Hey guys, it’s Didar and today let’s practice more for QA as it’s a crucial part of game studios. I’ve already written a comprehensive handbook on QA for games. But you know what’s missing? A hands-on, practical example. That’s precisely what this article is all about. I used Hunt: Showdown by Crytek , which is one of my favorite games, as a practice for this article.
Here are a few stuff to note:
Welcome to the world of QA for games, where your role as a QA team leader is about to take center stage. In this practical guide, we’ll embark on a journey using the popular game “Hunt: Showdown” as our compass. First things first, let’s get to know our guide “Hunt: Showdown.”
Meet ‘Hunt: Showdown’: “Hunt: Showdown” is an action-packed multiplayer first-person shooter with a twist. It’s a unique blend of PvP and PvE elements set in the late 1800s, deep in the Louisiana swamps. Players assume the roles of hunters tracking down supernatural creatures while navigating a world filled with danger at every turn. The tension is evident, the stakes are high, and the gameplay is as challenging as it is rewarding.
Why ‘Hunt: Showdown’? You might be wondering why I’ve chosen this game as our model. Well, it’s a game that embodies complexity and challenge. two elements that make it an excellent teacher for building a QA team. The game’s unique features, complex mechanics, and multiplayer dynamics provide a robust learning platform for aspiring QA professionals. I’m personally very fond of its complex and revolutionary system.
Hunt: Showdown isn’t your run-of-the-mill first-person shooter. It’s a unique blend of PvP and PvE elements set in the late 1800s, deep in the Louisiana swamps. Players assume the roles of hunters tracking down supernatural creatures while navigating a world filled with danger at every turn. The tension is palpable, the stakes are high, and the gameplay is as challenging as it is rewarding.
Like any game, Hunt: Showdown has its own set of strengths and weaknesses. here are some of them:
Before we move forward, let’s briefly overview the core systems of the game, as they’ll play a significant role in our QA efforts. deconstruction of games is also always a good practice for game designers. check another one here. I have already deconstructed Hunt: Showdown like this but the graph can be even more intricate and complex. higher quality here.
here are descriptions of a few systems:
Understanding your audience is key in game development, and Hunt: Showdown’s audience is no exception. This game appeals to players who crave a thrilling and intense gaming experience. It’s not for the faint of heart but rather for those who enjoy the adrenaline rush of high-stakes hunts and heart-pounding showdowns.
Knowing the game’s genre, gameplay mechanics, and target audience inside out will serve as the foundation for our QA endeavors. After all, to ensure a game’s quality, you need to understand its core elements. Now that we’ve set the stage, let’s move on to defining our QA objectives in Chapter 2.
Now that we’ve familiarized ourselves with the world of Hunt: Showdown, it’s time to put our sights on our QA objectives. What exactly are we aiming to achieve with our QA efforts?
Imagine you’re heading out on a hunt in the Louisiana swamps. Would you embark without a clear goal or strategy? Likely not. Similarly, in the world of quality assurance, having well-defined objectives is our compass.
So, what are our primary objectives when it comes to Hunt: Showdown? Let’s break them down:
Our first task is to hunt down and eliminate bugs that could disrupt the player experience. This includes game-breaking glitches, graphical anomalies, and any other issues that hinder gameplay.
Ensuring that Hunt: Showdown provides a fair and engaging experience is paramount. We’ll be focusing on fine-tuning the game’s balance, both in terms of PvE challenges and PvP competition.
Nobody wants a hunt plagued by lag or frame drops. We’ll work to optimize the game’s performance to ensure that players can enjoy smooth gameplay, even on a variety of hardware configurations.
Understanding the Challenges
Hunt: Showdown’s unique strengths, such as its tension-filled atmosphere and complex systems, are part of what makes it great. However, they also pose unique challenges in terms of QA.
Understanding these challenges is the first step in setting effective objectives, as it allows us to tailor our QA efforts to address these specific concerns.
Crafting a QA Strategy
With a clear understanding of our objectives and the game’s unique challenges, we’re now ready to craft a QA strategy that aligns with our goals.
