If you enjoy playing video games and have a keen eye for detail then a career as a game tester might just be for you. Game testers are probably more in demand now than they've ever been due to the booming games industry. The more games that are released each year; the more games that need testing.
Be warned though: games testing isn't just a matter of playing the games that you want to play - if you are serious about doing this job then you have to realise that you will be expected to test games that you might not otherwise think of playing.
Something you might not know about games testing is that it's a great way of getting into the games industry and can provide you with invaluable skills that lead to other jobs such as games design and game programming.
According to a 2008 games industry survey, Games testers on average earn approximately $40,000. Testers who have less than 3 years experience earn approximately $25,000. Testers with over 6 years experience earn approximately $70,000
There are a lot of young people who are interested in doing this job so a natural question to ask is how old you have to be to do the job. While there is no minimum age requirement to become a games tester - you will need to learn computer programming skills that can take a while to master. If you want to be taken seriously by potential employers then it is essential that you can prove that you have the necessary skills. This will probably entail going to university/college and getting a degree that is relevant to games testing.
Of course it is never to early to start learning the skills you need, it will be of great help to you if you can familiarise yourself with programming skills from an early age. One way to get experience in the games industry without having to be well connected of have a college degree is to create your own game. Of course it won't be anything too elaborate if you're creating it yourself. Something like a java/flash game would be ideal to flex your creative muscles and also have something to put on your CV/resume that makes you stand out.
If you think that a career as a games tester might be for you then be sure to check outhttp://www.gamestestercareer.com