Chip Hinnenberg is a dedicated playtester and quality assurance expert, having contributed to a number of Star Wars video games developed by LucasArts.
During the development of Star Wars: Rebel Assault, LucasArts' initial venture into "multimedia CD-ROM" gaming, his role involved extensive playtesting, initially as the lead tester, collaborating closely with Brett Tosti. He employed a VCR to capture gameplay footage and report identified bugs to the programming team. Notably, he provided feedback regarding the authenticity of the opening "Flight Training" stage, where the T-16 skyhopper's movement was restricted to horizontal planes, diminishing the sensation of flight. His input enhanced the realism and imparted a "feeling that 'tug'". Furthermore, for the concluding level #15, "Death Star Trench", he critiqued the targeting mechanism, citing its sluggishness and grid-like interface with a descending target. In collaboration with Vincent Lee, he devised the final design, dedicating hours to experimenting with various colors and patterns.
Serving as a technical specialist, he also played a crucial role in testing Rebel Assault and other games, with an emphasis on hardware compatibility. Utilizing a diverse array of sound cards and CD-ROM drives (ten in total), he meticulously tested various setting combinations (IRQ, DMA channels, and HEX addresses) to ensure optimal performance with the latest driver releases.
His contributions extend to Star Wars: Knights of the Old Republic and Star Wars Galaxies, where he is credited as a quality assurance supervisor. Additionally, he holds writing credits for Star Wars: Rogue Squadron and served as a Senior Compatibility Technician, providing technical writing for the instruction manual of Star Wars: Jedi Knight: Dark Forces II.