Become a Video Game Tester to Earn Huge Income

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Video game testing is considered as the subset for the games project developments. It’s the software development process which is used for testing the quality and control of the video game which has been developed till now. The major and the primary function of the testing is to discover and document the defects of the game.

It requires the candidate to be expert in computing, analytic competence, endurance and skills evaluation. In the recent years the game testing has come under the fire and is extremely strenuous task to handle both financially and emotionally.

Roles associated with testing and their working
Processes of Testing
How to become a Video Game tester
Who should go for video game testing work?
Sites which earn you funds for testing games
Do Video Game Testers Make Good Money?
How do You Get Paid to be a Game Tester?
How Much Does a Video Game Tester Make a Month?
How do I Become a Video Game Tester at Home?
Can I Get Paid to Play Video Games?
Can You be a Game Tester at 13?
Can You be a Game Tester Without a Degree?
How Much do QA Testers Make?
How to Start a Career in Video Games?
What App Pays The Most For Playing Games?
How do You Become a Gamer?

Roles associated with testing and their working

The roles and the regulations of the industry differs a lot and specially in the case of the testing part

Producers of the game are responsible for the planning of the proper testing guidelines and the deadlines which are co-ordinated with the timelines of the marketing team. So that the module or the package is ready before sending it for the clients working. Their approval is required when you are sure for submitting the item.
Test lead or the Lead Tester or QA (Quality Assurance)-one who is responsible for checking whether the game is working perfectly or not and if not then highlighting the bug lists which could be sent again to the developers for improving them. They work closely with the programmers and the designers during the completion of the project. They are also responsible for tracking the bugs report and finding out whether it has been fixed or not. Also responsible for checking whether the quality assessment team is working properly or not. They check for removing the duplicate bugs reported and also waiting for the proper clarification with respect to the issues coming in. They are also responsible for compiling the representation samples of the footage of the videos so that it could be sent to the regulatory bodies like ESRB and PEGI. The person who holds this post is generally a qualified and experienced producer or aspiring designer.
Testers-are the one who checks for the games working status like the actions which has been set on the particular click is clear or not, whether the navigation is apt with the point of the user. They may be assigned with the single game during their entire production and should be aware about the working of the game. But he can also be shifted to some other areas of the testing which depends on the requirement of the team
SDET (Software Development Engineer in Test)- SDET is also mentioned as the technical tester. They are responsible for the building of the automated test cases and the frameworks for the problems which are complex in handling such as the overall game working and the security. They do have the strong software development skills but the skills will help the other tester in tracing out the bugs. But there are many scenarios when these testers are not at all required and the company can work without their help.

Processes of Testing

The way in which the testing should progress is as under-

Identification
Reporting
Analysis
Verification

How to become a Video Game tester

Here are few tips which could help you become a video game tester to earn huge income. Please ensure that you follow all of them with proper care and attention. Let’s have the look on them-

Enhance your Contacts

You just can’t wait and watch for the appropriate time to come and improve or explore your business. You would be only responsible for doing so. Please take the initiative to interact with the prospective clients regarding your work. Go straight to the companies who are into the world of the games and showcase your skills with respect to the video games.

Become a Professional

You should be confident in sharing how many games you have played and helped track out the issues which were on the video games. Spend more hours on the games which could help you in handling or judging the issues coming up on them.

Take the Tasks seriously and effectively

Be professional in handling the task whenever you receive it. The reading and understanding of the work is really important. If you are able to know the issue then that is when you would be able to track down the problem and send it. You should be sure of what kind of issues or problems the clients or the company is looking for, so that you could present them accordingly.

Keep track of the work you are doing

The details of work have to be maintained and sent to the clients. Ensure that there are no silly spelling mistakes which generally do occur. Keep on taking the data backup of the work you have performed. Even if you are working for the fun of it, because it’s the record which can help you in case some times the issue arises on the system since you are not sure of what’s going to happen next.

Look for new assignments and its completion

After you are closed with the first assignment you would be highly excited to move further to another project. Do ensure that you are aware about the rules and regulations and the terms and conditions set forth by the company. You can start building up your profile on the professional sites and get the feedback from the clients you have worked for, as their views would be an asset for showcasing the skills.

Who should go for video game testing work?

