Testing Strategy

🎯 Testing Overview

This document outlines the comprehensive testing strategy for the game, covering all aspects from unit testing to user acceptance testing.

🎮 Testing Goals

Primary Objectives

• Quality Assurance: Ensure the game meets quality standards
• Bug Prevention: Identify and fix issues before release
• Performance Validation: Verify performance targets are met
• User Experience: Ensure positive player experience
• Platform Compatibility: Verify functionality across all target platforms

Success Criteria

• Bug Rate: [e.g., <1 critical bug per 1000 lines of code]
• Performance: [e.g., 60 FPS on target hardware]
• Stability: [e.g., <1 crash per 10 hours of gameplay]
• User Satisfaction: [e.g., >8/10 user rating]

🧪 Testing Types

Unit Testing

Purpose: Test individual components and functions Scope: Code-level testing of game systems Frequency: Continuous during development Responsibility: Developers

Coverage Targets:

• Code Coverage: [e.g., >80% line coverage]
• Function Coverage: [e.g., >90% function coverage]
• Branch Coverage: [e.g., >70% branch coverage]

Key Areas:

• [ ] Game mechanics and systems
• [ ] Input handling
• [ ] Save/load functionality
• [ ] Audio system
• [ ] UI components

Integration Testing

Purpose: Test interactions between different systems Scope: System-level testing Frequency: Weekly during development Responsibility: QA Team + Developers

Key Areas:

• [ ] Gameplay systems integration
• [ ] Audio-visual synchronization
• [ ] Network functionality (if applicable)
• [ ] Platform-specific features
• [ ] Performance optimization

System Testing

Purpose: Test complete game functionality Scope: Full game testing Frequency: Bi-weekly during development Responsibility: QA Team

Key Areas:

• [ ] Complete gameplay flow
• [ ] All game features
• [ ] Performance under load
• [ ] Memory management
• [ ] Platform-specific functionality

User Acceptance Testing

Purpose: Validate game meets user requirements Scope: End-to-end user experience Frequency: Monthly during development Responsibility: QA Team + External Testers

Key Areas:

• [ ] User experience validation
• [ ] Accessibility compliance
• [ ] Localization testing
• [ ] Platform-specific user experience
• [ ] Performance on target hardware

🎮 Gameplay Testing

Core Gameplay Testing

Focus: Fundamental game mechanics and systems Duration: [e.g., 2-4 hours per session] Frequency: [e.g., Daily during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Player Movement: [e.g., Walking, running, jumping, crouching]
• [ ] Combat System: [e.g., Attacks, defense, special moves]
• [ ] Puzzle Solving: [e.g., Logic puzzles, environmental puzzles]
• [ ] Progression: [e.g., Level advancement, skill unlocks]
• [ ] Interaction: [e.g., Object interaction, NPC dialogue]

Level Testing

Focus: Individual level functionality and design Duration: [e.g., 1-2 hours per level] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly per level]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Level Flow: [e.g., Clear objectives, logical progression]
• [ ] Difficulty Curve: [e.g., Appropriate challenge level]
• [ ] Performance: [e.g., Frame rate, load times]
• [ ] Art Integration: [e.g., Visual consistency, lighting]
• [ ] Audio Integration: [e.g., Sound effects, music]

Progression Testing

Focus: Game progression and unlock systems Duration: [e.g., 4-8 hours per session] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Save System: [e.g., Save/load functionality, auto-save]
• [ ] Achievement System: [e.g., Achievement unlocking, tracking]
• [ ] Skill Trees: [e.g., Skill progression, unlocks]
• [ ] Inventory System: [e.g., Item management, storage]
• [ ] Character Progression: [e.g., Leveling, stat increases]

🎯 Performance Testing

Frame Rate Testing

Target: [e.g., 60 FPS on recommended hardware] Method: [e.g., Automated frame rate monitoring] Frequency: [e.g., Daily during development]

Test Scenarios:

• [ ] Combat Scenarios: [e.g., High-action sequences]
• [ ] Exploration: [e.g., Large open areas]
• [ ] Particle Effects: [e.g., Heavy VFX sequences]
• [ ] Multiple Characters: [e.g., Crowd scenes]
• [ ] Complex Lighting: [e.g., Dynamic lighting scenarios]

Memory Testing

Target: [e.g., <4GB RAM usage] Method: [e.g., Memory profiling tools] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Memory Leaks: [e.g., Long play sessions]
• [ ] Asset Loading: [e.g., Memory usage during level transitions]
• [ ] Audio Memory: [e.g., Audio asset memory usage]
• [ ] Texture Memory: [e.g., Texture streaming memory]
• [ ] Garbage Collection: [e.g., Memory cleanup efficiency]

