game testing services Archives - Testbytes Software

How to Find Bugs in Game Testing?

Posted on December 7, 2023December 7, 2023 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

In the dynamic world of game development, where creativity meets technology, one crucial aspect often goes unnoticed: game testing. While the spotlight shines on captivating visuals, immersive storylines, and thrilling gameplay, the game testers work tirelessly behind the scenes to ensure a smooth and enjoyable experience for players.

Game testing is vital in the development process, serving as the quality control checkpoint that guarantees a polished and bug-free game. Game testers meticulously play through every aspect of the game, identifying and reporting any glitches, errors, or inconsistencies that might hinder the player’s experience.

But the significance of game testing extends far beyond simply fixing bugs. It’s a vital tool for:

Ensuring game stability and performance: Testers identify and report issues that could disrupt gameplay, such as crashes, freezes, and lag. This ensures players a smooth and immersive experience, preventing frustration and negative reviews.
Balancing gameplay: Game testing helps maintain a balance in gameplay mechanics, ensuring that no element is too powerful or weak. This creates fair and engaging gameplay for players of all skill levels.
Identifying usability issues: Testers provide feedback on the game’s user interface and controls, ensuring they are intuitive and easy for a wider audience. This makes the game more accessible and enjoyable for everyone.
Enhancing game quality: By proactively addressing issues and collecting player feedback through testing, developers can continuously improve the game’s quality and polish, keeping players engaged and coming back for more.

In essence, game testing bridges the developer’s vision and the player’s experience. The meticulous attention to detail and relentless pursuit of quality ensure players immerse themselves in a world free from distractions and frustration, allowing them to enjoy the game’s true potential.

Game testing is crucial for ensuring a smooth and enjoyable user experience. Here are some unconventional methods, alongside examples, to uncover hidden bugs and defects:

Break the Rules:

Example: Instead of saving the game at designated checkpoints, try saving mid-action or in unusual locations. This might reveal issues with save functionality.
Example: Repeatedly press buttons rapidly or try to perform actions in illogical sequences. This can expose flaws in game logic or responsiveness.

Use Unconventional Methods:

Example: Play the game in reverse order or skip crucial steps. This can highlight missing prompts or inconsistencies in the game flow.
Example: Try walking through walls or interacting with objects in unintended ways. This can uncover collision detection problems or unintended consequences.

Test All Functions Everywhere:

Example: Try using all available items and abilities, even in seemingly irrelevant situations. This might reveal hidden interactions or unintended effects.
Example: Explore every corner of the game world, including seemingly inaccessible areas. This can expose missing textures, visual glitches, or hidden secrets.

Test Beyond the Scope:

Example: Play the game with minimal inputs or user actions. This can highlight issues with AI behavior or game balance.
Example: Play the game with maximum inputs, such as engaging in intense combat or triggering multiple events simultaneously. This can expose performance bottlenecks or stability problems.

Appoint New Testers for Each Build:

Example: Rotating testers with fresh perspectives can help identify bugs experienced testers may overlook.
Example: Different testers have different playstyles that can reveal diverse bugs and defects.

Examine Effects:

Example: Play the game with modified settings, such as changing graphics quality or audio options. This can reveal compatibility issues or performance problems.
Example: Run the game for extended periods or under extreme conditions, such as low battery or high temperatures. This can expose stability issues or memory leaks.

Test with Different Peripherals:

Example: Test the game with controllers, keyboards, and other input devices. This can unearth compatibility issues or control problems.
Example: Test the game on different audio systems and headsets to ensure optimal sound quality and compatibility.

Importance of Exploratory Testing in Game Testing

Unlike its scripted counterpart, exploratory testing embraces the unknown, inviting testers to venture beyond the confines of written test cases and delve into the depths of the game world with a curious spirit.

