NOTE: This job is no longer available!
Software Tester
at EA
Redwood City, California
ENTERTAINING IS OUR PASSION
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital role in game development, testing, tuning, debugging, and suggesting detailed refinements that lead to higher quality and better playability of the finished game. The job involves playing (i.e., testing) the game in a systematic way, analyzing the game’s performance against the designer’s intentions, identifying problems, and suggesting improvements. In effect, they act as the game’s first audience, reporting on playability and identifying any aspects which could be improved. Testers are responsible for assuring quality in the final product and for finding flaws in a game before it goes public.
Role Overview
Testers must know how categorize bugs and be able to prioritize. They work to deadlines and must have an understanding of production and marketing schedules. They normally use a software quality management system to document their findings. Testers typically work in teams, sometimes playing together on a multiplayer game, and sometimes different teams are responsible for specific sections or parts of a game.
Testing involves playing a game over and over again, testing different levels and versions of the game. The work can be repetitive and tedious, but Testers must be able to stay motivated and test the game long after the novelty and fun factor may have worn off. Testers must be diplomatic when communicating with other team members and accept that they can have only limited influence over the design. They must also be able to anticipate different ways the game will be played, and test accordingly.
What skills does EA look for??
This is a popular entry level role, particularly for those not already qualified as an artist or programmer, and an excellent way to find out about the gaming business as a whole. There are no specific qualifications required for Testers, although some programming knowledge or experience is desirable. Testers must be analytical and methodical. Good English language skills (written and verbal) are necessary in order to document findings and communicate them to colleagues. IT competence, including use of spreadsheets and database packages, is also required. Above all, Testers must be avid games players. They must be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the industry, including the different platforms, game styles, and genres. It’s important to know the market so they can evaluate our games against the competition.
They should also have an understanding of how games are put together, and how the different elements of a game contribute to the playing experience. A good Tester will not only identify and record a problem, but also try to work out what is causing it. Key skills for a Tester include excellent communication, especially the ability to communicate tactfully with other members of the team. It’s also important to have a good attention to detail, persistence, and patience. A Tester must be able to maintain concentration while playing games for long periods. Good negotiation and conflict resolution skills are very important, as of course is a passion for playing games.
Testers can progress into other roles such as level design, production management, or marketing, although to move into more specialized areas of game development typically requires an existing skill or aptitude such as 3D modeling or programming.
We’re EA—the world’s largest video game publisher. You’re probably familiar with many of our titles—Madden, FIFA, The Sims, Need for Speed, Dead Space, Battlefield, and Star Wars, to name but a few. But maybe you don’t know how we’re committed to creating games for every platform—from social to mobile to console—to give our consumers that Anytime, Anywhere access they demand. What does that mean for you? It means more opportunities to unleash your creative genius, be inspired by those leading their fields, and ignite your path in any direction you choose.
Quality Assurance Technicians, or Testers, perform a vital role in game development, testing, tuning, debugging, and suggesting detailed refinements that lead to higher quality and better playability of the finished game. The job involves playing (i.e., testing) the game in a systematic way, analyzing the game’s performance against the designer’s intentions, identifying problems, and suggesting improvements. In effect, they act as the game’s first audience, reporting on playability and identifying any aspects which could be improved. Testers are responsible for assuring quality in the final product and for finding flaws in a game before it goes public.
Role Overview
Testers must know how categorize bugs and be able to prioritize. They work to deadlines and must have an understanding of production and marketing schedules. They normally use a software quality management system to document their findings. Testers typically work in teams, sometimes playing together on a multiplayer game, and sometimes different teams are responsible for specific sections or parts of a game.
Testing involves playing a game over and over again, testing different levels and versions of the game. The work can be repetitive and tedious, but Testers must be able to stay motivated and test the game long after the novelty and fun factor may have worn off. Testers must be diplomatic when communicating with other team members and accept that they can have only limited influence over the design. They must also be able to anticipate different ways the game will be played, and test accordingly.
What skills does EA look for??
This is a popular entry level role, particularly for those not already qualified as an artist or programmer, and an excellent way to find out about the gaming business as a whole. There are no specific qualifications required for Testers, although some programming knowledge or experience is desirable. Testers must be analytical and methodical. Good English language skills (written and verbal) are necessary in order to document findings and communicate them to colleagues. IT competence, including use of spreadsheets and database packages, is also required. Above all, Testers must be avid games players. They must be able to demonstrate a detailed knowledge of the industry, including the different platforms, game styles, and genres. It’s important to know the market so they can evaluate our games against the competition.
They should also have an understanding of how games are put together, and how the different elements of a game contribute to the playing experience. A good Tester will not only identify and record a problem, but also try to work out what is causing it. Key skills for a Tester include excellent communication, especially the ability to communicate tactfully with other members of the team. It’s also important to have a good attention to detail, persistence, and patience. A Tester must be able to maintain concentration while playing games for long periods. Good negotiation and conflict resolution skills are very important, as of course is a passion for playing games.
Testers can progress into other roles such as level design, production management, or marketing, although to move into more specialized areas of game development typically requires an existing skill or aptitude such as 3D modeling or programming.