Game Testing All in One (Game Development Series) [Paperback]

Charles P. Schultz (Author), Robert Bryant (Author), Tim Langdell (Author)

Book Description

Series: Game Development Series | Publication Date: February 21, 2005

"Game Testing All in One" reveals how to apply software test engineer methodologies to the game industry. It examines several game genres, detailing the product cycle and testing fundamentals specific to each. Master testing techniques as you work through a set of tutorials on four methodologies for producing tests for your game. Learn how to quickly produce useful test documents, capture important data, and analyze measurements. "Game Testing All in One" outlines the roles and responsibilities of a game tester, offering an in-depth look at the responsibilities of each member of the game team. You'll even get tips for finding employment in the industry as a game tester.

Editorial Reviews

From the Publisher

Covers the details of game testing from a current tester’s perspective. Includes elements of a textbook such as exercises, Q&As and quizzes. The first book completely dedicated to the game test industry.

About the Author

Charles P. Schultz is a Software Architect at Research in Motion, leading the development of mobile applications for enterprise social networking. As an Operations Manager at Motorola, Charles worked on software testing and mobile gaming innovations, resulting in16 patents issued and several Cycle Time and Best Practice awards for his contributions to software testing and automation. He has contributed over 20 technical publications and presentations at industry conferences in the areas of personal robotics, software quality, and gaming. Charles holds a Bachelor's Degree in Electrical Engineering from Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute and a Masters Degree in Computer Education from Barry University. He is a Senior Member of the American Society for Quality, Board Member of the South Florida Chapter of the International Game Developers Association, a Six Sigma Green Belt, Certified Software Quality Engineer, and Frisbee Master.

Robert Bryant is Studio Director at video game publisher Crave Entertainment, where he has also served as QA Manager and Executive Producer of such games as World Championship Poker and Tokyo Xtreme Racer 3. He began his games career in the interactive division of Mattel, Inc., where he was lead tester on dozens of projects. He is a frequent speaker on the subjects of game testing methods and management.

Tim Langdell is full-time faculty in the USC Viterbi School of Engineering's Information Technology Program where he chairs the Game Curriculum Sub-Committee and teaches game design and game testing. He is also Chairman of EDGE Games, which he founded in 1979. Langdell is the author of several books on game programming and has produced more than 180 games, including Alien Syndrome, Brian Bloodaxe, and Fairlight.

Product Details

• Paperback: 416 pages
• Publisher: Course Technology PTR; 1 edition (February 21, 2005)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1592003737
• ISBN-13: 978-1592003730
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 7.2 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.3 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (1 customer review)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,323,548 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Game Testing All In One is a Must!, April 2, 2005

By 

Donald Costello "Certified Tester" (Lincoln, NE United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Game Testing All in One (Game Development Series) (Paperback)

Traditional program testing has come a long way in 50 years but the complexity, time constraints and variety of situations facing game testers is at the edge of the software testing world.

The authors combine authentic experience with Computer Games and Game Testing in a logical, pragmatic and interesting way. They long ago reasoned that it is very costly (if not sometimes impossible) to test all possible paths through a game's options and through the application of some insightful statistical approaches present ways to reduce the total number of tests required under certain assumptions. To me this one insight was worth the cost of the book.

Beyond this outstanding statistical testing insight for the workers in the field, the expository material that covers Games is exceptionally good for the individual trying to put the whole field in perspective. In Part I they address "Being a Game Tester" (with a side venture later in the book to identify different game testing personalities) followed by a good discussion of "Why Testing is Important". Part II talks about the "Making of a Game" while Part III introduces the concepts and vocabulary of Testing. In Part IV the authors bring in the concept of Combinatorial Testing ( another statistical approach) and present it in a step by step way so that the tester can perform the testing suite without knowing all of the theory behind that approach. "Test Flow Diagrams", "Cleanroom Testing" and "Test Trees" adds very modern disciplined techniques to the testing tool process that will prove of value. Part V discusses some advanced testing ideas all of which are very practical in the fast evolving world of Games.

The authors seem to have been brought together and inspired to write just at the time when the field realizes that loosely structured ad-hoc testing may be costing more than the field can afford.