How To Become a Professional Video Game Tester in 5 Simple Steps

Step One: Be Proactive!
You won't land any video game tester jobs if you just sit around and wait for a "Game Testers Wanted" ad to appear in the newspaper. It won't happen. So instead of sitting back and waiting for a miracle to occur, just get out there and find the perfect video game testing job for you.

Head straight to the game companies and developers and apply for testing jobs. Since they aren't looking for you, the only logical step is to actively search for them. Once you find them (which shouldn't take too long), apply for a game tester position with them and then repeat the process for as many different companies as humanly possible.

On your application/resume, brag about all of your video game achievements, such as the consoles you own, the games you've played, the games you own, the MMORPGs you are apart of, and anything else that shows how much experience you have with video games. And if you want to help your cause even further, create a website/blog that talks about video games, gives reviews, previews, cheats, hints, tips, etc.

You have to remember that experience and professionalism count for a lot in this industry. Therefore, the more experience you have and the more professional you are, the better your chances are for getting a video game tester job.

Step Two: Step Out of Fairy Tale Land and Into Reality
You have to realize that video game testing is a job. Yes, it's a really fun job, but it is still a job nonetheless. This means that you have to treat it as such and take every part of it seriously. Don't merely sit down and play the game to have a good time. Sit down and play the game so that you can collect a paycheck when you're through.

Many "wanna-be" testers believe that being a professional video game tester is a "no work, all play" type of career. Honestly, they couldn't be more wrong. Although there aren't huge amounts of work that a game tester must wade through, there are still a few things that he/she has to complete. For instance, filling out reports. Surprised? Well, most aspiring young testers are when they hear that there is actual work involved with video game testing.

Contrary to what you may have thought, you won't be simply playing games and giving your opinion on whether they are good or not. You will actually be testing them. You will play through a game, find any bugs or glitches, and then fill out reports on any problems that you come across. This is to help the developers and programmers locate and fix those problems. You don't have to be an English professor or a college graduate to write bug reports, but you will have to have basic writing skills. Aside from the reports, you will also be required to fill out numerous questionnaires; which are typically opinion based.

As soon as you accept the fact that you'll be doing actual work as a video game tester, you will have much more success finding testing jobs.


Part 2 Of This Article Can Be Found Below, Or By Clicking Here


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5 Steps To Become a Professional Video Game Tester

If You Haven't Read Steps 1-2, You Can Find Them By Clicking Here


Step 3: Practice Makes Perfect!
The best way to become a better video game tester is to practice. You've heard it before, "practice makes perfect". Well, that usually is the case for being a game tester.

You're probably thinking "how can I practice-test video games?" Honestly, the same way you would practice doing anything else; you just do it. While you are in between jobs, do what you always do, play video games. Except this time, play it like you are testing the game instead of simply having fun with it.

Just like with actual testing jobs, go over every game you play with a fine tooth comb and look for any bugs or glitches while you are playing. Obviously, there aren't going to be a significant amount of bugs/glitches due to the fact that the game has already been tested, fixed, & released. However, nobody is perfect and something was bound to be missed.

Will you find anything? Maybe, maybe not. The point is that you are looking, and in doing so you are testing the game as though you were being paid to. This type of mentality & practice will get you prepared for testing jobs. Not only that, but it will sharpen your awareness skills and allow you to spot bugs and glitches much more easily.

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If you are having trouble finding a way to practice, try using one of The Exercises Outlined in the "Beginner's Guide To Video Game Testing". Don't have a copy? Well, then grab a free one by entering your First Name and E-mail Address in the sidebar. -------------------->
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Should you practice 24 Hours a day, 7 Days a Week? Of course not. You should still take time out of your day to just play games and enjoy them with no strings attached. After all, if you just test & test & test, you might find yourself hating video games after awhile. With that being said, it's okay to test the games you play, but don't be afraid to take some time out and genuinely enjoy them.


Step 4: Make Contacts!
Networking is a vital part of any video game testers career. It's possible to be successful without a network of reliable contacts, but it's definitely not as easy. Therefore, you should try to get acquainted with as many people in the gaming industry as possible; testers, developers, programmers, graphics designers, artists, sound/audio specialists, and anyone else who is around games daily.

