Bang-for-buck automated testing in game development

Talk Description

Automated testing in game development is increasing in popularity, but still very much a niche discipline. It has proven difficult to apply the learnings from the wider software industry to the high-stakes and high-performance world of video games. 

Here we demonstrate the types of tests that work particularly well in game development, with examples from Rollerdrome, the Bafta-award-winning action skating game. 

Each test type is increasing in capabilities but also in complexity, so if implemented in order can allow a team to pick the level of automation that's to their tastes. This is important when automated testing is still not seen as a Best Practice in the games industry. 

Andrew is a BAFTA-winning games programmer, lead and automation consultant with over two decades of experience in the industry. He's worked on both AAA and indie titles, on genres from racing to puzzle, shipping on PC, console, and mobile. Notable titles include Rollerdrome, Alphabear and Rollercoaster Tycoon 3.

Since writing his first shipping test in 2010, Andrew has implemented processes, created build servers, trained teams and written tests, both as a lead and as a consultant.

Andrew chairs the Automated Testing roundtables at GDC since founding them in 2015, and has spoken around the world on test automation in video games.

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Andrew Fray

Automated Testing Consultant

He/him

Automated testing and quality engineering consultant for the video game industry