The Tester is going straight for that niche of people who need reality television but just can't find a reason to leave the comfort of the PlayStation Network. Or rather, for all the dreamers dreamin' on about getting a QA job for Sony. Because that's definitely what dreams are made of when it comes to working for the game industry. Just imagine! *sigh*
The Tester is definitely something else. I don't want to spoil the trailer for you if you haven't already seen it (see it), but there's plenty to gawk at. Let's just end this post with a quote from my good friend Steve after seeing the trailer:
You win a fucking show to be in QA for a video game company? Dude. Better prize: fart sandwich
The Tester via GameLife
MAJOR SUCKAGE!
Posted by: Shamous | February 02, 2010 at 04:00 PM
Really, they're playing for the $5000 prize, not the 6-month QA contract position.
Posted by: Account Deleted | February 02, 2010 at 07:32 PM
Yikes. $5,000 dollars? That's it? I hope the deal also includes the covershoot opportunity to be on the cover of EGM magazine... or... something. Complimentary t-shirt?
Posted by: .tiff | February 02, 2010 at 07:36 PM
Well, this repeated from a member of QA in my company. He was talking about it at the office today. He is paying much closer attention to this TV show, for obvious reasons. :-)
Considering how hard QA works, and often for contract (no benefits) positions, I would've thought they'd get a much better prize. :-\
Posted by: Account Deleted | February 02, 2010 at 07:50 PM
This seems...interesting...I guess they were just scraping the sides of the idea pot after the scooped out the Jersey Shore. I think I'll pass on this one (yes I am going to secretly watch, don't tell anyone!)
Posted by: Thomas Davi | February 04, 2010 at 08:33 AM
The most depressing part is that it'll almost certainly give people the wrong impression of what game testing and QA in general is like. It's a very frustrating, boring, repetitive, thankless job that many people just aren't cut out for, but is an absolute necessity that doesn't get the credit it deserves (being awarded as a prize to someone regardless of actual qualification is a good example... I'm curious how long the winner will last before quitting or being fired).
Of course there is the implied statement that this prize can be a stepping stone to something higher, which while nice just underscores how this really isn't all that great of a prize...
Posted by: ScottyG | February 04, 2010 at 12:53 PM
However, like other people I will probably at least try to watch this if I can get ahold of it (no PSN access D:), just to see if it's another drama-forced reality show with a gamer facade slapped on it or not (the previews so far aren't looking good :\)
Posted by: ScottyG | February 04, 2010 at 12:56 PM
I've got an idea for a reality show. It's called DVD Maker and what they do is, through multiple challenges like "guess the movie star" and various versions of charades, they decide a winner who then goes on to pack DVD cases filling in sleeves and placing discs inside.
Exciting.
Posted by: Richard | February 12, 2010 at 04:59 PM