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Thursday, December 7, 2006

Video Game Tester Jobs: Which One Is Right For You?

Seems a lot of people these days are interested in becoming paid video game testers. With all the excitement surrounding the release of the latest gaming consoles like the PS3 and Nintendo Wii, this is no surprise. So let's take a look at the different types of jobs that are available for gamers.

Job 1: Self-Employed Video Game Tester
Everyday people are searching online for information and reviews about the latest game releases. Some very smart gamers are filling that demand by putting up their own websites and blogs and writing reviews of games as they play them. They also include tips, screenshots and more that their visitors will find useful. By adding Google Adsense ads or other advertiser's ads to their websites, they've created their own video game testing business that makes money everyday - just for playing games and telling others about it!


Job 2: Freelance Video Game Tester
Some gamers with a bit more experience and motivation take things up a notch. These gamers actively seek out companies who produce games and offer to test their upcoming release for bugs, playability and other features. This type of work pays very well, but requires the video game tester to be able to communicate and write very clearly - and also to be very punctual. As a freelance video game tester, you'll be expected to play unreleased games from the comfort of your own home, provide written feedback as instructed by the developer and return this information within a specified time frame. Your reward for this? A big fat paycheck by mail!

Job 3: Full-time Corporate Game Tester
It is also possible to get hired by large game developers for a full time game testing position. These are the ultimate dream jobs for many gamers, but are very difficult to get. They require a high level of communication and writing skills plus plenty of experience. On the other hand, the reward is that much greater too - a high paying, secure, full-time job doing what you enjoy most - gaming! Many gamers build up the experience needed to get these types of positions by working as freelance video game testers until they've built up a solid resume of completed assignments.
As you can see, there are many ways to make money playing video games. A bit of time spent sharpening up your writing skills combined with your interest in gaming and a desire to share your knowledge with others can easily add up to a great job! By James Allen