Amazing series, I just got a job as a QA Compliance Lead in a big game company and coming from the FinTech industry I wanted to enrich my knowledge before diving in. These helped a lot! A lot of the information I seemed to already know or expect to be the case, but it's great to confirm from an inside man. Also, very well articulated with good examples. Maybe the biggest thing I got out of these videos is about giving positive feedback as well. You won't find that in any job characteristics or job descriptions, but it must have an enormous impact on proper dev-QA relations!

Trendane, you supposed to be a actor. You have charisma and I like the way how you explain the things. Thank you !

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Thank you as well! Sorry I was so late in responding. I didn't see this until now!

This video was here just before I started my career as a QA tester and it's here now for helping me train others :) I love these videos, Trendane, especially the use of "Should" and "Shouldn't". I see this being said by soooo many around me and I have advised against it on your advice - it has made me a fantastic tester. Thanks again my dude :)

Your video was actually very reassuring about my interest in video game testing. It actually helps characterize the research I've been doing quite well, and makes me confident that it is still something I am interested in pursuing, even if I end up finding that it isn't for me.

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Well I must say that I'm really glad that it has been useful to you! I've been quite pleased that so many have received it well.

@crazo3077

9 жыл бұрын

Most sites don't go into as much detail about the tasks as you do in your videos, unless they want to gripe about how much everything sucks. Many listings mention test database software, one specifically saying DevTrack. Do you have any elaborations on that?

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

crazo3077 I may have mentioned it in part 2 or part 3, but I don't recall specifically. And if I did, I didn't go into much detail about its features as this series is about QA in general, rather than specific tools.

Hey Trendane, Thanks for these videos! I just got offered a QA tester position, and will be training in later this month. The knowledge from these videos really helped me in my interviews! Appreciate your videos!

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Joshua Culp Excellent news! I'm really glad to hear that they were helpful to you!

I like your video man! Seriously, QA is an awesome field and there're very few resources that is clear, in clear and comprehensible English and led by a person with an awesome personality!

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

Lead Software QA here, this series is fantastic. Even for non-gaming industry this contains a lot of great information. Glad I stumbled across it. Recommending this to everyone I know. To be honest though, I'm tempted to make my people watch the WoW videos instead so I can get some good groups going, hahaha. :D

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Wooo! Thanks very much! I'm really glad you enjoyed it and I'm honored that you feel it worthy of sharing!

This is the video that caused me entering the Software Testing field, thank you so much from the deep of my heart 🙏

I just loved the way you tell things fun and entertaining!

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks very much! I'm really happy to hear that you like it!

*Very* good communicator. Thanks, Tren.

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

You're most welcome! I'm glad you found it useful.

Hey man! Thanks for your 3 videos! I'm training to become a QA and I had a lot of fun watching you and got very good tips.. a vision I (should) say.. haha Very nice!

Fantastic video, super informative while keeping my attention with a joke here and there. Liked and subscribed!

I found a sound bug on your video. Static sound started at 20:24 I am guessing it's recorder connection problem or battery issue of recorder. Somehow when you speak little far from lav mic it makes less static sound. I am learning a lot with your video. I am actually having an interview for a Qa position :) I hope i will get the position haha Thank you!!

@trendane

3 жыл бұрын

Best of luck! I hope you get it!

High quality video! Thank you very much.

@trendane

3 жыл бұрын

Happy to help!

Thank you for this video, really needed this!!

TS this is great! great job with all the description!

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm really happy to hear that you enjoyed it!

this video was excellent. good job man

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

Yaayyy! Thanks!

Thank you very much for this Entire series.! Very informative! I got placed at Rockstar Games! Love from India

@trendane

4 жыл бұрын

Outstanding! Well done!

Fantastic explanation. Thanks a lot! It will be great if you start a Game Q&A website (Sparks the Quality! Sparks the Tests! ...).

