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There are varieties of ways you can use to find a job as a video game tester. But before you begin your search for as a video game tester, I need to ask you a question. Do you have the capabilities to conquer a video game testing assignment? Game testing involves some technical-know-how. I have written them down to get you familiar with the works of a video game tester.
Roles of a Video Game Tester
The work of a video game tester is to detect glitches made at various levels of game production. To be frank, video game testing is not an easy task, especially if you don't have any experience about playing games. Video game manufacturers believe that if they send their games into the market without doing any standard testing, it may not be bought by video game players. Due to this, they seek the services of video game testers to enable them detect these bugs, while on their own part they edit it and send it into the market for consumers to exploit.
Compensation
A video game tester could earn over $45,000 working full time in a year, though some video game testing jobs pay hourly. One can earn $20-$150 per hour testing video games. If you are able to detect bugs, you also paid more benefits in addition to the agreed amount for the games you are testing.
Where to find Video Game Testing Jobs
This brings us to the main issue of this article. Let's say you've known the works of a video game tester at this stage. If you've made up your mind to start a career as a game tester, then you could go ahead to discover the sources of video game testing jobs.
One of the ways to find a video game testing job is to find one at video game manufacturer's websites. I guess you know them; they are Microsoft Xbox, Nintendo, Sony, Code Masters and the rest of others. You might be lucky to find opportunities at their websites.
Another way I will, mostly, recommend is to approach video game companies. Tell them your capabilities, the games you own and the ones you've played. Convince them on why you would be able to make a good testing job, once the games are assigned to you. Luckily, you could get one. The games can either be computer games or video games, no matter the kind of games you are assigned to test, take the testing seriously and don't waste time in sending your feedbacks to the company, once you are through with testing.
Final Word
Video game testing is not an easy task but once you get used to them, I assure you that you would get to love the job. There are some ecourses made to get you acquainted with video game testing, they would be helpful in assisting you through the various stages of completing the works of a video game tester successfully. If you are able to practice with this ecourse, it would guard you in your first assignment.
My Recommendation:
GameTestingGround is a membership site that offers all the step-by-step guides you need to know to become a video game tester and to crown all, they also offer listings of video game companies hiring on weekly basis. I highly recommend you to try them out today. Check them out at http://gamertestinggroundreview.blogspot.com
The entertainment division of Microsoft is riding high as their much anticipated and publicized video game Halo 3 set a record for first day sales with a take of 170 million dollars. The previous record was set by Halo 2 in 2004 at 125 million dollars in the first 24 hours. Microsoft was expecting Halo 3 to make 150 million dollars on September 25, 2007 the day it was released. But this ambitious figure was met and surpassed much to the delight of the people at Microsoft and Bungie Studios, their company owned animation studio.
When the first Halo video game Combat Evolved was released on November 9, 2001 it immediately captured the attention of the people who play video games. It then went on to much greater success. Several more video games like Halo 2 and a list of merchandising products like action figures and comic books were created. They were immediately embraced by a legion of loyal fans known as the Halo Nation. A cultural Icon and a very large following were created with this futuristic video game, much like the Star Trek and Star Wars franchises. Xbox 360 was the king of video game consoles and the Halo video game franchise was number one for the longest time.
But things have changed for Microsoft since Playstation 3, PSP and Nintendo Wii came out on the market. They offer a variety of great games like Call of Duty, Madden NFL 07, Twilight Princess and Tony Hawks Project 8 to name only a few. The latest video game consoles by Sony and Nintendo also offer great technological advances, and this has caught the attention of the video game customers who love innovation with their video games and electronics. Especially the kind of innovations that make it seem like you are actually in the game.
When Nintendo Wii was released about a year ago it offered an exiting new technology with the Wii remote. It is called the motion sensitive feature and it allows one to be right there in the game interacting with 3D characters and special effects. It revolutionized the way people play video games.
The Wii console also sells for less than the Xbox 360 console at about 250 dollars compared to 500. This fact has made Nintendo Wii video game consoles more attractive than the Xbox 360 to the middle class parents whose Christmas funds for presents this year may be a little low.
Nintendo Wii and Playstation 3 by Sony have both been on top of the video game market for the past year. Suddenly Xbox 360 was no longer number 1 in sales of video game consoles and the Halo video game franchise was no longer the best in the world of video games. Prior to September 25, 2007 things were not so merry at the entertainment division of Microsoft.