If you are really interested in moving ahead and taking video game testing as your profession, then you can look forward and take note of the following steps:

Firstly, if you are staying in the metropolitan cities then there must be possibilities of many of the video game companies in your vicinity. You can go over there and ask them regarding the testing work, check the classified ads which come in the newspaper and also from the websites itself. In case of the classifieds you just fill the form and wait for the call.

Network with your other gaming friends and try to establish the contacts inside the companies across your area. Ensure that what you are expressing should be in the appropriate terminology. For example, where you are applying for the job, you should be clear about your goals and aims and the field in which you are interested in.

Secondly, be professional in presenting yourself and the skills you are possessing in the interview. The confidence which you show to them is only going to solve the purpose of your work on the testing. Speaking the appropriate technical terms and the terminology will ensure that you are serious and they would love interacting more with you and would be eager to hand over the work to you.

Thirdly, if you are using the game testing as one of the stepping stone for the game design then you need to make your credentials absolutely clear regarding the qualifications you are having and the other certifications with respect to your required skills.

Fourthly, reading and understanding the requirement of the client is quite important because based on that only you would be able to handle the work. Plan your own work pattern and stick to the rules which need to be taken note of.

The average game tester salary could range from somewhere around 15 to 20 thousand dollars per year and all the way up to around 80 to 100 + thousands per year. Other way round is that the earning depends on how many work or assignment he has taken up and what is he going to get on them.

There are many options for the testers whether they are working on the task to task basis or are working on the contractual basis or on the permanent employees of the companies.

This all depends on the requirement of the client, like whether they are looking for experienced or the skilled tester or are looking for the fresher – to whom they can encourage and inspire them and train them according to their requirement.

The progress of the tester depends on the per project basis and does have some specific criteria which could determine who is the best. The testing job is not on the regular basis because, its requirement occurs when the project is about to complete or is on the verge of completing. Due to which you would have to search for some other work on the regular basis.

May be there can be the chance that you will have to wait for the longer duration and then you would get the work according to your interest. The best way to keep in loop is by being in contact with your team members and the owners who have offered you the deal.

Increase your social network with the help of all the social networking sites and also sharing your experience with your team members and the people who are raising the problems with respect to the testing.

Get involved with lots of testing work with respect to video games, as it is believed that once you are having the hands on experience you know where you need to dig the market and how to handle any issue which arises when you are testing.

As much as you practically work, you are going to reach the higher heights, which could not be accessed by any one. It’s your will power and understanding which is going to encourage you for moving ahead in the market. For testing the video games there are no specific age barriers set forth by the organizations.

Sites which earn you funds for testing games

Technology enhancements have encouraged many people to come forward and earn money online in their spare time. There are lots of sites which help the testers to come forward and get them-selves enrolled on their sites and earn handsome amount with their playing of the games and checking the quality of the upcoming games and providing them with the feedback.

Based on the feedback they would be able to make the changes which could help them in making their gaming system robust without any issues on it. Due to which the popularity of the product is going to increase and people are going to love playing the game.

As no clients or the users would love to play the games which are not error free and have lots of issues in it. So companies want that the testing should be so robust that whatever issues have to come should come in the stage of testing only and not when it is on in the market.

On the sites of testing you can select the work according to your time and the durations which you could handle. There is no specific time line that you will have to finally close the project within the stipulated time span.

But in some cases you will have to spend some extra time and effort to track the issues as they could be the projects which are complex in nature and should be understood in the better manner. Especially the calculations part when the video gaming with respect to the trading or other devices are developed.

When you become the tester you would get the opportunity to deal with all the latest video games and review their work and send the feedback. As the feedbacks are going to provide the clients with the appropriate issues which are arising while the testing part was on.

With those feedbacks, they will assign their technical team with the issue and ask them to solve it. You would be also given the option of going through the codes, secrets and also would be given the opportunity of joining the seminars and the conferences which could help you in enhancing your knowledge and skills.

The more you explore, the more you are going to gain….so keep on exploring without any hesitation and keep on gaining the experience of testing and brighten your future with the skill set. It is really worthwhile becoming a video game tester to earn huge income.

Do Video Game Testers Make Good Money?

The average annual salary for video game testers is $53,030, but those with years of experience in the industry can end up making over $70k a year. However, there are lots of temporary and part time hourly jobs testing video games that pay around $10-15 per hour.

