What, When and How of Destructive Testing
What is Destructive Testing?
Destructive testing is the process of intentionally trying to break a video game. The purpose of this testing is to identify and fix any bugs, glitches, or other issues that may arise during gameplay. This type of testing is an important part of the quality assurance process, as it helps to ensure that the game is stable able to withstand the stress of intense gameplay.
Destructive testing typically refers to the act of intentionally breaking or destroying elements within the game world. Here are some examples:
Breaking structures or buildings in a sandbox game such as Minecraft or Besiege.
Exploding vehicles or weapons in a first-person shooter game such as Battlefield or Call of Duty.
Causing chaos and destruction in an open-world game such as Grand Theft Auto or Just Cause.
Crashing and destroying aircraft in flight simulator games such as Microsoft Flight Simulator or IL-2 Sturmovik.
Demolishing the environment in a racing game such as Dirt or Burnout.
The TestFly QA team excels in evaluating the boundaries and functionalities of our clients' game engines and physics systems through destructive testing. This aspect of our QA services serves as an additional layer of protection for our client's brands. We have a dedicated group of testers known as "destructive testers" who are skilled at thinking creatively and outside of the box.
Our destructive testers use unconventional thinking to identify potential bugs or glitches in the game. They contemplate the ways in which players may interact with the game in unforeseen and uncommon ways and then simulate these scenarios during their testing process.
The unique approach of destructive testers leads to the discovery of potential problems that might have gone unnoticed, resulting in an elevated level of game quality and a more fulfilling experience for players.
When is Destructive Testing Performed
The optimal timing for conducting destructive testing is to schedule it towards the end of the development cycle once the game has undergone thorough testing to remove significant glitches. This strategy enables the testing team to concentrate on discovering and correcting any lingering bugs or issues before the game's release to the public.
At TestFly, we recommend performing destructive testing as soon as it is technically possible, to minimize development costs and time to market. In addition, we suggest performing this testing in controlled environments, such as isolated test environments or sandboxed versions of the game, to minimize the impact on the development process and other aspects of the game. Doing so helps to ensure that the testing process is more efficient and effective and that any issues identified during testing are addressed.
Additionally, it is crucial to plan and coordinate destructive testing carefully and work closely with the development team to ensure any issues identified during testing are resolved. This helps to confirm that the game is as stable and reliable as possible when it is released and that the players have a positive experience.
How is Destructive Testing Conducted?
There are several methods that Testfly QA teams use to conduct destructive testing, including:
Manual Testing: This involves having testers play through the game repeatedly, trying to find new ways to break it. Testers may attempt to exploit bugs, perform actions in unexpected ways, or cause the game to crash by overloading it with too many variables at once.
Automated Testing: This involves using automated tools to simulate large amounts of traffic or data sent to the game server. This testing method is referred to as stress testing, which serves to evaluate the capability of the game's server and network infrastructure to handle high levels of traffic or intensive usage.
Performance Testing: This testing focuses on evaluating the game's performance and identifying any issues that may arise during gameplay. This may include evaluating the game's load times, frame rates, and overall performance on different hardware and software configurations.