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Heleno Licurgo do Amaral Hah! Thank you very much. I'm glad you enjoyed the videos. As for a Q&A website, there are already several. Some of which use these videos in their curriculum. Besides, I wouldn't have the time to maintain one myself.

hi Trendane Thank you for this video! great explanation! giving me more encouragement on take this line of work. i'm thinking of taking QA certification! thanks again!!

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome!

Thanks for the video! Im starting my new job in a Startup and Im learning about QA tester because I have to become in one (I'm designer by the way so it was a new word for me!). You are a really good teacher! :)

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Débora Lapin Thank you! I'm really glad that you found the videos useful!

Wife walked in, she thought I was watching King of Queens.

@charlescarper6044

6 жыл бұрын

HAHA, I can see that.

@rahdamostprime5669

6 жыл бұрын

LOL

@catalinvoegel5396

5 жыл бұрын

hi everyone ,if anyone else needs to find out about real money games online free try Gamer Roadmap Rundown (should be on google have a look ) ? Ive heard some super things about it and my work buddy got amazing results with it.

@DIZZLEBOI44

3 жыл бұрын

Hahahaha I was about to say it too

This is perfect thanks for the series! I have just graduated with a Computer and Video games Degree and I am now looking for experience and this has enlightened me!

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks! I'm really happy to hear it was helpful!

@xTeddlesking

9 жыл бұрын

Do you have any tips or websites you can send me on to gain some knowledge of a day to day role of a QA tester? Anything I can do at home to boost my CV? Thanks!

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

One of the best options you're going to have is www.utest.com/ They've actually folded my videos into their curriculum, so you've already got a bit of a head start. That's where I'd recommend that you look.

@xTeddlesking

9 жыл бұрын

Thank you sir I will take a look. Much appreciated!

very good video! thanks!

Maybe do a Q and A on the comments for these series for episode 4, great video also :)

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Ooo! That's a possibility.

Thank you Trendane for the wisdom share...love from india

hello im doing a corss to get train to be a qa tester and iv been readin the book that the corss has given me and you video has help me so so mush i thank you so mush

@trendane

10 жыл бұрын

You're very welcome! I'm glad it was useful to you!

Just want to write you a quick thank you for this!

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Raiden Smith You are quite welcome!

Thanks for the amazing video :) I recently graduated and I am trying to apply for a QA position in a finance company to gain more experience. I wanna ask, will programmers look down on QA testers?

I'll start as a game tester next week and this video really brought valuable informations which make me feel less anxious. Thanks, I can sleep better now :P

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

You are very welcome! I'm glad you found it helpful!

@skeletor8782

7 жыл бұрын

How did you start? Do you have a degree? where do you live? I'm really looking into this and am very curious on how to start.

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

I live in the San Francisco Bay Area. I started out by simply applying for a QA Tester position. Most companies will note on their website if they have any QA openings. But even if they don't, apply anyway!! I don't hurt to ask. As for a degree....NOPE! Technically, I didn't even graduate from high school. I got my GED shortly before joining the Army. I have worked with several QA folks who did have degrees, though. It's definitely not a requirement, though.

@skeletor8782

7 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks So you definitely need to have either finished high school or have your GED? The issue I'm also having is i don't live in a big city so i'm thinking i'll have to move in order to purse this job. I also have little job experience. I have only worked at taco bell. I have tons of gaming experience though been playing since i was 5. Have 78430 gamer score on xbox and play a lot of ps2. I just don't know if they would see someone like me and be likely to hire me. I'm straight out of high school.

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Having at least your GED will show that you're committed to seeing things through and have the sort of critical thinking required for the job. And it's important to remember that your gaming experience is mostly on games which have been released. Your gamer score isn't really going to mean much. The games you'd be working on as a QA tester are usually broken as all hell and you have to do it over and over and over and over quite possibly on games you don't even like. You don't often get to choose which games you're going to work on. You get assigned to a project and you're expected to see it through. There will be times when you get so frustrated that you'll *wish* you were working at Taco Bell. There are several companies out there who have open/closed betas and whatnot for their games. It doesn't pay, but it will give you a clearer idea of what you'd be getting into. How to recognize what is a bug and what isn't, how to properly report a bug (after searching to make sure it hasn't been reported (duplicates are bad), how to communicate with devs and blah blah blah blah. Just remember that many companies will also have an NDA, so you won't be able to talk about what you're working on. That is a legal and binding contract and if you want to work in the industry, don't EVER violate your NDA.

