Tag Archives: QA Testing

Train2Game student advice from Trion Worlds on QA reports: write for an alien

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Train2Game Games QA Testing students should find this blog interesting, as it features some interesting advice from a Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester on how to write a great QA Report.

Trion Worlds are the developer behind MMO Rift and the upcoming strategy title End of Nations.

And in a soon to be published interview with the Train2Game blog, Karl Tars, Senior QA Tester at the Austin Studio has some great advice for Train2Game QA Testers about producing bug reports.

“Imagine you have an alien, they understand the language in some respects, but they don’t necessarily know a lot of the noun, they wouldn’t know what a fork this, they wouldn’t know what a knife is.”

“Now try and tell them how to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich when they don’t know what any of those things are.” Tars told the Train2Game blog.

The Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester argued that a well written, easy to follow bug report written by a QA Tester means that the developers can easily fix any issue that’s been found.

“You have to describe them being very descriptive and giving a good guide of exact steps and also including things like ‘it doesn’t work if you do this,” he said.

“So when the developer gets it they can just immediately go click, click, click, straight through your steps and ‘Oh there’s the issue, I can see it now, and now that I can see it on my machine I can fix it really easily.” Tars added.

The full interview with Trion Worlds Senior QA Tester Karl Tars, featuring an extensive insight into QA Testing and a look at upcoming title End of Nations, will be published on the Train2Game blog in the near future.

In the meantime, feel free to check out this post from earlier this week in which Valve discuss the importance of playtesting to game development.

Full details on the Train2Game Game QA Tester course are available here on the official Train2Game website.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Tars advice for writing bug reports? Will you take it on board?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game students chance to join Crusader Kings II closed beta

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Train2Game students have an opportunity to be involved with the closed beta for Paradox Interactive’s upcoming Medieval strategy RPG Crusader Kings II.

The development team behind Crusader Kings II are the creative force behind Europa Universalis, Hearts of Iron and Victoria.

Do you believe you have what it takes to be a Crusader King? Interested Train2Game students can apply to be a part of the Crusader Kings II closed beta here on the Paradox website.

Applications are open through to 17th October, with those chosen for the closed beta receiving confirmation the following week.

Beta testing is an excellent way for Train2Game students, especially those on the Games QA Tester course to practice their bug hunting skills.

SomeTrain2Game students were involved in last week’s Battlefield 3 beta, with developer DICE stating the open test was aiding with game development.

However, while many understood that one of the purposes of a beta is to find bugs, some players were unhappy about finding them. As reported by the Train2Game blog, DICE’s Patrick Liu said that these players had his understood the meaning of beta testing.

So Train2Game, will you attempt to take the opportunity to beta test Crusader Kings II? How often do you get involved with these events?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

Train2Game news: Gamers misunderstand meaning of ‘beta test’ say DICE

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Train2Game students – at least a few of them are – are likely to involved with the current Battlefield 3 beta, which a runs through to 10th October.

And while Train2Game students – especially the QA Testers – will understand that beta tests are an important part of game development, there filtering out bugs and tweaking gameplay, it seems gamers in general are less aware of this!

Some have criticised the bugs that have appeared while playing Battlefield, or the fact that’s only one map, but according DICE’s Patrick Liu, it’s because these people don’t get the reasons for an open beta.

“I think there’s been a misunderstanding of the term ‘beta test’!” the Battlefield 3 producer told The Guardian.

“We ran the alpha tests with a rush map and we wanted to have some sort of reference so we could compare results – so we needed to have more-or-less the same map.”

“But we do understand the concerns that we didn’t show a conquest map, but we have demoed Caspian Border, and we did run a conquest map as a limited PC-only test.

According to Liu, one of the main reasons for the Battlefield 3 beta test is to make sure the backend systems work when the game is release.

“He just wanted to know it wouldn’t crash and burn at launch” he said.

“It was horrible with Battlefield 1943 – it sold ten times the numbers we thought it would, and it was down for three or four days which is really bad. We don’t want to go through that again.”

