Research from IBM shows fixing software defects costs 100 times more during maintenance than design, and seven times more than during testing. Efficient testing is therefore crucial for early error detection and cost reduction. But what’s the best way to test for iGaming?
While in-house and QA and testing are always necessary, crowd testing offers unique benefits, especially in the fast moving iGaming industry. It allows providers to get extensive feedback from actual users, crucial for adapting quickly to new markets. Integrating crowd testing in the Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) speeds up development and ensures better market fit in new regions.
In this article we look at where crowdtesting fits into the cycle and how it can help.
Crowd testing in the iGaming SDLC
An iGaming provider’s SDLC comprises five steps:
- Conceptualization and game design
- Math design and prototyping
- Game development and integration
- Testing and verification
- Certification, compliance, and release
Crowd testing is essential to provide valuable feedback during this entire cycle. Uncovering issues from a diverse player perspective ensures a successful gaming experience for a broad audience.
Conceptualization and game design
The conceptualization and game design phase is vital for iGaming success. Errors in this phase can result in costly corrections later.
This stage typically includes idea generation, feasibility studies, graphics concepts, and theme and story development.
Crowd testing at this phase of the SDLC
Crowd testing at this phase of the SDLC helps providers avoid mistakes that are far more challenging to resolve later.
Crowd testers can provide insight into features that appeal to different player segments, so that providers can deliver a more targeted and satisfying user experience early-on..
For example, market research once indicated that adding a red envelope design to a game would make it more appealing to Asian players because of the red envelope’s significance in certain parts of Asia.
In Asia, red symbolizes good luck, blessings, and positive energy, and such envelopes are often used for special occasions.
Math design and prototyping
This phase is important for iGaming solutions such as slot games where providers must work out mathematical models that determine things like the game’s payout frequency and fairness.
Crowd testing lets providers receive feedback
Crowd testing lets providers receive feedback on the game’s math to help them find the right balance between win frequency, payout sizes, and free spins excitement to keep users engaged.
Part of this process also requires determining the game’s RTP (Return to Player), the theoretical amount of money a player will receive in return over a long period of play.
Both high and low RTP can have pros and cons for the house and for the player. A low RTP gives the house an edge but might deter seasoned players. A high RTP might attract more players but it will also reduce the operator’s margin.
Game development and integration
At this stage, the iGaming provider starts developing the visuals and game itself. This is what most people think of when thinking of game development—it encompasses the actual coding, asset creation, and integrating the two to create a functioning game.
Crowd testing during development and integration
Although much of the early process is done entirely by coders, crowdtesting becomes essential once the game starts to take shape.
Developers are restricted in the quantity of tests they can carry out by themselves. Crowd testers can perform each of the following to help uncover glitches:
- Device testing
- Location testing
- UX testing
One of the known maxims of software development is “Test Early and Test Often.” To that, we could add, “Test with real people.”
Crowd testers using the games in real environments provide insight that simply isn’t available to in-house testers. Solving any discovered problems at this phase can greatly reduce the overall development costs for the project.
Testing and verification
Testing becomes even more important at this phase of the SDLC because the game is getting closer to becoming a live product. In addition to UX issues, it’s crucial to uncover bugs in the game that could cause it to stop working or even allow users to circumvent regulatory measures.
Crowd testing reality
Crowd testing the integration of the game into the operator’s platform is essential to ensure no conflicts exist. This part of the cycle requires real people on real devices.
Certification, compliance, and release
If the provider used crowdtesting extensively up to this point, then the road will be smoother because testers will have found many bugs preventing the game from receiving certification by the respective regulators.
Crowd testing for better KYC
Crowd testing is crucial for continued testing of KYC features, benchmark testing, geolocation testing, and responsible game testing to ensure the game is being used appropriately in authorized locations.
Even after a game receives its certification, continued crowdtesting is vital to ensure it remains in compliance. There’s no such thing as bug-free software, so it’s good to follow a proactive approach to finding and eradicating bugs. This proactive approach can potentially save the provider and operator many costs in the long term. For example, it’s better for a tester to find a KYC or responsible-gaming bug than for a user to exploit it, which could result in costly fines.
TESTA does crowd testing for iGaming
The growing popularity of iGaming, driven largely by the wide availability and lowering costs of powerful mobile devices, means that users will gravitate to higher-quality offerings. With so much available on the market, providers must ensure that their games are fast and user-friendly regardless of the device type or screen resolution or regional preferences. Crowdtesting is the best way to ensure this.
TESTA offers crowd testing services using real people in the locations you intend to launch your game in.
Contact TESTA today to learn how our crowdtesting services can help you!
About the author
Ian McKinnon
TESTA Head of Marketing