Should You Hire a Game Testing Service or Use In-House Testers?
When it comes to building your new video game, lots of indie developers and small organizations worry about how to test their games. Sometimes, they have existing employees take care of it. Other times, they feel the need to hire in-house because that’s what their enterprise counterparts are doing.
This can cause a few problems, including a strained budget and employees losing focus on their organizational role.
This blog post will explore the pros and cons of both game testing services and in-house testers. By the end, you should have a good idea of which option is best for your project.
Who Should Use an In-House Game Testing Service?
In-house game testing is a great option if you have the resources to spare. That includes both time and money. If your company is large enough, you may already have a game testing department.
In-house testers are also a good idea if you need to test something very specific that requires in-depth knowledge of your game. For example, you may need to test a new feature before rolling it out to players.
An in-house game testing department can also be a great way to build team morale. Seeing the game they’re working on come to life can be a huge motivator for employees.
Plus, you can set up an in-house testing lab if you have the space. This can be a great way to show off your game to potential investors or partners.
However, there are some drawbacks to using an in-house game testing department.
For one, it can be expensive. You’ll need to pay for the testers’ salaries, benefits, and equipment. And if you don’t already have a testing department, you’ll need to set one up.
This can also be a time-consuming process. You’ll need to train your testers to use your game’s testing software and procedures. And if you have a large game, it may take a long time to test everything thoroughly.
You’ll also need to factor in the cost of any damage that your game testers may cause. If they break something, you’ll have to pay to fix it.
Most of all, you might not even need to hire full-time game testers. Complicated games that frequently change and develop new features will need to hire in-house, but smaller companies with more limited games certainly don’t need this resource all the time.
Who Should Use a Game Testing Service?
A game testing service is a good option if you’re on a tight budget. You can often get more bang for your buck by using a service.
Game testing services are also good if you don’t have the time or resources to train in-house testers. They can get started right away and start testing your game.
And if you’re worried about damage to your game, a testing service can also help. Most services will have insurance to cover any damages their testers may cause.
However, there are some drawbacks to using a game testing service.
For one, you won’t have as much control over the testers. They may not be as familiar with your game as you’d like. And if they’re not, they may miss important bugs.
You also might not be able to give them specific tasks to test. They’ll just play the game and report any bugs they find.
This can be a problem if you’re trying to test a specific feature or area of your game. You may need to use a testing service in addition to an in-house tester to get the job done.
Final Thoughts
There’s no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing between a game testing service and an in-house tester. Ultimately, it depends on your needs and budget.
Both options have pros and cons, so it’s important to weigh all the factors before deciding.
If you’re still not sure which option is best for you, consider talking to someone who’s done both. They can give you first-hand insights into the pros and cons of each option.
No matter what you decide, the most important thing is to make sure your game is tested thoroughly. Otherwise, you risk releasing a buggy product that could frustrate and turn off players.