Thank you for creating these very informative videos, I have an interview for a Quality Analyst 1 position very soon having worked in the customer service sector for five years. This will really help me push for this position as it has really boosted my confidence for what I can provide them. By the way, I have to say I did notice a cheeky 'EA' water bottle or was that a bug :D

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Xiicus .Ken Scully Hah! That -is- an EA water bottle. I shot this video while I was still working on Origin.

thank god for these videos Trendane Sparks you could have just helped me get a job!! thank you!

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Wonderful! I'm delighted to know that they may have been a help to you.

I used to be a game tester for Sony and everything you said is true.

Quite accurate, I work in external QA and that is the first video I see that I can clearly relate to. If you are interested in QA this quite the starter video to know what it is about. - Red P.S. The baneful SHOULD, fun to see it's the same everywhere.

Thanks for constructing an amazing video. I especially gained a better understanding about providing the bug details to put in a report. Atm I am a new QA Black-Box Tester (with thanks to a community program for young adults called Year Up) looking for a position. Only recently a recruiter has found for me a perfect fit for a Gaming Tester slot for children's video games. 2 things: #1 I love video games (Like Zelda, Mario, DDR, and Yu-Gi-Oh!). #2 I'm kinda like a cousin to little kids whom I used to babysit for my neighbors. As a kid, I had to choose between a Barbie playhouse, or a moving pirate ship (

@trendane

10 жыл бұрын

Hey hey! I'm really glad this was helpful to you.

Trendane!!! Do you know anything about Black box testing from home or aka "off-site" testing??? Like, which companies there are.

Can you explain about the QA stapler part in case they ask about that during an interview?

I'm hoping to go into this type of career myself. What company do you work for?

making games is the game I'm probably going to become a QA lead/consultant in the coming years, but my passion is medical and biotech

Hey Trendane, this video was very informative, so I wanted to say thank you. I’m 16 years old and I’ve been wanting to be a QA tester for years, but I don’t really know how to get started in this industry. I know I still have 2 years of high school, and I’m not sure what to do for collage that will benefit me in this career. My mom and dad aren’t really open to this career, but I’m really interested. Do you have any advise or tips for me at this point in my life? That would be greatly appreciated, thank you. Great video btw. 👍😁

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

Well, I can sort of appreciate your parents' perspective on this. Video game QA is a job more than a career. For a lot of people, it is a way to get your foot in the door and prep to move into a different position. That said, focusing your college courses on things which will help with critical thinking, communication, project planning and coordination. You can make a career out of video game QA, but you would be one of a very lonely few who do that. And once you work the job for a while, you'll learn why that is. I'm not going to tell you that you shouldn't go for it if that's what you feel that you want to do, but I would recommend a more broad and open-ended plan through college. Make sure that whatever courses you take will help you with a wide range of skills that'll apply to more than just QA.

@matthewvachon8437

5 жыл бұрын

Ok, that makes sense, I’ll keep that in mind, thank you.

Hi! I'm just really curious because I saw a job ad where they're looking for QA engineers. are QA engineers and QA testers the same?

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

In my experience, no. QA Engineers have a much deeper and more technical knowledge of the mechanics of what is going on and can give much more detailed feedback as to what might be causing bugs. That said, I have seen companies which use the terms interchangeably, so it could simply be that as well. Make sure you pay attention to what the responsibilities and tasks would be when looking at a job listing.