Perks of being a tester include being able to see the latest games before they are released, getting a foot in the door for future work, and getting experience that can boost your resume for other work in the gaming industry.

How do You Get Paid to be a Game Tester?

There are many basic skills and abilities that you will need for a career as a video game tester, but probably the most important attribute is experience with video games. You need to understand the top genres of games, know what makes for a good video game, and grasp the essentials of game play. Knowing video games, however, is just a start.

It might surprise you to learn that strong writing and communication skills are essential for a good video game tester. The ability to write in a clear, brief, and effective manner will help you describe the glitches you find and how you found them. Your clear writing will give developers a clear path to addressing the issue and creating a fix. You don’t have to be a poetic, colorful author; you need to be a clear, concise, and detailed communicator.

As a video game tester, you will also have to understand basic troubleshooting. While you won’t have to solve specific problems with the game, you will have to recreate, often dozens of times, the specific sequence that led to the glitch. Finding a bug can be simple, but recreating the steps to reproduce the result can be a challenge.

Broad knowledge of video games and different genres can be a great asset. If you only know how to play shooter games, for instance, you will be limited in the companies and products you can work on.

However, if you have skills in many different types of games, and on multiple different platforms—from game consoles to mobile—you will have more opportunities in this field.

While most of the work testing games is looking for technical or programming errors, game testers may also be asked to evaluate the storyline of the game for consistency, so a strong understanding of narrative structure and ability to remember story details will also help you on the job.

Critical thinking skills, good communications skills, technical writing ability, and game-playing experience are all required for jobs as a tester. There can be a lot of competition for QA jobs in the game industry, so developing your skills is crucial to standing out from the pack.

Personality Traits

First of all, a high-quality video game tester will have a strong knack for details. Gaming proficiency is required, but you’ll need to take it even further by spotting glitches that are so small the average player will never notice them. A good game tester will have to spot these tiny details and point them out to the developer. You can fully expect to be tested on details when interviewing for a game testing job.

Also, you won’t last long in game testing without a tolerance for repetition. You may have to play a level over and over again, attempting to perform every possible task or interact with every computer-based character, walking through all the possible actions in order to make sure they function properly.

A good video game tester will also be a team player and have a strong work ethic. The ability to meet deadlines and work independently will also contribute to a long video game tester career.

How Much Does a Video Game Tester Make a Month?

Your game tester salary will depend on your education, experience level, and skills.

According to the Glassdoor, the average salary for testers is about $55,030 annually. Entry level QA workers, with between zero and one year of experience, earn an average of $42,186 per year. Testers with one to three years of experience average roughly $47,151 a year.

The average for workers with four to six years of experience is $53,849, while the average for the most experienced testers is $67,454 per year.

Not all video game tester jobs are salaried positions. Many game companies hire temporary game testers, sometimes through temporary agencies, or even part time video testers. These positions mean that you would be a contract worker rather than a salaried employee with benefits.

Some positions offer very low pay, barely above minimum wage, but these jobs can be a way to get some experience to decide if you want to pursue a career in the industry.

Many tester jobs are paid hourly rather than salaried, meaning that you will get paid for any hours over 40 hours you work per week.

However, budgets on most games are tight, so companies will often just want you to work extra hard in your regular work hours rather than pay you for overtime. No matter how you are paid, you will be expected to be highly productive during your work hours if you want to keep your job.

Salaried, full time jobs will likely come with benefits like health insurance, but those who work in temp positions or part time will likely need to provide their own health insurance.

Because many jobs are contract, working as a video tester while you are studying to complete a degree means you can keep your student benefits while you hone your skills for more permanent work in the video game industry.

How do I Become a Video Game Tester at Home?

Just as in every field, the requirements for becoming a video game tester depend on the position for which you apply. Some game developers prefer to hire testers as quality control personnel and create entry-level jobs to this effect.

However, other employers wish to employ testers who have a higher understanding of programming and software development. In particular, organizations that have moved to automated testing will look for QA testers with these skills. No matter how much automated testing is done, however, there is always a need for testers to spend time with games.

