Trying to break into the video game industry? If you are a gamer my advice is get involved with the Microsoft Playtest group. You will be helping your gaming future by attending the Playtest group and your fellow gamers. It may not be exactly the future you hoped for, but it can help you gain contacts within the industry.

 You may be periodically contacted my Microsoft to participate in a test. When Microsoft contacts you, you are asked a series of question to see if you qualify for the upcoming study or test. Based on your answers you may or may not be selected for the particular test.

I have personally participated in a couple of these, and they are a lot of fun. Microsoft rewards your time and effort by giving you gratuity gifts. Their gratuity gifts can range from famous software titles like XP Pro, Vista, Office 2007, or a number of Xbox 360 games. You are allowed $600 dollars a year in gifts from these events before you need to report them to the IRS; although I have never went over the $600 mark so I am a little unsure of exactly how this process takes place.

Generally these test group sessions range from two hours to two days. The last Playtest that I participated in was testing a new version of Hexix HQ and the test lasted two hours. These test panels normally consist of about 15 to 20 selected people, you meet at a Microsoft test center (they are nation wide), sign in and are swept off to a room with the other testers. A Microsoft representative explains what you will be testing and explains any and all directions they have.  At this point it is your job to play the game and follow the rules laid out by the rep. At the end of the  game testing you either are asked a series of questions or you need to answer questions on paper about the game or.

At this point the testing session is over. The MS rep with the help of a couple of other guys from Microsoft read off a gratuity list and you pick the title that you want, perhaps two depending on the length of the test. The reps fetch your gifts and hand them to you. At this point you are done and they escort you out of the building. After the test has been completed you’re done, and rarely ever hear anything more about the title unless it is released at some point. Here is where you can sign up if you are interested.

http://www.microsoft.com/playtest/default.mspx