@biancadenicechua8504

5 жыл бұрын

Thank you! :)

can you make a video on the testing life cycle in the game development? like, if we have to build a game from scratch then how the testing life cycle will be carried out.

when you talk about the database I feel like this can relate to the old MegaMan battle network, when you go up to the board in the game and try to fix the bugs in the game. probably a dumb way to look at it, but it reminds of it and makes sense to me in that manner. but good video though, I'm studying to become a good artist but nothing wrong with gaining knowledge.

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Very true! As Neil Gaiman said "Make good art"!

As of about 20:30, there's a buzzing in the audio, but this is a greaaaaaaaat video! I love it! The other thing that'd fall under patience is the fact you have to keep doing the same thing over and over when you have to reproduce said bug you've created!

dammit thank you for this :) Thumbs up!!!!!!

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Jezreel Fermin You're quite welcome! I'm glad you liked it!

I love this type of job but I'm not to sure about the pay.. Is a well paying job or would it be equivalent to a fast food restaurant?

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

That's difficult to say, honestly. It depends upon the company, where you live, etc. Most of the places I have worked were at least the equal of fast food....almost always more. There can be trade-offs, though. You might be getting paid a higher, hourly rate at a game company....but actually be a contractor and not have access to health, dental, paid vacation, and other such extras. Just make sure you read the job details very carefully and weigh your options.

@whyyred6265

9 жыл бұрын

Thanks that helps alot.. So as far as education goes. Is there a certain degree I should try to acquire? I am still in highschool but I want to try and receive my degrees, if i need them, a little early.

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Tj Mueller Almost any degree will help out. If nothing else, it's proof that you can learn and be committed to doing so. One of the guys who worked on Tiger Woods '07 with me had a writing degree from Stanford. As for *which* degree, that would depend upon what you want to do. My friend G33kGrrl (www.twitch.tv/g33kgrrly_gaming) has a degree in psychology and intends to study the psychological benefits and detriments of video games. There are mountains of science to put to use in video games, especially where they can be used therapeutically. I would say...rather than crafting your studies to fit gaming....figure out what you want to do (if gaming weren't an option) and then figure out how gaming can make that better. Think of games as a wrench in your toolbox.

Are you paid only when a project is selected? or you are paid whether there is a project for a game to test or not?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Graham Davies If there is no game to be tested, then there is no work to do. If there's no work to do, that's when layoffs tend to happen. There are ebbs and flows to it. The larger a company, the more games they can have in development at any one time. But it is not uncommon to see testers drifting back and forth between companies as their development cycles shift.

So as someone who has not gone to college, will that be conflicting for work in QA Mobile testing? for a game company?

@HeroSloth

8 жыл бұрын

+HeroSloth or is any coding knowledge needed to be known?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+HeroSloth That sort of depends. For black box testing, no coding experience should be required. For grey and white box testing, there may be some need for it, if only enough for you to be able to understand what you're looking at, when it comes to the code. As for college....I never went either. I got my GED and joined the Army. Beyond that, it's whatever knowledge I've picked up along the way. My most powerful tool is my ability to communicate well.

Kingdom hearts was practically bugless on release

Do you have to live in the same city as a game developers hub to land a job as a QA?

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

Not necessarily. Some larger companies will outsource their testing to third-party companies.

I've been asked to apply to be a black box tester for our company, apart from basic computer skills I am a novice. They say I could be trained to do it. I trying to find some online tuition for this. Can you recommend any? the majority are Indian guys and I find it difficult to understand, concentrating on the speech and not the content. Chris.

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

To be honest, I don't know of any other than www.utest.com/ And the only reason I know about them is because I worked at EA with one of the guys there and they asked if they could use these videos in their curriculum. Beyond that, I'm not sure.

this guy is cool

For someone who wants to get into the field, do you think playing the game you are testing before the interview process is essential?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+counter556 Essential? No. Absolutely not. A familiarity with their product and the kinds of games they make won't hurt, but the likelihood that you're even going to have access to the game when they are hiring QA is going to be extremely remote. What will be essential is a clear sense of communication and patience. More than anything else, those will give you a strong standing.

