R.Kasturi RanganSite Head & Sr. Operations Manager e4e Interactive Entertainment Services

FUN! & The Art of Game Testing

2

Segment Money Spent # of Players

USA $ 25,290,000,000 183,500,000

UK £ 3,780,000,000 31,300,000

Germany € 3,650,000,000 25,400,000

France € 3,570,000,000 35,300,000

4%8%

11%

17%

50%

USA

MobileMMOSocialPC GamesConsoles

5%7%

7%

20%60%

UK

MobileMMOSocialPC GamesConsoles

Market Size - US and Europe

3

Gamers Share (US)

4

Gamers Share (UK)

• Test Process for Video Game(s) QC/QA

• GAMES (UX)– Play to have Fun– No Structure or a standard procedure– Constructive Progression– Possible element of Chaos

• Testing (UX)– Test to find bugs– Structured, Procedural– Destructive Progression– Known Protocol and Procedures = Process

• Game Testing = User Defined Variable

Game | Test : The Beginning

Counter Strike – Bug #1

ScreenShotsCall of Duty – Bug #2

# 8© e4e – Confidential and Proprietary

NBA 2K Bug #3

# 9© e4e – Confidential and Proprietary

V Cars 2 Bug #4

• Concept• Game Design• Game Designers• Production Team

Pre -Prod

• GD Implementation• Alpha• Testing• Artists• Programmers• Tech Directors• Functional Testers

Prod • Alpha -> Release Candidate• Testing• Deployment• Compliance QA Test Team• Functional QA Test Team

Post-Prod

Game Production Life Cycle

Ad-hoc

• Test Random Situations• Play like the end-user, interesting

findings• “sit on a random tree, throw a

grenade at a donkey”

• Test Coverage could fail to cover all areas in-game

• Testers focus varies depending on play style

Test cases

• All Common Known areas tested• Disciplined, Procedural

• Coverage is dependent based on TC writers

• Games have too many random variables, TC’s cant cover ALL

Test Approach

• Microsoft XBOX, 360, Kinect• Sony - PS2, 3, PSP, Move• PC, Force feedback, • Nintendo – DS, DS Lite, 3DS• Online & SNG• Mobile

Platform Specific – The Ground

• Functional• Compliance• Compatibility• Localization• Automation

Test Specialist – The Focus

Game Testers – The Specialization

Passion NoobImprovise hand-

eye coordination

Pro. GamerPlatform SpecializationTest Focus

Master Test Approach

Clear Documentation

and Master Detection Skills

1337 Game Tester

Pro. Game Tester: The Road to Success

Thank YOU!Q&A QA