Computer Game QA Tester

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Computer Game

QA Tester

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Introduction

This course is designed to appeal to those students aspiring to enter the world of computer game quality assurance. This is not a course for pure gaming fanatics, however. In addition to a love of games, students of our Computer Game QATester course will have the extra drive, aptitude and the ambition to go beyond just playing; they will have a desire to analyse, deconstruct and improve games across multiple genres and platforms, and display real aspirations to become part of this most exciting and dynamic of industries.

Students on the course are taught every step involved in the game QA process along with the methods, tools and skills necessary to be an effective QA just as it is done in the real world. The course is conceived and taught by industry experienced veterans, QA teams who continue to push the boundaries of computer gaming in today’s market. Endorsed and recommended by TIGA, this course is unique in the industry and represents the gaming industry’s preferred induction model.

It is presented in a unique format, heavily influenced by gaming technology to aid learning, retention and importantly, add fun to the whole process of gaining these important new skills. With basic QA through to localisation, working with hardware manufacturers, focus group tests, planning test sessions, managing QA teams and much more covered in detail as part of the Train2Game QA Tester course, you can be sure it will equip you with the knowledge and the skills that today’s games industry demands from its QA specialists.

The course is taught through a series of lessons and examples, backed up and underpinned by a wide range of practical work. Most of the coursework is targeted directly at testing, test management and effective reporting of issues and bugs.

We hope you enjoy learning it as much we do teaching it.

Start a new career in computer game quality assurance. Computer gaming is not just a job, it’s a life full of challenges, fun and great rewards.

Get the life you want, the future you deserve….. ….and have fun doing it.

Modularity

In common with our other courses, the lessons are grouped into modules designed to be tackled in a linear order. All modules on this course are considered ‘core’ and must be studied.

Points Allowance

The course cost is inclusive of the points shown overleaf; these points are sufficient for you to acquire or ‘buy’ all of the modules on this course only (some courses include additional points to allow modules to be acquired from other disciplines).

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Points Allocation for QA Tester Course

Points allowance provided to purchasers of this course

290

Points required to study core modules only

290

Points required to study all of this course

290

All modules have a cost associated with them; you must deduct these costs from your initial allowance shown above. Any unused points after you have studied the ‘core’ modules may be ‘spent’ on this course or any of our others as you wish, or even not at all.

Module C1: Prototyping with a Game Creation System

40 Points QA Tester: Core.

Optional for all other T2G courses

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 ‑ So You Have a Good Idea…

Prove it - the importance of prototyping Expanding the idea into a game Next steps

Lesson 2 – Basic Use of a Game Creation System

Introduction to GCS software Simple partial game example

Lesson 3 – A More Advanced Example

More advanced example

Plan out the basic idea, identify and source assets online Implement the idea

Lesson 4 – Advanced Concepts

An even more complex example Mobile device implementations Previewing over Wi-Fi

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Module C2: Development

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – The Cycle of Development

Concept, Proposal, Full Design

Prototype, Proof of Concept, Vertical Slice

Production, Alpha, Beta ,QA Sub, Gold Master, etc.

Lesson 2 – The Hardware You’ll Encounter

PC, Sony, Nintendo, Microsoft, Apple Online games

Mobile gaming, gaming engines

Lesson 3 – Types of QA

Roles within QA

Project management and the lead tester Qualities of a tester

Lesson 4 – What Are We Testing For?

What are bugs? Not all issues are bugs

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Module C3: Bugs

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – The Life Cycle of a Bug

New bug approval - Weeding out duplicates Regression testing

Closing bugs, reopening bugs

Lesson 2 – Reporting Bugs

Bug report generation, core tests Assigning bugs

Bug databases (Bugzilla, Mantis, Test Track Pro, DevTrack, Jira)

Lesson 3 – Using Imagery to Enhance Bug Reports

Screen capture

Video capture, editing video Annotating pictures

Lesson 4 – Testing In‑Depth

Reproducing bugs Ad Hoc testing Feature testing

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Module C4: Types of Testing

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – Testing Gameplay

When to report gameplay issues How to report gameplay issues

Knowing when a suggestion should be saved for V2

Lesson 2 – Testing Localisation

The development approach to localisation The localisation process

Double byte characters, accented characters and native keyboards

Lesson 3 – Test Plans

Why have a test plan?

Assigning areas of responsibility Detailing the testing procedure

Lesson 4 – Compliance

Hardware compliance Platform holder requirements Mobile and handheld platforms

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www.train2game.com 7 Module C5: Actually Doing It

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – Something Has To Give

Testing as much of the game as possible Approaches, controlling the pressures Time for qualitative issues

Lesson 2 – Concept Approval

Why have concept approval?

Why some hardware manufacturers have concept approval Tiered concept approval

Lesson 3 – Analysing the Competition

Introduction to game analysis Subjective vs. Objective Review aggregators

Lesson 4 – What is Fun?

Culture and territory Elements of fun games Demographics

Lesson 5 – Wider Testing

Beta testing Focus group testing Pitfalls of public testing

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Module C6: Finishing Off

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – The Tools You’ll Need

What a tester typically has on their desk Automated testing tools

Recording gameplay and looking for clues Debugging tools

Lesson 2 – Types of Game

Introduction to game genres

Empathy for the target genre and target demographic

Lesson 3 – Presenting Games

Why testers present games Presentation tools and techniques Setting up hardware for a presentation

Lesson 4 – Keeping Tabs

Keeping code secure Fingerprinting code Version numbering builds

Lesson 5 – After Release

Pre-production testing Writing tech support scripts Cheat guides

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www.train2game.com 9 Module C7: Where To Now?

Prerequisites: None

Lesson 1 – Other Development Roles

What is a computer game artist? What is a computer game developer? What is a computer game designer?

Lesson 2 – QA Next Steps

Where a career in QA can take you next Outside the industry - Professional testing The sky is the limit within the industry

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Guarantee

When the College receives the student assessment it is double-checked by highly trained tutors in order to maintain College standards.

The corrected work is returned to the student. It is because Train2Game’s quality standards are so rigorously maintained that it is able to support its training with a guarantee of success.

Your Guarantee

With Train2Game’s vast industry expertise combined with TIGA’s accreditation and exam advisory board we are confident that you will enjoy the best possible chance of success with your chosen course.

By fully engaging with the study material you are assured of a new skill-set and will successfully achieve a valuable qualification. In the event that you do not achieve the marks required to pass you will be given the opportunity to re-sit your exams and revisit marked assignments at no extra cost for as long as you continue to fully commit to the course.

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