Bug/Defect Summary Report

Games Tester - Andy Rogers

Date of Test - 26/06/17

Versions - Inapplicable

Operating System - Windows 10 Pro

Software title - SpeedRunners

Hardware - PC

Defect Description - The player uses a Golden hook which causes other players within the game to become glitched in a sense where they can't move normally or perform normal mechanics such as swinging or sliding.

Severity - Major

Steps to Reproduce

1. Pick up Golden hook power up
2. Use the Golden hook at a player who is close to another
3. Golden hook pulls the target towards the user and both players become affected and the mechanics become very buggy

Actual Behaviour

Other players in the game become glitched and are unable to use the usual mechanics and usually this ends up with them dying and losing the round.

Expected Behaviour

One targeted player should be grabbed and pulled behind the player without having any other players in the game become affected by this bug.

Evidence

Test Suite

In this task, I have used to the core mechanisms of the game to see if they work like I have intended them to work and I have replayed the same level to try and find some possible glitches within the game and as you can see, I have found a couple of bugs that seem to break the way that the game should actually be played along with some visual bugs.

Combinatorial Testing

In this, I have shown what happens when multiple buttons are pressing either at the exact same time or right after each other with very small delay. I have told if the combo works efficiently and effectively and I also comment on what exact went right and wrong in the process.

Data Dictionary

This shows what happens when each mechanic is processed when each programmed button is pressed and I explain in fully detail what happens when that action takes place.

Game Test Processes

Smoke testing

This is a test that attempts to see if the new build of a gaming software is smooth enough to run at a stable FPS for future tests or if it doesn't. If the software tests are not efficient and effective, then the program will be updated by the developers and then the test will be repeated again.

White box testing

This is a testing technique used for checking whether the program gathers test data from the coding that has been programmed into the game, this is because games need the correct coding to make sure that the mechanics work fluently within the game.

Black box testing

This is a similar testing method to white box testing, as it examines the functionality of the software but not the internal structure. This is because we need to see if the application functions properly of the game mechanics and the black box testing only tells us this in an clear format without any specific details of why and how.

Clean room testing

This is used to scan the software to find if it is clean and reliable using mathematical equations and algorithms. The strategy is to detect and remove all of the defects that are very obvious and easy to find manually but this is quicker option to get rid of them all in one big go.

Play testing

This is the stage that takes place when the game is being tested by QA testers that are hired to find any bugs or faults within the game that effect the gameplay in a negative fashion. They will play through the game story or multiplayer and try to complete and noting down any bugs that they find to report back to the studio so that they can be fixed for a more enjoyable experience.

Ad Hoc testing

This is completed with no information and it is completed one time and if a defect is found, then the process is repeated. The process is completed at random and if a fault is found within the software, then the test would commence in other parts of the program to see if the same glitch is present.

Game Test Phases

Preparation

This is when the base mechanics of the game are implemented into the game to make sure that the core of the game is working correct and very basic textures are implemented to define the type of textures that will be used. The game will be constantly tested and be filled with various bugs that can cause the game to be very buggy and unplayable at some points so the job is to make it so that each part of the core mechanics works in a acceptable manner.

Alpha

This is the stage where the levels are being created and more assets with higher detailed values have started to be implemented into the game. This is so that they can understand the feel of the game and know that everything for the game has been implemented correct and make sure that the base mechanisms work the way they were designed to. At this stage of production, the game is due to be filled with many various bugs that need to be fixed and there will most likely be game breaking fixes where QA testers will have to find all of the bugs, list them and report back to the company so that they can be fixed effectively.

Beta

In the Beta stage, the game is almost ready to be released to the public since most of the content is already added into the game and the production company is adding in the rest of the final details that are needed so that they player can enjoy a full experience of the game. In the beta stage, the game will still ave various bugs but much less than the alpha stage. The optimisation process takes places in order to try and make the game run smoother and fluently for a various range of platform including low performance rigs. Beta stages are often released to the public in some form for game feedback on how it could initially be improved in a form of an open or closed beta.

Gold

This is the stage where the game is polished and completed to a standard where its ready to be put in a final form on a gold disc to be reproduced for sale to the public. In this version, there should be close to no bugs and all core gameplay should be available such as a campaign, co-op or multiplayer stage. There are various last minute tests that are completed to make sure that the game is completely ready for release.

Certification

This is the stage that is used to see if the game software meets the standards that are needed to be played on each platform such as technical platforms because if the game is too harsh on the system, then the game may lag a lot or crash mid-game which would be a terrible experience for the player. If this is the case, then the publishers will have the product be returned and the product will have to be reworked on and then eventually be resubmitted.

Regression

This is the stage that comes after smoke testing, as the components are tested and things within the program are observed like the graphics, audio and coding.

Game Defect Triggers

Configuration Trigger

This occurs whilst the game is being configured and set up so that the player is ready to load and launch to game. The user has the options to change various settings such as resolution, quality, fullscreen etc. This could also be to do with hardware settings such as having a keyboard, mouse or headset connected to your rig.

Start-up Trigger

This happens whilst the game is starting and beginning to load, as something could be wrong or faulty due to the information that the system is trying to load in for the in game mechanisms and previous save files for the game. An example of this could be on Pokemon Ruby from when you open up the game and the system tells you that he save file is corrupted or the internal battery has run dry.

Exception Trigger

This trigger can occur at any time and it happens when the software can't comprehend the unusual trigger and this causes something such as a blue screen to occur where you are forced to turn off or reset the game.

Stress Trigger

This happens in game when the game is too demanding for the platform which causes the system to strain by lowering frames and generating high temperatures which can cause a rig to overheat or crashing because it can't handle the requirements needed.

Normal Trigger

This occurs in game and they tend to be very minor and doesn't effect the game too much. An example of this is walking on a tile that you're not supposed to but you can simply walk back off it and continue playing the game.

Restart Trigger

This occurs at any point of the game when the game either crashes, needs to update or an errors occurs in the process. This could happen before the game has completely loaded in, in game or post game.