Tips on becoming a video game tester

Study.com offers the following advice to those who wish to pursue a career as a video game tester:

Hone your skills as a video game player. Almost every game developer is looking to hire someone who is both talented and passionate about gaming. Familiarize yourself with gaming terminology and trends. It may be helpful to join a social media network devoted to gaming or start a blog on the subject. You should also seek to be well-rounded in the kinds of games you can play. You might already be an expert at certain genres, but give new games a shot as well.
Get technical training. Though not all employers require a college degree for entry-level game-testing positions, it’s not a bad idea to expand your career options by obtaining a degree in computer programming, software development or graphic design. Well-rounded job applicants will have an easier time climbing the corporate ladder and might have a more fruitful career in the gaming industry.
Gain some technical experience by learning how to write a bug report, participating in public beta tastes of games, and interning at gaming companies. The more experience you can add to your resume, the better.

Can I Get Paid to Play Video Games?

1. Become a Professional Gamer

Yes, mom and dad, that’s a ‘thing.’ Pro Gamers are now competing around the world, and winning millions at events sponsored by the Major League Gaming circuit, the International Dota 2 championship, and Intel Extreme Masters. MLG has built arenas across the country from which to host and stream live professional gaming events. It even has scouts and communities on the internet to find the best, untapped players.

The best advice for how to get involved is to pick a game, namely one you consider yourself already good at playing, and become an expert at it. Then, build your reputation as both a skilled player and a team player. Then, participate in eSports games.

2. Game Tester

The most basic difference between a Quality Assurance tester and a ‘Game Tester’ or ‘Beta Tester’ is that QA deals with a product that’s already met a certain level of quality as desired by the developers. Being a ‘Tester’ involves literally trying to ‘break’ a game, or find out ways to mess it up or analyze why it may or may not be fun for users.

3. Quality Assurance Tester

Video games are ultimately the result of computer programming – getting a computer to react the way the developer and gamers want it to, to look right, and perhaps feel as realistic as possible, like Star Trek’s ‘Holodeck.’ To achieve this, game design companies need some independent people to play them to tell them what is good or what is bad, what works and what doesn’t.

That’s where being a QA tester comes in. The designers and developers need to know how users feel about a new game or upgraded design, not just that it has some technical problems. They’re not testing the wiring or circuitry or power supply. They’re testing, like kids with a new toy, how much more fun a new or upgraded game is for players than those already in the market.

QA testers don’t just play a game through to its highest possible level. They play different designs, different builds, multiple times, until they can find nothing to object to, and report they had fun.

Think of working in QA as being paid to solve multiple puzzles. Any glitch or mistake or thing wrong in a program has to be reproducible, so developers can figure out how to eliminate it.

Much of QA work is contract work, so don’t expect to get rich. But it still could pay between $10 and $15 an hour, and that’s better than your average minimum-wage job.

Can You be a Game Tester at 13?

It will be difficult to get a job as a game tester if you are 13. However, there are other jobs you can do to make money online and offline.

1. Before becoming a game tester, you must ask your parents for permission. Some games include violence, adult content and curse words. Make sure your parents are okay with this.

2. Next, you should assess your experience with video games and troubleshooting. Have you played video games before? Do you know how to navigate your way around a video game? Do you know what to look for in terms of glitches and bugs in the game?

These are some of the questions you must ask yourself to figure out your skill level. If you are not extremely familiar with concepts like this, you should probably do some research since these are key things a company will look for in a game tester.

3. Now you must figure out if you have a platform to test games on. If you have multiple types of consoles, that will greatly benefit you since you can test a variety of games on a variety of platforms. If you only own one, then you will only be able to test games relating to that console.

If you do not own a console at all, we would recommend purchasing one. If you prefer other platforms like a PC or a Nintendo DS, Amazon also carries all of those as well. It is all about what platform you want to game on.

4. Next, you would find a company that is in need of game testers. You could find the companies by doing some research online and emailing them. If you or your family knows anyone who personally makes their own games, such as on the App Store or Google Play, you could also request them to let you test the game before it is launched. It may take some time to find a company with an open position, but once you do you’re in good shape.

Once you find an open position, you can apply and if you get hired, you’re all set! If you don’t get hired right away, just keep applying. These jobs come up often and once you find the right company, you can work there for quite some time getting experience testing games,

Can You be a Game Tester Without a Degree?

While you don’t need a college degree to be a game tester, having one can help you find a job. Game testing is a competitive market, so any qualifications you have that might make you an attractive candidate are useful.

The most helpful degree subjects are those that give you a better understanding of the technical aspects of game design and programming. These include computer animation, interactive game development and computer science. A degree could also help you advance in your career from testing to game design or development.

