From Tester to QA Lead: Game Testing, Jira & QA Mastery from Udemy

This course is your guide to becoming an effective QA Lead in game development, crafted entirely from real-world experience. Here’s what you can expect:

Real-World Experience: Every lesson is based on practical, hands-on knowledge—no fluff, just what you’ll actually use on the job.
Key Skills for QA Leadership: Learn how to transition from QA Tester to QA Lead, manage a team, and drive quality assurance processes effectively.
Essential Tools & Techniques: Master the essentials, like creating test plans, timelines, setting up efficient workflows in Jira, and developing strong documentation practices.
Risk Management: Understand how to assess risks and create mitigation strategies, allowing you to anticipate challenges and keep projects on track.
Communication & Collaboration: Gain the skills needed to communicate effectively with development teams and other departments, ensuring smooth workflows and fewer bottlenecks.
Team Dynamics & Management: Learn how to engage, support, and manage QA personnel, fostering a high-performing and motivated team.

This course can be highly beneficial for:

Junior and Mid-Level QA Testers – Those looking to advance into a leadership position in game testing.
Aspiring QA Leads – Individuals aiming to transition from QA Tester to QA Lead and learn essential management skills.
Newly Appointed QA Leads – Those recently promoted to lead QA roles who need practical guidance and real-world insights.
Game Development QA Engineers – Engineers who want a better understanding of QA leadership and team management within game development.
Project Managers in Game Development – PMs who work closely with QA teams and want to understand the QA lead’s role and responsibilities.
Freelance Game Testers – Freelancers who want to enhance their skills and marketability by adding leadership and project management expertise.
Developers Interested in Quality Assurance – Developers looking to broaden their knowledge of the QA process and how QA leads contribute to the success of a game project.
Game Development Students and Graduates – Newcomers to the field who are exploring a potential career path in QA and want to understand both foundational and leadership concepts.

What's inside

Learning objectives

Understand the role and responsibilities of a qa lead in game development
Develop skills to transition from qa tester to qa lead effectively
Learn how to create detailed test plans, strategies, and manage project timelines.

Master jira setup, bug reporting, and configuring dashboards and filters
Gain expertise in risk assessment and implementing mitigation strategies
Understand team dynamics and manage qa personnel effectively for optimal performance

Understand the role and responsibilities of a qa lead in game development
Develop skills to transition from qa tester to qa lead effectively
Learn how to create detailed test plans, strategies, and manage project timelines.
Master jira setup, bug reporting, and configuring dashboards and filters
Gain expertise in risk assessment and implementing mitigation strategies
Understand team dynamics and manage qa personnel effectively for optimal performance

Syllabus

Introduction

Understand the role and responsibilities of a QA Lead in game development

Responsibilities of QA Lead

Skills of QA Lead

Traffic lights

Read about what's good

what should give you pause

and possible dealbreakers

Teaches how to create test plans and timelines, which are essential for managing projects and ensuring quality in game development

Explores risk assessment and mitigation strategies, enabling learners to anticipate challenges and keep projects on track, which is valuable for career advancement

Develops skills in team dynamics and management, fostering a high-performing and motivated team, which is crucial for leadership roles

Covers Jira setup, bug reporting, and configuring dashboards, which are standard tools and techniques used in the game development industry

Requires learners to understand game requirements and create work breakdown structures, which may require prior experience in game development

Focuses on Jira, which may not be applicable to all organizations, as some may use other bug tracking and project management software

Reviews summary

Practical guide to game qa leadership

According to learners, this course is a highly practical guide that effectively bridges the gap from QA Tester to QA Lead in game development. Many students highlight the real-world focus, stating the content is directly applicable to the job. Key areas praised include mastering Jira setup and workflows, gaining essential team management and communication skills, and learning to create crucial QA documents like test plans. While overwhelmingly positive, a few reviewers noted that some sections might feel like a review for those with significant prior experience, but overall, students found it provides actionable insights and valuable templates for aspiring and new QA Leads in the game industry.

Explains risk assessment and mitigation strategies.

"Understand how to assess risks and create mitigation strategies..."

"Learn to conduct risk assessments, differentiate project and product risks, and develop mitigation strategies..."

"The module on risk management was clear and provided a good framework for identifying and mitigating potential issues."

Covers creation of key QA documents and plans.

"Discover techniques for understanding game requirements... and establishing timelines, test plans, and testing strategies."

"Build skills in preparing key QA documents... QA Reports, Report Template, Report Creation..."

"Found the guidance on creating test plans and reports extremely helpful. The templates provided are a great starting point."

Valuable insights into managing QA teams.

"Discover the pillars of team engagement... and best practices in people management to build and maintain a cohesive and effective QA team."

"Learned how to engage, support, and manage QA personnel, fostering a high-performing and motivated team."