In game development, where captivating experiences and flawless gameplay reign supreme, exploratory testing emerges as a vital force. Unlike its scripted counterpart, exploratory testing embraces the unknown, inviting testers to venture beyond the confines of written test cases and delve into the depths of the game world with a curious spirit. This freedom fosters an environment of discovery, uncovering hidden bugs and defects that might otherwise remain undetected.

Here’s why exploratory testing is an integral part of ensuring a smooth and bug-free gaming experience:

Uncovers the Unexpected: By exploring the game world in diverse ways, testers can uncover hidden bugs that might not be triggered by following predetermined test cases. This includes triggering unexpected events, trying illogical combinations of actions, and pushing the boundaries of the game’s mechanics.
Enhances Creativity and Problem-Solving: Exploratory testing encourages testers to think creatively and approach the game from different perspectives. This leads to a deeper understanding of the game mechanics and a more comprehensive identification of potential issues.
Improves Game Quality: By proactively discovering and resolving bugs early in the development process, exploratory testing significantly improves the game’s overall quality. This reduces the risk of encountering critical bugs later in development, saving time and resources.
Adapts to Changes: Unlike scripted test cases that become obsolete with game updates and changes, exploratory testing is inherently adaptable. Testers can adjust their approach based on new features and modifications, ensuring the testing process remains relevant and practical.
Focuses on User Experience: Exploratory testing emphasizes the user’s perspective. By playing the game in a way that simulates a real player’s experience, testers can identify issues that might hinder immersion or disrupt the gameplay flow.

Beta Testing! It’s Important!

Beta testers are typically given access to an unfinished version of the game and are encouraged to play it as much as possible and report any bugs they find. This allows developers to identify and fix bugs before the game is released, which can help to improve the overall quality of the game.

In addition to finding bugs, beta testing can also help to:

Get feedback from players: Beta testers can provide valuable feedback on the game’s gameplay, graphics, and overall feel. This feedback can help developers make changes to the game before it is released.
Build hype: Beta testing can help to build hype for a game by giving players a sneak peek at what to expect. This can help to generate excitement and anticipation for the game’s release.
Identify potential problems: Beta testing can help identify potential problems with the game that may not have been apparent during development. This can help developers fix these problems before the game is released.

There are a few different ways to offer beta versions of games. Some developers release open betas, which are available to anyone who wants to play them. Others release closed betas, which are only available to a small group of people, such as friends, family, and members of the press.

Beta testing can be a great way for gamers to get their hands on a new game early and help to make it better. However, it is important to remember that beta versions of games are not always finished and may contain bugs. If you are considering participating in a beta test, it is important to be aware of the risks involved.

Conclusion

While the thrill of the game captivates players, the meticulous efforts of game testers often remain unseen. Their dedication goes beyond simply identifying bugs; it encompasses ensuring stability, balancing gameplay, and crafting a seamless experience that engages and enchants.

From unconventional testing techniques to collaborative beta initiatives, game testers bridge the gap between developer vision and player expectations. They transform raw potential into captivating journeys, ensuring that every player can truly immerse themselves in the world of the game.

If you would like to test your game, talk to us. Our solution offering is not a rigid one. We have resources and plans that can cater to any needs.

How To Choose The Best Test Management Service

Posted on July 9, 2019 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

How to choose the best test management service? Have you been baffled by this question?
Testing has been and always will be an important part of any development and creation process.
It is the only way to validate what we created is what we wanted or not. But since most of the software development is now moving to agile managing testing effectively becomes an uphill task.
Coming back to the first question, So what is the very possible way out of this?
There are many test management service providers in the market today. And they can provide you with end to end testing solutions for your business. With the testing work outsourced your team can focus on delivering with better velocity in every sprint.
There are several other advantages as well if you decide to use the help of a test management service provider. Let me now give you an insight into the advantages of using a test management service.

Independent and Impartial Validation:

One thumb rule in testing is that testing is best performed by an independent team located away from the development team for the best results. BY outsourcing your testing tasks you stick to this thumb rule. It also ensures that your testing results are impartial and accurate.

