1.1 Ns Purposely Delayed?
<div class="IPBDescription">Playtesting beyond absurdity?</div> Not to be a miser of sorts, but I'm ready for 1.1 to be released! It seems to me that they have either been playtesting to death. Take a look at this for instance:
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[ 2/07/03 ] :: NS wins Gamespy Mod of The Year 2002
It's our pleasure to announce that Natural Selection has been selected by Gamespy editors as the recipient of their prestigious Best Modification in a PC Game award for 2002. The full feature can be read here.
Gamespy reports that more then a million gamers read this story, so let's hope to see some more servers and custom maps coming online.
In other news, NS v1.1 is due to go into playtesting in about a week. Check the general forum for screenshots showing the HLTV technology in action. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a look at the date on that. 2/07/03. "NS v1.1 is due to go into playtesting in about a week." Okay, so that's 2/14/03, right? What day is it now? 6/7/03? That's almost 4 months of playtesting? Is this really necessary?
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[ 6/06/03 ] :: Veteran program expanding overseas
In order to make sure NS v1.1 is as balanced and deep as it possibly can be, the Veteran program is expanding. The team is looking for some clans outside of the US, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Scandinavia and the UK. The only clans that aren't being sought after at this stage are U.S. clans. Clans that play both FPS and RTS, or that compete regularly in CAL, CPL or other competitions will be given special consideration.
If your clan would like to be considered, please send links to demos, your clan homepage and any other info that shows the team you have what it takes to veteran@natural-selection.org. If admitted, up to 10 of your clan members will be admitted immediately to the program.
Your responsibilities include "scrimming" and "PUGing" as much as possible, at least a couple times a week. You will also need to provide constructive feedback on the forums. Keep in mind that you'll be playing largely on U.S. run servers and will be expected to communicate in English. Clans should be creative, skilled, active and also comfortable with .zip files and using the NS forums.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now take a look at this. Veteran playtesting overseas? Are they preparing NS v1.1 to be bought by the public or what? I don't even think quake3 was playtested this much before going public. I don't want to make any hasty judgements on the ability of the developers, but heck, I mean if "balancing" is the issue, then what is the harm in letting everyone else play in the meanwhile? It is just seeming to me that this is one big "we have 1.1 and you don't" club. Really what is the point? Can someone tell me why they are so terribly afraid to release 1.1 if it is unbalanced at all?
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[ 2/07/03 ] :: NS wins Gamespy Mod of The Year 2002
It's our pleasure to announce that Natural Selection has been selected by Gamespy editors as the recipient of their prestigious Best Modification in a PC Game award for 2002. The full feature can be read here.
Gamespy reports that more then a million gamers read this story, so let's hope to see some more servers and custom maps coming online.
In other news, NS v1.1 is due to go into playtesting in about a week. Check the general forum for screenshots showing the HLTV technology in action. <!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Take a look at the date on that. 2/07/03. "NS v1.1 is due to go into playtesting in about a week." Okay, so that's 2/14/03, right? What day is it now? 6/7/03? That's almost 4 months of playtesting? Is this really necessary?
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->[ 6/06/03 ] :: Veteran program expanding overseas
In order to make sure NS v1.1 is as balanced and deep as it possibly can be, the Veteran program is expanding. The team is looking for some clans outside of the US, especially in Australia, New Zealand, Korea, Japan, Scandinavia and the UK. The only clans that aren't being sought after at this stage are U.S. clans. Clans that play both FPS and RTS, or that compete regularly in CAL, CPL or other competitions will be given special consideration.
If your clan would like to be considered, please send links to demos, your clan homepage and any other info that shows the team you have what it takes to veteran@natural-selection.org. If admitted, up to 10 of your clan members will be admitted immediately to the program.
Your responsibilities include "scrimming" and "PUGing" as much as possible, at least a couple times a week. You will also need to provide constructive feedback on the forums. Keep in mind that you'll be playing largely on U.S. run servers and will be expected to communicate in English. Clans should be creative, skilled, active and also comfortable with .zip files and using the NS forums.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
Now take a look at this. Veteran playtesting overseas? Are they preparing NS v1.1 to be bought by the public or what? I don't even think quake3 was playtested this much before going public. I don't want to make any hasty judgements on the ability of the developers, but heck, I mean if "balancing" is the issue, then what is the harm in letting everyone else play in the meanwhile? It is just seeming to me that this is one big "we have 1.1 and you don't" club. Really what is the point? Can someone tell me why they are so terribly afraid to release 1.1 if it is unbalanced at all?
Comments
-_-
/sarcastic ranfest completed. Please carry on.