Load Testing

Target: [e.g., <10 second load times] Method: [e.g., Automated load time measurement] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly during development]

Test Scenarios:

• [ ] Initial Load: [e.g., Game startup time]
• [ ] Level Transitions: [e.g., Level loading times]
• [ ] Asset Streaming: [e.g., Dynamic asset loading]
• [ ] Save/Load: [e.g., Save file loading times]
• [ ] Menu Navigation: [e.g., UI responsiveness]

🎮 Platform Testing

PC Testing

Platforms: [e.g., Windows 10/11, macOS, Linux] Hardware: [e.g., Minimum, recommended, high-end configurations] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Input Systems: [e.g., Keyboard, mouse, gamepad]
• [ ] Graphics APIs: [e.g., DirectX, Vulkan, OpenGL]
• [ ] Resolution Support: [e.g., 1080p, 1440p, 4K]
• [ ] Performance Scaling: [e.g., Low to ultra settings]
• [ ] Driver Compatibility: [e.g., NVIDIA, AMD, Intel drivers]

Console Testing

Platforms: [e.g., PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X/S, Nintendo Switch] Frequency: [e.g., Bi-weekly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Platform Features: [e.g., Haptic feedback, adaptive triggers]
• [ ] Performance: [e.g., Frame rate, resolution targets]
• [ ] Input: [e.g., Controller support, button mapping]
• [ ] Storage: [e.g., Save data, game data]
• [ ] Online Features: [e.g., Achievements, cloud saves]

Mobile Testing (if applicable)

Platforms: [e.g., iOS, Android] Devices: [e.g., iPhone, iPad, Android phones/tablets] Frequency: [e.g., Weekly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Touch Controls: [e.g., Touch responsiveness, gesture recognition]
• [ ] Performance: [e.g., Frame rate, battery life]
• [ ] Screen Sizes: [e.g., Different aspect ratios, resolutions]
• [ ] Orientation: [e.g., Portrait, landscape modes]
• [ ] Battery Optimization: [e.g., Power consumption]

🎯 Accessibility Testing

Visual Accessibility

Focus: Visual accessibility features and compliance Frequency: [e.g., Monthly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Color Blind Support: [e.g., Colorblind-friendly design]
• [ ] High Contrast: [e.g., High contrast mode functionality]
• [ ] Text Size: [e.g., Adjustable text scaling]
• [ ] Visual Indicators: [e.g., Audio cue visualization]
• [ ] UI Scaling: [e.g., UI element scaling]

Audio Accessibility

Focus: Audio accessibility features Frequency: [e.g., Monthly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Subtitles: [e.g., Subtitle functionality, customization]
• [ ] Visual Audio: [e.g., Visual representation of audio cues]
• [ ] Audio Descriptions: [e.g., Narration for visual content]
• [ ] Volume Controls: [e.g., Individual volume sliders]
• [ ] Haptic Feedback: [e.g., Vibration for audio cues]

Motor Accessibility

Focus: Motor accessibility features Frequency: [e.g., Monthly during development]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Customizable Controls: [e.g., Key/button remapping]
• [ ] One-Handed Play: [e.g., One-handed control options]
• [ ] Timing Adjustments: [e.g., Flexible timing requirements]
• [ ] Assistive Features: [e.g., Auto-aim, auto-complete]
• [ ] Input Alternatives: [e.g., Voice commands, eye tracking]

🧪 Automated Testing

Automated Test Suite

Purpose: Continuous testing of core functionality Frequency: [e.g., On every code commit] Responsibility: Development Team

Test Categories:

• [ ] Unit Tests: [e.g., Individual function testing]
• [ ] Integration Tests: [e.g., System interaction testing]
• [ ] Performance Tests: [e.g., Automated performance monitoring]
• [ ] Regression Tests: [e.g., Previously fixed bug verification]
• [ ] Build Tests: [e.g., Build process validation]

Test Automation Tools

• Unit Testing: [e.g., Google Test, NUnit, Jest]
• Integration Testing: [e.g., Custom test framework]
• Performance Testing: [e.g., Unity Profiler, Unreal Insights]
• Build Testing: [e.g., CI/CD pipeline]
• Code Coverage: [e.g., Codecov, Coveralls]

👥 User Testing

Playtesting

Purpose: Gather user feedback on gameplay experience Frequency: [e.g., Monthly during development] Participants: [e.g., 10-20 external testers per session]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Gameplay Experience: [e.g., Fun factor, engagement]
• [ ] Difficulty Balance: [e.g., Challenge level appropriateness]
• [ ] Tutorial Effectiveness: [e.g], Learning curve, clarity]
• [ ] User Interface: [e.g., Usability, clarity]
• [ ] Overall Satisfaction: [e.g., Overall game experience]

