Making Money From Testing Video Games

Video game testing is an 18 billion dollar a year profession that is in high demand. So it's needless to say that there is a lot of money to be made from video game testing. I know what you are asking yourself, who is going to pay me to play games. In any industry including the video game industry there are is a thing called field research. Field research is the research that is done before something is released to ensure quality. What this means is that large video game companies need people like you that will play their games and report back any problems you had with the game. The best part about this is that you get to play these games before they are released and get paid for it!

You probably play games every day on your Xbox 360, Playstation 3, or on your Wii. Imagine if you knew about this profession 6 months ago. Lets you only played 10 hours a week (we all know that 10 hours a week is nothing) for that 6 months, the minimum a tester gets paid is $30/hour. That's a total of over $7000 you would gain if you become a game tester.

Why is this job in high demand? Well that question is very easy. Video game companies cannot afford to not have testers. The reason behind that is that if they didn't pay tester to play their games and report any bugs that they might find the company will lose a lot of money. They will lose money when the word gets out that the game is buggy, they will lose when people want their money back, and they will lose credit. Meaning that if a company releases a game that's not perfect their name will be negatively affected and making another successful video game will be incredibly hard for them.

Your parents might have told you that you are wasting your life away playing games, little do they know that you where preparing yourself for your new career. There is a lot of money to be made from becoming a game tester, the best thing about this is that this job is incredibly easy to get if you know what companies to approach and how to approach them.

If you would like some more information on how to become a video game tester.

The Evolution of Video Games

A video game is a computer game involving interaction with a user interface to make visual feedback with a video device. Platforms are the electronic systems used to play video games. Examples of these are personal computers and gaming consoles.

Early then, simple games started with low-quality graphics and sounds. These games were played on devices such as Amiga, Commodore 64, Atari, ring a bell? Later on, a lot of consoles such as Sega Megadrive, Sega Genesis, SNES bring games with better graphics 2D, in many music, colors and nice sounds. Nowadays is even better. We have very powerful consoles like Sony Playstation 3, Microsoft Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii and many more with very dramatic graphic 3D which look very real in millions of colors. You will definitely also enjoy the high quality of the music and sounds that make you feel that you are actually in the game.

The game controller, the input device used to manipulate video games varies between platforms. For example another feature may be a dozen or more buttons and joysticks or a dedicated console controller might consist of just one button and a joystick. The first personal computer games often need a joystick with at least one button or a gaming keyboard. There are a lot of modern computer games that allow or even require the player to use a keyboard and a mouse all at the same time.

You have to think how lucky these youngsters are nowadays, with the way modern technology has evolved.

Five of the Most Popular Musical Video Games

All kids love video games and here you will find which five musical games are the most popular on the market today.
At number one we have "Rock Band" by Harmonix. This game will allow your children to pick an instrument and rock out with friends and other family members.
There are three versions of this fun game; the original game, Rock Band 2 and The Beatles version. The instrument controllers are compatible with all three games so there is no need to get new controllers when you get the new games. This game isn't all about the stage performances. It also has features like a studio where you can record albums and go on world tours. This game can also teach you how to play the guitar and drums.
At number two is "Guitar Hero". This video game started the musical instrument craze that is sweeping the world at the moment. There are so many versions of this game including the band versions for Aerosmith, Metallica and Van Halen. Unlike the Rock games new instruments are needed to play the different games. You can buy track packs to add songs to the music lists. If you are adding to your child's "Guitar Hero" collection make a note of which one your child has.
At number three we have "DJ Hero". This game is more for the Hip-Hop crowd and was the most recent edition to the hero gaming world until "Band Hero". There are two versions of this game. "DJ Hero" comes with the game software and the turntable controller whereas "DJ Hero: Renegade" come with both software and turntable but it also comes with a controller stand and even has Jay-z and Eminem CD's. "DJ Hero" will most likely have to place on a table to play but because of the stand with "DJ Hero: Renegade" this problem is solved.
At number four is "Band Hero" This game is brought to you by the makers of "Guitar Hero" and the instrument controllers for "Guitar Hero" will work with this game. This game includes music from Taylor Swift which makes it appeal to the young girls in the world. You can buy the software only or a bundle where you get the software and the instruments. The track list is perfect for all teenage girls out there.
At number five we have the Lego Band game. This game would be great fun for all the family and is a family friendly version of "Rock Band" The controllers used to play "Rock Band" will work with this game. If you have an older child with this game and a younger child wanting to play "Lego Rock Band" is perfect. Your child can create a Lego Den to relax and perform in which will be fun for your little one.