@counter556

8 жыл бұрын

Thanks for the time. Your videos are very helpful.

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+counter556 You're quite welcome!

This entire video all I did was link everyday things I do to what you said, any links for applications?

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

Do you mean like...applications to companies that might be hiring?

@spenkle431

6 жыл бұрын

Yeah I've heard great stuff about this line of work, would you think it would be a good experience for post-high school/pre-college?

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

It can be. But it can also be horrible. It really depends upon the kind of person you are, the company you work for, the project you work on, the team you work with and where you live (because if you live somewhere that the traffic getting to/from work is hellish, it can sour you on the job itself). There's really no way that I could safely make any sort of promises (or even guesses) about what it would be like for you. But if you are in a situation where you can comfortably to the job, and you can remember that what you're doing is testing, not playing...then I would encourage you to try it. Even if it's awful, it will give you experience that you can apply to later jobs and college itself.

What kind of college major and or courses would you recommend a QA tester have under their belt to pursue a similar career path?

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

To be honest, there are very few people who set out to only do videogame QA as a lifelong profession. Your choice of college courses would depend upon what you want to do for a living, beyond QA. If you want to make games, there are a few colleges which have such courses available, but you could also just go with Computer Sciences, which has far greater range in its application, including making games. What do you *want* to do for a living?

@IIKosmosII

7 жыл бұрын

Im really interested in 3d character design but am extremely intimidated by it at the same. Its hard for me to persue certain careers because right now I can only do online courses because my husband and I move around a lot. (Military) I really would like to get somewhere into the gaming industry since I feel thats where I belong,,,

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Ahhhyes. I was a medic in the Army many (many, many, many, many, many) years ago...so I know what it's like to move around a lot. QA could be a decent place to get your foot in the door and start networking, especially if you want to go with one of the larger game companies. But I would also say that studying art would help. While 3D Character Design may be your end target, there are many paving stones along the way which will make you an even more desirable candidate. Everything from sketches to 3D renders in something like Blender, 3DSMax or whatever the cool kids are using these days. Everything from the basic foundations of art practice to the most advanced techniques will help you along the way.

Am still confused .. I have 7 months experience in back-end web development Now I have two offers .. First one as a software engineer .. The second one QA tester Which field should I choose ?

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

Truthfully, software engineer will almost certainly pay better. But the choice is up to you. Which career do you want to have?

This is saving me

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Kanru Yaaaay!

Do you know the best place to look for places hiring for black box tester

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Robert Haacker Unfortunately, no. That sort of thing is very hard to predict. It changes with the seasons and from year to year as various companies (both independent and big corps) cycle through various franchises. It also depends upon where you live and what's popular at the time.... It can be VERY hard to guess.

@preparedtrucker6815

8 жыл бұрын

Ok thank you

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Robert Haacker You're quite welcome! I'm sorry I couldn't be more helpful.

4:39 is best part!

@trendane

10 жыл бұрын

Hah! Yeah. That part is always funny.

Ohhhh ya'know. Barely able to contain my own fluids because I'm bubbling over with anticipation. You?

I know I’m late 🙄 but are you one of the Guys that worked by BBG Studios by EA?

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

If you mean in Montréal, sadly no. I've never been there. I worked at EA headquarters in Redwood City, California.

