An Introduction..

wow - thanks everyone (even if not addressed in this post) for the warm welcome!

Some Answers:

@Bluepete:
Thats a really standout offer, but i have other expenses to take care of before i can shove a nice can on the bikey. I've actually seen your thread and when it becomes time (that could be a long way off) i might bug you if no-one seems to have taken it of you.

@L3nny:
Im gonna get on well with you - i can tell :P
Where did/do you work? Codemasters? Freestyle(RIP)?

@specialone/phil:
I'd love to do some ride outs, Ill definatly be keeping my eyes peeled on PM. Was actually going to attend todays ride out by way of orger baptism, kamikaze overtime ruled that out though

@Winder:
Pretty much, yes :S

@Josh's Question:
I got the job after doing a Games Design degree, however if you're interested in testing theres easier and more effective paths into it. For testing process, logic and communication tend to be the skills that employers are after.

Its not all playing games and writing reviews though, it varies from playthroughs spotting everything from texture/phyics flaws to occasional mechanical/usability in-balances. Theres also a technical side as well for example my work for the first 3 days of last week may or may not have involved turning off and restarting the platform over 400 times, >.<

Something of note if your looking into Games Testing Specifically is get ready to be treated like dirt, your contract is actually worth less than the ink that its printed with. When companys struggle financially, youll be the first to get sacked, when flaws arent found you'll get the blame and if you want to progress you're looking down the barrel of trying to make yourself stand out in a department that can be up to a couple of hundred people big.
However if you have a logical, methodical mind and like to see projects progress from a pit of buggy crap into a AAA title that gets put on your local GAME's shelf, its totally worth it . Its inglorious, but nessacery.

[L3nny]

Good guess, Codemasters it was.

cool i have a friend at codies racing studio (Mark: black guy had a fro for a while changed to dreads, lostsa peircings). And another guy, Ben who was working on Bodycount - cant remember that studio name.

Both Good guys, ben lost his job though when Bodycount tanked. Mark is still there tho to this day.

I applied for a job there and got turned down before getting my offer from Sony.

[Geodude]

Howdoo and welcome Rob, i do hope you're going to share that pie i like pie