Game Testing Company

Video game testing companies will be very familiar with the different types of bugs and glitches but the most common is a crash. A crash is when the game executable freezes, blocks, or exits the game entirely. Game crashes can come at any time, whether during loading or gameplay and often leads to the user losing their progress and having to repeat a section of the title. This particular bug is one that gamers despise, so it is essential that productions ensure that crashing-related bugs are minimal. You may also hear the term crash referred to by QA game testing groups as a CTD, which means crash to desktop. The term is generally referred to when no error message accompanies the crash. The other categories include severe and minor. Severe bugs halt the progress of the game or stop the user from being able to complete a section or progress. As an example, a quest may not trigger when you return an item to the giver halting your progress. Minor bugs can include irritating but not game-breaking bugs including things like visual glitches, objects disappearing, character models clipping the environment, those sorts of things.

Outsourcing game testing to video game testing companies gives you a distinct production advantage. Essentially, studios that specialize in testing know exactly how to find bugs and glitches within your game title quickly and efficiently. They have a huge array of tools, platforms, and resources and are often a fraction of the cost of doing your QA in-house. Not only is it cheaper to outsource your testing, but it also allows you to prioritize other aspects of your game title whilst professionals finely comb through the title and clear bugs. Using experienced testers means they know exactly what they’re looking for, they’ll be familiar with common bugs and importantly how to recreate them and trigger them for problem-solving purposes. Outsource game testers are generally great communicators too, they have a lot of experience and know how to correspond with developers in a clear and concise manner to get the issue solved promptly. Being able to outsource your testing to professionals means that you’ve got an entire stage of production that you can relax on, allowing your in-house artists and experts to focus their efforts on other parts of production. Most big studios outsource their testing as it's more affordable and time efficient.

There are a few main reasons for a company to outsource game testing services, including:

• Smarter budget spending: Game testing requires specialized skills and expertise, and building an in-house team can consume much more resources and time, especially for smaller game developers and publishers. Outsourcing allows game publishers to access skilled testers without the need to hire and train employees.
• Scalability: Game publishers often need to test their games on a large scale, especially during the production stage. Outsourcing game testing specialists allows them to quickly scale up or down their testing needs as required without worrying about hiring or firing employees.
• Expertise: Game testing requires a specific set of skills, including familiarity with platforms, TEC certification passing, etc. Many game publishers lack the expertise to conduct effective game testing, which can result in poor quality of a game on a release or even canceling the game or postponing game's release date. Outsourcing to a specialized testing company can provide access to experienced testers with the right skills and knowledge for your particular project.
• Objectivity: In-house testers may be too close to the game development process to provide objective feedback. Outsourcing game testing to a third-party company can provide an impartial view of the game's quality and identify issues that may have been missed by internal testers.

The game-developing market patterns change with time, including the options to work with external game testing service providers. Here are some tips that might work for your game:

1. Define your requirements: Before you start looking for a game testing company, you need to define your testing requirements. Determine the scope of testing, the platforms and devices that need to be tested, the testing methodologies required, the targeted quality level for your game, and the timeline for testing.
2. Research potential testing companies: Look for game testing companies that have experience testing games similar to yours. Take a look at their reputation, reviews, references, and case studies. 
3. Evaluate their communication: Communication is essential when outsourcing game testing. Look for a testing company that provides clear and timely communication, including regular progress reports and updates on testing results.
4. Look for flexibility: Game development can be unpredictable, and you may need to change your testing requirements or schedule. Look for a testing company that is flexible and can adapt to your changing needs.