50 replies to this topic

[Sesambrot]

I've said it before elsewhere, but I actually find it kind of amusing what kind of reaction the reveal of a closed beta usually induces.
As I've also said before, I feel kinda sorry for the people who have to deal with it and clean up the mess afterwards.

I just think, it's definetly not helping if you're telling someone how bad you want to be in the beta, or what you are prepared to sacrifice in order to get on... ...srsly folks that just plain stupid

CyberCrist, on 25 May 2012 - 06:03 AM, said:

Remember when you had to actually participate in the BETA. You know, weekly reports/feedback, or you lose your access? Bug reports. Now people expect to be in the BETA and don't provide any quality return. Sigh.

On the other hand, Testers aren't even asked to provide feedback anymore, then again if you have enough testers, chances are you'll also get some that will actually report things.
I for one think, "forcing" people to have a certain quota of reports is also counterproductive, because at some point they'll report absolutely everything, and get nitpicky. Usually you don't want that either...


On a different note, if there is one overused word floating around on the internet lately it's "entitled"...

Edited by Sesambrot, 25 May 2012 - 06:42 AM.

[cinder]

SmackZ, on 25 May 2012 - 05:15 AM, said:

just how do they expect you to treat your customers? No different for these guys, we are customers and they want our money plain and simple.

I think this scratches at the fundamentally erroneous frame of mind from which people are approaching the beta. A beta is a development process. Beta participants are not customers; they are volunteers. Participants in a beta are not owed anything or entitled to anything, because a beta participant is supposed to be assisting the developer in its testing process. It is not a free market exchange.

Anyone feeling stuffed by the delayed release of beta keys after the announcement should re-evaluate why they are participating in beta at all. If you're just in it to get something for free, you're not the person the development team wants in the beta. Developers are pleased as punch if they can get better than 1 in 1000 beta testers actually give substantive feedback.

If you want this game to be the best game it can be, participate in beta. If you're just looking for a free ride, kindly wait until release in July. The game is just as free then. Either way, the bottom line is this: you'll get access to the game when you get it. No misplaced sense of entitlement will make it arrive any faster, nor will consternation now make you any more satisfied when it finally does arrive.

Edited by cinder, 25 May 2012 - 07:03 AM.

[pursang]

One free internets for Griffindor cinder!

[Program 024]

But, but... what if I don't want to settle my kettle? What if I want it to boil over? *Sniffle*

All joking aside, there have been really good points made in this thread. Especially yours cinder. I was actually thinking about the same thing on my way to work.

The Beta is for testing. What do people gain by simply participating in it? I think it touches on a problem that was mentioned earlier in this thread (At least I think it was in this thread). People are more and more wanting things now. Thinking like Veruca Sault. Kudos to all who can understand the reference that I am using.

Veruca is, to say the least, a spoiled brat featured in the book 'Charlie and the Chocolate Factory'. I am not talking about its more recent film adaptation. I haven't seen that one. The earlier film version of the book had her say 'I want it noooow!' in a very whiny voice. Unfortunately a lot of people who are clamoring for beta keys strike me as people who share this mentality. So I present a question to all of you: Why do you want to get into the Beta so much? If it is just to play the game before everyone else, then you are misunderstanding its purpose, as was so eloquently stated in the post above mine at the time of writting this post.

If you sincerely want to test it and assist in the development of this game, more power to you. If you get in, I take my hat off to you in hopes that you will be able to improve upon the game in seeing what the devs couldn't see.

Rant over!

[Sesambrot]

cinder, on 25 May 2012 - 07:02 AM, said:

I think this scratches at the fundamentally erroneous frame of mind from which people are approaching the beta. A beta is a development process. Beta participants are not customers; they are volunteers. Participants in a beta are not owed anything or entitled to anything, because a beta participant is supposed to be assisting the developer in its testing process. It is not a free market exchange.

Anyone feeling stuffed by the delayed release of beta keys after the announcement should re-evaluate why they are participating in beta at all. If you're just in it to get something for free, you're not the person the development team wants in the beta. Developers are pleased as punch if they can get better than 1 in 1000 beta testers actually give substantive feedback.