Building an effective QA team for Hunt: Showdown is not merely about having warm bodies in seats. It’s about finding the right mix of skills and expertise to tackle the game’s unique challenges. Now, we’ll explore the essential elements of QA team composition.
Testers are the backbone of any QA team. They are the ones who roll up their sleeves, dive into the game, and meticulously search for bugs, inconsistencies, and issues. Their keen eye and attention to detail are invaluable in maintaining game quality.
QA leads provide direction and coordination within the team. They ensure that testing efforts are organized, priorities are clear, and communication flows smoothly. Leads play a crucial role in keeping the team on track and focused on objectives.
Specialists bring expertise in specific areas, such as gameplay mechanics, level design, or performance testing. For Hunt: Showdown, having specialists who understand the intricacies of the game’s unique systems is essential. They can dive deep into particular aspects, uncovering hidden issues, and providing targeted feedback.
Diversity within the QA team is not just about backgrounds; it’s about different perspectives and approaches to testing. In the world of Hunt: Showdown, where multiple playstyles and strategies are possible, having a diverse team ensures that a wide range of issues are identified.
A team with varied gaming experiences, including both newcomers and seasoned players, can uncover issues that might escape a more homogenous group. Embracing diversity fosters creativity and innovation within the QA process.
Hunt: Showdown’s unique blend of PvE and PvP, atmospheric design, and complex gameplay mechanics require a QA team that can adapt and specialize. As you assemble your team, consider the following:
Ensure that team members are well-versed in Hunt: Showdown’s mechanics, world, and lore. Familiarity with the game’s unique aspects is a significant advantage when it comes to testing and providing valuable feedback.
Strive for a balance of skills within your team. While testers form the core, having leads to provide direction and specialists to delve into specific areas adds depth and effectiveness to your QA efforts.
Encourage diversity not only in backgrounds but also in gaming experiences. The more varied your team’s gaming backgrounds, the better equipped they are to identify and understand issues from different player perspectives.
With the right blend of roles, a commitment to diversity, and a deep understanding of Hunt: Showdown’s unique challenges, your QA team is poised to make significant contributions to the game’s quality.
In the world of quality assurance for games, there are various approaches to consider. Each has its strengths and weaknesses, and understanding when and how to use them is essential. Here, we’ll explore the different QA approaches and how to deploy them effectively for Hunt: Showdown.
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
Strengths:
Weaknesses:
The key to effective QA for Hunt: Showdown lies in crafting a balanced approach that leverages the strengths of each method while mitigating their weaknesses.
Striking a Balance: Use manual testing for in-depth exploration, especially when examining gameplay mechanics and immersion. Automate repetitive and regression testing tasks to ensure consistency. Employ crowdtesting to gain insights from real players and uncover issues that might not be apparent through internal testing alone.
Iterative Testing: Consider an iterative approach where each QA method complements the others. Manual testing might uncover gameplay issues, which can then be systematically tested through automation, and crowdtesting can validate the fixes and gather player perspectives.
Assembling the right QA team is only part of the equation for success. Equipping them with the right tools and infrastructure is equally crucial. let’s explore essential QA tools and infrastructure needed for Hunt: Showdown.
A bug-tracking system is the backbone of efficient QA. It allows your team to document, track, and prioritize issues systematically. For Hunt: Showdown, consider using a bug tracking system that offers the following features:
Version control is essential for tracking changes to the game’s code and assets. It enables your team to manage different game versions and easily revert to previous states if needed. Popular version control systems like Git provide:
Test management software helps in organizing and executing test cases systematically. For Hunt: Showdown, look for software that offers:
Clear and organized documentation is critical for effective communication within the QA team and with other development teams. Tools like wiki platforms can help in:
When selecting these tools, consider the unique requirements of Hunt: Showdown. Its complex gameplay, atmospheric design, and frequent updates necessitate tools that can adapt and scale accordingly.
Creating and executing test cases is at the heart of quality assurance. In this chapter, we’ll explore the importance of well-defined test cases and provide guidelines for designing and executing them effectively for Hunt: Showdown.
