The Daily Haggis is a weblog written by Sean Loyless. It covers entertainment and tech-related topics, as well as original entries and stories.
Version XIII  |  Since 12.18.2002

The Life of a Game Tester

Kicking back as a career
Life of tester not all fun, but it is all games

George Alcantara, 18, dreams of working as a video game tester, where he could make good money playing games all day.

“I think it would be a really kick-back job,” said Alcantara of San Francisco, who was hanging out at the video arcade on Pier 39 Monday night.

Andy Alamano, 24, has that job.

As a lead game tester for San Rafael’s LucasArts Entertainment Co., Alamano acknowledges that he works in a kick-back atmosphere, and he likes his $40,000- a-year salary.

Life is not all fun and games for Alamano, though. It’s all games — with little time left for sleeping or eating, at least during the busy months before Christmas. The longest week he has logged was 106 hours, and 60-hour- plus weeks are typical in deadline crunches, he said.

Game fans “think it’s all fun,” said Ernest Adams, a game designer and industry expert, with a cackle. “In fact, there’s quite a lot of sitting in meetings.”

posted on March 6th, 2003 @ 3:22 pm by Sean Loyless (Haggis) | This article has been viewed 4,550 times.

Comments on The Life of a Game Tester

View Comments to “The Life of a Game Tester”

  1. Chris Morrey Says:

    i want to be a games tester and i know whats involved but are there any needed in any Game companies in England. thanks.

  2. brad Says:

    are there any needed game testers in Oregon for any gaming companies

  3. Keith Umsted Says:

    I have done 1 test, more beta than QA. Back in the days of AOL 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0, AOL had games that people could play for fun. I signed up to do the Warcraft 2 game. Let me tell you, I enjoyed it. No, we really didn’t play the game to play, but to test it. IE One day we were told to sign in at the same time set up as many games as we could, and try to crash the server. I think what I liked was I felt useful. I felt that what I was doing mattered.

  4. Michael Says:

    I am interested in becoming a video game tester. I am a stay at home dad (by necessity) and pass my days playing video games non-stop. Is there a need for game testers in the midwest?

  5. Sean Says:

    i want to become a tester> I play games at least 90 hours a week and dont stop till i beat it or half to go to school i live in cumberland Maryland

  6. John McCord Says:

    I recently graduated from College and I’m looking for a career change. I am currently working a job for Yum! Brands which owns KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut, and A&W. I’m 22 years old and I’ve played video games all my life. I enjoy playing them, and rating their playability, and re-playability. I think that I would be great at testing video games, and giving accurate information regarding the game. I’m willing to move anywhere to do this. I currently live in Louisville, KY. Somebody has got to have an opening!!!

  7. Don jones Says:

    Im 17 years old .Im trying to get job as a video game tester what can i do

  8. Bob Says:

    I would like to become a video game tester, i have played games my whole life, can someone please help to teach me how to do this, thank you

  9. tony howell Says:

    I have a lot of game ideas

  10. CJ Trent Says:

    I am interested in becoming a game tester. I currently live in West Virginia but my family and I are considering moving to North Carolina this year if I am able to find a better job. Most of my free time is spent playing games on different consoles. I would really appreciate hearing back from someone.
    Thanks.

  11. Evan White Says:

    hey i want free games for xbox

  12. Kevin Says:

    i have been interseted in being a game tester for a long time. i was just curious on what experience u may need and how i could get this experience.

  13. Josh King Says:

    I would like to know more information on how to become a video game tester.

  14. Aldwin Aponte Says:

    I like video games so much that i want to have this job, please someone help to find it thank you
    I’m 16-years-old and when I graduate from college I will get this job.

  15. Aldwin Aponte Says:

    I’m 16-years-old and I play video games all my life, can somebody gonna help me find the place in the United State.

  16. Gustavo Gonzalez Says:

    i would like to be a tester or something else i can’t go through one day without doing something with games and i think that being a game tester for whatever company that wants to hire me will get an employee that will work his ass off for them night and day. and the thing is i will love it.

  17. Erik Johnson Says:

    I have tested two games- Fairly Odd Parents Breakin Da Rules for the Nintendo GameCube and MX Unleashed for the PS2. That was a really fun way to earn money. I am currently looking into job ops at Take2games and EALA wish me luck. Moving on from THQ. Erik Johnson aka “Gameface.”

  18. Miranda Says:

    I would love to be a video game tester. I love video games and I have quite a lot of free time on my hands. I am soon moving to Colorado, any openings?