@leroidumonde

5 жыл бұрын

Yeah I mean Montréal. 😃 but thanks for answering. ^.^

Thanks a lot for all your videos and answers. I'm 29 years old and I have been self-taught for at least 7 years in a bunch of fields because I didn't really know what I would do with my life. I realized early on that switching between universities programs is very costly and being self-taught gave me the freedom to learn very dfferent things while pilling money. I would love to get into this industry and now that I've made up my mind, even though I'm more educated in history, philosophy, science, litterature, etc. than most people, I fear I would have trouble to get any recognition for this. Do you have any advice on what I should put in my resume so that they at least wonder what I know? Is being self-taught something frequent in this field? And, most of all, is having a huge common knowledge something well regarded in this industry, or is this overlooked?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Pascal Ladal Let's start with what you should put on your resume. In my opinion, there should always be only one thing....the Truth. Tell them what you really have as far as experience goes. It's not nearly as important as your ability to think and communicate effectively. Someone with little experience who knows how to convey ideas and who can get along with a wide variety of people is going to make it a LOT farther than someone with a bunch of experience and constantly gets under everyone's skin. Common knowledge is an incredibly powerful tool. Especially when tempered with patience and respect. Use it wisely and you can go very far indeed. And remember, if there's something you don't know....admit it. If you have an opportunity to learn, and the eagerness to do so, you'll do well.

@pascalladal8125

8 жыл бұрын

Ok :) thanks a lot for this quick answer :) sending my resume today !

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Pascal Ladal Excellent! And even if you don't get hired...use it as an opportunity to learn. Ask them what they think you need to improve on to be a better candidate next time.

@pascalladal8125

8 жыл бұрын

Ok ;) I was wondering though. Do they usually bother to answer back once they've sent you their refusal?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Pascal Ladal Sometimes. It can depend upon how busy they are. You lose nothing by asking, in my opinion. Just don't sit by, waiting for the response before you move on to the next thing. That would be a waste of time.

Hi! How can I start to work with game testing nowadays?

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Daniel Cirillo Hey there! Well, the easiest way is to find a company near you which needs QA Testers. If there aren't any game companies near you (or companies which act as outsource groups for game companies), then you may be able to find indie game groups which need people to help with QA work.

Classic

For which company are you working :) ? and which games did you test ?

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

I'm not working for a company at the moment. But when I made this, I was working at Electronic Arts. As for the games I've tested... On the Atari Jaguar: Kasumi Ninja Syndicate Bubsy's Fractured Furry Tales At EA: Tiger Woods '07 SPORE Orcs & Elves Rock Band Classic Rock Track Pack Rock Band Country Track Pack Brutal Legend Battlefield Hardline I've probably left out several which I don't recall, but those were the big ones.

@bestianera891

9 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks WOW! I'm working as Localisation Game Tester ( italian ) in London and tomorrow i will have an interview for Jagex ( Runescape) for an internship ( because i am also study Game programming in London ) . The position in QA Tester for Runescape and i was wondering if you can give me some tips. I am pretty excited / worried...

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Matteo Barbero The greatest tool you will ever have is communication. You can all the brilliant ideas in the world, but if you can't communicate them to others, they're worth nothing. The same goes for any job. You ability to communicate will get you further than just about anything.

@bestianera891

9 жыл бұрын

As you said in the video the communication is the main skill for a QA TESTER! Thanks for sharing the knowledge!

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Matteo Barbero Most welcome! I'm happy to have been of help.

I want to be video game tester and m age 17 m.what should i do now ?.I live in India. I have 100% interest in gaming ..I can't tell about skills but love for gaming is extreme

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

I'm sure that there are companies in India which hire gamers to do QA. When I was at EA, we had teams in Hyderabad. Just look around and be professional! Everyone has to start somewhere.

Damn. Loved the video. Wondering any tips for getting a job as a QA tester with absolutely no experience ? What should I start doing and putting on my resume.

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

xiN3OHDx Everybody starts somewhere. Don't worry about not having a lot of experience. Just maintain good communication, have a love of games, and be patient. If you want to get some free experience, there are a lot of early access games out there that are rife with bugs. A lot of folks get early access so they can play the game before anyone else. That doesn't help make the game any better. JUmping in there and helping the devs make the game as polished as possible is a good way to learn the ropes.

I REALLY want an entry in Q/A when I graduate in December.... However, every company seems to only want locals only, and I'm stuck in an area which isn't thriving within the games industry. :(

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+spawn1390 Sadly, that is sometimes the case. It is incredibly rare to find a company that is willing to pay individuals to QA remotely.