Test cases serve as the roadmap for your QA team. They provide structured instructions on what needs to be tested, how it should be tested, and what the expected outcomes are. Well-designed test cases offer several benefits:
When creating test cases for Hunt: Showdown, keep these guidelines in mind:
Regression testing is an essential part of QA for Hunt: Showdown, given its evolving nature. It involves retesting previously fixed issues to ensure they haven’t resurfaced with new updates or changes.
Continuous testing is an ongoing process that should be integrated into the development pipeline. It involves testing new features and changes as they are implemented rather than waiting for a dedicated testing phase.
With well-designed test cases and a commitment to continuous testing and regression testing, your QA team will be well-prepared to identify and address issues in Hunt: Showdown effectively.
Identifying issues within Hunt: Showdown is only half the battle. Effective bug reporting and tracking are essential to ensuring that identified issues are properly documented, prioritized, and resolved. In this chapter, we’ll explore the process of reporting and tracking bugs for Hunt: Showdown.
A bug tracking system is the central hub for managing reported issues. It should support the following functions:
Hunt: Showdown, like many live-service games, undergoes regular updates and changes. This dynamic environment requires a proactive approach to bug reporting and tracking:
By implementing effective bug reporting and tracking practices tailored to Hunt: Showdown’s evolving nature, your QA team will play a pivotal role in maintaining and enhancing the game’s quality.
In the fast-paced world of game development, integrating quality assurance seamlessly into the development pipeline is vital. In this chapter, we’ll explore the concept of continuous integration and testing and how it can be applied effectively to Hunt: Showdown.
Continuous integration (CI) is a development practice where code changes are frequently integrated into a shared repository. Each integration triggers automated builds and tests, providing rapid feedback to developers. This process offers several advantages:
For Hunt: Showdown, a CI approach means that every code change, whether for new features or bug fixes, undergoes automated testing to maintain and even enhance game quality. This approach keeps the game stable and minimizes the risk of introducing new issues.
Continuous testing goes hand in hand with continuous integration. It involves running automated tests continuously as new code is integrated. Key components of continuous testing for Hunt: Showdown include:
CI and continuous testing require close collaboration between the QA team and developers. Here are some best practices:
By integrating continuous testing into the development pipeline, your QA efforts become proactive and integral to Hunt: Showdown’s success.
Engaging with the player community and conducting beta testing are valuable strategies for identifying issues, gathering feedback, and enhancing the overall quality of Hunt: Showdown. In this chapter, we’ll explore the role of community and beta testing in your QA efforts.
The player community can provide valuable insights into gameplay experiences, bug reports, and suggestions for improvement. Leverage player feedback through:
Understanding how players interact with the game can help identify potential issues. Analyze player behavior data, including:
Consider running a closed beta test with a selected group of players who have shown a strong interest in Hunt: Showdown. This phase allows for:
An open beta phase, closer to the game’s launch, can help stress test servers and involve a broader player base. Open beta benefits include:
Even after the game’s official launch, continue engaging with the player community:
Measuring the impact of your QA efforts is essential for understanding the quality of Hunt: Showdown and communicating your findings to stakeholders. I have already covered metrics in another article. but here In this chapter, we’ll explore some basic concepts of QA metrics and reporting to help you effectively assess and communicate the state of the game.
QA metrics provide performance indicators that help gauge the effectiveness of your QA processes. They help you answer questions such as:
Metrics can shed light on the player experience and satisfaction:
Metrics also help evaluate your testing coverage:
Select KPIs relevant to Hunt: Showdown’s unique characteristics:
Effective reporting is crucial for conveying your QA findings to stakeholders. Follow these best practices:
Regularly review your QA metrics and adjust your testing strategies accordingly. Continuous improvement is essential to adapt to the evolving nature of Hunt: Showdown and to maintain and enhance game quality.
As we reach the conclusion of our journey through QA approaches for Hunt: Showdown, it’s crucial to emphasize the commitment to continuous improvement. The gaming industry is dynamic, and the quality assurance process must evolve to meet new challenges and player expectations.
Remember that the dedication to continuous improvement is at the core of maintaining and enhancing game quality. Stay committed to learning, innovation, and collaboration, and Hunt: Showdown will continue to thrive as a premier gaming experience.