How Much do QA Testers Make?

The average Software QA Tester salary in the United States is $69,437 as of March 29, 2021, but the salary range typically falls between $60,048 and $79,239.

Salary ranges can vary widely depending on many important factors, including education, certifications, additional skills, the number of years you have spent in your profession. With more online, real-time compensation data than any other website, Salary.com helps you determine your exact pay target.

How to Start a Career in Video Games?

Here are 5 strategies you can use to break into your first job at a video game studio, along with examples of pro developers that have done it. It worked for them, and it can work for you.

1. Post your work on discussion boards

If you’re an aspiring game developer, you might spend a lot of time lurking around discussion boards and soaking up as much knowledge as you can. But you know who else reads those discussion boards? Professional game developers do.

That’s why it’s a perfect way to get your work seen by game studios, which can help you build industry connections and could even lead to a job offer.

Caleb Parrish is a Game Art Director, but he didn’t start out that way – he was an unemployed artist trying to land his first game job, and spent his time posting his work on discussion forums. Caleb explained, “Early on, I would post a lot of the work I was doing on forums like CGchat.com (now GameArtisans.org) or Polycount.org. Eventually I got good enough that someone noticed and offered me a job.”

Stop lurking, and start posting. Engage with the other participants on the boards, many of which are professional game developers looking to hire somebody new. You might just end up with your first job in games.

2. Start a gaming blog

If you’re gunning for a job writing about games or running a gaming community, the best way to get started might be to just… start.

Jason Van Beveren was working a typical corporate job when he realized that what he really wanted was a job in games. “I started writing an online gaming blog. I had hopes that I’d catch someone’s eye. I also wanted to know if I was any good at it. It only took a month before I was noticed by Parris Lilly, who asked me to run a gaming website he was co-managing.”

Just a few years later, Jason is now Head of Player Experience at a game studio. Where could you be in a few years, if you get started now?

3. Build your own indie games

You always hear the question, “How can I get experience making games, when game studios won’t even hire me unless I have experience?” Well the answer is simple: Make a game, and then – voila! – now you have some experience.

Dan Posluns programmed little games for his Apple IIc and his TI-85 calculator, and kept making indie games until he was noticed by an established game studio. He told us, “I actually spent some time working on websites before being pursued and ultimately recruited by a game company. They had noticed my homebrew Gameboy Advance work online, and got in touch to offer me a job interview.”

There are more, better, free game dev tools available now than ever before. Dan created his first indie games on a calculator! With everything that’s available for you to download and start creating video games today, you’re officially out of excuses.

4. Get an entry-level job as a Game Tester

Of all the jobs in the game industry, the job of Game Tester is the easiest to get. Why? Partly because most testing jobs don’t require a college degree or other specialized training, so anybody can apply. But also because many game testers eventually move into other jobs on the game team, so there’s always room for new testers to fill in the vacancies.

Merric Shank started out as a game tester: “A few years and a few companies later, I was still in QA. But I made sure that my boss knew I was interested in learning more about production and that I was eager for more responsibility. After a while, I was given the opportunity to help out on a game – and after a successful trial run I was promoted to Associate Producer.”

Kelly Toyama, now a Senior Game Designer, also started out as a game tester – but he didn’t let that job title stop him from contributing to design on his game team, and that caught the eye of his bosses. He says, “I started in QA but design has always been my passion. Game design is a funny thing: Just because you have the title doesn’t mean you can do it, and not having the title shouldn’t stop you.”

The game industry is full of programmers, artists, designers and others that started out as entry-level video game testers. The thing is, once you have your foot in the door, it’s easy to learn more about game development and how a game studio works from the inside out. You make connections, you learn, and you grow. From there, the opportunities are yours to take ’em or leave ’em.

5. Get an internship at a video game studio

If you have a skill that can be used in game development such as programming, art, or sound design, you might be able to get a job at a game studio even if you’ve never built an actual game. Not every studio has an “official” game developer internship program, but most are open to the idea of a part-time, temporary, inexpensive (or free) worker that could help them finish their game.

Jaclyn Shumate got her start as a game audio intern. She says, “I was curious about audio engineering so I signed up for some classes… and I fell in love with it. I looked around for internships at game company startups, which seemed like the most interesting avenue to explore for me, and was fortunate enough to find one. That was eight years ago. I’ve been happily employed in many different roles in game audio ever since.”

