What does SHIFT do? Case Study: VR Content Developer

“From delivering great products to providing support for their full utilization, we hope to realize a future where VR thrives—together with SHIFT.”

Client Industry: Gaming / Entertainment Company Size: Under 500 employees Services Provided by SHIFT:

• Test Planning
• Test Design
• Game Testing Support

Summary

A leading VR content developer is pushing the boundaries of 3D solutions using cutting-edge technology, engaging in the creation of numerous VR/AR experiences. SHIFT supported the client by testing and validating a VR-powered virtual driving experience.

Why SHIFT Was Chosen

Q: Among the many specialized testing companies in the entertainment industry, why did you choose SHIFT?

Client Representative: What first caught our attention was SHIFT’s philosophy of “scientific testing.” We resonated with the idea of applying a scientific approach to software quality assurance. In many cases, software testing relies heavily on manpower. We’ve seen a lot of that in the field. So SHIFT’s unique, methodical approach made us think, “We’d like to work with this company.”

We were also very interested in SHIFT’s proprietary tool, CAT. While there are similar systems out there, this was the first time we’d seen a testing company develop its own platform and promote it externally. After trying it out, we found it to be highly user-friendly, enabling seamless collaboration between our team and SHIFT testers in the cloud. That gave us a lot of confidence.

About This Project

Q: Did you have any concerns about working with SHIFT on this VR development project?

Client Representative: We had no concerns about test quality. VR devices only started to become commercially available this year (2016), and use cases have only recently begun expanding. So in terms of knowledge, all vendors are more or less starting from the same point. Our main focus was on how proactive SHIFT would be in approaching this new and unfamiliar type of testing. Thanks to SHIFT’s strong teamwork and fast response to challenges, we were very pleased.

Q: How was the performance of SHIFT’s on-site team?

Client Representative: They were extremely professional and handled everything with great care. Testing tends to get delayed when project schedules get tight, but SHIFT maintained regular communication and progress reports via email and phone, giving us peace of mind.

What Made SHIFT Stand Out

Client Representative: SHIFT began by preparing a comprehensive test plan, which guided all activities. That gave us a shared understanding of the testing scope and helped keep things aligned. The plan was accurate, detailed, and even included cost and scheduling information. Normally, different people handle pricing and test planning, and that can lead to fragmented documentation. SHIFT’s test plan consolidated all the necessary information, which made it very easy for us to move the project forward.

SHIFT Project Manager: Cost and quality often appear to be in a trade-off relationship. Everyone wants high quality, but constraints around budget and resources are real. Our job is to find the best possible outcome within those constraints. At SHIFT, our managers and leads keep that balance in mind and work closely with clients. We’re glad to hear that this approach was appreciated.

Client Representative: Even though we’re still a relatively small company and our business volume with SHIFT wasn’t large, they treated us with great care. That’s one of the main reasons I can confidently recommend SHIFT to other companies.

The Value of Third-Party Testing

Q: What are your thoughts on outsourcing software testing to a third party?

Client Representative: It’s extremely important to properly validate software before release. However, in many cases, third-party testing ends up being just basic error checking, without clear goals, budgets, or target users. While error testing is important, true third-party validation should consider the full context—purpose, cost, user expectations—and assess total quality accordingly.

Client Representative: Developers and testers often have different perspectives. The development side pours effort into bringing a product to life, while the testing side may demand high levels of completeness or even exceed initial expectations—leading to misalignment. This can cause developers to feel negatively about third-party testing. That’s why mutual trust, clear goals, and a shared vision are so important. Both sides need to work as true partners.

SHIFT Project Manager: We believe our role is to help ensure the client’s business success. Development and testing are just different ways of contributing to that goal. It’s essential that SHIFT and the client are aligned and moving in the same direction—that’s something we always strive for.

Overall Evaluation and Future Outlook

Q: What is your overall evaluation of SHIFT, and what are your hopes for the future?

Client Representative: We’re very satisfied overall and definitely want to continue working with SHIFT. Some of our own clients are still cautious about outsourcing due to information security concerns, but we hope to work together to help address those areas as well.

AR and VR are still emerging markets. Both creators and users are figuring out how to best use the equipment, establish infrastructure, and even discover new applications. For the market to grow, we believe it's essential that people can enjoy compelling content in a smooth, stress-free environment.

That’s why we want to keep partnering with SHIFT—from delivering great products to providing full support for their use—so we can build the future of VR together.

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