Microsoft Games Studio looking for a few good playtesters

by Ross Miller { Jul 20th 2006 at 2:25PM }

See how happy those people are? That happiness does not come from the knowledge they are paid to get excited -- okay, so it does, but let's suspend reality and pretend they are actual playtesters. David Weller, the community manager at Microsoft's Game Technology Group, is putting out the call on his blog for participants under age 18, preferably between six and 12-years-old, to playtest some upcoming games.

If you do decide to participate, do Microsoft a favor and come into the program with a critical mind and not just as a chance to be the first kid on your block to try Project X. Weller (gamertag: LetsKillDave) and his group will probably need you to check every nook and cranny and give earnest feedback on the progress of the game, so that it does not get released as buggy and un-fun piece of software that will never sell.

If you are interested, you (and your parent) can fill out this form. You can tell them LetsKillDave sent you, but that might upset Mom and Pop.

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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)

Player1 @ Jul 20th 2006 2:34PM

I don't understand. Those people have expressions on their faces like they are using the wiimote, but they are using xbox controllers?????

gwangi @ Jul 20th 2006 2:36PM

Between ages 6 and 12 sounds like a Viva Pinata test group to me.

Chris @ Jul 20th 2006 2:45PM

nice to see they got every skin shade in there.

dvddesign @ Jul 20th 2006 2:48PM

"mommy, there's a man on the internet who wants me to play with him."

I'm sure they'll get thousands of applicants.

I would think Rare would be the ones to test out VP.

Asking kids to take part in any activity on the internet is a sketchy thing. Sure there will be lots of signups nonetheless, but you're actively recruiting people who legally can't be bound to a contract. And you're wanting them to beta test?

Up next, the LeapFrog interactive guide to NDAs!

student @ Jul 20th 2006 2:53PM

I'm sorry but the black guy looks like he's standing on hot coals or something. Has a video game ever made you make that expression?

Saxon @ Jul 20th 2006 2:54PM

Such a perfectly diverse lot they are, too.

h2c @ Jul 20th 2006 2:57PM

"...preferably between six and 12-years-old, to playtest some upcoming games."

"If you do decide to participate, do Microsoft a favor and come into the program with a critical mind..."

Impossible.

Ubersnuber @ Jul 20th 2006 3:01PM

#1
They are playing one or another xbox game in split screen. Where you see how it would have looked on a Wii.

Girl to the left: lol, that dude looks like a cardboard box!
Girl to the right: Isnt it?
Afro: yeah, he looks like spungebob!
Guy in background: i think i just let one go in my squarepants..

mykie @ Jul 20th 2006 3:14PM

I've done a few Microsoft playtest groups, they're good fun and they give you free stuff...

Like a copy of Windows XP Pro.

IslandLife @ Jul 20th 2006 3:21PM

That Asian guy looks like he's about to spit out the 'F' word.
That's what happens when you play with no good cheaters buddy.

Player1 @ Jul 20th 2006 3:33PM

#6

Your ramblings make it sound like you perfectly qualify as a playtester. It seems your sarcasm detector is broken as well. And for the record there were video games before Nintendo, fanboy. Oh snap!

rockintom99 @ Jul 20th 2006 3:36PM

REAL Player 1: Why are you *proud* to be a 360 owner? Thats like saying "I am proud for spending half a grand to be able to sit in front of the tv doing nothing in particular!".

Lone Starr @ Jul 20th 2006 3:47PM

@#11,

Oh heaven forbid, somebody be happy with a system he/she owns. Video games aren't meant for that!

ecnarussAytilauQ Tester X @ Jul 20th 2006 3:50PM

Just as a note, playtesting doesn't really have anything to do with whether the final product is buggy or not. Playtest feedback usually just goes toward finalizing certain game mechanics, controller layouts, item placement, tweaking stats, etc...i.e., trying to make sure the game fits the tastes of the target demographic. All-in-all, a playtest usually lasts anywhere from 30 minutes to an afternoon.
Actual testing, that is finding/regressing bugs, is the responsibility of the QA department. Their involement can range anywhere from a few weeks to several months at the close of the project.
In other words, Playtesting != Game Testing.

32_Footsteps @ Jul 20th 2006 3:55PM

"Quick! Get the Culturally Diverse Models down to Microsoft to play-test games!"

Is it just me, or does every ad nowadays have to feature a white woman, a black man, and one woman who isn't of African or Caucasian descent? This one gets a bonus for throwing in the Token Asian Guy (tm). I understand the idea of cultural diversity. But is it really all that diverse when you can predict the gender and ethnicity breakdown of the ad before you even see it?