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

by Charles P. Schultz (Author), Robert Bryant (Author), Tim Langdell (Author) "In this book you will learn about the roles and responsibilities of a game tester, including how to best apply software test engineer methodologies to..." (more)
Key Phrases: Look Sensitivity, Quarter Length, Game Speed (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
"Game Testing All in One" focuses on testing fundamentals, including how to create a test plan as well as how to set up a test case tree. It walks you through game testing basics, including topics like artificial intelligence, performance, and collision. You will explore each of the major game genres and discuss key elements to consider when testing. This book will also provide you with strategies to find a job testing games. You will walk away with a fundamental understanding of how the game industry works from the test perspective.

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.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 520 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 (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #154,543 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

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

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

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.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Good introduction, April 29, 2008

By	Jonathan W. Ray "jwr" (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Well organized, funny introduction, and good examples from real commercial computer games. Uses usage statistics to prioritize tests.