Getting paid to play games or surf the web and interact with various applications sounds fun; however, in the testing industry, the adage – appearances can be deceiving – is true. What do we mean? Regarding game and application testing, it’s essential to understand what both have to offer before deciding which direction you will go.

Application testing can get tricky as company requirements can vary significantly. Knowing the basics of databases or programming, being able to perform automated testing, or knowing testing terminology is essential. Further, employers wanting application testers prefer those with an ISTQB certificate. You can get this certificate through exams, and it requires advanced testing skills.

Game testers must also be fluent in English and be perceptive. While having the ISTQB certificate is welcome, it is not a requirement. Knowing the game and its history can benefit you in some cases. Interviewers can ask you to test games during the interview and check your perception. Regarding game app testing, remember to play the game to find bugs, not get immersed in the story; otherwise, you may miss out on the less apparent bugs.

Gaming Testing Vs. Application Testing

The primary responsibility in both types of testing is to report bugs by playing the game or using the app and reporting issues. The way you perform your tests may be according to the test cases you get or by taking your approach and exploring the game or app.

Regression is an essential aspect of testing. When programmers fix the bug and send it for testing, it is on you as the tester to ensure they did a good job fixing the bug. Bug trackers help with this. Developers can access bug trackers to understand the issues in the game or application. They can then fix these issues and inform testers about them.

The Differences

Numbers

Typically, there are more game testers than app testers. Bigger projects by industry giants in the gaming industry will have dozens of testers on one project. However, this number can go down to two or three testers depending on the project and the company’s size. 

Another difference is in the number of projects. App testers must work with multiple projects simultaneously. While in game testing, there is no possibility of testers working with various games. They mostly work one game at a time. 

Teamwork

App testers work closely with project managers and programmers and often contact clients to understand requirements. Game testers, on the other hand, barely ever speak to the programmers or project managers. They may only talk to them when they are unclear about a reported bug. Conversations with project managers are even rarer. 

Game testing, however, offers more opportunities to work as a team, especially when testing a game’s multiplayer mode. Additionally, when a game tester encounters a bug that only appeared on his system, the group of testers works to reproduce the bug to understand why this happened. 

App testing often uses databases, programming, and automated test requirements during testing scenarios. However, with game testing, this isn’t always the case. Although, organizations do use automated tests from time to time.

Project Size

Application and game testing projects differ in size and complexity. App testers work on projects from the beginning, right down to maintenance. They work on it till the organization decides to launch the product and continue to test the stability and new patch releases for bugs. 

Game testers must deal with projects of various sizes. Organizations sometimes involve game testers in the entire production cycle of the game – beginning from the alpha, right down to the game’s final version and any subsequent patches after. However, organizations involve game testers to test particular sections of the game. For example, to test an early alpha of the game, the latest patch in the game, or an expansion set. 

Work Flexibility

App testers have more flexibility than game testers regarding establishing workflows. Employers now work with modern methodologies that consider user experience and outline workflows, hierarchies, and responsibilities based on their findings. These methods allow programmers and testers liberty to enhance their creativity. 

Game testing is direct. Organizations establish workflows, and game testers must follow them to the T. Organizations assign repetitive tasks to game testers since programmers create new builds almost daily. Additionally, changes in the game can be drastic. Organizations can completely redesign games overnight if they think the look is wrong. Game testers have to be alert to such requests as well. 

Conclusion

App testing is demanding because it requires a particular skill set to do well. Yet, the flexibility it offers to testers makes the job interesting. Close contact with programmers and experience in automation can also help you build a career in programming. 

Game testing is suited to gaming enthusiasts. The duties and responsibilities in game testing are not as challenging as in app testing, and the requirement to learn automated tests, learn languages, and get certificates is less.