Sony wants you for reality PSN series

By GamesIndustry International Published 4 September, 2009

The Tester gives winner dream QA job.

Big Brother might have been pronounced dead this year following abysmal ratings, but that hasn't deterred Sony from jumping onto the bandwagon with a reality competition of its own.

The platform holder has announced it is to host its own gaming-focused reality programme called The Tester to be shown on the PlayStation Network later this year.

In it, entrants will go head-to-head in a series of game-themed elimination challenges designed to test "mental toughness, endurance and videogame knowledge", with the winner being awarded a position as a game tester at PlayStation's QA department in San Diego.

To be in with a chance of winning this "dream job", gamers are invited on the US PlayStation blog to complete an online form and submit a short video, with the best being selected to take part in the eight episode series.

This series will be made in conjunction with reality program specialists 51 Minds Entertainment, confirmed Sony, who are credited with inventing the 'celebreality genre' with US programs such as The Surreal Life, Flavor of Love and Rock of Love under its belt.

Scheduled to be distributed through the PlayStation Store this winter, episodes will be purchasable individually or as a whole series with a season pass, and available in high definition.

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Comments (46) Latest comment 3 years ago

Comments for this article are now closed, but please feel free to continue chatting on the forum!

  • Shadders #1 3 years ago

    What an AMAZING prize! ¬_¬

  • lutas #2 3 years ago

    WTF!

  • SeesThroughAll #3 3 years ago

    LOL

    Dream job, my ass!

  • lutas #4 3 years ago

    It's also probably a hell of a lot easier (and a lot less demeaning) to just apply for job openings - QA jobs are hardly the rarest of the rare

  • Ornithophobe #5 3 years ago

    Every comment I've ever read from game testers highlights it as a miserable and overrated job.


  • BiscuitBase #6 3 years ago

    You REALLY REALLY REALLY don't want to work in QA.

    And if for some reason you do, just apply directly for one of the hundreds of positions available at any game company.
    Edited by BiscuitBase at 04/09/09 @ 12:52

  • Rpt81 #7 3 years ago

    You must be at least 21 years of age and legally eligible to work in and a current resident of the United States for consideration.

    Well, 1 out of 3 ain't bad.

  • Huntcjna #8 3 years ago

    Probably worth mentioning that applications are open to US citizens only, so unless your a Yank on EG coming to find out how much better European games journalism is this news won't really be of any consequence.

  • lutas #9 3 years ago

    I worked for 6 months as QA - it's not terrible but you've got to be prepared for long hours and some repetitive demoralising work. It's pretty intense.

    The main thing though is this is hardly The Apprentice, the average person that wanted to be a QA tester could be by just applying normally imo
    Edited by lutas at 04/09/09 @ 12:54

  • GeneStarwind #10 3 years ago

    man sony america must be really desperate for QA guys if theyre doing something like this. I'm a QA lead and wouldnt trust a damn thing anyone who got a job this way did. Taking retarded reality tv shows to a whoooooooooole new level.

  • ps3owner #11 3 years ago

    purchasable?

    aeh... no thank you.

  • VastikRoot #12 3 years ago

    The irony is - QA testing is far from a dream job, unless of course you enjoy grinding away at the same game for months on end, working well into the early hours of crunch time for poor money and little respect. :D

  • Shadders #13 3 years ago

    What a remarkably expensive way for Sony to find QA..

    Enter now and you could be eligable for the chance to work 60 hour weeks for a 5 figure salary.

  • lambtron #14 3 years ago

    Presumably one of the "game-themed elimination challenges designed to test "mental toughness, endurance and videogame knowledge" will be getting voice chat to work on PS3 ;).

  • wizlon #15 3 years ago

    I may have watched this but that word... purchasable, that's just put me off. Don't Sony realise that people expect tv shows to be free, like y'know, on the tv.

  • mazk #16 3 years ago

    If low wages, long hours, and playing Barbie's Horse Adventure for three weeks someones idea of a dream job then I say good luck to you!

    Then again, constant free games, chrismas presents (i got a portable dvd player last year, mp3 player year before that), and lavish christmas parties, Sony isn't all bad.

  • Doctor_What #17 3 years ago

    QA on a driving game: grind against every sruface in the game and make sure that none of the wood throws out metal sparks, please.

    Next week: we've changed a few things, so could you do it again?

  • asphaltcowboy #18 3 years ago

    lol @ "dream job"! :D

  • DaftVice #19 3 years ago

    I QA'd all last year...

    My eyes still hurt.

  • jaxon58 #20 3 years ago

    The required skills list doesn't include 'fantastic communication skills', which is by far the most important aspect of QA. If you can't tell someone the issue you've found, you may as well not be there.

