Is a Testers Work worth the Pay?

How could a job where you test games not be the greatest thing in the world? We will almost answer this question, kinda. Being a freelance tester you have the opportunity to test Xbox 360 games, Playstation 3 games, Wii games and whatever games you can get your hands on. The problem is that you are not always promised work tomorrow. You might have to work real hard for your next game, or you just might be in the right place at the right time and get a Xbox 360 Game dropped in your lap (keep your fingers crossed). But overall it is a fairly simple business of "supply and demand," "work and paychecks" and "time and opportunity." It can make the business look very appealing and shows little discouragement to any fan of Xbox 360s and Playstations.

Some might think of at home testing as an easy job to indulge your time with but others think of it as a gateway for things to come. Yes, the concept of moving up to a real studio job, or working with a game company doing professional testing. Testing Xbox 360 games that haven't even seen the light of day by any gamers. What every gamer dreams of right?

The job of a professional game tester involves pushing a game in the ways the developers couldn't think of, helping the "quality assurance" of the game. Meaning repetitive tasks involving hours of gameplay on a single level. Running through every square foot of the game, jumping on every ledge in every different way, shooting every grenade with every single different kind of gun, you get the point (actually that last one sounded kinda fun).

Anyway this is probably nothing you haven't heard before, yes, it can be draining work. But relatively what is better selling a fat guy pants or playing repetitive video games. Depending on how fat the guy is, and how good the pants are, most people would probably choose video games.

The thing is that repetitive gaming hours isn't the only downside to being a game tester. Upon talking to real game testers working on huge games, it can be said that the life of a game tester is nowhere near glamorous. Having to spend many nights in an office, trying to finish deadlines. Having trouble sleeping with the sight of a glowing TV screen when you close your eyes. Sometimes no such thing as a 8 hour day. And the business sometimes lacks... that thing where you don't work, oh yeah, a day off. On top of this all the gaming business doesn't exactly pay the best. Not to say that selling pants can make you more money. Still, from what is expected of you, you can't say that the pay is great.

Of course it's not all bad. Game testing can lead to better jobs in the video game industry. Game development, game production, and other game programming jobs. The money doesn't stay bad forever, your paychecks will get better over the years of experience. It should still be said that when people say how great game testing would be, they have no idea. So if your on the fence about becoming either: A game tester or a hot dog vendor... I would just flip a coin. Free games vs Free hot dogs... DAMN YOU FREE WILL!