Your network of contacts can help your career drastically and allow you to land testing jobs a whole lot easier. Whether it be just putting in a good word for you or letting you know when new testing jobs have opened up, a network of contacts is something no game tester should be without.


Step 5: Never Give Up!
No matter what happens, don't give up on your dream of becoming a professional video game tester. You need to keep in mind that things will not always go your way. The job you were absolutely sure you'd get might go to someone else, and the check that you thought was going to be huge might not actually be so big.

There will be times when you have a lucky streak and get testing job after testing job. Then again, there will also be times when you hit a dry spell and get nothing-zippo-nadda for a couple of weeks. But still, no matter how big or small the speed bump happens to be, just do your best to get over it and keep on going.

Don't stress over not landing your first testing job either. The first one is always the hardest to bag. Some people get lucky and get one in their first week, others can go months before getting that first "You're Hired" notification. All in All, you just have to go with the flow and keep working on your video game tester career.


In conclusion, always remember that a professional video game tester has the blessing of having a genuinely fun job. Most people aren't excited about going to work and working a boring 9-5 shift. You, on the other hand, get to do what you love and get paid for it. So, have fun with your career and enjoy the video games you are testing. After all, it really doesn't get much better than being paid to play video games!

Become A Game Tester Now & Make $120 Per Hour. Click Here!

XBOX 360 Hardware Failure: RED RING OF DEATH- Preventing the Inevitable?

The "Red Ring Of Death" is not a topic that people talk about cheerfully. The XBOX 360 is a remarkable piece of gaming machinery, which makes the "Red Ring Of Death" even more saddening as it literally stops the XBOX 360 in it's tracks and causes it to stop functioning. But the thing is, if no one talks about this issue (cheerful or not), how can we prevent it? Or, the better question is, can it even be prevented?

Some would have you believe that the "Red Ring Of Death" is inevitable and that every current XBOX 360 owner will go through this nightmare. Why? Because the heat is so great that it slowly damages the system's delicate parts overtime, thereby making the console unplayable. Since it's not a question of if, but when, why should players even worry about it? Why not just cross that bridge when they get to it? Well, because there are other opinions out there. Some people feel that the "Red Ring Of Death" is actually preventable with the right precautions. They say that by taking the right measures, you can possibly avoid or, at the very least, prolong your X-BOX 360's life.

So, what are the precautions you can take to avoid seeing the "Red Ring Of Death"? As far as the experts can tell, proper ventilation and a much lower internal temperature will do the trick. Obviously, you can't alter the design of the XBOX 360 itself; so adding more air holes or another cooling unit (heat sink) is out of the question. However, you don't have to approach the problem internally, you can approach it externally.

Give the XBOX 360 a cooler and more open environment and you should be able to control it's aggressive heat increases. It doesn't take a genius to figure out that the XBOX 360 is still going to run hot; but by taking the temperature down a few degrees and providing a more adequate supply of air, the system should run more smoothly and allow it to slowly leave the "danger zone". The big question, though, is "how can this be done?"

Honestly, it's really not that hard to do. All you need is some (stationary) house fans and an air conditioner. Keep the AC temperature cool and the fans pointed at the system when you are playing. 2 fans, one on either side of the XBOX 360, is ideal. Obviously, you don't want to be freezing your butt off while you're play; therefore, a temperature of about 70 degrees Fahrenheit should work just fine. However, if you can manage it, 65 degrees is even better and more effective. The fans should keep a nice air flow going through the system and the room temperature (which is cooled by the AC) should help bring down & maintain the 360's internal temperature. Also, be sure to keep your XBOX-360 as close to your AC vents as possible; and in winter move it away from the vents.


Suffering from the "Red Ring Of Death"? Then Click Here To Find Out What You Can Do to Fix the problem.

Repairing Your XBOX 360: Recovering From A Hardware Failure

If the "Red Ring of Death" has plagued your XBOX 360, then you are undoubtedly in a lot of emotional pain; especially if you don't happen to know how to resolve the situation. Well, you are in luck. Contrary to what you might think, you're 360 is not destined for the trash. As a matter of fact, the problem can now be fixed free of charge and with very little hassle.

