Welcome to the world of gaming, where the journey to create a successful game is full of twists and turns. While some games become instant classics, others unfortunately end up forgotten or, even worse, ridiculed by the gaming community.
In this blog, we will explore 15 games that failed to live up to expectations. We will also examine how proper testing could have potentially saved them from their downfall. Join us as we dive into the importance of testing and its impact on the gaming industry from a user-centric perspective.
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What is Game Testing?
Game testing is the process of evaluating a video game to detect and identify bugs, glitches, and other issues before the public can play it. A team of testers plays the game extensively to find and document any problems they encounter. They then provide feedback to the development team, who fixes the issues.
This process is a vital part of game development because it ensures the game is as bug-free and polished as possible before it hits the market. Testing helps guarantee that the target audience will find the game enjoyable and playable. It can also identify areas for improvement or additional features that could enhance the game.
Teams can perform game testing manually with human testers or through automated testing tools. It often involves evaluating different aspects of the game, such as gameplay mechanics, graphics, sound, user interface, and performance.
15 Failed Games That Show Us Why Testing is Important
- E.T. the Extra Terrestrial (Atari 2600, 1982) – Developers rushed this game to meet the holiday shopping season deadline, creating a buggy mess. It was so bad that a company buried thousands of unsold copies in a New Mexico landfill.
- Daikatana (PC, 2000) – This game was supposed to revolutionize first-person shooters, but bugs and bad design decisions plagued it. Several years of delays led to a commercial failure.
- Postal 3 (PC, 2011) – Critics panned this game for its poor optimization, numerous bugs, and broken gameplay mechanics. It failed commercially and critically.
- Mighty No. 9 (PC, 2016) – Developed as a spiritual successor to Mega Man, this game ended up riddled with bugs, poor design choices, and bad voice acting. It was a commercial and critical failure.
- Ride to Hell: Retribution (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, 2013) – This game became infamous for its numerous bugs, poor graphics, and bad gameplay mechanics. Critics universally panned it, leading to commercial failure.
- Tony Hawk’s Pro Skater 5 (PS4, Xbox One, 2015) – Critics criticized this game for its numerous bugs, poor graphics, and bad gameplay mechanics. It failed commercially and critically.
- War Z (PC, 2012) – The developers released this game in a very buggy state, full of glitches and gameplay issues. Players also criticized its microtransactions and false advertising. It was a commercial failure.
- Aliens: Colonial Marines (PC, Xbox 360, PS3, 2013) – Heavy pre-release hype preceded this game, but it launched as a buggy mess with poor AI and numerous gameplay issues. Critics universally panned it, and it failed commercially.
- SimCity (PC, 2013) – An always-online requirement plagued this game’s release, causing major server issues that prevented many players from accessing it. The poor launch drew heavy criticism and made the game a commercial disappointment.
- Assassin’s Creed Unity (PC, Xbox One, PS4, 2014) – This game launched with numerous bugs, glitches, and poor graphics. Fans heavily criticized it, leading to commercial disappointment.
- Batman: Arkham Knight (PC, Xbox One, PS4, 2015) – The PC version of this game launched in a very buggy state, with numerous glitches and poor performance. It was so bad that the publishers pulled it from sale temporarily to fix the issues.
- No Man’s Sky (PC, PS4, 2016) – Despite heavy pre-release hype, players criticized the game for its repetitive gameplay, poor graphics, and numerous bugs. It was a commercial disappointment at launch.
- Mass Effect: Andromeda (PC, Xbox One, PS4, 2017) – Critics criticized this game for its poor animations, numerous bugs, and bad writing. It was a commercial disappointment.
- Fallout 76 (PC, Xbox One, PS4, 2018) – This game launched in a very buggy state, with numerous glitches and poor gameplay mechanics. Fans heavily criticized it, and it was a commercial disappointment.
- Cyberpunk 2077 (PC, Consoles, 2020) – While ambitious, this game launched with a staggering number of bugs, especially on last-generation consoles. The poor performance led to Sony pulling it from the PlayStation Store and mass refunds, severely damaging its initial reputation.
The Importance Of Testing And Its Impact On The Gaming Industry
Testing is an essential aspect of software development, and it is particularly critical in the gaming industry. It helps identify bugs, glitches, and other issues that can affect a game’s overall quality, playability, and user experience. Testing also ensures that the game functions as intended, meets design specifications, and performs well on various platforms and devices.