Professional Approach

In product teams focused on development, most of the time testing takes a back seat.
More often than not the processes are bypassed and rules are bent to meet the deadlines.
Consequences? Quality goes for a toss. This problem can be easily by entrusting your testing activities to a competent test management service provider.

Greater Bandwidth For Product Development

In an agile environment that has become the industry norm, the onus is on delivering standalone usable functionality after every iteration.
It is always a race against time for the developers who are not only expected to do a unit testing of their code but also a peer testing for another team member’s code.
By giving this testing task to an independent validating team the developers will get a greater bandwidth for developing their modules and also reduce the pressure for them.

Better Reporting And Tracking

The main idea behind the testing process is not only to find issues but also reporting the defects to the correct teams and tracking them to closure.

A good test management service provider would help with timely and accurate tracking of the issues and bugs.
They would also be able to provide you with the right kind of metrics and statistics which will clearly indicate the quality of your product.
Yes, we now know why it is important to avail of the services of a test management company. But do not make the mistake of selecting just any test management service provider.
You could be taking a huge risk by doing that. Testing is a very important aspect of product success.
You need to be double sure about whom you want to entrust this big responsibility. The testing is one aspect that can make or break your product.
But please don’t panic. In this section, we list some very important points which will help decide the best test management service for your business.

Efficiency

Yes, as simple as it may seem, the efficiency of the testing process is the first and foremost criteria to be considered when choosing a test management service.
By efficiency, we mean not only finding the bugs but also issues that could critically impact the software or product.
They should also be able to think out of the box and suggest changes and enhancements in the product based on its actual use.
Ideally, they would think and use the product as an end customer would do.

Industry Experience

When you decide to outsource some of your work, make sure they are capable enough to handle the work.
Choose a test management company that has an industry standing of at least 5 years or more. Also, take time to look at the profiles of their clients to understand the kind of projects they would have handled.

Focused Testing Approach

For the testing to be more effective and result oriented, it needs to be planned out well.
The best test management service provider would have a focused approach to testing which is more focused on testing the KPI (Key Performance Indicators) features.
At the same time, it will also make sure the complete product is tested effectively with all the possible data flows and integration points.

Experience And Skill

The success of the testing effort is based on the skill, experience, and expertise of the testers. The more skilled your testers are in the product and domain, the better would be the testing performed.
If you are using automation tools, then expertise in automation is also needed.
Now, when you decide to select a test management service, you need to make sure that they have the right set of people who have ample knowledge and expertise in testing products or software which may be similar to your requirement.
For example, if you are developing a mobile app, then you need to make sure the service provider has testers with exposure to mobile app testing.

Hardware Requirements

In some cases, your product or software may require some extra hardware or have some specific user requirements.
Make sure these are communicated well to the service provider at the onset to make sure they can provide the right kind of testing services.
Let us again take the example of a mobile app. While testing a mobile app, one would need to make sure that the app has a responsive design. And to test that they would need access to multiple mobile devices with different screen sizes and resolutions.

Also Read: Top 10 Mobile App Testing Companies in India

On the same lines if your mobile app needs an internet connection to talk to certain backend servers and systems, then the service provider should be able to test this internet connectivity in Wi-Fi, 4G, 3G and hot spot connections for getting accurate results.
Hence the best test management service provider should be able to handle the specific hardware and other requirements needed for complete testing of the product.

Use of Latest Tools And Technologies

The best testing service provider would have access to the latest tools and technologies in the market which would include both free and open source products.
This would ensure that the testing is done with quality and also will be in line with the latest market trends. Some service providers would have only one or two tools and would try to test every product with that.
This is not the right practice. Every product should be tested with tools that are best suited for it based on the development language, platform and also based on where it will be deployed or used.
While selecting the best test management service makes sure they are using the right tools and technologies to test your product.