A few years back Microsoft and Bungie Studios hired a group of talented computer programmers and 3D animation artists that was large enough to fill a high school auditorium. These people were the cream of the crop in the business of making video games. They worked very hard for over 3 years on the production of Halo 3 at an overall cost of about 50 million dollars. The result is a first person shooter video game with sound and graphics that are a feast to the eyes and ears and a storyline that is quite engaging with several twists and turns.
The Halo Nation has shown up in full force at the retail stores to buy Halo 3. There is also a very large following for the online video game version of the Halo franchise. Microsoft has reported that over 1 million online players battled it out in the first 24 hours on Xbox Live playing Halo 3. This version of the game pits online members against each in a fight to the death.
Now they are dancing in their corporate offices back at Microsoft and Bungie studios. Their video game Halo 3 made 170 million dollars in the first day on the market and they are projecting that it will make over 560 million dollars overall. If this turns out to be true for Halo 3, which is well on its way to making it so, it will give Microsoft a 90 percent profit for this project. In an industry where most video games lose money this is quite an astounding statistic.
The recent release of Halo 3 has put Xbox 360 games and Xbox 360 video game consoles back in the spotlight and primed to be back on top of the video game industry. It is a testament to the creativity and marketing skills of Microsoft and its employees who have been known to do a few things right in their remarkable history.
Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist and award-winning Filmmaker who writes on a variety of topics that effect people in their every day lives.
CLICK HERE For More Information on the topic of this article [http://www.video-games-giant.com]
The good folks over at the Microsoft Corporation have plenty of reasons to celebrate these days as their company stock is on the rise. This can be attributed mostly to the incredible success of the video game Halo 3, which was released on Monday, September 25. This futuristic first person shooter game has had a devoted following since the first version was released in 2001, and they are the indirect driving force behind the increase in the Microsoft stock price.
On September 24, 2007, the day before the release of the Halo 3 video game, Microsoft saw their stock value increase by as much as 3.35 percent. By the end of the day it had settled at 29.08 dollars per share on NASDAQ, up by 1.5 percent. About a week later on Monday, October 1, it opened up at 29.46 per share, and things are expected to improve even more for Microsoft during the week.
Halo 3 has been flying off the shelves since September 25 with a record breaking 170 million dollars made on the first day. With the holiday season coming up, Microsoft is hoping that all the publicity and sales will be focused on their Halo 3 video game and Xbox 360 video game consoles instead of on Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii, as it was last year.
Even with all of the business Microsoft has lost to Sony and Nintendo lately, they are still doing very well overall. They are a huge corporation with annual revenues reaching 50 billion dollars. Their Entertainment and Devices division makes up only about 12 percent of that amount, but it is the fastest growing part of their company. In 2007 this division grew by 28 percent. This kind of growth has caused Microsoft to take their video games and video game consoles very seriously.
The Halo 3 video game cost Microsoft 60 million dollars to make and another 20 million dollars in promotion and marketing. They are predicting that overall Halo 3 will make about 600 million dollars with a profit margin that is astronomical compared to most video games. So far, sales have exceeded expectations and it seems certain that they will continue to do so.
Video games like Halo 3 are not typical in their success. In fact, most video games lose money. But this game is different, for it has a cultural phenomenon surrounding it. There is a very large customer base that adores this video game and just cannot get enough of it. The first two installments of the Halo franchise sold 15 million video games.
Sales of the Xbox 360 video game consoles had been lagging in recent months due to the popularity of Playstation 3 and Nintendo Wii. The Halo 3 game should help to improve their sales. Microsoft is hoping that this highly publicized chapter in the Halo video game franchise will also help to sell a lot of their Xbox 360 video game consoles that come with a Halo 3 theme and design.
The rave revues and excitement surrounding the Halo 3 video game has given stock investors confidence in Microsoft. They are predicting that this video game and its related products like Xbox 360 video game consoles, action figures and the Xbox 360 Live game that subscribed members can play on the Internet will put Microsoft far ahead of its main competitors Sony and Nintendo.
Playstation 3 and Wii consoles have dominated the hearts and minds of those who play video games due to their technological advances, but neither of those two video game consoles has a game like Halo 3 attached to it with such a huge fan base.
Microsoft has been very clever to marry the Halo 3 video game to their Xbox 360 video game console. Having the Halo 3 name and design on the console is sure to boost the sales of it and bring in more revenue to Microsoft through their Entertainment and Devices division.
So far, those who play video games are giving Halo 3 rave revues and it looks like Microsoft has hit a home run with this product. They are well on their way to regaining the crown as the king of video games and video game consoles. Halo 3 has proven to be a very good investment for them, and this has helped the value of the Microsoft stock. It has risen almost 2 percent in just one week and things are looking good for this scrappy, creative and innovative company.
