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There is a number of objective reasons

As has been repeatedly pointed out, game testing is one of the key stages of game development that requires urgent attention, while the work of QA tester games influences the amount of bugs directly. But why PC games are oftentimes oozing with errors and glitches? Why the practice of implementing numerous patches to the already released games became so common (just remember a Gothic 3 example)? Developers become lazy and stagnate and believe that the practice of developing effective patches is more reasonable than testing unreleased games?

First (and perhaps, the most important), computer games differ from console analogs implying that all end users are using the same equipment: PlayStation, Xbox and Nintendo 64 are exactly the same in America, Europe and Asia, with the minor exceptions as for software being used.

Now think about how many users all over the globe have identical configurations. There are zillions of different hardware and software combinations, so the task of achieving the correct operation in the game program for each of these combinations becomes a complex puzzle, and the development of games for the PC begins to resemble a shooting at a moving target.

Secondly, computer games industry is a rigid business. If the game does not hit the shelves on time, the manufacturer will lose money (especially during the seasons of profitable sales). Speeding up the process means inevitable cutting down the time available for a QA tester games. Additionally, major game publishers are publicly traded, so they are required to publish quarterly financial reports. One failed quarter may adversely affect the company’s stock price. Being under pressure from the press and the obligations to the retail chain many companies at some points have no other options but to produce frankly raw products, accompanying them with comments like ‘bug fixes to be available in a couple of weeks’. As a result, the user is disappointed in the company’s products, giving up the buyer’s role.

According to Matt Gravett, coordinator of the famous PC Data research service, responsible for information on sales of video and computer games, every year in December alone console games are sold in excess of 30%, and PC games – 25% of the annual sales. That is why many publishers release their game prematurely, with the only thought to get things done around Christmas time.

QA tester games habitable zones

A variety of approaches to testing games for errors and compatibility can be divided into two groups.