Abstract: A system and method for performing performance testing of video game software from a host computer or external to the game platforms. The system includes a plurality of game platforms, of one, two, or more configurations, running a video game and a communications hub communicatively linked with the game platforms. The testing system includes a metrics gathering framework linked with the communications hub. During operation, the metrics gathering framework requests a metric value from the game platforms via the communication hub, receives the metric values from the game platforms, and stores the metric values in memory of the computer system. In this manner, the majority of the performance test is performed externally or “off-console” so as to avoid polluting the testing environment such as by hindering game performance. The testing may include determining a metric value is out-of-tolerance, and, in response, requesting additional performance data to facilitate troubleshooting.

Abstract: A system and method for performing performance testing of video game software from a host computer or external to the game platforms. The system includes a plurality of game platforms, of one, two, or more configurations, running a video game and a communications hub communicatively linked with the game platforms. The testing system includes a metrics gathering framework linked with the communications hub. During operation, the metrics gathering framework requests a metric value from the game platforms via the communication hub, receives the metric values from the game platforms, and stores the metric values in memory of the computer system. In this manner, the majority of the performance test is performed externally or “off-console so as to avoid polluting the testing environment such as by hindering game performance. The testing may include determining a metric value is out-of-tolerance, and, in response, requesting additional performance data to facilitate troubleshooting.

Abstract: A system and method for performing external and automated testing of video game software. A video game testing system includes a testing farm with game platforms and a communications hub communicatively linked with the game platforms. The system includes test scripts stored in memory that each defines test functions to be performed on the game platforms. The test scripts are platform neutral such that they can be written once and run on game consoles regardless of hardware or software differences. The system includes a testing framework on a computer system communicatively linked with the communications hub. During operations, the testing framework selects one of the test scripts transmits test messages with test orders to a subset of the game platforms and receives back test data including crash data. The platforms may differ in configuration or be identical consoles and be concurrently used to efficiently perform a test.

Abstract: A cassette (10) for storing a plurality of items in a parallel registration is disclosed. The cassette is specifically designed to be lightweight and is reinforced (50, 52, 54) to prevent warpage, bending, flexing or breaking of the cassette. Means (66, 68, 70) for indexing the cassette to a surface for precise insertion and removal of items are also described.