Michael P. Connelly is an Author, Artist and award-winning Filmmaker who writes on a variety of topics that effect people in their every day lives.
CLICK HERE For More Information on the topic of this article [http://www.video-games-giant.com]
The passion for video games is one that has to be experienced to be truly understood. It is not surprising when dedicated players decide to create their own video games because they have a clear understanding of what they like in a game and what they don't. Do you too share a passion to excel in the virtual world of video games? Would you like to create your own video game? There is plenty of help at hand online to help video game players of all ages to experiment with creating a game of their own.
Basics to Create Your Own Video Game
If you ask a group of game players what is the single most important thing in a successful game they will all probably find it difficult to agree on any single factor. While some believe that it is the story line that makes a video game special others feel it is the manner in which the gameplay is designed, while still others focus on the special effects that have been included in the game.
To create your own video game it is a good idea to first decide what you find most interesting in your favorite video games and start from there. Most game players are clear about what they think a video game lacks and your video game gives you an opportunity to create what you think is a complete video game.
Once you have a great story line and characters in mind you would need to decide on the look and feel of the world in which your video game is set. Remember the more life like the virtual world the more absorbed the players become in it.
For inspiration and guidance for the style of storytelling you will find several resources online that can help you refine your narrative technique. Next you need to create the graphics for the video game and this can be done fairly easily using the varied software available for this very purpose. Most of these are free to download online and you should consider a few of them before you make up your mind.
If you don't want to sketch out characters and textures for scenes you can use the pre-made ones that can be downloaded free of cost from the internet. Two dimensional graphics are needed to create a 3 D affect and the background scenery should also match the look and feel of the video game. Depending on your level of understanding of software you need to select one that best suits your project.
Software to Help Create Your Own Video Game
Beginners and kids, you can try to create your own video game by using one of the software available for those who have little knowledge of programming and graphics but have the interest and passion for video games. The Games Factory is a great place to begin making your first video game whilst learning some of the principles of the process. Simply drag and drop the features you want included in your game. Stagecast Creator is also a wonderful tool for kids who want to make their own video game. Just draw or import your characters and indicate what you want them to do and the software takes care of the rest. This software creates terrific 2D video game that you can play and share with friends.
For players with a little more experience with games and relevant software, and are interested in 3D video games try Reality Factory, where you can build the entire world of your video game from the blueprint upwards. You can choose to use existing textures or create your own for your virtual world. There are several tutorials for Reality Factory that clarify all aspects of the software. It is free and easy to download and provides developers a great understanding of the script, models, affects, etc.
For those who are considering a career in game development and have a good understanding of the process involved software such as DarkBasic is recommended. Working on it will provide you a good understanding of the programming required for video games. As for professionals, you can't do better than C++ and Microsoft Direct X.
Microsoft XNA Game Studio Express allows Windows XP users to download it free and create video games on it. Soon developers on this system will be able to create, test and share their video games for the Xbox Three-Sixty.
Whether you are a beginner to gaming, an avid fan or a professional creating a video game of your own is the most satisfying experience, one that is sure to motivate you to create more games.
For more details go to http://www.gamecode.funurl.com
When it comes to online video games, the market is a strong one, and being a video game designer can be a lucrative career. Unlike technological fads that may come and go, the video game industry has only grown stronger since its beginning, and video games are appealing to a wide demographic. A video game designer will be in constant demand as long as he or she has the training and the skills to keep up in this highly lucrative and competitive business.
The Art Institute Online has a comprehensive program that can get people into the video game designer business quickly and successfully. Their Game Art and Design Bachelor degree program helps students focus on all aspects of video games, including producing detailed graphics, scene and set design, animation, background, and characters. A successful graduate of the Art Institute Online's Video Game Design program will be qualified to enter into the video game industry as a sought-after video game designer. Video Game DesignerVideo game tester, background artist, conceptual designer; these are just some of the fields that a graduate of the program will be able to enter.
If you are interested in enrolling in The Art Institute's Online Video Game Design program, then this probably means that you love video games. Although it may seem like a moot point, it is an important one. The video game industry is a fast-paced and intensive one, and in order to succeed in the business, video games should be one of your life's passions. Believe it or not, potential employers are going to be looking for this as well as training and skill. Employers look for experience in playing an assortment of video games as well as being able to design them. You need to be able to know what is currently popular and what is becoming yesterday's news; what is a well designed and produced video game and what is low-quality. A good video game designer needs to have his or her finger on the pulse of the video game playing public.