In the past, the "Red Ring of Death" was covered only under the standard warranty. Once the warranty was up (one year manufacturer’s warranty), the person would have to pay for any repairs that were needed out of his/her own pocket. However, since the "Red Ring of Death" has befallen so many XBOX 360 owners, Microsoft has decided to revamp it's warranty conditions. The revamp applies only to hardware failures, which is known as the "Red Ring of Death".

In the event that your XBOX 360 console becomes victim to a hardware failure, which is indicated by 3 flashing red lights, you will be able to have your system repaired free of charge. Not only that, but if you had your XBOX360 repaired in the past due to the "Red Ring of Death", you will also be reimbursed for all of the repair fees.

Aside from the reimbursements and free console repairs, current and future XBOX 360 owners will be upgraded to a 3 year warranty instead of just a one year warranty. That means you will have quite a long time to enjoy your 360 without having to worry about renewing it's warranty or spending money on costly repairs. It really doesn't get any better than that.

Once you have received your XBOX 360, it is vital that you take care of it and place it in a more suitable surrounding in order to help prevent future hardware failures. Although Microsoft won't specify the exact cause of the "Red Ring of Death", most gamers & experts agree that it is because of overheating. Therefore, keep the area it's in well ventilated and cool. For more Information, Click Here (Link to this article: The Red Ring Of Death- Preventing the Inevitable)

If You Have Any Questions or Concerns about XBOX 360 Repairs, call 1-800-4-MY-XBOX.

XBOX 360 Warranty Update
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http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/resources/warrantyupdate.htm?WT.svl=nav

XBOX 360 Warranty FAQ
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http://www.xbox.com/en-US/support/systemuse/xbox360/resources/warrantyfaq.htm

Hardware Failure- The Red Ring Of Death and What It means for Your X-BOX 360

If you're like most gamers out there, you can't stand to be away from your XBOX 360 system for too long. As a matter of fact, you probably count the minutes until you can return home, pop in your favorite game, and play for hours in front of your big screen TV. Sounds like heaven, right? Of course it does. Well, it is about to sound a whole lot worse. Why is that? Because of the "RED RING OF DEATH!"

If you don't know what that is, you should consider yourself fortunate up to this point, as you have not yet had to deal with this horrible situation. The "Red Ring Of Death" is basically a hardware malfunction that "breaks" your X-BOX 360; indicated by 3 flashing red lights. Breaks= No Longer working, Must be repaired by a profession. How serious is this problem? Well, it's so serious that it has affected thousands of xbox360 owners and continues to affect more each and every day.

"AM I GOING TO HAVE TO BUY A NEW XBOX 360!?!?" Luckily, no. Although every case is different, the problem is very fixable and the warranty will still cover the damages. On the other hand, if your warranty has run out, the repairs will not likely be free. You won't have to shell out $300-$400 mind you, but you may wind up paying around $100-150 to get your console fixed.

What causes the XBOX-360 malfunction? Overheating. The professionals at Microsoft won't give any specific data about the true cause of the "Red Ring", but most experts quickly agree that the console just runs too hot. This is mainly due to the design of the 360, as everything seems to be smashed together in that sleek white box. Normally that wouldn't be a problem, but it is in this case because there just isn't a sufficient amount of air traveling through the innards of the console to keep it cool.

The appearance of the XBOX 360 is very sleek and very sexy, but was it worth the trade for long term functionality? We may actually find out soon enough. Generally speaking, things would have worked out much better if the design included more air holes in more effective places; like the front of the 360 for instance.

Aside from the fact that it is horribly inconvenient and may cost a bit of money, the "Red Ring Of Death" is really more of a nuisance than it is a crisis (for individuals). Sure, you won't get to play your XBOX 360 for awhile, but things could be much worse. Just be glad that the problem can be fixed and that you will be able to play again within a few weeks (usually less than one week). The bad news, though, lies with Microsoft as they are going to lose a bundle for this foul up.



Suffering from the "Red Ring Of Death"? Well Click Here To Find Out What You Can Do to Fix the problem.

What's So Great about Gamefly?

When you take into account all of the different factors that come with renting games from places like BlockBuster or Hollywood Video, you will realize that renting video games from home is so much more convenient. You don't have to deal with lines, moody clerks, shortages, or out standing late fees. Plus, you will never have to walk farther than your mailbox to get your rented games!

