Testing Techniques for PC and Console Games

Last updated on October 15th, 2022 at 07:19 pm

The process of creating or changing a game, one way or another, is based on its high-quality testing which is indispensable. Testing is the final stage that should answer the question of whether it is possible to run the game on production or not.

Any game, either a console solution or a PC product, must contain a thoroughly tested game structure without inconsistencies and defects. To get maximum benefit while executing game testing, one should operate with the maximum number of available tests, each of which has certain features.

Further, we’ll analyze the top 5 types of testing used while performing game testing.

Combinatorial Testing

This method is actively used when you perform testing commercial software and create standard test scripts for extensive development. The use of a combinatorial approach when testing game software makes it possible to cover all system components with available checks.

Key Features:

• Possibility to test all available game combinations;
• The ability to test each attribute of game mechanics separately because system configurations are subject to change;
• System generation of test data;
• Testing is based on the directory, the ability to perform pair testing, testing by section;
• The ability to choose a test parameter from elements, objects, configurations, game parameters, etc.

Clean Room Game Testing

It is the process of testing game software that is developed with a special certified level of verification (it’s related to certain game data and environments the development of which requires special technical skills).

Peculiarities:

1. All stages from development to testing undergo formal verification;
2. All tests are performed only by the testing department;
3. When generating test data, mathematical combinations and analytics can be used.

Functional Testing

First of all, it is based on the search of bugs that can really affect the user’s interaction with the game functionality.

Main advantages:

• Helps to understand whether the application works according to the verified specification or not;
• Includes black-box testing method;
• Can be really time-consuming since the tester needs to carefully check not only the gameplay but also media content and audio/video visual objects.

Compatibility Testing

Such tests are used to accurately determine whether the game software functions properly in the matter of supported platforms, what basic level of graphics and configuration of software components are required for its minimum/maximum playback. Also, QA engineers conduct such testing when they need to verify the provided list of devices and operating systems that support the game.

Peculiarities:

• Is performed as an important part of cross-platform testing;
• Allows you to determine the real (system) environment for the use of game software;
• Answers the question of whether the software is stable and efficient or not.

Regression Testing

First of all, it is performed to retest previously unmodified parts of the game software. At this stage, all previously conducted tests are performed again to be able to analyze how the previous parts of the software are currently functioning, and also to verify that the new parts of the functionality have not superseded the previous ones.

Its features:

1. Re-run of previously performed tests;
2. Visual analytics of past results with current test data;
3. Saves time on bug search before the release of game software;
4. Occasionally, it can be designed as one integral functional test for analytics of the current state of the software.

Conclusion

Modern technologies used in the development of game software require a careful approach to verification because even the slightest bug, in the end, can cause the entire system to break down.

The approach to testing such software should contain the maximum number of all possible tests that allow you to completely cover the game mechanics with exhaustive tests!