Chapter 4.7: Quality Assurance: Bug Tracking and Test Cases

Overview

Chris Campbell

<[e-mail]>

Before you go to the grocery store, you probably make a list of the things you need so you won't forget anything. As a part of making the list, you check the pantry to see what items you have and which ones you need.

The manager in charge of the game development quality assurance process needs to plan in a similar manner. At all times, the manager needs to know exactly how many bugs already exist in the "pantry," which bugs still need to be found, and how to find them. It's not an easy job, but every game's survival in the marketplace depends on the final quality of the product, so it is essential to do it right.

This article is designed to provide you with ideas on how to start a bug-tracking system and how to formulate ways to find the bugs using test plans and statistical analysis. You will be surprised to learn how easy a system can be to set up, but be ready for the never-ending task of finding bugs.