  19. Anonymous Says:

    Look, I’m 17yrs old I love video games and I’m flat broke, I’ve wanted to become a game tester for a while….so if you know somebody I could talk to, plz e-mail me,(darklegacy753@yahoo.com)

  20. Kevin Says:

    My name is kevin and I am trying to get a job in being a game tester because all I do is play the game all day long even at night I still play the game and I have school at 7:30am . I even stayed up play the game at 5:00 am that was when I got off the game to get ready for school .I play people online every day so I am looking forward to being a game tester sometime soon.Please call this number for advice (REMOVED) ask for kevin thank for this post comment.

  21. Kevin sellers Says:

    I have a playstation 2 and I play online all the time ,but I just want to become a game tester.Are there any companies out there in ohio or anywhere on the eastcoast. please if their are call (REMOVED).thank you.

  22. Kevin sellers Says:

    I play all game system’s I don’t like playing the computer I like playing real people online or offline I’m good at both if you don’t beleave ask people on ghost recon jugle storm for the ps2 or xbox my name online is kcmob2,and on nbalive 2004 my name is ohiozone.See me in both games if you are ready.

  23. Kevin sellers Says:

    I have been watching xplay and other tv’s show’s. I have an playstation underground paper in the mail about being playstion beta tester.for everybody in this daily haggis thing go to http://www.us.playstation.com/welcome. but also they have playstation tournaments going on all over different states.I guest thats how you get look at. I mist my oppertuniuty in ohio so make sure you guys and girls get to that website in time for your oppertuniuty before your guys be like me and mist your chance.

  24. Kevin sellers Says:

    I would love to be a game tester.I play for about 50 or more hours a week.

  25. Paul Collins Says:

    Like to Play Diffent types of games. I try to play differnt games not just 1 or 2 types.

    Tight magazines

  26. Paul Collins Says:

    Like to Play Diffent types of games. I try to play differnt games not just 1 or 2 types.

    Tight magazines

  27. kathy Says:

    please i would love to be a beta tester thank you

  28. kathy Says:

    please i would love to be a beta tester thank you

  29. Lindsey Anderson Says:

    can I order things without a credit card

  30. Lindsey Anderson Says:

    i love playstation

  31. Chris Morrey Says:

    i want to be a games tester and i know whats involved but are there any needed in any Game companies in England. thanks.

  32. brad Says:

    are there any needed game testers in Oregon for any gaming companies

  33. Keith Umsted Says:

    I have done 1 test, more beta than QA. Back in the days of AOL 2.5, 3.0, and 4.0, AOL had games that people could play for fun. I signed up to do the Warcraft 2 game. Let me tell you, I enjoyed it. No, we really didn’t play the game to play, but to test it. IE One day we were told to sign in at the same time set up as many games as we could, and try to crash the server. I think what I liked was I felt useful. I felt that what I was doing mattered.

  34. Michael Says:

    I am interested in becoming a video game tester. I am a stay at home dad (by necessity) and pass my days playing video games non-stop. Is there a need for game testers in the midwest?

  35. Sean Says:

    i want to become a tester> I play games at least 90 hours a week and dont stop till i beat it or half to go to school i live in cumberland Maryland

  36. John McCord Says:

    I recently graduated from College and I’m looking for a career change. I am currently working a job for Yum! Brands which owns KFC, Taco Bell, Long John Silvers, Pizza Hut, and A&W.; I’m 22 years old and I’ve played video games all my life. I enjoy playing them, and rating their playability, and re-playability. I think that I would be great at testing video games, and giving accurate information regarding the game. I’m willing to move anywhere to do this. I currently live in Louisville, KY. Somebody has got to have an opening!!!

  37. Don jones Says:

    Im 17 years old .Im trying to get job as a video game tester what can i do

  38. Bob Says:

    I would like to become a video game tester, i have played games my whole life, can someone please help to teach me how to do this, thank you

  39. tony howell Says:

    I have a lot of game ideas

  40. CJ Trent Says:

    I am interested in becoming a game tester. I currently live in West Virginia but my family and I are considering moving to North Carolina this year if I am able to find a better job. Most of my free time is spent playing games on different consoles. I would really appreciate hearing back from someone.
    Thanks.

  41. Evan White Says:

    hey i want free games for xbox

  42. Kevin Says:

    i have been interseted in being a game tester for a long time. i was just curious on what experience u may need and how i could get this experience.

  43. Josh King Says:

    I would like to know more information on how to become a video game tester.

