Click to view original story

WHAT TO DO: Not many game developers are based in New York City, but one that does offer freelance testing opportunities is Large Animal Games (115 W 29th St between Sixth and Seventh Aves, largeanimal.com). The company is currently developing several online games for Facebook and posts testing positions on Craigslist, offering $25 per 45-minute session (there's no set schedule, so keep an eye on Craigslist—or e-mail inyc@timeoutny.com, and we'll hook up one lucky reader with a testing opportunity at Large Animal).

These freelance opportunities ask for less-technical feedback, like testing a game's learning curve. "A really savvy gamer picks things up quickly; they're used to game conventions," says Wade Tinney, the company's CEO and coordinator of the NYC chapter of the International Game Developers Association. So your iffy skills can actually be an asset.

WHAT NOT TO DO: "We've had people show up drunk, we've had people fall asleep while testing," says Tinney. Be professional—if you want to play Madden in your underwear, stay home. Don't bank on a full-time game-tester position; those are for the pros, game designers or producers on their way up. As for Internet sites offering game-testing opportunities in return for a registration fee, Tinney doesn't recommend them: "I'd be wary of spending money to help you connect with game companies."—Kyle McGovern

EARNING POTENTIAL: 2 of 6

Click to view original story