play Games** – Yes, it's true! As a tester, you get to try out games before they are released and make sure they work properly. It's kind of like being a behind-the-scenes hero in the gaming world, finding bugs so the game is better for everyone!
2. **Learn How Games Are Made** – You'll get a sneak peek into how developers create the games you love, which could lead to more cool career paths in game development, coding, or even design.
3. **Improve Your Problem-Solving Skills** – You'll be looking for glitches or problems in the game, and that can help improve your skills in problem-solving and attention to detail. These skills will come in handy no matter what career you choose!
4. **It's Fun and Creative** – It's like playing detective while having fun, and it’s a great way to build skills that are useful for many other jobs, too.
The only downside is that, as a beginner, the pay might not be huge—usually around $10-20 an hour at first. But it’s a cool starting point and can lead to bigger things if you keep working in the industry!
Keep on exploring your interests and who knows—you might even end up making your own games someday!
This is cool, I want to become better I do get frustrated at some parts but do you think it's okay for me pursuing a gaming path. I want to be a gamer. Good encouragement.
Side
Side, it’s totally okay to pursue a gaming path! 🎮 It's normal to feel frustrated at times—it’s part of the journey to mastery. Every pro gamer has gone through struggles and moments of doubt, but they pushed through. Keep practicing, stay positive, and remember that improvement is a process. Enjoy the game, learn from each challenge, and keep going—you’ve got this! 🌟💪 I believe in you!
Dr H