“FAILED TO CONNECT TO SERVER”: Get Your Game Tested!

Ready? Fire!

The recent release of the first person shooter video game of the Battlefield series, Battlefield 1 Beta, was widely anticipated by millions of fans all over the world. The rollout was smooth initially, and many players gave positive reviews about the game. Set in a World War I scenario, it has many options in terms of weapons, which can be used to battle foes. As more gamers joined the online battleground, however, several server issues have been popping up. This particular beta version is an online-only multiplayer version, which makes server issues the worst thing ever. In the multiplayer mode, all the players in a team are connected through the server, and if it fails, the players would not be able to combat their opponents effectively.

DDOS: Far too many casualties!

The Battlefield 1 Beta video game is experiencing server outages, and a Distributed Denial of Service (DDoS) attack has been claimed. Although this claim is still under investigation and has not been confirmed, DDoS attacks are occurring far too often across various scenarios in present day.

Services of a normal website reach its customers through servers; however, a rogue attacker with the objective to cause disruption does so by targeting these servers. Using multiple hosts, the attack is carried out through multiple personal computers (PCs). Using these compromised PCs, the server is either weakened, or its bandwidth is devoured. The entire process makes it difficult for the server to respond to genuine traffic and it results in causing the website to be unavailable to the actually intended customers.

Into the fray

It is of growing concern that the complexity involved in DDoS attacks is increasing, and the ease of carrying out the attacks is also increasing. They are a threat to security, impacting different industries that rely on cyber space for security. Numerous interdependencies exist among applications and their interfaces, a concept that is proving to be a real challenge. With servers connecting people from around the globe, multiple testing scenarios need to be envisioned and their corresponding test cases need to be prepared. While the test design approach is preferred to be automated with the help of testing tools, it only works well if all edge case scenarios are covered.

Skilled resources are absolutely crucial when it comes to game testing. Basic game rules require to be comprehended and logic from the game design document needs to be identified, in order to design and execute appropriate test cases. Domain knowledge is required, both, to handle the various scenarios, and also to identify the testing tools that can be used depending on the product at hand. Familiarity and experience with these tools is also vital to identify and perform various types of testing.

Gaming is all about the experience. The players are part of a wide pool of people, both in terms of geography as well as age. This makes interaction of the product with its end-users a vital and an indispensible part of the testing journey. Game analysis can be done effectively with advanced analysis techniques, such as video game focused groups.

Upon reliable feedback, and as further changes (after initial roll out) are incorporated, regression testing becomes a crucial part of the process. It is necessary to ensure that already existing features remain unimpaired, and no new defects are introduced as new changes are further added.

What is needed?

For a seamless gaming experience across the globe, robust game testing services such as the following are required that span across multiple platforms:

• Game Testing for Mobiles
• Game Testing for Console-based games
• Game Testing for Online games
• Game Testing for Desktop games

From functional testing and multiplayer testing to compatibility testing and performance testing, an array of in-depth, specific testing services is required.

In Conclusion

Cigniti’s game testing teams are spearheaded by professional testers. With extensive gaming skills, they ensure that defects are detected in the in the Alpha phase of Game logic. Cigniti’s engagement modules are designed to include Interactive Design, API, and Database with numerous gestures and dynamic content. The test capabilities also comprise automation of game controls as well as repetitive actions. Add to this a fully dedicated Game Testing Center of Excellence and SMART Tools™, and you have a complete testing package available.

Cigniti offers an in-depth security analysis supported by comprehensive reports and dashboards, along with remedial measures for any issues found. Cigniti has deep expertise in Security Testing for web applications, mobile application, software products, and web services, both on the premise and over the cloud. Contact us to know more.