Speed To Market

One of the main reasons, for selecting a third party for doing the testing, is to save time. Hence it is important the service provider can help you speed up your process and reach the market or clients faster.
In today’s fast-paced world, it is not only important to create value or products which are needed by the clients but getting them to the market first is also the key.
With new products hitting the market almost daily, your speed to market becomes a paramount criterion for product success. Choose a test management service, which can help you improve your speed to market.

Real-Time Connectivity

There are times when your product and software may be to be tested out of different regions to understand how it performs.
This is also a good reason for choosing a test management service provider.

Instead of just mocking the locations on the systems and devices, the provider should be able to provide you with real-time connectivity with people and testers as per your needs across the globe.

Budget

Last but not least the money involved. Understand that when you decide to outsource the work, there is a cost involved. Quality comes with a price.
If someone is providing you this quality dirt cheap, then there are 99% chances they are not genuine or will mess up with your work.
Don’t go for very pricey providers which may not work out for you. Choose the apt one which fits in all the above points along with your pockets too.
Taking the services of the experts in every phase of manufacturing and production is the way things are being developed and produced.
With many specialized teams and companies available it can be quite a challenge to select the one that fits you the best.
The points above would help you choose the best test management service provider for your business. Best of luck.

Do not Miss These While Testing a Game!

Posted on July 20, 2018 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Gaming, be it mobile games, PC games or console games, is a multi-million dollar industry. Interesting as it sounds; testing video games is one of the most fascinating jobs every professional dream about. Hence, high-end level game testing is crucial to any game out there.

A well tested and executed game not only meets and exceeds the expectations of the player but also throws a lot of challenges towards the tester to make the game more interesting. It must also be tested for compatibility with the cross-platform without compromising on the player’s privacy and security.
Let us discuss some important things that you shouldn’t miss while testing a game.
1. Random Number Generator Evaluation (RNG)
Arguably the most important component for the gaming platform is the Random Number Generator, which determines the outcomes for a game. The component adds unpredictability to the game an maps its outcomes based on the user’s data.
The tester is expected to first identify the game algorithm to validate and verify the predefined rules of the game. The RNG must be adequately tested to avoid predictability which exists towards the outcome of a game.
2. Break the Game
Yes, you read that right. As a video game tester, you will have to find loopholes in your program by breaking it into parts. You want to root out any possibilities that might hinder the working of your game. For achieving this, you will have to be a little unconventional in playing and testing.
Games like VainGlory, which involves millions of combinations of player actions, will require you to interact with various objects and characters, with an endless sequence of the environment. Game testers must be keen in understanding these combinations and think outside the box.
3. Measure its Social Presence.
It wasn’t too back when Facebook introduced the first social media games. In 2013, with the launch of Wii U (and Miiverse that came with it), it was obvious that social media was going to play a crucial role in the Video Games industry. Today, video games are almost connected to every social media on the internet.

Must Read : 9 Different Types of Game Testing Techniques

Social media can act as a double-edged sword for the video game testers. If used intelligently, it can serve as a platform for bringing like-minded people together and in a close-knit community. So make sure that as a game tester you have to measure the proper social media presence which may bring some interesting demographics that your game is targetting.
4. Keep the Secrets.
Being a game tester, it is required that you honor the non-disclosure agreement and demonstrate the ability to keep secrets. Many times, a game tester posts an alpha version of the game which is in violation of the NDA. This might lead to cancelling the project and cutting the company’s losses.
If by any chance you happen to appear for an interview that asks you to describe a question regarding the security of its game, you may straight away refuse as it’s under the NDA.
5. Evaluating the Game Rules
Testing any video games requires you to verify the game environment and behaviour. It also includes the game texture, elements, stability and games messages. As a tester, you need to evaluate how every aspect of the game including how each one interacts with the other. This is often neglected by majority thinking these are issues beyond the development phase.