The Things That Make Gamefly Great:

* No late fees; you keep the games as long as you like.

* Offers four distinct rental plans, ranging from a very low $15.95 per month to a slightly higher $36.95 per month.

* Huge selection Of Video Games From All Consoles & Handhelds Systems. 5000+ Titles.

* Gamefly pays all shipping fees and they provide pre-paid envelopes for all game rentals & purchases.

* If you like the game you rented, keep it and pay only a fraction of the retail cost! (Example: A new $60 Game would be Marked Down to $44)

How Gamefly Rentals Work:

Traditional renting stores work by allowing you to pick out your games, pay the renting fee, and then bring the game(s) back 5 days later. After those 5 days, you bring the game(s) back and repeat the process. If you are a day late, you usually wind up paying for another 5 days, even if you don't plan on playing the game ever again.

On the other hand, Gamefly works completely different and gives the renter much more flexibility. Here's how it works:

1. You begin by choosing up to 50 games that you would like to rent. These games are then placed in your "Game Q", which is your personal game renting list.

2. When a Game becomes Available, Gamefly sends it out to you immediately, depending on your current subscription plan of course; 1, 2, 3, or 4 Games out at a time

3. When you are finished with a game, you'll put it into the provided pre-paid envelope and then ship it back to them. After it has been sent back, Gamefly then sends out the next available game in your Game Q. Due to Gamefly's speedily service known as "Fast Return", the next game in your list will usually ship out within 1 day.

Gamefly's Different Subscription Plans:

1. One game out- $15.95 per month.

2. Two games out- $22.95 per month.

3. Three games out- $29.95 per month.

4. Four games out- $36.95 per month.

GameFly Review: The Weigh-in
Among all the online rental services, Gamefly is definitely the king. It's not just the king because it is the most widely known or because of it's convenience. It's the king because of its enormous selection of game titles as well as its above average turnaround time.

Their Game Selection: Without a Doubt, Gamefly has the best video game selection of any renting retailer, offline or online. Aside from carrying games for all of the major Console Systems (XBOX 360, PS3, Wii, Xbox, PS2, Gamecube), they also carry games for all of the popular handheld devices as well. The moment a game releases, Gamefly carries it and ships it out to it's subscribers. It truly has the greatest video game section.

Their Turn-Around Time: If a online renting service doesn't have a decent turn-around time, they won't likely be around for long. With that being said, Gamefly has been around a very long time, which is, in no small part, due to it's excellent turn-around time. The argument of many is that online renting services are much more expensive than local renting stores. This is simply untrue. As a matter of fact, it is usually the exact opposite.

On average, it takes about 5 days to ship back and receive a new game from gamefly. Let's say you are on the 2-plan subscription; if you were to keep each game for 5 days before sending it back, you would end up renting about 6 games during the month and you would only pay $22.95. Compare that to a local retail store, which would probably charge you $40 or more for those same rentals, and you end up with a large amount of monthly savings.

Plus, if you rent a crappy game from a local store, you can't take it back and exchange it for another; you are stuck with it for those 5 days. On the flip side, if you happen to like the game and want to keep it longer, you would have to pay the rental fee again. With Gamefly, whether you want to return the game instantly or keep it for a full week, it is the same flat fee every month and you can rent as many games as you want.

The Final Analysis
If you're a true gamer at heart, then Gamefly is definitely something you should try out. Gamefly lets us try games before we buy them; which allows us to tinker with the "ok, but not great" games that we normally wouldn't take the time to toy with if we had to purchase or rent them at a higher price. The online system is so simple to use that you'll quickly find yourself becoming a more seasoned gamer just because of the fun you have while browsing through each consoles game selection.

Honestly, who wouldn't love to find small presents in their mailbox 5-6 times a month?

Sign-Up For Gameflys Free Trial And Start Renting Games From Home

Gamers should also keep in mind that Gamefly is an excellent place to get up-to-date video game information. If you visit the website, you will find Pics, Videos, Critic Reviews, User Reviews, Hints, Cheats, Walkthroughs, and so much more on all the latest titles. Gamely is a goldmine of video game information.

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