The testing phase is an integral part of game development that directly impacts the quality and success of the final product. Compliance testing is a critical component of this process, ensuring games meet legal and regulatory requirements. These requirements include age ratings, content restrictions, privacy laws, accessibility standards, and the rest.
Professional game testing companies, like Game-Ace, master enough expertise and experience to perform compliance testing and make your game comply with all relevant regulations along with standards. Feel free to review some of the reasons why compliance testing is essential for game development:
Legal compliance. Different countries and regions have other laws and regulations regarding the content of video games, such as violence, sex, drugs, and gambling. For example, games must comply with the Children's Online Privacy Protection Act (COPPA), the European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), as well as other international laws and regulations. Non-compliance with these regulations can result in significant legal consequences, such as fines and legal action.
Platform compliance. Gaming platforms, such as iOS, Android, Xbox, and PlayStation, have their own set of guidelines and regulations for games to be released on their platforms. Game-Ace is aware of all of them, so you don't need to worry about these aspects.
Age ratings. Compliance testing verifies that games meet the age rating requirements established by organizations such as the Entertainment Software Rating Board (ESRB) and Pan European Game Information (PEGI). This helps prevent minors from accessing inappropriate content and protects developers from legal consequences.
Content restrictions. Compliance testing also ensures that your game complies with content restrictions established by various organizations and regulatory bodies. For instance, games must abide by the guidelines established by the International Age Rating Coalition (IARC), which prohibits games from featuring excessive violence, sexual content, or other forms of explicit material.
Accessibility compliance. Accessibility is an essential consideration for game developers because many players may have disabilities or impairments that affect their ability to play games. Compliance testing will allow you to make games that meet accessibility standards, including color contrast, text size, and alternative input methods.
Performance compliance. Games must also meet performance standards to ensure a smooth and enjoyable player experience. Quality assurance can help identify and address performance issues like frame rate drops, input lag, and loading times.
Localization compliance. Game localization is the process of adapting a game to different languages and cultures. Compliance testing ensures localized games are accurate and culturally appropriate in terms of translations, voiceovers, and graphics.
All in all, by performing compliance testing, you can ensure that the product you are working on is legally compliant, meets platform-specific standards, is accessible to all players, performs well, and is culturally appropriate. Such careful attention paid to QA can help you create a positive player experience, minimize legal issues, and increase the chances of success in the global market. Contact Game-Ace to get the best of both worlds and win the market game with our custom-tailored game testing services!