The game needs to be thoroughly evaluated to deliver maximum gaming experience for end user. Hence, the testing phase focuses on some crucial part and breakdown to achieve realistic game behavior.
Conclusion
No product is perfect without testing for the product to the launched in the market and it applies to video games testing as well. With the enormous network of games emerging in the market every day, your game has to be tested to see how it withstand real-time concurrent load before released. Game testing is done to achieve consistent performance across all hardware/software/platform/device combinations that your target audience might use.
Technology never stops evolving and the gaming industry is always at the forefront. Hence, when recruiting for a gaming tester, the employer usually specifies what he is looking for in the desired position. So if you have the passion for games and a good understanding of various testing methods, it isn’t difficult for you.

6 Reasons iPad App Testing Services Should be Done on a Real Device

Posted on July 11, 2016 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

With the rise in use of iPads, iPad app testing services has also become crucial for companies and brands. When developing iPad applications, it’s important to perform extensive usability testing across as many different situations or conditions as possible.

Though mobile app development would include both emulators and real devices, there are certain reasons why testing on real devices usually result in better testing outcomes than using emulators.

Common Practices

Best practices would indicate that actual development should use emulators (and a few reference real handsets), while sanity and regression testing should be done on real handsets. While simulators are an inexpensive option for testing the app and it can be downloaded for free, they are suitable only at the starting stages of iPad application development. It is ideal to choose real devices for the later usability and performance testing phases.

It may be expensive to test apps on real devices as you have to buy them. However, using a mouse and keyboard on the simulator is totally different from using a finger on the mobile devices.

You May Also Like : Mobile Software Testing Guide for First Time App Developers

When Should You Introduce Real Devices

It has to be decided by individual organizations as to when real devices should be introduced, what the ideal number of devices are for covering market needs, and how those devices can be best managed.

Reliable results – It is highly recommended to use real devices for testing apps because it gives the real environment in which the app is working and also makes sure that the app delivered would be of high quality. Real handsets can always give you error-free results (no false positives or false negatives).
Better user experience – Investing in the latest versions of devices, though expensive, can deliver a better user experience. By taking into account the CPU, memory, screen size, etc, the tester can understand what actually the user will be going through.
Performance testing – By using emulators, you will not be able to test situations such as receiving a text message or phone call while using the app. With real iOS devices, you can test sign-up, login, handle data, connection speed and error messages, thus realizing performance lags.
Display/resolution variance – Display or appearance of the app may be different on an emulator as opposed to a real device. It is crucial to check app’s brightness, changes in resolution as well as dark and light situations. It’s also very hard to simulate light and dark situations on an emulator.
Device configurations – By using emulators, the whole process is dependent on the hardware. With actual devices, things can be tested directly. For the same reason, at least one real device should be used during all phases of development to assess the processing speed of the app. The emulators are not updated to reflect new devices available in the market.
Network – When it comes to network configuration, simulators usually run on the PC, connect to LAN and access the internet via corporate firewall. Here, simulators cannot be used to slow network where devices experience network issues.

Read Also : Top Automation Tools for iOS App Testing Services

The major option for testing real occurring events like incoming calls, SMS and battery consumption and the charger’s overall performance can be only done on an actual device.

Reliable companies that offer iPad app testing services maintain quality assurance by following a healthy mixture of real device and simulator testing. Before releasing your application in App/Play Store, or to devices, it’s worth testing on the device at least once.

https://www.planittesting.com/nz/insights/2015/why-use-real-devices-for-mobile-application-testin

https://testingmobileapps.wordpress.com/2016/02/22/emulator-simulator-real-device-testing

https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/basics-mobile-web-testing-real-devices-using-selenium-goldshteyn

http://blog.congruentsoft.com/how-to-test-mobile-applications-emulators-or-real-devices

http://www.hiddenbrains.com/articles/advantages-of-using-actual-devices-for-mobile-app-testing.html

Game Testing Services Skills Every Game Tester Should Have

Posted on April 13, 2016 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

Game development has increased because of the rise of mobile phones. As a result, Game Testing Services have gained much importance.

