ROLE: QA - FIFA Rules
Project:
FIFA 99
Release date:
November 1998
Studio:
Electronic Arts Canada
Platform(s):
PC, Nintendo 64, PlayStation
This was my first job in the industry and I lucked out both by being on a great project and part of an amazing testing group. This testing group was an imbedded AI focused team utilizing a very special build of the game which featured stick figures on a flat green background.
Key Responsibilities:
General AI play testing ensuring that the game was playing as intended by the production team.
Here’s the kicker (no pun intended), the very first bug I wrote up and entered into the database was… “the timer on screen counts up instead of down.” The next day after the group QA Lead did his reviews of tracked issues, he politely approached me and let me know that the timer in football (soccer) counts up and that it was as designed. He also dropped the FIFA Handbook (a comprehensive guide to FIFA rules) on my desk and told me to read it as I’d be responsible from this point on in making sure AI adheres to the rules.
Focus on AI behaviors and make sure it doesn’t egregiously break any rules.