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Yes actually I do... stupid humans...
Well yeah. I mean, whose fault would it be if not yours?
You make me sound bad by putting it that way, but when it boils down to it, yeah that's what I'm saying. I realize I'm in no place to demand the game to come out sooner. I just love NS, and it seems that everybody is being deprived of 1.1 simply because playtesting is so darn tough. How balanced did you intend on making it? You realize 1.0 isn't balanced completely, right? The games aren't 50/50. Of course it depends on the map, but generally speaking, aliens win more than they lose. So if the NS community is used to this, why wouldn't we be used to a slight imbalance in 1.1? If you're worried people will criticize your changes in 1.1, well that will happen no matter how balanced it is.
I just ask the developers the simple question "What is the harm in allowing servers to play 1.1 if they wish to join in the excitement?"
I presume the answer is "Nothing that wouldn't happen if we released it when it was more balanced."
That's all.
Wanna make a bet?
The fun part is, they already have the game. They are demanding for an update.
See how cleverly I used <i>they</i> to indicate that I'm not part of the masses but above them and that I don't whine constantly to get 1.1
Give it to me.
Although Flay is off playing Alligence when he should be working, grrr : )
Although Flay is off playing Alligence when he should be working, grrr : ) <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd-->
Yah, Flay, like, having fun is, like, a capital offence d00d. Good thing I don't know his address (puts white powder away).
Let me quote some random Monse interview I saw somewhere: "1.0 is proof of concept." They made 1.0 to show the world something that had never seen before. Also in the same interview: "1.1 is just adding a degree of polish to that concept." They're not exact quotes but...whatever.
Let them take their time and 1.1 will be 10 times better than what it is now.
Do you have any idea how much industry games get tested...
/me sighs and leaves
look, ther reason why it looks bad when he puts it that way IS B/C YOU LOOK BAD NO MATTER HOW YOU SAY IT! <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
and what would hapen if 1.1 was released for public consumption?
1) most poeple would not beable to play b/c:
most servers take about a day to update their stuf when it aint that big (and with patches atleaset once a week <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->)
All of the threads of 'flay is an idiot b/c he changed xxx thing that I liked' will now be 1000 fold (I think we do need a large stick to give to the admins to deal with poeple like this, then agian I know I would manage to get on the wrong end of that stick <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> /me takes stick back from MonsE)
I still find it amuzing that the whining is actualy worse now then when we were waiting for 1.0 <!--emo&:)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/smile.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='smile.gif'><!--endemo-->
@Anti:
They don't thats why NS is so much better then them (well that and Flay is god <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->)
Comeon.. we all know money goes to booze <!--emo&;)--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/wink.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='wink.gif'><!--endemo--> J/k J/k, i actually agree with this thread, if it was that long ago shouldn't it almost be done? but i read a week ago how flay is still working on the coding for the fade... now it jsut started overseas, i also DO agree with this im in 1.1 and your not because devs wont let play testers post images, little movies and a beta discussion that is closed, i feel to read playtesters whine n complain about bugs isnt bad but its almost maknig us 1.0 players seem to be "outside" hmm i wonder.. can this be a big scam and no ns 1.1 at all <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> hehe
I agree.
flay owes you NOTHING.
Why would they purposely delay 1.1? You haven't even given us your big conspiriacy theory behind that. I'm quite willing to wait until August for 1.1, as long as it comes out balanced for clanplay. Expanding the Veteran program is spiffy, in my opinion, because that means it <i>will</i> be balanced for clanplay.
Icecream tastes good too....
This game <b>can</b> be compared to CS in this case. You go to a total n00b server and start pwning, but go to a server like [Hard] Clan and get a score of 0 and 11 and start whining about cheaters and unbalanced guns. That's not the case. The general skill level varies, and this is true of NS. If you go to John Q. Public's server, kick arse as alien, but go to another server where you see the marines win more often, it's not a balance issue. Well, it is a balance issue, just not a <b>game</b> balance issue, it's a server balance issue (teamstacking, whatever).
[edit]I had to change a few wordings as to not make people think that I've been here longer than I have. [/edit]
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Judging from most of the games I've played, I'd say about 10 minutes. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo-->
<!--QuoteBegin--></span><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->NS will not come out tomorrow.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><span class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
w00t. Let's rush this quote off to some fansites. <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif'><!--endemo--> Maybe throw a link in from the general forum! <!--emo&:D--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/biggrin.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='biggrin.gif'><!--endemo-->
On a side note, what is WITH this smilie?! <!--emo&???--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html/emoticons/confused.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='confused.gif'><!--endemo-->