If you want to be a game tester, you ought to know what employers need from you. As a game tester, your role is crucial for the success of a game.

Read Also: The What, Why and How of Mobile Game Testing

Game Testing Services will give you completed version of a game. You have to find out glitches within the game.

So, what are the required skills?

Keen observation skill is a must for a mobile game tester. If you can’t catch bugs, better forget the job of a tester, as companies test such skills in the job interview

You should possess investigation and troubleshooting skills. Those skills are essential to find out bugs easily and rectify it as early as possible
Patience to handle repetitive and monotonous tasks
Analytic thinking is a common skill needed in the world of software testing.

Some Additional Requirements

Let’s know about some more skills expected by Game Testing Services

Diplomacy: Of course, you have the experience of playing games alone on your gadgets. Keep in mind you are going to work with a team of professionals for a company with the goal of generating income.

If you have any previous experience of working with a team, you might know the difficulty to manage your colleagues. People with big egos won’t last long. For your information, testers provide their service to other departments in the same company as well. Actually they are also your clients. Try to be a team player by keeping good relations with them.

Communication Skills: Good communication skills are very important since much of the game testing involves filling out bug reports. You are supposed to explain what went wrong in an effective way as well. Sometimes you have to write test cases and to explain your test strategy.
Ethics:As far as a tester is concerned, work ethics is very crucial. You might think if you ignore a bug nobody is going to notice it. But companies want to make sure you can be trusted and will get the job done on time.
Ability to cope with deadlines: Game Testing Services want to hire people who can meet deadlines and able to work under pressure at the same time.

What about Technical Skills?

The employer may ask if you have a technical idea of how games are built, etc. For example, if you are a localization tester you ought to have knowledge about game content construction. An idea about various security protocols and security threats are necessary for testing security. Additionally, you should be aware of various IT certification processes.

Passion for Gaming

Companies really want people who can sit in front of a game and interact with it all day long. This will be easier for people who are passionate about mobile games. If you don’t have any interest towards gaming, it is not so easy to continue in this job for long.

Qualifications Required

In most of the countries, no university is providing a course in game testing. However, skills are very often tested at the interview by the Game Testing Services.

Recommended Read : Is Testing Important for the Mobile Gaming Industry?

Some testing companies look for experienced candidates. This is because experienced testers have a good idea of the game development cycle. At the same time, inexperienced candidates may also be recruited by some employers for their specific job requirement.

Every beginner tester should understand that good knowledge, technical skills and experience are essential for every job. So, improve your skills and good luck!

The What, Why and How of Mobile Game Testing [Overview]

Posted on January 6, 2016 by tbsupadminnxtbackendacc

When hearing about mobile game testing, one of the immediate questions that come to your mind is, why is there such a distinction And how is mobile game testing different from a regular mobile application testing? This article will help answer some of these questions that you may have.
What is Game Testing?
Game testing is similar to a software testing process and is done for quality control of video games. The primary objective behind game testing is the detection and documentation of bugs in the game codes. A game tester needs key skills such as programming expertise, advanced problem-solving ability, a keen eye for detail and patience.
Why is it so Important?
Right from the point your prototype video game is out after production, the testing phase begins. The game developer’s role becomes reliant upon the requirements and suggestions supplied by the game tester. The job responsibilities for a game tester are mainly divided into two sections: Firstly, detection and reporting of the game defects, and then helping with its analysis and verification.
A gamer downloads your game on the first impression that it gives- either the description was so catchy or maybe there was a new irresistible element or a new way of approach being offered in your game. Once the gamer has decided to give it a try, an observant critic is also shaped within. If your game doesn’t keep the gamers spirits high as promised, it is definitely going to get thrown out. Besides uninstalling, maybe the user could give you negative ratings and reviews. So it is important that your game is tested rigorously.

With increasing number of mobile games being developed all over the world, the standards are going up continuously. There is no limit to the choices that a gamer can make. In order to compete and thrive in the market, you should take up the struggle of delivering the best possible quality products.
A good mobile game tester should also be a good mobile game player. They can use their experience in gaming to envision the perspective of other players, thus being able to rate the game better, and decide what’s best for its success.