As reported by the Train2Game blog, DICE have stated that positive feedback from the open beta is helping them tweak the multiplayer aspect of Battlefield 3.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on Liu’s comments? Do gamers misunderstand the meaning of a beta test? And have you been testing Battlefield 3?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: The Guardian]

Train2Game industry experience diaries from Game Designer Craig Moore

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Train2Game Game Designer Craig Moore has been on a Train2Game work placement at DR Studios. In his latest industry diaries, Craig discusses the importance of QA testing and how life in a game development studio is treating him.

Read what Craig has to say about his Train2Game work placement here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game Scribd page.

Train2Game news: Battlefield 3 beta aiding game development

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Train2Game students will be aware of the importance of testing games during development, and the significance of this is already being displayed in the Battlefield 3 Open Beta.

According to the Battlefield blog, the feedback from players is providing useful information to developers DICE when it comes to improving the game.

“The amounts of people flocking to our Open Beta is fantastic! We are happy to see so many players enjoy this Open Beta, and giving us their valuable feedback on the experience on the Battlelog forums,” the blog post says.

Train2Game students can see the Battlefield 3 blog for a full rundown of the changes that have been made as a result of testing during the Open Beta, and DICE say they’ll be updating the blog with further tweaks they make as more people provide them with feedback about Battlefield 3.

The Battlefield 3 beta for Xbox 360, PlayStation 3 and PC runs through to October 10th, and Train2Game students who wish to get involved can find out how to do so here on the Train2Game blog.

It could provide Train2Game students, especially those on the QA Tester course, with experience of properly testing a game in development.

Last week, the Train2Game blog reported that Bioware also feel that playtesting is an essential part of game development.

So Train2Game, are you involved with the Battlefield 3 beta? Have you spotted any bugs? How important do you think this Open Beta is to the development of the game?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: Battlefield blog]

Train2Game students read this! Valve on playtesting during game development

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 They're waiting for you Gordon, in the test chamber...

Train2Game students, particularly the QA Testers, will know of the importance of testing during a games development.

Now, in an interview with GameSpot, Valve has revealed that they believe playtesting to be the most important part of game development.

“For us, playtesting is the most important part of the game development process,” experimental psychologist and Valve’s playtesting lead Mike Ambinder told GameSpot.

“It’s not something we save for the end of the development, or use as a quality assessment or balancing tool. It is the dominant factor that shapes our decisions about what to release and when to release it.”

It’s a statement that Train2Game students who haven’t already been testing games throughout their development should really take on board.

Valve uses something called ‘bio-feedback metrics’ as part of the testing process. It features standard observed play sessions and surveys, but also involves tracking eye-movement with monitor-mounted cameras; monitoring heart rates; and even skin conductivity tests.

Valve use all of these to determine the players enjoyment of the game.

“We became interested in the use of biofeedback both as a playtesting methodology and as potential user input to gameplay because the idea of quantifying emotion or player sentiment seems to have utility,” said Ambinder.

“On the playtesting side, recording more objective measurements of player sentiment is always desired. People sometimes have a hard time explaining how they felt about various things, and memories of feelings and events can become conflated.

“Conversely, if you have a more objective measurement of arousal or engagement, you can get a clearer picture for how people are emotionally consuming your game.”

Last week, the Train2Game blog reported that Valve’s Steam service is ‘essential’ for indie developers.

So Train2Game, how important do you believe playtesting is to the game development process? How would you go about it?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: GameSpot]

Potential QA Testing opportunities for Train2Game students

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Sports Interactive produce the Football Manager series

Here’s something for anyone studying with Train2Game, particularly those on the Game QA Tester course.

Football Manager developers Sports Interactive are looking for people to join their QA Testing department on a temporary basis to test Football Manager & Football Manager Handheld across PC, Mac, Sony PSP & Apple devices.

As the advert itself says, it’s the ultimate job for “someone looking to gain some experience in the games industry.”

The job specification as listed in the advert is as follows:

* You must be at least 16 years old to be considered for the role.
* You must be able to commute to our Central London office in the UK.
* You must be able to work Monday to Friday based on a 37.5 hour working week.
* You should expect to work some overtime when requested.
* You should be a dedicated gamer with a passion for Football Manager.
* You should be a keen football fan.
* You should be comfortable using a PC, Mac, Sony PSP or Apple iPad/iPhone/iPod.
* You should have great attention to detail with the ability to spot issues.
* You should have a good standard of written English.
* Previous experience in QA is welcomed, but not necessary.

