Is certification a must for console game testing?
The answer to the question is – YES!
The QA team needs to be certified to perform console game testing which is due to – high-security requirements by the console manufacturers as well as the game developers.
High standards of security are involved in console game testing so
that, the game does not fail certification and increase the game
developer’s cost. In order to make these games available on consoles,
they are passed through additional approval and certification processes
set by console vendors. These games will only get certified if they meet
the rigid standards of security set by the console vendors. These
measures are taken to ensure the games do not enter the gray market,
which will, in turn, be a huge loss to the game developers and the
console vendors.
To test a console kit, the QA Team must have access to certain hardware.
Console games cannot be tested on a regular retail console kit that is available to customers in the market.
There are three types of console kits that are available
Comparatively; the Dev kit is more expensive than the other two kits, whereas, the retail kit is least expensive.
The Dev kit is for the developers to run/execute the gaming code with
a lot of options. Test kits come with fewer options mainly intended to
be used for testing.
These Dev and Test kits contain proprietary information that is very
much secured. These kits come along with a code to ensure that pirated
games are not run on the console devices. Improper security leads to
reverse engineering and piracy of games. These pirated games will be
violating game patent laws, and incur huge losses to the console
manufacturers.
The game testing team will be receiving the game builds in the form of download copies or disks to perform testing.
Due to above-explained reasons, the Console Manufacturers and Game
Developers will select certified game testing service vendors to perform
console game testing. These partners should loyally follow guidelines
set by the console manufacturers. Console Manufacturers will ‘Certify’
these partners proficiency in terms of performing testing with their
kit. Game developers will only select the certified partners for console
game testing services so that, their game doesn’t fail certification or
end up aspirated versions.
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