"The modules on team dynamics and managing personnel were very insightful. It's more than just testing, it's about people."

Excellent coverage of Jira for QA lead activities.

"Master the essentials, like creating test plans, timelines, setting up efficient workflows in Jira, and developing strong documentation practices."

"Learn to create customized bug report templates, dashboards, and filters in JIRA to streamline bug tracking..."

"The section on Jira was particularly useful. I learned how to set up dashboards and filters to get a better overview of project status."

Guides transition from tester to lead effectively.

"Learn how to transition from QA Tester to QA Lead, manage a team, and drive quality assurance processes effectively."

"This course is highly beneficial for... Those looking to advance into a leadership position in game testing."

"Really helped me understand the shift in responsibilities and mindset needed to move from a tester role to a lead."

Focuses on practical, job-relevant skills and insights.

"Every lesson is based on practical, hands-on knowledge—no fluff, just what you’ll actually use on the job."

"Provides actionable insights that are directly applicable to the day-to-day responsibilities of a QA Lead in game development."

"Found the content very practical, focusing on real-world scenarios rather than just theory. This made it incredibly valuable."

May be review for highly experienced professionals.

"Some sections might be a review for those with significant prior experience in a lead role..."

"While great for aspiring leads, seasoned professionals might find parts of the content basic."

"Good foundational knowledge for the lead role, though I wish it went into slightly more advanced strategies in some areas."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in From Tester to QA Lead: Game Testing, Jira & QA Mastery with these activities:

Review Game Development Lifecycle

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Reinforce your understanding of the game development lifecycle to better contextualize the QA Lead's role and responsibilities within the broader project.

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Review the stages of game development.
Identify QA activities in each stage.
Note potential risks and challenges.

Read 'Agile Testing Condensed: A Brief Introduction'

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Understand Agile testing methodologies to improve collaboration with development teams and streamline QA processes.

View Agile Testing Condensed: A Brief Introduction on Amazon

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Read the book and take notes.
Relate Agile testing to game development.
Identify areas for improvement in QA workflows.

Read 'The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses'

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Gain a deeper understanding of game design principles to improve your ability to identify and report impactful bugs.

View The Art of Game Design: A Book of Lenses, Third... on Amazon

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Read selected chapters focusing on design principles.
Apply the 'lenses' to analyze existing games.
Relate design principles to QA testing strategies.

Four other activities

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Jira Workflow Configuration Exercises

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Practice configuring Jira workflows to simulate different bug tracking scenarios and improve your proficiency in managing QA activities within Jira.

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Set up a Jira project for game testing.
Create custom workflows for bug reporting.
Configure dashboards to track testing progress.

Develop a Sample Test Plan

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Create a comprehensive test plan for a hypothetical game to solidify your understanding of test planning principles and strategies.

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Choose a game genre and target platform.
Define testing scope and objectives.
Outline testing phases and resource allocation.
Document entry and exit criteria.

Build a QA Process Improvement Proposal

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Develop a proposal outlining specific improvements to the QA process within a game development context, demonstrating your ability to analyze and optimize QA workflows.

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Identify pain points in a QA process.
Research best practices for QA improvement.
Outline proposed changes and benefits.
Present the proposal to stakeholders.

Mentor Junior QA Testers

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Share your knowledge and experience with junior QA testers, reinforcing your own understanding of QA principles and developing your leadership skills.

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Offer guidance on testing techniques.
Review bug reports and provide feedback.
Answer questions and address concerns.

Career center

Learners who complete From Tester to QA Lead: Game Testing, Jira & QA Mastery will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:

Quality Assurance Lead

A Quality Assurance Lead oversees the testing process for a game, ensuring it meets quality standards. This role involves creating test plans, managing a QA team, and communicating with development teams. This course, focused on transitioning from tester to QA lead, teaches how to create test plans and strategies, manage timelines, and set up efficient workflows using Jira. The course's emphasis on risk management, team dynamics, and practical techniques helps an aspiring quality assurance lead succeed in this role.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Lead

Test Manager

A Test Manager is responsible for planning, organizing, and overseeing all testing activities within a game development project. They work closely with the QA team and manage the testing process to ensure the delivery of a high-quality product. This course provides training in test plan creation, test strategies, and timeline management, all crucial aspects of a testing manager's role. The course also delves into Jira setup, bug reporting, and risk management, which directly benefit those in charge of testing.

See salaries and explore the career path for Test Manager

Lead Tester

A Lead Tester works closely with other testers and manages them through testing activities. This position requires an understanding of both testing processes and team management, so this course will help a lead tester create test plans, manage timelines, and use Jira effectively. Additionally, the course teaches skills in team engagement and management, crucial for a lead tester in charge of team members.