You want a job in games, and game studios want inexpensive workers. Get in touch with a game studio near your home and find out if they have an internship – it might just be a perfect match.

What App Pays The Most For Playing Games?

While they won’t make you rich, there are many apps that reward you for playing games or completing simple tasks on your phone. Some of these apps pay real money to the people that use them. There are dozens of these apps out there and, yes, many of them are sketchy or scams. But there are a few that are not only legit but worth it.

You won’t be able to replace your full-time job with these apps but they can give you some extra pocket change so you can treat yourself to something nice.

1. Swagbucks ($5 Bonus)

Where to play: iPhone, Android, and Swagbucks.com
How much can you earn: $2 – $4 per hour
How much does it cost to play: $0 for most games. Some have cash entry costs.
Payment method: PayPal. You can also redeem for other rewards like merchandise and gift cards.

2. MyPoints ($10 Bonus)

Where to play: iOS, Android, and myPoints.com
How much can you earn: $2 – $4 per hour
How much does it cost to play: Free
Payment method: PayPal and gift cards

3. Mistplay

Where to play: Android
How much can you earn: $3 – $5 per hour
How much does it cost to play: Free
Payment method: Gift cards

4. Publishers Clearing House

Where to play: iPhone, Android, or PCH.com
How much can you earn: Highly variable
How much does it cost to play: Free
Payment method: Cash and gift cards

5. Long Game

Where to play: iPhone, Android
How much can you earn: Highly variable
How much does it cost to play: Free
Payment method: Cash deposit to your savings account

6. Givling

Where to play: iPhone and Android
How much can you earn: Variable
How much does it cost to play: Free ($.50 per play after two free plays per day)
Payment method: Cash and payments toward your student loans

How do You Become a Gamer?

Anyone who loves games has probably wondered how to become a pro gamer. Whether you’re looking to get into solo or team competition, there is a blueprint to launching a gaming career.

1. Find Your Motivation

As with anything in life, it’s important to play Esports for the right reasons. The love of competition, the satisfaction of growing as a player, and the sense of contributing to a team and community are all valid reasons to play.

In the long run, positive motivations are what keeps players engaged. Players who are motivated by cash, fame, and quick success, on the other hand, will likely burn out before ever turning pro. Loving the game will make a world of difference during daily practice as you gradually acquire the skills to turn pro.

2. Pick Your Game

The next step is to find your game. There are two schools of thought here: either pick a game that’s up-and-coming or go with a well-established game.

The value of picking a game that’s established as an Esport is that the infrastructure and resources are already in place to support pro gaming. Longstanding Esports titles like League of Legends, Dota 2, and CounterStrike: Global Offensive (CS:GO) have large, dedicated player bases and, by extension, sponsored tournaments with lucrative prizes. The downside is that they are tougher scenes for newcomers to break into.

When a game is up and coming, players have an opportunity to help excavate the game and advance the meta, which tends to be more volatile and accommodating of different play styles at the outset.

Founding players of games like Rocket League and PlayerUnknown’s Battlegrounds, for instance, have found themselves propelled to the center of the Esports stage. That said, there’s also a risk that a game’s competitive scene will fail to thrive, at which point you may have to pick a new game.

Our advice is to try a few out and stick with the one you truly love. You’re going to be playing it a lot.

3. Join the Community

As much as pro gaming is about individual talent, it’s also about the culture surrounding the game. Before investing too much time learning the nuts and bolts of a specific game, spend some time lurking on forums and other places where players congregate.

The experience will provide a better indication of the path ahead, and you’ll be able to judge if the pro player journey aligns with your personal goals and motivations.

Immersing yourself in a game’s scene is essential to advancing your career, so make sure you enjoy the company of other players. For one thing, the finer points of a game’s meta are sussed out on message boards, forums, and YouTube channels.

Players need to interact with each other in order to keep track of the evolving meta and also to iterate on it — contributing back to the scene they belong to.

Plus, community is a powerful motivation for staying invested in a game long-term.

4. Gear Up

Make sure you’re playing on the right gear, starting with a good gaming mouse, and mechanical keyboard. There are a lot of options when it comes to peripherals — varying in size, form factor, and sensitivity — but it’s best to choose the one that works for you.

