Call for Focus Testers: BioWare needs YOU!

Are you interested in participating in the game development process? Do you think you know what makes a game great? BioWare is interested in hearing from you! We are currently looking for Edmonton and local area residents who are interested in participating in focus testing. If you are interested in submitting your name, please e-mail BioWare at focustest@bioware.com and include your BioWare Community Account ID (user name). If you do not have a BioWare Community Account, sign-up; it's free!

BioWare Focus Testers

BioWare will be using the focus testing service to help identify and refine the wants and needs of our target market. Focus testing can be useful at any point of the development process.

BioWare is looking to gather a pool of gamers who are interested in participating in the game development process. Who qualifies? There is really only one prerequisite:

• Live locally. (We are currently recruiting only from the Edmonton and local area.)

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What is Focus Testing?

Focus testing is gathering information from play testers (usually in blind tests) as they play the game. Focus testers allow the development team to see problems in design in an objective way, and can be a useful tool at any point of the development process; test early, test often.

2. What is the difference between focus testing and QA?

QA are members of the development team, and are often too close to a project to be fully objective. QA are "professional gamers" and therefore not the target audience for a BioWare game; they know too much about game development to represent the average customer.

3. How long is a focus test?

Focus tests last anywhere from 1 to 4 hours (or longer) depending on the test being run and the information that is desired.

4. Will I get paid?

Yes, focus testers will be paid an hourly rate that is dependant on the type and length of test being run.

5. What will I be testing?

Focus testing is used on all aspects of the development process, from prototype and beta testing to marketing reviews and consumer trend assistance.

6. Will I get to find bugs?

While the main purpose of focus testing is not bug hunting, there is always the chance that a focus tester working on a new prototype might come across problems. Much of the testing will be specifically centred on certain aspects of development such as control schemes, GUIs, or story, and the focus tester will be asked to answer prepared questionnaires that are related to the systems being tested.

7. Can I tell my friends what I've seen?

All focus testers are required to sign an NDA (non-disclosure agreement). This is a standard in the industry to help protect the intellectual property of BioWare.

8. Sign me up!

If you are interested in submitting your name, please e-mail BioWare at focustest@bioware.com and include your BioWare Community ID (user name).