• In English

  • Online Only
  • 4 Weeks / 8 Sessions

Rethinking QA: Skills, Growth, and Professional Identity

A structured introduction to game Quality Assurance as a creative and critical discipline. Learn how QA goes beyond bug detection and supports better game design, collaboration, and player experience. Discover professional methods for observing, analyzing, and documenting games.
Min students: 4 | Max students: 40

What you will learn

  • Understanding the true scope and value of QA in game development.
  • Managing different testing methodologies.
  • Knowledge of testing processes.
  • Analyzing games and prototypes from a design and player-experience perspective.
  • Producing documentation of testing activities (bug report, test cases).
  • Communicating clearly with designers, programmers, and producers.
  • Building a professional QA mindset based on awareness, skills, and curiosity.
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Start Date
May 6, 2026
End Date
May 28, 2026
Live Sessions on Wednesdays and Thursdays

17:30 CET, 16:30 UK, 18:30 GR, 11:30 EST (First session at 18:30 CET)

Simona Maiorano

Your Instructor:
Simona is a Lead QA, Game Designer, Producer, and independent developer with over ten years of experience in the video game industry. She has worked on flight simulators and independent projects, developing an interdisciplinary approach that connects quality, design, and creativity. She is the creator of Sea of Leaves, a narrative indie game currently in development, and the founder of the first Game Jam in Puglia. [full bio]

Master the foundations of game QA, from bug reporting and test design to collaborating.

The Course Includes:

  • 8 hours of lectures and discussions
  • 6 hours of hands-on workshops and assignments
  • Exclusive exercises and prototypes created specifically for this course
  • Feedback and mentorship through a dedicated Discord channel
  • Final Q&A session with professional tips
  • Lecture Recordings
  • Lecture Notes in PDF
  • Lifetime Access
  • D6 Learning Certificate

Requirements:

No prior QA experience is required. A basic understanding of how games are designed or developed is helpful but not mandatory. Learners need to have a computer, a stable internet connection, and access to free tools (e.g., Google Sheets, Trello) and Zoom.

This course is ideal for:

  • Aspiring QA testers who want to enter the game industry with a strong foundation.
  • Game design and development students who want to strengthen their analytical and testing mindset.
  • Junior developers and producers who wish to understand how QA can improve workflows and player experience.
  • Professionals who want to acquire new skills and empower their knowledge in testing, collaboration, and design.
  • Anyone curious about how to make games better by learning to observe, document, and communicate effectively.
Many people enter Quality Assurance through scattered tutorials, informal advice, or trial-and-error testing. As a result, QA is often reduced to simple bug detection, without a clear understanding of the broader skills and mindset that testers bring to game development.

This course takes a different approach. Instead of treating QA as a purely technical task, it presents testing as a creative, analytical, and collaborative discipline. Guided by Simona Maiorano, an experienced Lead QA, participants will learn practical methods for observing gameplay, identifying meaningful issues, and communicating their findings clearly within a development team.

Through a mix of theory and hands-on workshops, students will practice exploratory testing, gameplay analysis, and structured documentation. They will learn how to evaluate prototypes, write effective bug reports, and design simple test cases that examine both functionality and player experience.

Rather than focusing on a specific engine or toolset, the course introduces core QA principles that apply across the entire industry. The emphasis is on developing strong observation skills, clear communication, and a professional QA mindset.

Even the most innovative mechanics, impressive visuals, or compelling stories rely on careful testing to reach players in their best possible form. Quality Assurance helps connect design, development, and player experience, ensuring that a game works not only technically, but also as intended.

What you’ll learn:

✔️ Exploratory Testing: Systematically explore a game to uncover usability and functional issues.

✔️ Design Awareness for QA: Understand how game design principles shape testing and feedback.

✔️ Bug Reporting & Documentation: Write clear reports, manage test cases, and structure testing work.

✔️ Gameplay Analysis: Evaluate how mechanics, systems, and player experience interact.

✔️ Communication & Teamwork: Collaborate effectively with designers, programmers, and producers.

✔️ Professional QA Mindset: Develop curiosity, empathy, and critical thinking in testing.

🎯 By the end of the course, you will not only understand how to test games, but also how QA contributes to better design, stronger teams, and higher-quality player experiences.
Skills developed: Quality Assurance, Communication, Documentation, Game Design, Bug reporting, Critical thinking, Test case design, Defect management, Collaboration, Analytical skills.

Lectures Schedule

Times in Central European Time (CET)

Syllabus

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to have Zoom installed?

Yes. All online lessons are taught via Zoom.

What's the refund policy?

A 100% refund -no questions asked- if you cancel up to 24 hours before the first live session.

Can I pay in instalments?

Yes, instalment payment options are available in most cases. Please reach out to us at info@d6learning.com to discuss the best plan for you.

More questions?

Please contact us directly here. We will respond within 1 to 2 days.
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