Whichever peripherals you choose, it’s good practice to use the same mouse and the same keyboard every scrim, every game. Just look at pros today. The equipment they use at the gaming house is the same equipment they will use to compete with on-stage.

Developing familiarity with your peripherals makes it easier to transition to a tournament environment, where nerves and pressure come into play.

Consistency is also a factor when it comes to hardware. Pro gaming event organizers are conscientious of selecting system components that won’t hamper gameplay with lag or erratic frame rates. The performance of your gaming laptop or gaming PC should follow suit. To learn more about improving your gaming experience, check out our guides on what to look for in a processor, gaming monitor, and storage space.

5. Practice

With in-game matchmaking and premium third-party matchmaking services like ESEA, it’s easy to find people to play against. But if you want to win, you’ll need to practice.

First, master the game’s mechanics. Concentrate on learning game-specific skills until they become ingrained in your muscle memory. Whether that’s last-hitting in a MOBA, aiming with accuracy in an FPS, or maximizing actions-per-minute in an RTS, these skills never lose their importance. Pro players practice mechanics tirelessly to stay sharp and make minute improvements, but players who are just starting out should improve dramatically with practice.

While you’re honing your skills, start researching the game’s overarching strategy. A good Esport has many layers of strategy, ranging from situational strategy — such as the role of a jungler lurking between lanes — to top-tier meta.

Understanding your role in a given situation is a good place to start, as the meta used by the pros — like the nearly unstoppable GOATS strategy that dominated Season 1 of Overwatch League — can be too complicated for beginners to coordinate.

Still, there’s a lot to be gained from watching top players. Both videos and live-streams are great resources for learning good in-game habits and provide a reference point for how you should be playing the game.

Later on, as you’re getting better, reviewing replays of your own matches will allow you to break down your play style and learn from your mistakes. All the best players do it.

6. Climb the Ladder

If you want to become a pro, it takes a strong desire to win at every phase of competition. This means topping the scoreboard in pick-up groups, climbing the ladder in matchmaking, and being the last team standing in tournaments.

Familiarize yourself with the hierarchy of the levels of competition, as each Esport has its own system in place for bringing new players into the fold. In CS:GO, for example, a player typically progresses from public games to matchmaking and then on to leagues and tournaments. There will be different trajectories for different Esports.

Climbing the ladder allows young players to make a name for themselves. This can help them find a spot on an amateur team (or a home in a sub-community for solo games), which in turn can be a stepping stone to a pro gaming organization.

7. Find a Team

Once you build a reputation as a serious competitor, find a team. Playing alongside others — especially those who are better than you, or who have different skill sets — is one of the most valuable experiences a player can have.

If you’re really good, a team will probably find you. If not, you can try out for teams. The website Teamfind, for instance, has forums and tools for teams and players to communicate. Discord servers, subreddits, and Steam groups also serve as prime recruitment grounds for amateur teams.

Learning to play well with others is required for team-based games like CS:GO and Dota 2. So find a role that you like and a group of players that you gel with. But even for solo games like Hearthstone or StarCraft 2, there’s value in connecting with a like-minded sub-community.

8. Compete and Get Noticed

Getting good at the game is only half the battle. The other half is making connections that will help you ascend the competitive ladder. Once you’ve found your footing in more competitive lobbies, start networking. Leverage your position as a quality opponent to connect with better players.

Building relationships with better players can lead to bigger things, such as invites to private Discord channels, where you’ll have the chance to play in exclusive scrims and rub shoulders with elite players. Environments like these are where players tend to get noticed by pro organizations.

9. Stay Balanced

While the grind mentality looms large in Esports, pros must learn how to balance their practice regimen and off-screen activities. According to professional gamers we interviewed, a holistic approach to practice — including proper nutrition, exercise, and an active social life — improves mental focus and prevents burnout.

Maintaining a healthy lifestyle will allow you to stay motivated for long enough to develop the skills that will ultimately attract pro organizations.

10. Live Like a Pro

Becoming a pro gamer takes years of hard work and practice, but there’s more to it than constantly grinding. To evolve as a player, it’s important to take a well-rounded approach to training — one that includes developing social skills, expanding your knowledge of the game, finding positive sources of motivation, and maintaining a healthy lifestyle.

Align yourself with these principles and you’ll see improvement in and out of the game.