The Tester

Feb 18, 2010

The chosen 11 gamers meet for the first time, confront their first challenge, and face the panel.

Feb 25, 2010

Legendary game designer, David Jaffe joins the panel to evaluate the gamers in their first team challenge testing their ability to communicate - using human hamster balls, blindfolds, and a bullhorn.

Mar 4, 2010

In this high flying episode, David Jaffe joins the panel once again as the eight remaining gamers tackled their next challenge testing their ability to work together as a team.

Mar 11, 2010

At the half way point in the series, things get dramatic as the 7 remaining gamers must tap into their creative sides or risk elimination in a live action role playing challenge.

Mar 18, 2010

Six gamers remain for a BUZZ!-themed quiz challenge testing their mastery of all things PlayStation® and somebody cracks under the pressure.

Mar 25, 2010

The five remaining gamers are evaluated on their ability to 'focus under pressure' during a timed paintball challenge.

Apr 1, 2010

The last four gamers must memorize self-defense combinations and use them against a gauntlet of attackers in a live game scenario.

Apr 8, 2010

The final 3 gamers from Season 1 race for the finish during over a series of intense mini-challenges involving problem solving, dexterity, knowledge and game play. With no judges, only time and skill will determine who wins the title of The Tester.

Nov 2, 2010

The new season kicks off as 12 devoted gamers meet for the first time in the new PlayStation® loft and face their first high-pressure challenge under the scrutiny of guest panelist, Stig Asmussen, Game Director of God of War® III and celebrity gamer, Adrianne Curry. Who's going home first?

Nov 9, 2010

Episode 2 cranks up the pressure when the gamers travel to historic Edwards Air Force Base and get drilled in this grueling mental and physical challenge testing the gamer's memorization and precision skills. President and Founder of Insomniac Games, Ted Price joins the panel to evaluate the performance of the remaining contenders to win an actual job at PlayStation.

Nov 16, 2010

The pressure of the competition looms large in this week’s test of communication skills as the 9 remaining gamers grapple with a Fat Princess inspired challenge involving turrets, blindfolds, and a megaphone. With one of the most critical skills on the line this week, who’s got the chops not to get chopped? SCEA Santa Monica Studio Senior Producer, Deborah Mars, joins the panel in Week 3 as the gamers are taken way out of their comfort zones to see who is the most well rounded communicator.

Nov 23, 2010

This week, it’s time to see what the cast is truly made of in the most physically demanding teamwork challenge of the season, inspired by Medal of Honor. We’ll see who can really dig into the trenches and continue to prove that they have what it takes to be the next PlayStation QA Tester.

Nov 30, 2010

With nearly half of the original cast eliminated, the seven remaining gamers are given the opportunity to create a video game concept and actually pitch it to a focus group of real PlayStation testers. Add to the mix the critical eye of this week’s guest panelist, Kotaku reviews editor Michael McWhertor.

Dec 7, 2010

This week, quick decisions and pure gaming skills are tested when the gamers get behind the wheel of high-speed karts for a jaw dropping relay race.

Dec 14, 2010

Ches-ka, Gaymer, Mo Chocolate and Scooter compete this week in a high-pressure game show format challenging their PlayStation knowledge and problem solving skills. Who’s got the answers and the intelligence? Only the top 3 will move on to the Season Finale.

Dec 21, 2010

The final 3 gamers face an intense series of mini-challenges, inspired by Killzone® 3, testing their focus, memory and pure gaming skills in a race to the finish to determine the winner of The Tester Season 2.

Feb 15, 2011

Top finalists Cheska, Gaymer and Scooter, fan-favorites Mo Chocolate and Tripplethreat, as well as special guest Big Fazeek, return to tell us more about what really happened in the PlayStation loft. With questions coming straight from the fans, this reunion special revisits key moments of Season 2 and reveals some never-before-seen footage from the exciting season finale.

Feb 7, 2012

The third season kicks off when 12 new cast members arrive at the PlayStation Loft ready to begin the competition for a once in a lifetime gamer prize: a job as a Production Associate at Santa Monica Studio! But first, they'll try to keep their cool during the ultimate grace under pressure job interview - while covered with Madagascar Hissing Cockroaches!

Feb 14, 2012

David Jaffe is this week's guest panelist on hand to critique a Twisted Metal inspired teamwork challenge involving mini ice cream trucks, air rifles, and clown costumes. But, first Krystipryde and RealityPalez face off in a preliminary gameplay competition in the new Twisted Metal for the PS3 system (It's the first boss battle in the new game!). The stakes are high - the better gamer wins an advantage in the team challenge!

Feb 21, 2012

The testers catch Uncharted fever when they must conquer a tricky obstacle course for the chance to meet Nathan Drake himself, Nolan North! John Garvin, the director for the upcoming Uncharted: Golden Abyss for PlayStation Vita is on hand to judge the challenge, and a surprising elimination twist proves that no one is safe.

Feb 28, 2012

The gamers square off in a preliminary challenge in the all new Street Fighter X Tekken to gain an advantage for their team, but events escalate into a full on throwdown when renowned Street Fighter legend Seth Killian tags in to evaluate the gamers on their creativity: whoever creates the coolest character and fighting style is safe from elimination, while everyone else gets a target on their back.

Mar 6, 2012

The competition gets epic in Week 5 as the gamers go Greek for a God of War-inspired challenge to win what may be the most important prize yet - a behind the scenes tour of Santa Monica Studio with Creative Director, Todd Papy to meet his team of award winning game designers.

Mar 13, 2012

No more teams in week 6. It's every gamer for themselves in a suspenseful tower building challenge. The tallest tower wins. But, what's the best strategy? Slow and steady could come up short. Fast and furious risks losing it all. With Starhawk's Dylan Jobe on hand to evaluate their build and battle skills, we find out just what the remaining five contenders think of each other and, in the end, who's standing tall with immunity.

Mar 20, 2012

In the last challenge before the season finale, the gamers battle each other in an intense knowledge and strategy challenge to determine who is the ultimate PlayStation trivia master. Wrong answers could get them sent to a dunk tank as IGN's Greg Miller presides as this week's guest panelist.

Mar 27, 2012

Take a deeper look into The Tester 3 as eliminated cast members like Egoraptor, Skyd1ddy, Ninjanomyx, and more return to tell their side of the story, share their predictions about the Finale, and share new scenes from the show!

Apr 3, 2012

The final 3 gamers face off for the last time in an intense multi-part challenge that will put their focus, intelligence, and gaming skills to the test as they solve puzzles, overcome obstacles, and put everything on the line in an epic Starhawk firefight! Find out who has what it takes to work at PlayStation, and who is going home empty handed.