Read Also: Is Testing Important for the Mobile Gaming Industry?

What is the Difference between Game Testing and a Regular Application Testing?
You can play a game and find out bugs, even if you are not an expert, unlike app testing but to reign over the industry, professional knowledge is inevitable. Untrained testers are just part of testing the alpha and beta releases and open user testing, which supplements the end phase testing. A game tester should master the discipline of testing in general, but at the same time should also have expertise in game testing as a separate stream.
Though there are similarities in the methods and procedures of mobile game and mobile app testing, the motives and goals behind testing both are entirely different. Mobile game testing must include both manual and automation processes. General categorization will involve the black and white box testing.
Black box testing: Black box testing is done to ensure the quality of functional aspects of the game. In this type of testing, there is no attempt to look into the internal structural elements of the game. For black box testing in games, major areas of focus under testing includes GUI, audio functionality, animations, realistic effects etc.
White box testing: White box testing is strictly the opposite of black box testing in terms of its role. The method here is used to test the appropriateness and efficiency of the internal structural elements of the game. The importance lies on testing the architectural and integration features.
Mobile Game Testing- Various Methods
The different spheres of game testing are very similar to that of application testing. Those notable in the field of game testing are the following.
Functional testing: This is undoubtedly the most common form of game testing performed. Mostly done manually, it requires you to play the game during the test process. A game tester should have a sound knowledge of game programming and game environments in order to discover the discrepancies associated with the performance. Automation is also a viable possibility in several areas of functional testing.
Performance testing: Testing tools are used in performance testing. As the name suggests, this test is carried out to ensure quality game performance. During performance testing, the key attributes tested are – speed, scalability, stability and reliability. Performance testing is usually divided into four- load testing, stress testing, soak testing and spike testing of which, load testing is more prominent for testing mobile games.
Game performance varies with the device interfaces in use. An extensive testing including all the popular mobile devices is important in confirming the success of your game among a wider audience. Poorly performing games doesn’t guarantee fluid experience for its users. Performance testing encompasses multiplayer testing, memory consumption testing, maximum load support testing etc. These tests can be automated with the help of test script simulations or real-world content.
Compatibility testing: Compatibility testing is done to test whether the game is compatible with the various device platforms and configurations. It is commonly done in two sections during the early and late beta time period of the game to reduce cost. Nevertheless, it is advised that you carry out the testing during the whole phases of development since this provides better insights into the compatibility issues that have crept within, if any.
Localization testing: This kind of testing is only applicable if your games are developed targeting the global market or other language users. Text in games such as titles, instructions etc. should be translated, reviewed and corrected by employing localized testers who have mastery over the local language where it is to be released. These tests are also done automatically but testers should be employed to proofread to ensure the accuracy and quality of the text.

Regression testing: Every time you make a change in your mobile game, another type of testing needs to be done, namely regression testing. Regression testing is really important where a client-server interaction is present and continuous changes are put into effect. Developers must confirm that these changes don’t interfere with the normal working of the game. Regression tests are only done as an automated testing.

You May Also Like: 5 Types of Testing to Make Your Mobile Apps User Friendly

Some key areas to focus in game testing
During game testing you must make sure that the following areas are covered under your testing methods.
User Interface and Functionality: User interface testing ensures user –friendliness of your mobile game and the functionality testing tests whether your game fulfills the functionality specifications.
An appealing user interface is the first thing any mobile game should focus on since it is from this that the user gets the first impression about the game. It directly determines the success of your game. Even when your game upholds a great idea with effective responses, if it fails to deliver a clean and sturdy UI, the game will have a hard time hitting the mark.

Testing user interface includes checking
colors and backgrounds
menu structure and functions
screen orientation and screen resolution adjustments
proper instruction execution
usability
system navigation such as loading time and display sequences
animations and audio elements apt for your game
textual matter such as instructions and dialogue messages
font and alignment errors etc.

