Video game testers are often looked upon as a bunch of teenage geeks sitting around playing video games all day long!

This however couldn’t be further from the truth, and there are plenty of other common myths surrounding them.

The problem is, it is hard for the majority of people to believe that testing video games could be a real job. I can assure you that it most definitely is a real job and is not what the vast majority of people believe it to be.

Let me dispel some of the most common myths surrounding this group of individuals:

Myth: Video game testers do not exist.

Truth: Video game testing is a legitimate position which many people hold each and every day. Large and small video game production and development companies hire individuals to test games in an effort to work out the bugs and kinks or to test prototypes before the final product is released.

Myth: Video game testers work for free.

Truth: All video game testing jobs provide compensation for those who work to review and perfect their products. Some game testers are paid on an hourly basis, while others get a fee per job. However, all of them are compensated in some shape or form for their time and effort.

In fact the more experienced you are, the more money you’ll earn.

Myth: You have to have a degree to be a video game tester.

Truth: No formal education whatsoever is required in order to test video games. In fact, what game companies look for most is a good attitude, a desire for game play, and a willingness to give truthful feedback in the hopes of providing the best product possible.

Some companies will ask for formal qualifications, but don’t let this put you off applying. Quite often they do this to limit the number of applications they get.

Myth: You have to be related or have close contact to someone in the industry to become a video game tester.

Truth: Another common mis-truth. The fact is that most companies will not hire relatives of their workers to be the video game testers. Instead, they open the job up to anyone, and welcome a fresh viewpoint that is able to be objective in nature.

Having a contact on the inside certainly helps and it would do your chances of becoming a game tester no harm at all if you managed to form a working relationship with someone on the ‘inside’.

Myth: You have to pay a lot of money to land a game testing job.

Truth: While it is true that certain membership websites and guides can help you land a game testing job much quicker, these guides and sites are often very reasonably priced and certainly will not break the bank.

I personally recommend you join a dedicated website specifically to help you get a game testing job. The best site on the market is Only4Gamers. You can read my review here.

Myth: Video game testers have to live in a certain area in order to be hired.

Truth: Video game companies hire individuals from all walks of life, and from countries all around the world.

Some companies will even offer you the opportunity to work from home. It all depends on what type of testing is required and over what time frame.

This can work out beneficial to the games company and the individual.

Video game testers are hired nationwide each day, in an effort to develop the best games and systems possible. The debunked myths above are just a few surrounding these coveted positions, and are what often stop people from pursuing their dreams, and becoming a video game tester themselves.

~ Pete Wotton