Best Xbox 360 Video Games

Video gaming has changed into one of the all-time biggest forms of recreation for folk of every age. Kids play Nintendo games, and adults do, too. The XBox 360 is one of the favourite games systems for folks who like to have a big range of games available to them, and who like to play live with others all around the world. For christmas 2009, there are a grouping of XBox 360 video games that people are waiting anxiously for.

For youngsters, a favorite XBox 360 video game is Cars, which is aptly named and modeled after the hit film of the same name. This story-based journey lets youngsters play through key movie moments, and have some fun in over thirty different races and games. There are over ten characters that kids can play and multi-player mode makes automobiles even more fun!

Kids and adults will adore playing DJ Hero for XBox 360. Have a battle of the DJs in your own home or online with turntables and a Guitar Hero controller. You get a turntable and mixer controller with your DJ Hero game - these let you scratch and mix to a variety of music content - you can choose the genre that suits you most perfectly. Multi-player modes include DJ vs. DJ, DJ and guitar, or DJ and DJ.

Call of Duty : Modern Warfare is high on the inventories of XBox 360 gamers everywhere. This game for mature players brings warfare to the present day with updated automobiles and weaponry, and new locations. Several multi-player modes add to the excitement where method and talent are utterly vital for survival.

DragonAge : Origins is a new and high in demand single-player role playing fantasy game letting players travel the lands of Ferelden to decide the fate of countries and ultimately the player him or herself. Players have plenty of character customization options including appearance, abilities, race, class, and appliances.

For XBox players that like dealing with the challenge of zombies, Left4Dead two is the most recent XBox 360 video game that may be a must-have. The player's performance decides the level of customization for enemies, effects and even music. Levels, weather and lighting can even be customised to add to the excitement. Require some cool zombie fighting weapons? Try the new melee weapons - chainsaw, baseball bat, frying pan and axe. These let you get close and private with the undead that are on your trail.

If you have an XBox 360 gamer on your xmas gift list, try any of these great games - each offering thrills, fun and maybe even the occasional chill! Check out Amazon for the best prices and reviews.

Classic Atari 2600 Video Games

During that time, Atari set the standard for video games. In fact, before Nintendo came along in the late 1980s, the word Atari was synonymous with video gaming.
Even more popular than the system itself were the games that were created to go along with Atari 2600. Many of the following games still remain as staples in arcades all over the world:
• Adventure - Often considered the first action-adventure video game, Adventure allowed gamers to move a character through color-coded castles in search of swords and keys. • Asteroids - A favorite of Star Wars fans everywhere, Asteroids gave players the chance to control a space ship through hyperspace and shoot at different types of space debris. • Frogger - Fans of this game will remember moving a frog through a busy street, dodging cars, trucks, and buses in hopes of reaching a river on the opposite side. • Gravitar - In this classic sci-fi game, players would orbit the surface of different planets and shoot at bunkers on the surface. • Haunted House - Gamers would have to navigate their way through a haunted mansion that dubbed as a maze, avoiding bats, ghosts, and ghouls along the way. • Joust - Flying around on an ostrich, players would have to maneuver their way around a playfield in an attempt to kill buzzards. • Pac Man - Maybe the most popular video game of all time, Pac Man would give players the ability to move a hungry yellow circle through a maze of small dots.
Many of these retro Atari classics are plastered in the minds of people who spent their childhood playing Atari. These games passed the test of time and will continue to be played in arcades across the globe for many years to come.

