Game Analyst? More like ‘paid to be unemployed’ (Disclaimer: this is satire)
What is a Game Analyst? What do they bring to the table? Are they just nerds who play games behind a screen all day or are they some hidden gem of a beauty, who also plays games all day? (I would like to believe I’m the latter)
If you look at it, a QA’s job is to play games and check if they have issues, which are then reported on, the developers are given feedback on the game's playability, and so on. It seems like something you can do in your sleep, but it’s not. (believe me, I tried. Don't tell my boss) Coming back to what QAs bring to the table, besides good looks and extreme susceptibility to sunburn (yes, I am still referring to myself)- there’d be no game if it weren’t for us.
Role of a Game Analyst
First and foremost, we have to make sure that the game is top-notch before it gets approved for launch. This means we play it till we hate it or as my superiors would like me to call it; “rigorous testing” which, in turn, helps with avoiding negative reviews and poor user experience. Also, it doesn’t hurt to get a boost in reputation and brand image once you deliver a high-quality game.
Additionally, developers get a sneak peek into the minds of their users, how they would react to certain features, and if they will enjoy the gameplay. Henceforth, the game is tweaked according to what the player wants. Not only is the game made to be what the people asked for (and more) but the amount of revenue generated always makes the boss man happy (no, we don’t get a cut- Capitalism! Am I right?)
Furthermore, identifying and resolving bugs during the early stages of development is more economical than dealing with them after the game's release. Game Analysts contribute to cost savings by catching problems early, reducing the need for extensive post-release patches and support.
Also, they are crucial in ensuring games are launched on time. Through comprehensive testing and swift identification of issues, they assist developers in adhering to deadlines and preventing delays in the game's release. Their timely intervention and rigorous testing processes are key to maintaining the development schedule.
From the Horse’s Mouth
I asked my deskmate and fellow QA, Kumail, some questions, and he gave us the nitty gritty on the life (past, present, and future) of a Game Analyst.
When asked; can you describe a typical day in your role as a QA tester? He replied: “A typical day for a QA will start with morning meetings, during which, the project manager gets feedback and assigns work to the team that they’ll be working on throughout the day. These meetings are typically taken in the office first thing in the morning (both online and offline- we’re not animals!) During the day there are multiple meetings with different project teams which each QA has to take to know the overall status of the project, where it currently stands, and what each member of the project will be working on throughout the next week.”
He also adds: “Apart from work, we also have fun throughout the day and during break time. Most of the QAs start gaming (Tekken, Valorant, Mario Kart- y’all know how it is) but we also play Table Tennis and Foosball for the physical activity aspect of it all (what? Just because we’re nerds we can’t play sports? So judgy). Once free time is up, QAs have to check the project for bugs that they encounter during testing. Reporting and documentation are a crucial part of our work and our job is to learn to incorporate them as best as we can. We help out the developers so we can get the project up to standards and bug-free.”
When asked: Do you think having a passion for gaming helps you with your job or does the rigorous testing put you off gaming? He replied: “Of course! passion for gaming helps out most during work. Many of the QAs in the field are gamers by heart, so, whoever has gaming experience has an advantage and vice versa. Our job is to play the game, understand it, and try to break it apart.”
He adds: “A newcomer who doesn’t have enough gaming knowledge sometimes does not know what to do with complicated games. Hence, QAs who have more passion for gaming usually pick up a new game quite faster than non-gamers, they know what to expect. Secondly, I believe, doing rigorous testing in our line of work does not put us off. During testing, you see the game not as a game but as a product that you’re making which offers a different perspective. It's always fun to test out games, but many times doing the same work continuously does have its negatives. You’re bound to a certain path you can't divert from, but thinking out of the box is what we do best.”
When asked: How do you see the field of QA evolving in the next few years? And What advice would you give to someone considering a career in QA? He replied: “As the gaming industry is evolving every day and new games are coming out; complicated games, in particular, such as strategy and turn-based, I believe new methodologies are being used for QA. Currently, most of the QAs are doing manual testing, soon enough these older methods will be replaced by automated testing. This will lessen the overall time taken for testing for a product, increase productivity, and help the product’s end-to-end process.”
In regards to the second question: “For newcomers, having good knowledge of games will help you throughout this career, your work will get much easier as with time you'll know what to expect in the game that you'll be testing.
Secondly, having a good grip on writing will elevate you throughout the hiring process. Most of the time being a QA, you need to write documentation for the team. Hence, to write documents that the rest of the team can understand easily you also need to understand the game to its core. Lastly, it is a great career for someone who loves gaming in particular and yes you play games and you get paid for it.”
As he said, gamers are ideal for this position. Thank you, Kumail, you’re the best!
From the Horse’s Annoying Developer Friend’s Mouth
I also asked (read: tortured) our server engineer, Sameer, a question: How important is a QA for your job? He willingly answered: “Oh, the love-hate relationship with QAs! As a backend engineer, it’s almost a ritual to grumble about the bugs they find in our code. But here’s the twist: these folks are the unsung heroes writing those dreaded user stories and game docs that guide us. They see the game through the eyes of the player, something we can’t do because, let’s face it, we’re a bit biased about our code. Without QAs, our games would probably be a hot mess. So, as much as I hate to admit it, we absolutely need them!”
You heard it here first, folks! This developer loves us! (let me exaggerate and be happy) Thank you, Sameer, we appreciate it!
Wrapping it up
In a nutshell, a Game Analyst is as important (if not more) to the gaming industry as any developer, artist, or designer. If you don’t taste the food then you’re not going to know what it's lacking. If you don’t have food taste testers (how am I supposed to know what they’re called?!) then you don’t have delicious food (I know, I know, you get it)
Don’t leave yet, get to know me too! The brilliant (and gorgeous) QA behind this article.
My Experience as a New Game Analyst
Let me just start by ripping the band-aid off; I have a degree in Psychology. I know what you all might be thinking, why (and how) is she a QA? Well, it all started when I was a child- I’m going to spare you all of my childhood (trauma) details and just tell you that I’ve always loved games (PlayStation, PC, Gameboy, random Facebook games- those were the days) and that love led me here. Honestly, sometimes I doubt myself and wonder if I’ll be able to fit in (context: extrovert who does theater here, yeah, hi!) but when I get into my work I realize how blessed I am to be doing something people dream about doing. Not to be cliche, but you really can do whatever you put your mind to. If you came this far, thank you, I hope you liked it.