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Case Study:
Global Game Testing
How a Leader in Computer Games Used Multil ingual Testing to
Speed to Market its Console and Game Software
SITUATION
The thriving games division of a worldwide leader in software,
services andInternet technology was preparing to launch their video
game system into theEuropean and North American markets. They
needed fast, effective qualityassurance testing services for game
software and consoles. The new gamingsystem was set to launch in
North America first and to European markets lessthan six months
later.
The company needed testing for each game title and every console
version.Testing cycles would influence launch schedules for all new
game titles. Withsuch an aggressive product delivery schedule, the
client needed a large teamof highly skilled game testers assembled
in the shortest timeframe possible.
SOLUTION
The client selected VMC to provide an outsourced QA game
developmenttesting solution for their platform. Within a remarkable
17 days, VMCassembled a fully functional test team with
multilingual capabilities andconfigured its U.S.-based test lab
facilities to meet the clients productdevelopment needs. Within a
month, VMC also supplied a fully functionalmultilingual test team
and set up lab facilities in the United Kingdom.
VMC began the project with aggressive hiring, training and
scheduling,securing skilled, experienced game testers with
multilingual capabilities. TheVMC project test manager in the U.S.
hired a qualified team of 18 test leadsand 50 game testers at the
start of the project.
The U.S. team quickly grew to more than 100 game testers,
peaking at itshighest high point with 325 game testers working
rotational shifts within ahighly efficient, continuous
seven-day-per-week work schedule. The Europeanteam expanded to an
average of 200 testers who rotated through thecontinuous seven-day
workflow in the U.K.
The facilities VMC established in both the U.S. and the U.K.
were state-of-the-art labs containing all necessary equipment and
capacity to accommodate theproject, including space, network
connectivity, electrical systems and backup,
A gaming industry client
needed a multilingual QA
team in the US and Europe to
provide testing of all game
consoles and titles for an
aggressively timed release to
a global marketplace. VMC
rapidly established lab
facilities in both the U.S. and
the U.K. to provide round-
the-clock testing.
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and HVAC capabilities, under the highest level of security
available. The client
supplied the consoles and software titles to be tested, and VMC
procuredadditional equipment required for the project (including
VCRs, televisions,video cassettes and other necessary hardware and
components). Within twoweeks of the project start date, all
equipment was obtained, configured andrunningready for use by the
testers.
VMC worked with the clients management team to build a dynamic
testschedule that could be modified to meet market demands. Testing
protocolsincluded following established test plans, conducting bug
regressions, andperforming directed and undirected ad hoc testing.
The test teams receivedtraining on bug write-up and submission
procedures to ensure that informationwas presented in the clients
specified format.
VMCs European testers conducted game testing in ten languages:
U.K.English, French, Italian, German, Spanish, Dutch, Swedish,
Portuguese,Czechoslovakian and Australian English.
Throughout the project, VMC remained in close contact with the
client. Statusreport meetings were held daily, and bug report
workbooks were e-mailed dailyto the appropriate client leads.
Consistent communication ensured projectmilestones were being met,
and kept both VMC and the client alerted to anypotential problems
so they could be addressed and resolved promptly.
SUCCESS
The client released a fully functional product to both the North
American andEuropean markets on schedule. VMC continues to test new
game titles andplatforms for global markets and scales personnel,
facilities and equipment tomeet the clients rigorous, cyclical
product testing needs.
Since the initial engagement, VMC has applied expertise and
optimal workprocess methodologies to ensure that the client
receives the highest qualitygame testing services available. By
outsourcing game testing expertise and labfacilities, the client
significantly reduced their overall program costs andachieved their
desired product launch schedules.
The clients product needs grew to include six new languages
within the USmarket. The VMC U.S. team added multilingual game
testers who could reviewgames in French, German, Italian, Spanish,
Chinese and Korean. The clienthas since further expanded VMCs
testing responsibilities to include all game,console and peripheral
testing on its next generation platform.
Tester staffing was rapidly
scaled up and down to
hasten testing while reducing
project costs. At peak testing
phases, VMC provided more
than 500 testers to the U.S.
and European lab facilities it
had established for the client.
European testers conducted
game testing in ten
languages: U.K. English,
French, Italian, German,
Spanish, Dutch, Swedish,
Portuguese, Czechoslovakian
and Australian English.
