Why You Can't Be A Video Game Tester
There's a lot of interest in getting paid to test video games these days. This is natural, since video games are so popular and most people would like to know how to make a living doing what they love. Unfortunately, not everyone is eligible for game testing jobs. Below are three reasons why you can't be a paid video game tester.
Reason Number One: You're Not Old Enough
Most in-house gaming tester positions require you to be at least 18 years of age. This is the same for "work at home" type game testing opportunties, such as reviewing beta releases of upcoming titles. If you are at least 16 years old, you can often play and test games for prizes though. If you are not old enough, don't worry - you can still get your feet wet by writing game reviews and submitting them to sites such as 1up and Gamespot. This will get you recognition and hone your writing skills - making it easier for you to get a paid position in the future.
Reason Number Two: Poor Writing Skills
Being able to write clearly and effectively without grammatical or spelling errors is one of the most important skills you can have if you want to be a paid game tester. Make sure to write many practice reviews first and have others check them for you and give you feedback. Keep rewriting them until they are perfect. Soon you'll be able to crank out in-demand high quality reviews that you can get paid for.
Reason Number Three: Not Enough Experience
Just because you can complete a video game title in record time does not mean that you are "game tester" material. You should also have some experience with writing, game theory, game design, and at least a little knowledge about computer programming. These types of skill and experience will help you get the high paying in-house dream jobs in the game testing industry.
A good way to get your foot in the door is to do some entry level video game tester assignments. This includes beta testing new releases in exchange for a free copy of the game, being the first to play it, and sometimes payment too. You should grab a copy of the free guide for video game testers that explains how to go about this by visiting: http://www.BeAGameTester.com right now.
AP - Police were reviewing video from surveillance cameras in an attempt to identify who trampled to death a Wal-Mart worker after a crowd of post-Thanksgiving shoppers burst through the doors at a suburban store and knocked him down.
