Meet Our Localization QA Team in Katowice, Poland
"Working with video games on a daily basis is a real blessing, but being in contact with great people sharing your passion for them is even better."
This week we had a chat with our LQA team in Katowic, Poland to learn more about their day-to-day work.
Nicola Pawlak joined Keywords in 2018 as part of our Player Support service line before becoming an LQA Associate Lead when our Katowice studio opened.
Antoine Guihéry is LQA Test Lead in our Katowice studio. He started back in 2017 as a French tester in the Dublin office and eventually moved to Katowice a couple of years ago to become a lead.
Here’s what they had to say!
Describe a typical day in your role.
Nicola: I take care of preparing and managing projects, and also help testers – especially new ones – when they’re on my project. I enjoy the preparation process, gathering all the necessary info and organising it in a clear way for testers.
Antoine:As a team lead I’m the interface between the client and the testing team. My job is mostly coordination and preparation at the beginning of a project. I need to be aware of all the parameters, the client’s expectations and the specifications of the project.
Preparing the testware [the tools we will be using] and planning to make sure we hit deadlines, thinking through the various challenges we will have to overcome – I love the organisational aspect of my job, as well as the satisfaction of knowing that we’ve planned in such a way that the project will run smoothly and be a success.
Another important part of the lead role is to support the testers. Some are quite new to the LQA field and need assistance on different aspects of the job; fortunately, as I was a tester before, I know what they need and how I can help.
How did you get into LQA for video games?
Nicola: I like to play video games is the obvious reason I got into the industry. But actually my journey with Keywords started by accident. I applied while writing my thesis, and it was supposed to be a temporary job, but in the end I’ve stayed for three years and counting.
Antoine: I’ve been a competitive gamer for decades – I can’t remember not having a console or a computer in the house – and I think that influenced my career path, since the linguistic aspect was not my strong suit. I’d planned to work in the industry on the development side (graphic design), but no matter what I wanted to be a part of this wonderful industry, one way or another.
What do you like best about working for Keywords Studios?
Nicola: The best things about Keywords are the atmosphere and the opportunities to meet people from all around the world.
Antoine: Working with video games on a daily basis is a real blessing, but being in contact with great people sharing your passion for them is even better.
What is your favourite video game and why?
Nicola: My favourite video game is Tomb Raider. I played is as a kid and it was one of the first games with a female hero. It made me want to become an archaeologist when I was a kid.
Antoine: Without a moment’s hesitation: Final Fantasy X. It’s the most astonishing solo-game experience I had in my life – I am a huge fan of that game, though not so much of the franchise on the whole. It’s probably related to the fact that it was formative for me when I was young, that it was so ground-breaking on its release, and that I spent so many hours playing it that I could create a back-up of the script by memory.
Tell us an interesting fact that people may not know about you.
Nicola: I’m a book addict. I love to buy new books even if I haven’t read the ones that I already have, though later feel guilty about it. Typically, I read five books at the same time.
Antoine: I’m an hardcore metal fan. I love to go to festivals to enjoy the mud of a circle pit – and the beer! Also, while I’m not a great player on Super Smash Ultimate, if you bet a pizza that I can beat you trust me I will!
And, finally, what advice would you give to job-seekers considering a career in LQA for video games?
Nicola: Be aware that LQA Testing isn’t just about playing games all day – it’s a job, after all. But if you like games it’s one of the best jobs you can have.
Antoine: Don’t expect to just play games at work, but do expect to discover new aspects of video games that can make your playing experiences even more intense. Give it a try!