@mike-ve1oh

8 жыл бұрын

+Trendane Sparks the thing is that I'm willing to relocate. My first move is to get out of Missouri, by companies may not want to waste their time. The catch 22 is that I would love to move to a city which the Game Industry thrives, but I won't last long without a job

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+Mike Stamper That is sadly very true. And if you go to a region which has an abnormally high rate of living, such as here in the SF Bay Area, it's hard to get by on even a QA's pay.

i just want to test video games but they only want people with experience not people who do not have experience .?

Hey, I appreciate the value you give on this! You describe the processes very well and in great detail. I am interested in becoming QA of whatever side, but I see every company requires several years experience in QA prior to submitting an application. Is there a way you would recommend to get around this issue?

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Honestly, I would say not to worry about that too much. Companies have to put that sort of thing in the job postings. But the reality is sometimes a little bit more relaxed. A QA team would rather have someone with no experience who gets along well with others than a seasoned veteran who rubs people the wrong way. At this point, you don't have the job. If you apply for it and you don't get it, you've lost nothing. Don't worry about how much experience they say they want....just go for it!

@michaelrosenberg4769

7 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks thanks for replying so quick! And I really appreciate the advice, truly! I'll keep you updated on my journey :)

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Awesome!

Yeah. It was one of my first attempts to use Adobe Premier. I had cut out a big segment of video where I forgot what I was going to say...but I didn't correct the audio which has a loud buzz on one channel all the time.

the only thing i called experience is playing video games that is all i know about it really . can't afford the tuition or the other part even if i could .

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

That's all I started out with. And barely that. Mostly, I got hired because I communicate very well and it was clear that I could learn to test. That was a dozen years ago, though. That's not really enough anymore.

So you are the playing some weeks before the date of realse reveal

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

Yes, exactly. It is our job to play through the game dozens of times. Sometimes *hundreds* of times, again and again and again, to make sure that we have found all the errors.

@supermramazingpants

9 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks Great Video Series :D - I just watched them as I am interested in a job as a QA Tester for EA. I previously graduated both with a New media production degree, as well as a diploma in New Media Production. I applied recently for the position of New Media Production Coordinator at EA and was referred to a QA Tester position instead. The job looks pretty standard, although I am not the best coder I have strong communication skills. My one real concern is that for years I have been recording and live streaming games and gaming tournaments that feature content that was produced by EA and Bioware eg. The Simpsons Tapped Out, Battlefield, Titanfall etc. Will accepting the job entail that I could lose my channel or at least all of the content 400+ hours of gameplay footage that was produced using EA and Bioware games?

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

SuperMrAmazingPants As long as you don't stream anything that violates an NDA, you should be fine. So anything you wind up discussing or overhearing at work which has not yet been officially announced by EA....don't talk about it. Other than that, you should be okay!

@supermramazingpants

9 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks I am new to NDA's and am uncertain what violates the second NDA that I sign when I accept the job position. I stream and record a multitude of games and quite a few of them are from EA or Bioware. This is also the first time I am learning the words black box testing so I am hoping that is what they were expecting to interview me for. I would like to know however that all my previous work is safe and that I can continue playing and live streaming content from EA and Bioware games, as long as they are public knowledge and the content and comments I use are public knowledge? I mean if I play Sims 4 and I live stream a new patch that adds more pets, could this live stream or recording be taken down for breaching the NDA?

@trendane

9 жыл бұрын

SuperMrAmazingPants Not if it has been released, no. If it's out there for the public to use, you're fine. If you sneak a copy of an unreleased game or patch home and stream that......you're screwed.

It is far, far less likely to occur outside of the gaming industry. In my experience, at almost any non-gaming company, QA is regarded as a valued member of the team. And I'm glad you liked the video! Thanks for commenting!

I want to test games only but idk what college to go to

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

There are many possibilities. It basically depends upon where you live.