  • McBradders #21 3 years ago

    That is far from a dream job. Also, you have to pay for it? Noooo thank you.

  • schnide #22 3 years ago

    I don't think the point of this is really to find a games tester. This is to create content, and promote the Sony brand.

  • theiceman #23 3 years ago

    Hmmm thanks but no thanks. I would rather have my arm bitten off by a rabid wolverine than apply for a QA job with anyone, besides i've got my own business. HAH!

  • tripitaka #24 3 years ago

    When do the contestants find out about the shit pay and long hours?

  • Grom #25 3 years ago

    @Shadders

    5 figure salary? I started in QA on £8000 pa... my first job after that doubled my salary!

  • sneetch #26 3 years ago

    Agree with the "QA is not a dream job" QA is tedious beyond belief.

  • sneetch #27 3 years ago

    @Grom

    Yep, five figures and one decimal point, it anyone's guess where that goes. ;)

  • green_nifta #28 3 years ago

    OOOH! A chance to earn minimum wage!

  • Kosumo #29 3 years ago

    This could end up comedy gold... but more than likely, won't.

  • brombeer #30 3 years ago

    Sony can kiss my a*s. I can't play Uncharted anymore and many games seem to lock-up for no reason since the UGLY Glitter Barbie update. That and the fact that it's been hell to get my fourth refurbished PS3 (the two they sent to me went dead within a week; the last one couldn't be delivered because it was a 60Gb with BC so they had to send me a 80Gb but I demanded a new boxed one. Finally got one but I wasn't happy.), Sony won't do anything about me being stalked on PSN, and that horrific, horrific update... Last Sony for me ever. I don't like clueless people. So please look further, there's bound to be a loyal sheep somewhere.

  • bluem4gic #31 3 years ago

    Win the prize to be treated like shit! No thank you

  • jonsaan #32 3 years ago

    WOHOOO. what's that about 15k per year? Sweet. I'll never want for nothin!

  • Psychotext #33 3 years ago

    QAlol

  • darleysam #34 3 years ago

    VastikRoot - The irony is - QA testing is far from a dream job, unless of course you enjoy grinding away at the same game for months on end, working well into the early hours of crunch time for poor money and little respect. :D

    So.. your average 'pro' gamer, then?

  • PlugMonkey #35 3 years ago

    "5 figure salary? I started in QA on £8000 pa... my first job after that doubled my salary! "

    Hehe. Me too!

  • old_skool #36 3 years ago

    In these economic times even QA testing seem like a dream job heh

  • penhalion #37 3 years ago

    Rock of Love and Flavor of Love.....oh very very dear...

  • cobaltfram #38 3 years ago

    What, I have to pay them to see it? Er, no thanks. Reality TV is always a "something to watch cause nothing else is on over my lunchbreak" type deal, not something I hunt down and spend money on.

  • SEVQA #39 3 years ago

    I would just like to say to all those bitching about QA! is that if you cant take the heat get out of the kitchen, because QA is one of the most important factors of any the game development cycle right up to mastering and with that possibilities for learning skills and gaining experience can be invaluable for the right type of person who wants to get paid for play(test)ing games!!!

  • brombeer #40 3 years ago

    At least it explains why that firmware 3.0 was so terrible. I guess that was a contest too: design a more exciting XMB content and an 8 year old girl won.

  • noobjob #41 3 years ago

    @SEVQA

    yeh exactly if there was no QA then just think how broken games would be then you'd all be whining and bitching

  • Spectral #42 3 years ago

    People aren't saying it's not important, they're saying it's a crap job, doubly so as a "prize".

  • green_nifta #43 3 years ago

    No question that it's a good starting point in the industry (it was my entry point, over 10 years ago) and it is valuable. But it's not a great job in itself, and it's a crap "prize" considering the ready availability of such jobs.

    //EDIT - didn't read the post above :)
    Edited by green_nifta at 05/09/09 @ 14:04

  • BigJonno #44 3 years ago

    Thing is, if this was about people competing for that most fabled of positions, the "games designer" then it could be a bloody good show.

  • davisorle #45 3 years ago

    Post deleted at 20:44:35 16-04-2012

  • SEVQA #46 3 years ago

    How can being paid to effectively play games be a crap job or crap prize especially if its your first job in the industry, well unless you hate games that is. And QA jobs especially Senior, Lead and Engineering roles aren't readily available like some say here as the economic climate we are all in at the moment makes getting and retaining any job a worrying prospect. Therefore only the hardcore and dedicated need apply and that goes for any job!

    For those at school, college or university with the mentality of QA being a crap role or entry point, all I can say is be prepared to SIGN ON! As without the motivation and experience you ain't worth shXt!