The impact of testing on the gaming industry is significant. We can break it down into three key areas:
1. Boosting Customer Satisfaction and Sales
First and foremost, testing ensures that games release with minimal issues. This directly improves customer satisfaction and reduces negative reviews and refund requests. In turn, higher satisfaction leads to increased sales and revenue for developers and publishers.
2. Building a Reputation for Quality
Furthermore, testing improves the overall quality of games, making them more enjoyable and engaging for players. A high-quality experience helps build a loyal fan base and establishes a positive reputation for game developers and publishers, which is invaluable for marketing future titles.
3. Enabling Continuous Improvement
Finally, testing identifies areas where developers can improve or expand a game. Teams can find opportunities for new features, gameplay fixes, or performance optimizations. This ongoing improvement keeps players engaged for longer, which can lead to increased revenue through downloadable content (DLC) or expansions.
What Are the Best Strategies to Adapt for Better Game Testing and a Successful Game Launch?
Game testing is a critical process that determines a game’s success. Without proper testing, bugs, glitches, and other issues can make a game unplayable, leading to poor reviews, lost sales, and a tarnished reputation. To ensure a successful launch, developers must implement the best testing strategies. Here are some of the top strategies to consider:
1. Develop a Comprehensive Testing Plan:
A well-documented testing plan is essential for identifying potential issues. The plan should cover all testing phases, including functional, performance, compatibility, and usability testing.
2. Use Automated Testing Tools:
Automated tools can quickly identify bugs, saving time and reducing costs. These tools can also simulate real-world scenarios to ensure the game functions correctly.
3. Conduct Beta Testing:
Beta testing with real users is a critical stage. It allows developers to identify issues that internal testing may not detect.
4. Implement Continuous Integration and Delivery:
This approach streamlines testing by automating the build, test, and deployment processes. It reduces the time and effort required for testing.
5. Engage with the Gaming Community:
Engaging with the community provides feedback on features, usability, and other aspects. Developers can use this feedback to make improvements before the official launch.
In conclusion, game testing requires a well-planned strategy and a comprehensive approach. By implementing these strategies, developers can ensure their games are thoroughly tested and ready for a successful launch.
How Does Testing Save Cost In The Gaming Industry?
Testing plays a crucial role in the gaming industry by helping to save costs in several ways:
- Reducing Costly Bugs: Testing identifies and fixes bugs before release. This reduces the chance of negative user experiences, bad reviews, and refunds, which are all costly to a game’s bottom line.
- Identifying Performance Issues: Testing finds performance issues early, allowing developers to optimize the game. This prevents poor user experiences that can drive players away.
- Ensuring Broad Compatibility: Testing ensures the game works on different platforms and devices. This avoids the high development costs of post-launch compatibility patches and lost sales from dissatisfied customers.
- Streamlining Development Time: By finding issues early in the development cycle, testing reduces overall development time. This prevents costly delays and helps ensure the game releases on time and within budget.
In summary, testing saves costs by reducing bugs, optimizing performance, ensuring compatibility, and streamlining development. Investing in quality testing improves the user experience, leading to better reviews and higher revenue.
Best Game Testing Methodologies for You
- Manual Testing: This involves testers playing the game manually to find bugs and glitches. It can be time-consuming but is essential for catching nuanced issues.
- Automated Testing: This uses specialized tools to automate the testing process. It speeds up testing and is useful for repetitive or time-consuming tasks.
- Regression Testing: This ensures that new features or changes have not introduced new bugs into a previous stable version of the game.
- Compatibility Testing: This tests the game on different platforms, devices, and operating systems to ensure it runs smoothly everywhere.
- Performance Testing: This checks that the game runs smoothly without lag, even under heavy loads or on lower-end hardware.
- Usability Testing: This verifies that the game is easy to use and understand, with intuitive mechanics, controls, and interfaces.
- Security Testing: This tests the game to ensure it is secure and protected against hacks, exploits, and other security threats.
It’s important to note that different games require different testing methodologies based on their genre, complexity, and platform. A combination of these methods helps ensure the game is thoroughly tested and ready for release.