@obeyyourgranny0368

7 жыл бұрын

I live in LA

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Then there are likely several colleges to choose from. There are also several game companies down there to look at. You might even consider reaching out to some of those game companies and find out which colleges they would recommend.

@obeyyourgranny0368

7 жыл бұрын

can you name some colleges

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Nope. Unfortunately, I have not lived in that area for almost 2 decades. That's why I recommend asking folks who work at the game companies themselves. Reach out to their community managers and ask them for their opinions. They will know which colleges their companies like better than I will.

You just found a bug :)

Can QA lead to production?

@PatMcChicken

8 жыл бұрын

+PatMcChicken like producer ect

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+PatMcChicken Absolutely! I have known several producers who started in QA. One of the best Producers I ever worked with started there, in fact.

@PatMcChicken

8 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks Thanks!

@trendane

8 жыл бұрын

+PatMcChicken Most welcome!

Are there any college requirements ? If so what are they

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

In most cases, not really. It doesn't hurt, but I've never seen a situation where video game QA required it.

@euth732

7 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks Ok sweet, thanks for the response. I have one last question, besides pointing out issues and bugs in video games what else do you do in this career or is that all that QA video game testers do.

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

Honestly, it depends upon the company. In a lot of the larger game companies, you'll have few opportunities to reach beyond simply testing. In smaller and independent companies, QA has a stronger voice to help with game design.

@euth732

7 жыл бұрын

So basically bigger companies deal more with just testing the video game rather than smaller companies were you would have to do more complex things

@trendane

7 жыл бұрын

More or less. Larger companies often mean larger projects which means larger teams and more voices trying to make their ideas heard.

15:40

i don't think anyone will ever hire me at all no experience that's why no degree forget about it .?

i know how to play video games but no ones hires a person doesn't have experience not in programming .? anything remotely to close to video game testing for a class online college wise .????????

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

As video game production becomes more readily recognized as a multi-billion dollar business, more places are starting to recognize the need for education toward that goal. Unfortunately, QA are still often regarded as "people who just sit around and play the game until it breaks". As such there are very few places which cater to the education of videogame QA. And I can't readily think of any that are online. You could check out www.utest.com/ If they don't offer an online course, they might be able to tell you where to find some.

@katyphelan3722

6 жыл бұрын

i have apply to actually video game companies and not getting hire . oh well . i put out my resume keep getting pass over . quest that tells . why don't companies ever consider playing video games as experience .?

@katyphelan3722

6 жыл бұрын

not that website not useful . i'm 38 just tried of waiting to get my foot in the door or getting the door shut . honestly i don't think even have a chance at all even without a degree or not .

@trendane

6 жыл бұрын

That's an excellent question. Many of the smaller companies appreciate their testers a great deal more. They are more closely involved with the production team and typically thought of as part of the group.

@katyphelan3722

6 жыл бұрын

what can i do get hire .? i don't even know to take online class or not at all . what if you have no experience then should i do then nothing i quest .?

what if you have a learning disable for example ADHD or something . i don't they even hire that person because of it .

Just got a job offer for QA with one of my favorite developers! Thank you for the insight and information offered in your videos. Proved helpful resources during the interview process. :)

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

Excellent! Nicely done!

@cheezsamich

5 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks Thank you so much! I start this week and I'm very excited. :) Got any last bits of advice for someone just starting out and determined to succeed in the role?

@trendane

5 жыл бұрын

Only one word. Listen. (Alternatively, you can also watch Adam Savage's commencement speech at Sarah Lawrence college. This is advice I try to live by. Always. ) kzread.info/dash/bejne/nphpysd9kt21c5s.html

@cheezsamich

5 жыл бұрын

Trendane Sparks Great advice, and what a remarkable speech! Thank you for sharing. I have always carried tremendous respect for those who truly know how to listen and work hard. I've been granted an incredible opportunity to contribute to this company I so admire and will commit all I can to see to its success in whatever role I play. Gonna study up, and do my best. Thank you again!