If you want this game to be the best game it can be, participate in beta. If you're just looking for a free ride, kindly wait until release in July. The game is just as free then. Either way, the bottom line is this: you'll get access to the game when you get it. No misplaced sense of entitlement will make it arrive any faster, nor will consternation now make you any more satisfied when it finally does arrive.

While I would agree with that statement for the most part, I think "closed-beta-testers" for a F2P can be a delicate topic.
If there already was a store in the closed beta, and you bought something from it, that would make you a customer aside of a tester.
Then again, I doubt that would happen as it would probably lead to conflicts that would hinder testing, on the other hand the payment system will have to be tested somehow...
Glad I'm not the one who has to figure that out!

But to add to your point, it's called closed beta for a reason! They don't want your money yet, you haven't given anything to them, so they don't owe you anything! Closed beta means the game is still in development, and in fact not ready to ship. I think we should be glad we're getting any information at this point, as many non-f2p-games in this stage don't provide any information at all...


speaking of testing:
For science!

Edited by Sesambrot, 25 May 2012 - 07:26 AM.

[cinder]

Sesambrot, on 25 May 2012 - 07:23 AM, said:

If there already was a store in the closed beta, and you bought something from it, that would make you a customer aside of a tester.

This won't happen. If they intend to test the store, they'll give people "funny money" to buy stuff with. It all gets wiped out at the end of the beta phase. Heck, it's pretty common to have beta accounts wiped on a weekly or daily basis.

I do want to say as an aside that I'm as eager about this game as everyone else. I am a full-spectrum, full throttle Battletech fanboy. But I've also developed a couple of games and beta tested many many more, so I know the pain of a developer having to deal with an online community that more resembles a day care than a beta stock.

[Purgatus]

Those kinds of responses are bred from passion. We just have to cool off collectively.

[Chuckie]

[soulfire]

It is like all things everyone wishes to be in but not all of us will make it in. I seem to remember that they are collecting info and starting to choose a number of players this week but I dont recal them ever saying, at least so far as of Fri Morning, that the Beta test is running. They may not even start the beta server until next week. If its like most places they will send out beta invites in waves, to members of the press, as thank yous to people that have done things in the community to promote the game such as website owners podcast people such. They may only choose so many a week. Though we havent heard officially I think they ran into a glitch. Most likly with putting our info in or the computer using that info to out put names. Have patients.

[Sesambrot]

cinder, on 25 May 2012 - 07:35 AM, said:

This won't happen. If they intend to test the store, they'll give people "funny money" to buy stuff with. It all gets wiped out at the end of the beta phase. Heck, it's pretty common to have beta accounts wiped on a weekly or daily basis.

I do want to say as an aside that I'm as eager about this game as everyone else. I am a full-spectrum, full throttle Battletech fanboy. But I've also developed a couple of games and beta tested many many more, so I know the pain of a developer having to deal with an online community that more resembles a day care than a beta stock.

Yeah, it's unlikely...
Tribes: Ascend had the store enabled for their "Semi-closed-beta", then again I suppose that wasn't really beta anymore.

The amount of crap you have to deal with only grows larger the higher up you get. lol
Nontheless, it's still interessting to be part of the developmentcycle for, any game actually, it just happens to be twice as interessting if you have a special interesst in the game... ^^
That said though, from my experience it may be difficult to stay objective at times, especially when you are invested in the game's background. Don't want to imply that I think fanboys are unsuited for the job, but I think it's something to be aware of if you want to be helpful as a tester... (not talking about you specifically cinder!)

[Bullwerk]

When they announced the game was going to be out this Summer I made the conscious decision to interpret that as "We will release in late September"

Having settled myself to that knowledge any time I get to play the game prior to that is just icing on the cake, a wonderful bonus that goes beyond my expectations. I am happily pursuing other interests until the game does release and enjoying all the information and cool tidbits they are providing us. Patience and realistic expectations can do a lot for a person, and the more you want something the more you should focus on patience and managing expectations. I have been waiting for this game for most of my life (honestly none of the other games really fully scratched my BT itch) and I think I can wait a bit longer. Besides the the weather is getting nice (at least here in the states) and there is plenty of life to enjoy in the meantime. Lets all just be mature and reasonable.

Edited by Bullwerk, 25 May 2012 - 08:06 AM.