Game Beta Jobs for Beginners on the Internet
There are plenty of Internet-based opportunities for a video game connoisseur to break into the video game industry. Start by becoming part of a beta phase test for a game. The beta phase is an unreleased portion of a game, which the game developers allow a small group of people to play to screen for bugs and collect data.
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Types
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There are two different types of beta testers: the open beta tester and the closed beta tester. A closed beta is offered to only a select amount of people who are exclusively chosen by the developers. An open beta, as the name suggests, is a beta that is open to the majority of the public. The closed beta phase can happen years before the game's official release, while an open beta may only be weeks before it. Closed beta testing is the best option if you want to test professionally.
Genre
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There are too many game genres for you to specialize in every kind of video game. Playing an MMO is nothing like playing a first-person shooter, for instance. A video game developer will want someone who has experience in or close to the genre they are producing. Establish this experience early on.
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Pay
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You will not be paid for your beta jobs. This early phase will be the hardest part of breaking into the video game testing industry. Work hard to find any bugs in the gaming system or suggest any improvements that the developers may enjoy. Getting one of your suggestions implemented in the game should be your goal, as this will boost your resume. In time, you will have built up your resume to the point where you can apply for a public relations position as a company moderator on the game's forums. There is no average pay range for these positions. Some developers may pay you, and some may not. It depends on the size of the gaming company and their financial success.
Misconceptions
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Too many people believe that video game testing is a simple and "fun" job. For the most part, this is not true. Video game testers have to put in long hours to ensure a game is ready for retail sales. You almost most likely will not be playing through the whole game during the testing phase for a video game. The developers will have you play the same small portion of the game repeatedly so that every portion of the game is bug-free.
Benefits
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The best part of being a video game tester is that you feel like you are part of the game developer team. You are just as vital to the game's success as producers and programmers, and you are contributing to something that could end up being the next top-selling game for its genre. You will also receive in-game recognition during the credits, and there are examples of the game developers naming items, objects or nonplayable characters after game testers.
Jobs
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Finding a job as a video game tester is not easy. Constantly scan through websites that release video game news. These sites are the first to know about a closed beta coming up. When you hear about a closed beta, start educating yourself about the game immediately. Find out about the development it has gone through thus far, who is making the game, who the publisher is, what the history of the game developer company is, etc. The next step is to figure out what it takes to get a closed beta key. Some developers do a random lottery, some allow applications, and some only give them out to contest winners.
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References
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