For more information about the Game QA Tester roles at Sports Interactive, see the relevant thread on their forum.

And while this could provide a great opportunity for Train2Game students, it’s worth pointing about that the Sports Interactive QA Testing roles are in no way affiliated with Train2Game. However, they could potentially provide someone on a Train2Game course with hands on games industry experience.

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

How Train2Game students can help development of Ms. Splosion Man

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Ms. Splosion Man logoTrain2Game students – especially those on the Games QA Tester course – know that finding and reporting in-game bugs is a hugely important part of the development process.

Indie developer Twisted Pixel have announced they’ll be holding a multiplayer beta for Ms. Splosion Man, the follow up to their 2009 success Splosion Man, and Train2Game students have the opportunity to be involved.

There are 10,000 open beta spots available for Xbox Live users, which any Train2Game student can try and grab between now and 12th June on the Microsoft sign up page.

The Ms. Splosion Man beta will run from 6th June to 24th June, and participants will be expected to provide feedback. It’d make useful practice for anyone on the Train2Game QA Tester course.

“Participants will get two multiplayer levels each week, so play online often and send us your bug reports and comments to beta@twistedpixelgames.com.” says a statement by Twisted Pixel.

“The point of this early access program is to gain your feedback on how we can better your online gaming experience, so speak up.  Your voice will be heard and feedback taken into consideration.”

In order to take part in the Ms. Splosion Man beta, any Train2Game students interested must:

  • Own a retail Xbox 360 console with a hard drive.
  • Have an Xbox LIVE Gold Membership.
  • Have broadband Internet access at home.
  • Be willing to play the early access with others in the program if they know them or not.
  • Have time to play with numerous online gamers, and time to provide copious feedback.

For full details, see the Ms. Splosion Man website. The indie game is released this year for XBLA.

A number of game developers allow players to aid in production of a title, with recent examples reported by the Train2Game blog including Gears of War 3 and Infamous 2.

Train2Game forum user favourite Minecraft is also still in beta – a beta that’s been downloaded over 2 million times – but as reported by the Train2Game blog, gets a full release later this year.

So Train2Game, will you attempt to join the Ms. Splosion Man beta to gain experience beta testing?? Have you done it before? And how important is it to the game development process?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Souce: Ms. Splosion Man dev blog via VG247] 

Bioware explain Game Design ‘Flashpoints’ of Star Wars: The Old Republic

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Star Wars: The Old Republic Train2Game blog image

Here’s one for the Train2Game Game Design students; Bioware associate producer Cory Butler recently spoke about the upcoming Star Wars: The Old Republic, explaining now the narrative of the MMO moves forward through what are called Flashpoints.

“Flashpoints in Star Wars: The Old Republic are action-packed, story-driven adventures that put a group of players up against difficult foes in sticky situations” Butler told Star Wars website Darth Hater.

“Every Flashpoint begins with an exciting story and contains difficult decisions which have meaningful impact on the challenges you’ll face, the enemies you’ll fight, and the outcome of the flashpoints.”

In other comments that Train2Game QA Testers may find interesting, the producer spoke about how character creation and in-game difficulty of Star Wars: The Old Republic had been altered by community feedback. Butler also mentioned how those interested in testing the came can do so.

“Those interested in testing The Old Republic need to be a registered member of the Star Wars: The Old Republic community. Once signed up at www.starwarstheoldrepublic.com, they simply need to check the box indicating that they are interested in becoming a tester and follow the instructions provided”

So if any Train2Game students – those on the QA Tester course in particular –now is your chance to try and get involved.

Star Wars: The Old Republic developers Bioware have previously stated that World of Warcraft is the ‘touchstone’ for all MMOs. You can read the full comments here on the Train2Game blog.

So Train2Game, what are your thoughts on the ‘Flashpoint’ method of driving narrative? Is a story an important factor for an MMO? And how much impact do you think community testing can have?

Leave your comments here on the Train2Game blog, or on the Train2Game forum.

[Source: VG247]