Can Video Games Have Positive Effects?

Many people (particularly parents) often argue that video games are destroying our youth, and games such as Grand Theft Auto are causing people to think that it's okay to murder, steal cars and beat up pedestrians. Others complain that the kids of today are suffering from obesity because they are spending so long sat in front of their televisions playing video games instead of playing outside with their friends.

Despite all of this, there are some obvious and not-so obvious benefits that video games can have. First of all, anyone that might call themselves a hardcore gamer (or even a casual gamer) will almost certainly boast increased hand-eye coordination over someone that plays no games at all. The reason being that your eyes are taking in information from the screen which your hands must then act upon (by pressing buttons on the controller). All of this needs to take place within fractions of a second, as reaction times are very important.
Another more bizarre benefit that most people would never consider is that video games can be used for therapy. A football simulation game called 'Football Manager' seems to attract football fans for lots of different reasons. Of these fans, many say that they play the game to feel better after their team loses.

It is no surprise that a quick look on the Football Manger forums will see more Liverpool, Newcastle and Aston Villa fans all trying to take their teams to the top. It is also no surprise that all of these teams in recent years have been perennial underachievers, and this is why their fans have been drawn to playing the game. From a fans' point of view, Football Manager is a fantasy in which they can act out winning.

How to Make a Career in Video Games

There is a boom in the video games industry. More and more skilled professionals are in demand by game development companies. And there is no dearth of careers in video games. You can choose to become a texture artist, a concept artist, a level designer, a physics programmer, a user interface programmer etc. There are multiple career options waiting for aspiring candidates. But before you step into the video gaming industry to make a career, it is essential to decide which career path you want to choose. Whether you want to choose a programmer's career, a designer's career or an artist's career, it will depend on your interest and skills.

Video game development companies are trying to develop computer games or video games that look 'amazingly real' and excite and engage users. These companies are targeting not only the fans of video games but also those who play games casually. In order to make the gaming environments more and more realistic, game development companies are looking for talented candidates who have a passion for playing as well as making games.

Career Paths That You Can Choose in Gaming Industry
Figure out your interests to pursue a desire career in games industry. Candidates need to have a combination of artistic and technical skills to be successful in their careers. If you really desire to make a profitable career in games, you need to have the knowledge of both the artistic and technical aspects of the games, gaming environments and its multiple elements.

Here's is a list of career paths you can choose when you step into the video gaming industry -

Concept Artists
Texture Artists
Level Designer
Physics Programmer
User Interface (UI) Programmer
Artificial Intelligence (AI) Programmer
Sound Programmer
Animator
Tester
Publisher

Video game programmers deal with the technical aspect of the game while designers and work on the artistic aspects. Animators deal with object animation techniques. However, all these professionals work as part of a team to make gaming environments exciting, engaging, user friendly and as realistic as possible. Work environments are mostly very casual and it is quite fulfilling coordinating with others specialists and experts in the field of video or computer games.

Educational Requirements/ Skills
For most of the video games careers, candidates need to posses a degree in computer science, multimedia arts, graphics arts etc. Additionally, candidates can enroll in training programs and courses offered in game related majors. Today, there are hundreds of schools that offer courses and training in game related majors including video game console design, C++ programming for game developers, introduction to robotics, graphics programming, game mathematics, artificial intelligence for game developers, physics for game developers, video game testing etc. A strong passion for playing and making games, however, is the key requirement for taking up any career in video games industry. Interpersonal skills always play an important role to have a successful career. Candidate need to improve their communication skills, team playing skills, ability to change original ideas as per the game development project requirement, ability to abide by the timeline, ability to have a keen eye for details etc.