See salaries and explore the career path for Lead Tester

Quality Assurance Analyst

A Quality Assurance Analyst examines a game and its features and identifies bugs and other issues. This role requires a solid understanding of testing methodologies and the ability to document issues. This course may be useful as it covers test plans, timelines, and bug reporting. Additionally, the course provides hands-on experience with Jira, which helps with the tracking of issues through the QA activities.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Assurance Analyst

Project Manager

A Project Manager coordinates a game project from start to finish, ensuring that it is completed on time and within budget. Understanding the QA process is important for a project manager, especially when working on game development projects. This course provides training in techniques for understanding game requirements, creating work breakdown structures, making accurate estimations, and establishing timelines, all of which help with project management. Additionally, the course’s focus on risk management and team dynamics provides a project manager with valuable skills.

See salaries and explore the career path for Project Manager

Game Producer

A Game Producer manages the development of a game, overseeing the game’s timeline, budget, and quality. Knowledge of the entire process, including quality assurance, is important. This course may be useful to a game producer as it covers how to create test plans and strategies, manage timelines, and handle risk management. A game producer will also find value in understanding team dynamics and the QA workflow, which aids in coordinating a successful game development process.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Producer

Quality Control Specialist

A Quality Control Specialist focuses on the processes and standards to ensure the quality of a game product. This role involves establishing test criteria, documenting procedures, and analyzing data. This course may be useful in this role because it teaches the creation of test plans, risk assessment, and the management of testing activities. The course's emphasis on documentation and template creation are also beneficial for quality control.

See salaries and explore the career path for Quality Control Specialist

Technical Project Manager

A Technical Project Manager oversees technology-related projects that include software or game development. A technical project manager will find this course useful because, while they may not be directly involved in testing, understanding the QA process, including test plans, timelines, and risk management, is helpful. The understanding of Jira and documenting processes also can be helpful.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Project Manager

Scrum Master

A Scrum Master facilitates a team's workflow, removing obstacles and ensuring that the team adheres to Agile principles. A Scrum Master who is working in a game development context may find this course helpful. The course covers team dynamics, communication, and workflow management, which can help streamline the process by removing roadblocks and conflicts within a team. The course's focus on timelines, risk mitigation, and documentation further benefits a scrum master.

See salaries and explore the career path for Scrum Master

Software Test Engineer

A Software Test Engineer designs and conducts tests on software to identify bugs and usability issues. This role, while typically outside of games, shares many commonalities with game quality assurance. This course may be useful for a software test engineer as it covers creating effective test plans, managing timelines and workflows, and implementing mitigation strategies. It's also helpful in teaching the use of Jira for bug tracking and management.

See salaries and explore the career path for Software Test Engineer

Release Manager

A Release Manager manages the deployment of new software or game builds. They need a good understanding of quality assurance processes to ensure smooth releases. This course can be useful for a release manager, because it teaches how to create test plans, manage timelines, prioritize issues and conduct triage meetings. Understanding the tools and techniques taught in the course further helps a release manager oversee successful software and game releases.

See salaries and explore the career path for Release Manager

Game Designer

A Game Designer conceptualizes and designs a game's systems and mechanics. A designer who wishes to succeed in their career may find this course to be useful. An understanding of quality assurance processes, like test plan creation, risk management, and bug reporting using tools such as Jira, can help a game designer in development. Understanding the role of a QA Lead and team dynamics can help a game designer work with teams more effectively.

See salaries and explore the career path for Game Designer

Technical Writer

A Technical Writer creates documentation for software and games, including testing procedures and QA guidelines. This course may be useful for a technical writer, as it focuses on documenting QA processes, creating templates for test plans and reports, and understanding Jira workflows. The course's focus on real-world experience and practical tools also helps a technical writer create clear and effective documentation for game development teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Technical Writer

Agile Coach

An Agile Coach helps teams adopt and improve Agile practices, which is often used in game development. This course may be useful for an Agile coach as it discusses team dynamics, communication, workflow management, and risk mitigation strategies. The course also touches on test planning and documentation, which are helpful in the Agile context. The course benefits an Agile coach by providing practical insights into real-world quality assurance.

See salaries and explore the career path for Agile Coach

Business Analyst

A Business Analyst analyzes business needs and helps to implement solutions. They might not directly be involved in testing, but understanding this process is crucial for them to understand how processes work in the game development cycle. This course may provide a foundation in game development workflows, including how requirements are identified, how projects are planned, and how QA is handled. The course may be useful for a business analyst, especially if they work closely with development teams.

See salaries and explore the career path for Business Analyst

From Tester to QA Lead

Game Testing, Jira & QA Mastery

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What's inside

Learning objectives

Syllabus

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Reviews summary

Practical guide to game qa leadership

Activities

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