The Art Institute's Online Video Game Design program is constantly updated to include any new technology that has recently developed. This, coupled with your love for video games, makes a strong combination when you are applying for positions in the video game industry. The The Art Institute will give students a firm foundation for beginning a good, solid career, and for continually advancing as a successful video game designer.
With a Video Game Design program that is offered completely online, students can work any day of the week at the time that's convenient for them by completing assignments and participating in online discussions. Courses are six weeks long, and very study-intensive. No more than two courses should be taken at the same time. Instructors at The Art Institute Online are available for consultation through email or during the course of the online discussions. Students taking online courses through The Art Institute Online will receive the best training, as well as a consistently strong support network.
There is every reason in the world to turn your passion for video games into a lucrative career as a video game designer. Why simply play video games in your spare time when you can be designing the kind of games that you wish were available to you right now? The Art Institute Online can help you reach your goal of becoming a video game designer, and help ensure that you will always be involved in a business that you love and that is financially rewarding.
Copyright 2006 Michael V. Gruber, MPH
Find free information about online design degree programs that educate and develop artistic and imaginative students for careers in the fields of commercial art and design at http://www.design-degree-online.com.
Reviews on magazines and gaming websites may help you gather as much information as you can about a new game, but you're not willing to spend $50 for the boxed set just yet. If you want to test an interesting video game before actually buying a copy for yourself, you may want to rent video games first.
Why Rent Video Games Online?
Before the days of video game rental websites, avid video gamers rented their games from rental shops or video stores. Testing a video game gives you the opportunity to play through a few levels of the game first before buying an actual copy for yourself. Some gamers who cannot afford the cost of an original copy of a video game may also rent video games online because it's way cheaper than having to buy the original boxed set.
Here are other advantages to renting video games online:
* It's fast and convenient. Unlike traditional rental stores where you have to fall in line for a hot new video game release, many online rental shops carry multiple copies of a single game. You can expect your rented copy right at your doorstep anywhere between two days to a week after you have placed your reservation.
* Lots of games to choose from. For retro gamers or people interested in playing rare games, online video game rental stores are a great place to test old and new games without paying the full price of the game.
* Casual gaming. Not all people are hardcore gamers who will shell out big bucks for original copies of computer games. Some people may prefer to go through some levels of a game, and then go back to whatever it is they're doing. Rented video games allow you all the enjoyment of video gaming without the expense and commitment shelled out by hardcore gaming enthusiasts.
* Expanding your video game horizons. Rental is cheap, which means you can explore all sorts of games that you wouldn't imagine yourself playing on a usual day. You may even find a really cool game you enjoy because of what's available from online rental stores.
Looking for Video Game Rental Websites
Video game rental stores are all over the Web; you simply search for them using a search engine, and you'll have hundreds or even thousands of online shops ready to rent out the hottest and the latest games to you at a reasonable cost. To make your browsing and rentals easier and more convenient, here are some tips that you should keep in mind:
* Look for the store nearest your residence. The nearer the store is to your home, the faster you'll get the game you have rented out. You also spend less in delivery, shipping, and handling costs.
* Search for good deals. Not all game rental shops will rent out the same games at the same prices. A big-name shop may offer discounts or lower rates, but the online rental queue may be too long for you to rent a game on time. Smaller online rental shops have smaller queues, but the selection may be much more limited than bigger online rental stores.
* Check the quality of the game. Games are passed on among customers, and the quality of the installer CD or DVD may have deteriorated over time. Inspect the condition of the installer or game disc first; if it's damaged, you may take it back to the store for a refund or a replacement depending on their terms of service. Avoid sites that rent out pirated or counterfeit copies of original video games.
* Be careful with your banking and personal details. To make rental easier, most online video game rental shops would charge rental and delivery fees to your credit card instead of accepting actual cash. Be very careful when disclosing your banking details, because some sites may disguise themselves as rental shops but run scam operations in real life. Verify with other sites to see if the website is a legitimately-run business that will not use your banking details for scam rackets.
With more and more advanced technologies being put into new releases every season, video games do not come cheap. With video game rental sites, you can try out a game first before putting in your hard-earned money on the counter for your very own original copy.
For more on How to rent video games online and other how-to do stuff, please visit Monster Guide Wisdom is the sharing of wise experiences and knowledge, but a lot of it is common sense. The difference is how we apply this common sense - we all have the ability to keep going even when we face challenges in our lives - basically it comes down to your attitude.
