ISTQB CT-GaMe study guide
ISTQB CT-GaMe · Work through your exam, one topic at a time.
The ISTQB® Certified Tester Game Testing (CT-GaMe) is a specialist-level certification from the International Software Testing Qualifications Board. According to ISTQB, it "focusses on the understanding and skills needed to perform and manage testing on all levels in game projects." It is aimed at testers, test managers, and quality professionals working in or moving into video game development, where testing spans gameplay mechanics, audio, graphics, and localization. The syllabus covers four areas: basic concepts of video and game testing; determining risks and goals for gaming software; conceptually designing, implementing, and executing game software tests; and approaches to games testing (Game Testing Mechanics, Sound Testing, Graphics Testing and Localization), plus recognizing games testing tools. Preparation should start from the official ISTQB CT-GaMe syllabus and sample exam, available through ISTQB's free knowledge base, then move to accredited training if desired. The ISTQB CT-GaMe study guide has 4 sections and about 1,320 words.
01Basic concepts of video and game testing
You must explain how testing a game differs from testing business software, how games are built, who tests them, and which artefacts testers produce. Game testing still applies ISTQB fundamentals, but adds quality attributes a business system does not have: fun, playability, immersion, difficulty balance and "game feel".
342 words, about 2 min02Determining risks and goals for gaming software
Risk-based testing for games: identifying product and project risks, scoring them, and converting them into test goals and measurable objectives. Risk is probability multiplied by impact.
322 words, about 2 min03Conceptually designing, implementing and executing game software tests
The ISTQB test process applied to games: analysis, design, implementation, execution and completion. Derive test conditions from the test basis: game design documents, mechanic specifications, user stories, the risk register and platform requirements.
333 words, about 2 min04Approaches to games testing (mechanics, sound, graphics, localisation) and recognising tools
Four specialist approaches - game mechanics, sound, graphics and localisation - plus your ability to pick tools for each. Verify rules, physics and collision, AI behaviour, controls and input latency, progression, difficulty curves and economy balance.
323 words, about 2 min