How I became a BETA Tester, you're questions answered.

First, a brief synopsis on my gaming start. I've been a gamer since about the age of 2 thanks to my dad, from a young ages (say about 5ish,) I knew gaming was my 'calling', I'm just finishing a college coerce in programming and game Media, and am off to Uni on a gaming course in September.

Now, how it all began: In mid 2005 I was browsing lionheads game forum when I
came across a thread providing information on applying for un-paid BETA testing
(work EX). I applied and was Emailed back and given a date.

It was a freezing day in Febury 06 that I bored a bus then a train to Lionhead,
Guilford, Surrey, I then grabbed a Taxi to Lionheads office at Ocome Grove on
an industeral park, with a feeling of excitment in my stumach, I pressed the
intercome and provide my name, I walked into a hall which was lovly and warm,
Picture of games such as Back and white1 and 2, fable, theam hospital and other
Ballfrog/Lionhead games were on the walls of the corridors, I walked up 2
flights of stares and pussed open the door.

In front of my was a desk with a beautiful woman (ok, I may have had a crush on
here but she was only in her 20's). any way I signed in and filled in some legal
documents, I was then told some health and safety stuff, (1st adders, where to
go if the fire alarm goes and so on), Finally, I walked into the testing
room and met Kiernan Sleep, Nathan Smith and some other guys who’s names I
can't remember now (they've since left accept Kiernan and Nath).  I sat at
the front of a computer and got my hands dirty with the movies:

After lunch, we were taken to another building and I got to Play Black and
white 2: Battle of the gods, I also saw 'Shock horror', people working on Xbox
360 dev kits (Fable 2). This continued for the week, I had some much fun that I
booked a return date straight away at the end of the week, my second visit was all Fable 2, and I spoke with some people in the BETA department, and ended up becoming a BETA tester. And that’s my story; I'm not going in to any info about other things I've seen/played for legal reasons.

Please comment on my first blog Jaime (Jay2).

[predator]

so you started un-paid, are you now paid?

[mcgrawgamer]

now that you've seen some stuff from msoft I'm assuming other than fable 2, what are your takes on the future of the xbox division?

[jay2]

Yes, I started un-paid, and game wise in general, things can only get better during this year and next all around.

[meepmoopmeep]

but are you paid now for your testing?

[jay2]

Yeah, I'm paid for my current part-time work.

[Says you]

and what company are you going to work for.

[i Shank u]

thanks for sharing your story man, its appreciated. how is the testing; is it a ton of fun, can it be a ton of pain at times? thanks, and good luck to you.

[jay2]

You hit the nail on the head i Shank u, it's fun when the games really coming together, and a pain when you keep getting data dumps and the frame rates so low that it looks like you're looking through a photo album. I want to work on all the consoles + PC and not be stuck to just one console.
oh and i Shank u, you're welcome. People PM'ed me asking so I throught I'd make my first blog in the near year wow YEAR, it's gone so far, that I've been a regestered user.

[i Shank u]

LOL time flies when you're havin fun. already been a month in the new year : O

have you seen the movie Grandmas Boy? if not you should check it out, freakin hilarious movie about game testers. thx again, and i have a vague question that i think you can answer. i liked the first fable but thought it was a little meh, especially the combat with the repetition of attacks and lack of depth in the combat system; will the 2nd have dramatic changes from the last game in terms combat, or has it been pretty similar to the first game? how much fun would you say it is?

[GameOver]

he can't answer any of that.

[jay2]

combats been revamped and inproved.one of the funniest glitch I saw in Fable 2 was when it auto saved, you couldn't walk down stairs.

[ATLRoAcH]

I want to be a beta tester.

[LastDance]

Your lucky man! good job!

Hold the dream yo

[Bull5hifT]

and not knowing how to spell stomach

yea super secret xbox pwnzerz info, to come...FANCHILD

[Helblazer360]

i want to be a BETA tester

[bloop]

How the hell did you get through any college course with the spelling ability of a chimpanzee?? :P F#ck that, I think I'll just become a brain surgeon.

[Bull5hifT]

coerce ..im pretty sure you mean "Course",

and i think you mean to say you "boarded" a bus then train, not bored

and its spelled "industrial" not industeral

and excitment is spelled "excitement"

its "lovely" not lovly

the game is "theme" hospital by "bullfrog", not theam hospital by ballfrog

(In front of my was a desk with a beautiful woman) you could rule the planet ''you know.........your micro-unexplicable-tology scientist material ,

or your from some other county

[Lord_Ash]

Very nice, you’re a lucky guy.

Anyway I thought that you would give us some tips on how to increase your chances of joining an online Beta like LBP and others, but nice story anyways