Playtesting Videogames, Need Advice

Seven · 01-14-08, 10:41 PM

Hey Guys,

So I've decided that since I'm into college and work is a little easier now, I'm going to look into a part time job. I could do retail, but I really don't want to have to work in a mall all day standing around and folding clothes. That said I was looking into doing QA (Quality Assurance, or playtesting) for some Los Angeles area videogame studios. I'm located right near West LA, so anything near there is pretty good.

As far as I know, the following are around here

Activision (the closest, and probably one of my favorites)
EA (a little bit further away, closer to LAX but this is still managable)
Blizzard (I love their games, but they're in Irvine which is pretty far)

I know there's also a few independent game studios.

I'm really looking to do this part-time, hopefully on weekends during the day. I'm not sure if anybody is looking for that or not, but I can also just wait until the summer and take on a full-time job during the day when I'm not in school.

If anybody has any advice, experience, or connections, please let me know.
7

Fr3@k3r · 01-14-08, 11:04 PM

Ive been doing playtesting for Microsoft for the past 2 years off and on.. maybe 6-7 times a year depending on if they qualify me for the sessions or not.

In my experience when you do write-ups be very thorough with what your explaining.. Also be very professional in your grammar and writing.

Ive also found that QA is alot more difficult than just regular old game testing. QA has alot more work requirement than Playtesting which useually only requires moderate write-ups and such.

Although QA should pay a good deal more than just playtesting, I would start off with playtesting first.

Xenocide · 01-14-08, 11:19 PM

Its a tough job, my uncle used to higher a few highschool / college students to do it out in Cali each year when he worked at 3DO. Offered for me to come out and do it, but I always refused. I can't sit and play video games all day every day.

Seven · 01-14-08, 11:20 PM

Any advice on getting this job though, I feel like if I have a fair amount of experience in the industry, I'll be able to step up to producing games, and maybe (hopefully) my dream of being president of a company, although that's a long way off.

Do they work well with people who are part time? Or is it just more of a 9-5 actual serious job thing.

7

01-14-08, 10:41 PM	Thread Starter #1
Seven Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles	Playtesting Videogames, Need Advice Hey Guys, So I've decided that since I'm into college and work is a little easier now, I'm going to look into a part time job. I could do retail, but I really don't want to have to work in a mall all day standing around and folding clothes. That said I was looking into doing QA (Quality Assurance, or playtesting) for some Los Angeles area videogame studios. I'm located right near West LA, so anything near there is pretty good. As far as I know, the following are around here Activision (the closest, and probably one of my favorites) EA (a little bit further away, closer to LAX but this is still managable) Blizzard (I love their games, but they're in Irvine which is pretty far) I know there's also a few independent game studios. I'm really looking to do this part-time, hopefully on weekends during the day. I'm not sure if anybody is looking for that or not, but I can also just wait until the summer and take on a full-time job during the day when I'm not in school. If anybody has any advice, experience, or connections, please let me know. 7 __________________ HEAT!
	QUOTE Thanks

01-14-08, 11:04 PM	#2
Fr3@k3r Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: (Lat 47° 8' 22.1316")(Long -122° 29' 52.9152") (Lakewood Wa)	Ive been doing playtesting for Microsoft for the past 2 years off and on.. maybe 6-7 times a year depending on if they qualify me for the sessions or not. In my experience when you do write-ups be very thorough with what your explaining.. Also be very professional in your grammar and writing. Ive also found that QA is alot more difficult than just regular old game testing. QA has alot more work requirement than Playtesting which useually only requires moderate write-ups and such. Although QA should pay a good deal more than just playtesting, I would start off with playtesting first. __________________ [Tablet]Motorola Xoom - Android 4.2 Rooted [Work] AMD-64 3000+ - DFI RS482 Infinity - 1GB Corsair TwinX DDR-400 - Radeon Xpress 200 - 160GB - FSP Bluestorm 500w - XP Pro SP2 [Server] Intel 6500 - GIgabyte GA-G41M-ES2L - 4GB DDR2 - Radeon HD5450 - 7.5TB Storage - Antec Earthwatt 650w - XP Pro SP2 (HTPC) (HEATWARE) (FORUM RULES) (OCF ANTI DRM)
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01-14-08, 11:19 PM	#3
Xenocide Member Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Charlotte, NC	Its a tough job, my uncle used to higher a few highschool / college students to do it out in Cali each year when he worked at 3DO. Offered for me to come out and do it, but I always refused. I can't sit and play video games all day every day. __________________ A positive attitude may not solve all your problems, but it will annoy enough people to make it worth the effort.
	QUOTE Thanks

01-14-08, 11:20 PM	Thread Starter #4
Seven Member Join Date: Mar 2004 Location: Los Angeles	Any advice on getting this job though, I feel like if I have a fair amount of experience in the industry, I'll be able to step up to producing games, and maybe (hopefully) my dream of being president of a company, although that's a long way off. Do they work well with people who are part time? Or is it just more of a 9-5 actual serious job thing. 7 __________________ HEAT!
	QUOTE Thanks

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