Today we’re going to tackle the scam behind Video Game Testing “jobs”. As with most online jobs, does Video Game Testing exist? Sure. Are the ads you see real? Probably NOT.
THE SCAM
So lets talk about how to spot a scam Video Game Testing gig.
First, if you see anything that sounds too good to be true. You’re not goingto make $80 a day. You could not even earn $80 a day if you were to test video games full time. You have better luck making $80 freelancing articles or working with legitimate affiliate programs…or working 12 hours at Taco Bell.
Second, if any “employer” asks for you to pay them any amount, it’s bogus. There’s no such thing as an “application processing fee” or a “fee to access databases”, etc. If you went into Taco Bell for that $80 a day job and they asked you for $20 to process your application you’d tell them where to shove that application, right? So then why would you pay an online company? A real job pays YOU, not the other way around.
And here’s the biggest part –
Third, you’re never going to get “sent games weekly to test”. In fact, you’re never going to get sent a game, period! This isn’t how any kind of software testing is done! If they sent you unreleased games they’d be screwed! You could bootleg them, sell them to competitors, leak information, etc! Think about it; movies, game and music are a few of the most easily pirated iems because anyone with a decryption program can do it!
This is all a scam to rip you off for hundreds of dollars worth of “secret charges”, which we’ll discuss at the end of this article.
THE TRUTH
Legit testing is out there. I have done it, here’s how it works;
You register for free and fill out a profile. You may even have to take a sort of “aptitude/skill test”. Then, when the company has a “job” that fits your skills and interests, they will do one of two things;
- Usually you’re given private access to a specific password protected website. You must sign papers stating that you will not share any information. If you talk about the game, leak info, etc, you’ll wind up in court and have to apy a lot of money. Once you log in your given specific “assignments”. For example, you’re first task is to create an account for the game then play the first level. After this is done you have a ton of questions to answer about it (surveys). Then you have another assignment which may be to play level 4 and try and use a feature. Then surveys…get it?
OR
- Less commonly, you could be hired to go to a destination and play the game. You’re not going to dodge the paperwork or survey either way. You don’t get to “keep” the game. You don’t get to even take it home.
Either way, after testing has been completed you’ll usually earn something.
pay is generally between $50 - $100 for the entire project. My projects have lasted several weeks. Some companies will pay you less than send you a copy of the RELEASED game to keep in exchange for your time. Others just pay you.
MISCONCEPTIONS
• Your name is NOT going to be found in the “credits” of the game.
• You are NOT helping “influence the hottest games”. You are more-or-less looking for errors.
• You will NEVER “test games” for a living…unless you want to live off water and crackers
SO WHY IS EVERYONE PROMOTING IT?
The painful truth is that so many bloggers promote this all out garbage because shady affiliate companies will pay them as much as $30 per each person they can get to sign up to become a FAKE “Video Game Tester”
OK, I ALL READY SIGNED UP AND PAID, NOW WTF DO I DO?!
So you fell for the scam, it’s important that you hurry and take action, more than likely, you are in for a long haul…especially if you used your CREDIT OR DEBIT CARD.
When you sign up for a scam company they have fine print hidden on their terms page that says something like “After signing up you will be auto enrolled into other programs of interest”. What this means is that as soon as you click that little box that said you accepted “terms”, you agreed to let the “Video Game Testing Company” use your credit/debit card info and sign you up for more programs. I have seen this spiral out of control.
ARTICLE CONTINUES BELOW:
For example, if you sign up with a company called VID TEST for $30, they will secretly enroll you in their sister company GAME TST for another $30 as well as PRO TSTER for $70. Then the additional two companies enroll you in more companies – none of which you know about until your credit card bill arrives 30 days later.
You will want to call the main company ASAP. Tell them you demand to be canceled from their program. Record the employee’s name and employee id with whom you speak with. Then ask the employee if you were AUTO ENROLLED in ANY other program, websites, etc. If they say “yes”, demand all the names, address and phone numbers of each one. You need to go through this same process for each company. Hopefully you’ll be able to end the problem.
If it has been over 14 days and you haven’t canceled, seriously, consider canceling your card. Tell the credit card company you lost your card and you’d like to be sent a new one. This is the easiest way to stop all future charges from happening.
WORD TO THE WISE
If you EVER see anything like this online that you want to register for, even though I strongly suggest NOT registering in the first place, be SURE to use a prepaid debit card. This way the company will never take another penny from you if they are a scam.
HOW TO FIND A LEGIT VIDEO GAME TESTING JOB
You’ll be hard pressed to find a real gig like this unless you’re in the industry. However, you CAN do some of your own research. If you go to certain sites you’ll find links on them for “employment” or “work with/for us” or “testing”.
Second, if you’re dead set on doing this for a living, you’ll want to take some courses in video gaming as a whole. http://www.gamediscovery.com/game-design/computer-game-design-schools.asp Here’s a list of colleges that offer classes.
ALTERNATIVES
If you truly have a passion for gaming, then why not become a freelancer and write about the hottest games? This way you don't have to spend any money and you WILL get paid! Plus, freelancing is great because it opens a lot of doors. Maybe a company will read your articles and offer you the testing position!
Also, if you stick to freelancing, you'll be amazed at how many freebies you get from your niche. If you write for a solid year or so, you'll begin to get noticed and companys MAY send you their newest RELEASES to have yo write about!
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