  44. Aldwin Aponte Says:

    I like video games so much that i want to have this job, please someone help to find it thank you
    I’m 16-years-old and when I graduate from college I will get this job.

  45. Aldwin Aponte Says:

    I’m 16-years-old and I play video games all my life, can somebody gonna help me find the place in the United State.

  46. Gustavo Gonzalez Says:

    i would like to be a tester or something else i can’t go through one day without doing something with games and i think that being a game tester for whatever company that wants to hire me will get an employee that will work his ass off for them night and day. and the thing is i will love it.

  47. Erik Johnson Says:

    I have tested two games- Fairly Odd Parents Breakin Da Rules for the Nintendo GameCube and MX Unleashed for the PS2. That was a really fun way to earn money. I am currently looking into job ops at Take2games and EALA wish me luck. Moving on from THQ. Erik Johnson aka “Gameface.”

  48. Miranda Says:

    I would love to be a video game tester. I love video games and I have quite a lot of free time on my hands. I am soon moving to Colorado, any openings?

  49. Anonymous Says:

    Look, I’m 17yrs old I love video games and I’m flat broke, I’ve wanted to become a game tester for a while….so if you know somebody I could talk to, plz e-mail me,(darklegacy753@yahoo.com)

  50. Kevin Says:

    My name is kevin and I am trying to get a job in being a game tester because all I do is play the game all day long even at night I still play the game and I have school at 7:30am . I even stayed up play the game at 5:00 am that was when I got off the game to get ready for school .I play people online every day so I am looking forward to being a game tester sometime soon.Please call this number for advice (REMOVED) ask for kevin thank for this post comment.

  51. Kevin sellers Says:

    I have a playstation 2 and I play online all the time ,but I just want to become a game tester.Are there any companies out there in ohio or anywhere on the eastcoast. please if their are call (REMOVED).thank you.

  52. Kevin sellers Says:

    I play all game system’s I don’t like playing the computer I like playing real people online or offline I’m good at both if you don’t beleave ask people on ghost recon jugle storm for the ps2 or xbox my name online is kcmob2,and on nbalive 2004 my name is ohiozone.See me in both games if you are ready.

  53. Kevin sellers Says:

    I have been watching xplay and other tv’s show’s. I have an playstation underground paper in the mail about being playstion beta tester.for everybody in this daily haggis thing go to http://www.us.playstation.com/welcome. but also they have playstation tournaments going on all over different states.I guest thats how you get look at. I mist my oppertuniuty in ohio so make sure you guys and girls get to that website in time for your oppertuniuty before your guys be like me and mist your chance.

  54. Kevin sellers Says:

    I would love to be a game tester.I play for about 50 or more hours a week.

  55. Haggis Says:

    I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kevin, but you should NEVER post your phone number on a public website. I removed the number from your comments.

    As a side note, i’d just like to point out to everyone that this is an entertainment weblog, not ANYBODY that can help you out with becoming a game tester. This is only an article ABOUT a game tester.

  56. Haggis Says:

    I appreciate your enthusiasm, Kevin, but you should NEVER post your phone number on a public website. I removed the number from your comments.

    As a side note, i’d just like to point out to everyone that this is an entertainment weblog, not ANYBODY that can help you out with becoming a game tester. This is only an article ABOUT a game tester.

  57. Paul Collins Says:

    Like to Play Diffent types of games. I try to play differnt games not just 1 or 2 types.

    Tight magazines

  58. Paul Collins Says:

    Like to Play Diffent types of games. I try to play differnt games not just 1 or 2 types.

    Tight magazines

  59. kathy Says:

    please i would love to be a beta tester thank you

  60. kathy Says:

    please i would love to be a beta tester thank you

  61. Lindsey Anderson Says:

    can I order things without a credit card

  62. Lindsey Anderson Says:

    i love playstation

blog comments powered by Disqus
Subscribe to the Daily Haggis RSS Feed

    Recent Posts

    • via rollingstone.com Jim Parsons.. you know there are laws against this sort of thing, but you break them. YOU BREAK THEM.

      Jim Parsons versus Metropolitan
    • via juliasegal.tumblr.com Marc Maron, Louis C.K., Dave Attell and Sarah Silverman circa 1995.

      Legends of Comedy
    • via thedailywh.at Yeah, I LOL’d

      Neil Young/Old
  • About The Daily Haggis

    The Daily Haggis was created in December of 2002 by Sean Loyless, also known as Haggis.

    There are over 1,000 articles spanning 6 years. Browse the Archives or use the search at the top of this page.

    Read More

  • Recent Comments

  • Advertisement