Focus Groups

Purpose: Detailed feedback on specific aspects Frequency: [e.g., Bi-monthly during development] Participants: [e.g., 5-10 targeted testers per session]

Focus Areas:

• [ ] Art Style: [e.g., Visual appeal, consistency]
• [ ] Audio Design: [e.g], Music, sound effects, voice acting]
• [ ] Story/Narrative: [e.g], Narrative engagement, character development]
• [ ] Gameplay Mechanics: [e.g], Mechanic clarity, depth]
• [ ] Technical Performance: [e.g], Performance, stability]

Beta Testing

Purpose: Large-scale testing before release Frequency: [e.g., 4-6 weeks before release] Participants: [e.g], 100-500 beta testers]

Test Areas:

• [ ] Complete Game Experience: [e.g], Full game playthrough]
• [ ] Performance on Various Hardware: [e.g], Hardware compatibility]
• [ ] Bug Discovery: [e.g], Issue identification and reporting]
• [ ] User Experience: [e.g], Overall user satisfaction]
• [ ] Release Readiness: [e.g], Final release validation]

📊 Testing Metrics

Quality Metrics

• Bug Density: [e.g], <1 bug per 1000 lines of code]
• Critical Bug Rate: [e.g], <0.1 critical bugs per 1000 lines]
• Performance Targets: [e.g], 60 FPS on recommended hardware]
• Stability: [e.g], <1 crash per 10 hours of gameplay]
• User Satisfaction: [e.g], >8/10 user rating]

Testing Coverage

• Code Coverage: [e.g], >80% line coverage]
• Function Coverage: [e.g], >90% function coverage]
• Feature Coverage: [e.g], 100% feature testing]
• Platform Coverage: [e.g], All target platforms tested]
• Accessibility Coverage: [e.g], All accessibility features tested]

Testing Efficiency

• Test Execution Time: [e.g], <2 hours for full test suite]
• Bug Detection Rate: [e.g], >90% of bugs caught before release]
• Test Maintenance: [e.g], <10% of test time spent on maintenance]
• Automation Rate: [e.g], >70% of tests automated]
• Test Reliability: [e.g], <5% false positive rate]

🔄 Testing Process

Test Planning

1. Test Strategy: [e.g], Define testing approach and scope]
2. Test Cases: [e.g], Create detailed test cases]
3. Test Environment: [e.g], Set up testing environments]
4. Test Data: [e.g], Prepare test data and scenarios]
5. Test Schedule: [e.g], Plan testing timeline and resources]

Test Execution

1. Test Preparation: [e.g], Set up test environment]
2. Test Execution: [e.g], Execute test cases]
3. Bug Reporting: [e.g], Report and track bugs]
4. Test Results: [e.g], Document test results]
5. Test Reporting: [e.g], Generate test reports]

Test Review

1. Results Analysis: [e.g], Analyze test results]
2. Bug Triage: [e.g], Prioritize and assign bugs]
3. Test Coverage: [e.g], Review test coverage]
4. Process Improvement: [e.g], Identify process improvements]
5. Next Steps: [e.g], Plan next testing phase]

🛠️ Testing Tools

Testing Software

• Unit Testing: [e.g], Google Test, NUnit, Jest]
• Integration Testing: [e.g], Custom test framework]
• Performance Testing: [e.g], Unity Profiler, Unreal Insights]
• Bug Tracking: [e.g], Jira, Bugzilla, GitHub Issues]
• Test Management: [e.g], TestRail, Zephyr, qTest]

Hardware Testing

• Performance Monitoring: [e.g], GPU-Z, CPU-Z, MSI Afterburner]
• Memory Testing: [e.g], MemTest86, Windows Memory Diagnostic]
• Storage Testing: [e.g], CrystalDiskMark, AS SSD Benchmark]
• Network Testing: [e.g], Wireshark, NetStat, PingPlotter]
• Platform Testing: [e.g], Platform-specific testing tools]

📈 Continuous Improvement

Testing Process Improvement

• Regular Reviews: [e.g], Monthly testing process reviews]
• Metrics Analysis: [e.g], Analyze testing metrics and trends]
• Tool Evaluation: [e.g], Evaluate and update testing tools]
• Process Optimization: [e.g], Optimize testing processes]
• Training: [e.g], Regular testing team training]

Testing Innovation

• New Testing Methods: [e.g], Explore new testing approaches]
• Tool Integration: [e.g], Integrate new testing tools]
• Automation Enhancement: [e.g], Improve test automation]
• Performance Optimization: [e.g], Optimize testing performance]
• Quality Improvement: [e.g], Continuously improve testing quality]

---

This testing strategy document should be referenced by all team members involved in testing and updated as the testing approach evolves.