The functionality testing checks from elements such as the ones you find in the pop-down menus, confirmation messages and other functions such as time-out and sorting.
Graphics Performance: Graphics testing should bound testing game performance over a large number of real devices and noting the respective abnormalities. Battery consumption needs to be optimum over long hours and game responses should be satisfactory under heavy loads across all the different devices. This test helps to determine your potential game responses when working on a real device platform.
Usability, User Experience and Fun-factor: Usability and user experience testing are common to all kinds of application testing. What makes game testing different is the fun-factor testing. The motive behind playing game is purely for entertainment reasons. Therefore your games are expected to provide entertainment along with great user experience.
Assessing fun-factor needs some aesthetic sense and critical thinking. Entertainment is delivered only if all other aspects of the game work together correctly and it takes good effort to accomplish. A loading lag or frequent interruptions can badly affect the user’s experience.
Multi-Player Games: Nowadays, numerous games are multi-player oriented and includes features that promote team play. These teams may include real or virtual characters. Testing multi-player features are more challenging than testing single-player elements. In multi-player games, connectivity to the server and synchronization of game status are two new important areas that need to be addressed. There are a number of issues that demands attention with respect to multi-player gaming.
Social Integrations: This encompasses the various types of testing specifically done to games that offer social integration. Social integration is included to provide users with rich gaming experiences. It allows new features such as game status updates, friend invitations, premium gift sharing etc. Testing involves ensuring problem-free working of these features.
Security Risks: Third party codes are often used to support the general functions in a game during mobile game development to reduce the work load. But these codes can compromise security and allow data breach. Identification and rectification of open source component vulnerabilities are necessary for a risk-free gaming experience.
Maintaining Balance: Creating a balance throughout the entire game is unavoidable for its logical integrity. There should be balance in the different levels of the game. For example, levels should be arranged in increasing order of difficulty or there should be opportunities to unlock more powers in the upper levels. Ensuring balance requires knowledge of the entire game design.
Levels in the Game: In game level testing, each of the levels in your game is tested for any working problem. This is a complex and time-consuming process especially if the world is vast and 3 dimensional. Complexity increases proportionately with increase in the levels. There are automation tools available where tester bots are allowed to roam randomly throughout the world and thereby any world level defects are detected.
AI for Game Opponents: Artificial intelligence refers to the computer-controlled counterparts in your games. This is a complicated task and it requires the tester to understand what activates the system for a particular response. Chess is a typical example where an artificially intelligent counterpart is employed.
Physics Engines: Real-time physics engines are widely used in games, especially in 3-dimensional video games to simulate the physical phenomenon, interactions and dynamics of physical entities. The simulation needs to be only approximate which gives a perceptually real representation of an object or a movement rather than being physically accurate. A bullet shot or a combat should show the likeness of a real world happening.

Nowadays, soft body dynamics and fluid dynamics are used in games to give effect to clothes, leaves, fluid motion and the like apart from using rigid body dynamics for objects like rocks and building. Testers working with physics engines must have a basic idea of the physical attributes of different objects and the various dynamics in the physical world.

Realistic Games: With the progress in various mobile device performance delivered by high power processors and better quality graphics hardware, video games now tends towards being more of real-world representations. Racing games features models of original cars and there are other games where characters are more life-like with minute details given to even the movement of hair.

Apart from graphics quality, realism is achieved by providing the right perceptional approximations, cause and effect relationship, right emotional expressions to characters etc.

Testing virtual reality requires hard work and subject knowledge. An understanding of the respective field is important for the game tester, for e.g. weapon techniques, component specific operations, vehicle controls, animal behaviors and instincts etc.

Mobile gaming testing is a vast area, and as mobile gaming becomes more mainstream, proper testing can make or break your fortune. So, try to find the right game testers for your mobile gaming app.