Question about beta testing

IronFistIronFist Join Date: 2006-12-01 Member: 58805Members
edited December 2006 in NS2 General Discussion
<div class="IPBDescription">Do donators get access?</div>I was just curious, as this question has been in the far back of my mind. I've been meaning to get off me ###### and get my paypal account unlocked, so that I can become a constellation member, but I was wondering if constellation members may also have access to playtesting betas of NS2?

edit -- hehe, I said the pirate-ized version of a donkey's behind, I didn't know that even that was unclean :>
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Comments

  • StandingCowStandingCow Join Date: 2002-11-28 Member: 10187Members, Constellation
    That would be nice <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • n0oNEn0oNE Join Date: 2006-11-08 Member: 58474Members
    Yea, that would be nice.
    I just can tell you devs (u already know it anyway;) ) that you should start as early as posible to get out an working version of the gameplay out to a lot of testers because the more people play the game, the better is the chance of finding bugs and improve. Anyway, these people should be really interessed and into NS, so they really bring themselves in an get u guys a lot of critics and feedback. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/asrifle.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::asrifle::" border="0" alt="asrifle.gif" />
  • HarrowerHarrower Join Date: 2005-03-16 Member: 45478Members
    That might push me into becoming a constie.
  • ThePebblerThePebbler Join Date: 2006-12-01 Member: 58793Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1583273:date=Dec 2 2006, 05:03 PM:name=Harrower)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Harrower @ Dec 2 2006, 05:03 PM) [snapback]1583273[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    That might push me into becoming a constie.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
  • PogoPPogoP Environment Artist Join Date: 2004-01-31 Member: 25827Members, NS2 Developer, Constellation
    Don't become a Constellation member just to get beta testing... Makes you sound rather impatient.
  • SlayerPLSlayerPL Join Date: 2004-07-01 Member: 29660Members
    Patience is a Virtue.

    And we are all a bunch of sinners here <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
  • ia-spideria-spider Join Date: 2003-12-14 Member: 24379Members, Constellation
    it's not just about being impatient, you can help them out by donating and playtesting, so it's a win-win <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" />
  • frijecfrijec Join Date: 2003-08-18 Member: 19922Members
    I wanna become a constellation member right now, so I can contribute to their funds. But its disabled right now :<
  • SloppyKissesSloppyKisses omgawd a furreh&#33; Virginia Join Date: 2003-07-05 Member: 17942Members, Constellation
    i heard awhile back that testing (may) be possible before release for consties... dont flame me for being incorrect but i could of swore i heard a (maybe) before since the donations from the consties helped flay get off the ground for NS2. I believe he is the one that mentioned it.
  • WhiteZeroWhiteZero That Guy Join Date: 2004-06-24 Member: 29511Members, Constellation
    I'll bet that consties will get a taste of the game before public release.
    But, of course, the regular play testers will get first dibbs.

    We'll probably get a more stable release if anything. Much like the way current NS works.
  • HarrowerHarrower Join Date: 2005-03-16 Member: 45478Members
    Besides becoming a constie, what makes someone viable to become a playtester?
  • Marik_SteeleMarik_Steele To rule in hell... Join Date: 2002-11-20 Member: 9466Members
    edited December 2006
    I cannot recall an official "yes" or "no" ever being announced as the answer to the "will consties get to PT NS2 early" question. If someone can find a quote about it, show me where it is and I'll be happy to put both that text & a link to its original location into a new or existing FAQ in these forums.

    Yes, the constellation system is currently not functioning as intended. I'll copy-paste part of the Constellation Test Faq stickied in NS General Discussion:
    <!--quoteo--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->As of October 31, 2006, Flayra has stated "The Constellation system isn't functional yet so if you haven't donated previously I'm afraid you're out of luck and you'll have to wait until the public release."
    If you are particularly interested in passing money towards Unknown Worlds Entertainment, even if it's in a way completely unrelated to playtesting NS 3.2, there is an alternative: check out the demo of Zen of Sudoku to see if you'd enjoy the full game enough to warrant a purchase. Purchasing Zen of Sudoku is completely independent of the Constellation Membership benefits; the only similarity is that money from either does go towards Unknown Worlds Entertainment & development of its new game(s).<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Harrower: the process of hiring PT's tends to go like this--hopefully my use of "PT" for both the word "playtester" and "playtest" won't get confusing:
    PT's are hired in waves. No set amount get pulled into the PT group at one time, and there's no set timeframe saying "we'll do a wave every X number of weeks". One wave could be one person, the next could be a dozen people. Some are constellation members, some become constellation members after becoming PT's, some are told by Flayra himself that their time contribution is already as helpful as a money donation would be. Despite this apparent randomness, the people pulled in do have things like this in common:<ul><li>Their computer can play the game. This tends to help. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
    </li><li>They can play the game. No, seriously, we've had cases where we'll pull a new guy into the PT group and he'll show up for 1 or 2 PT sessions, tops. We've since tried to gauge people's long-term interest better.
    </li><li>They like the game. This helps too.
    But more importantly, they like it enough to also notice places it could be improved. When they do see these things they should be able to communicate such thoughts clearly.
    </li><li>And once these things have been acknowledged, they need to continue liking the game--enough that they're ready to help test "boring" things as much as they're ready to play for fun.
    </li><li>And finally, they can do all of the above with a team of similar individuals who all want NS to be the bestest game evar [sic].</li></ul>
    If all of these things apply to you, then just be a friendly community member. There's probably as many "here's what I did to become a PT" stories as there are playtesters, so the next steps are all up to you. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • intensityrisingintensityrising Join Date: 2003-11-18 Member: 23148Members
    and now I know <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • TheGuyTheGuy Join Date: 2003-08-09 Member: 19295Members, Constellation
    And knowing is half the battle.
  • glimmermanglimmerman Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28300Members, Constellation
    Great. Is there some sort of "Apply Here" button I can use to apply for a PT position?
  • J!J! NS2 Artist Join Date: 2004-11-14 Member: 32788Members, Retired Developer, NS1 Playtester
    edited December 2006
    Not really. We'll come to you if we think you're PT material.
  • uk_jauk_ja Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11245Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1583574:date=Dec 3 2006, 09:11 AM:name=JJJ1)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(JJJ1 @ Dec 3 2006, 09:11 AM) [snapback]1583574[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Not really. We'll come to you if we think you're PT material.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Hmm, I meet all of the requirements set forth by Marik_Steele

    *cough*

    My PM box is still empty


    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" />
  • CoolCookieCooksCoolCookieCooks Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
    That isn't really the requirement to get a PT position, its just necessary things that you must have/do otherwise its a waste of time hiring the person.
  • glimmermanglimmerman Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28300Members, Constellation
    Oh pick me! *raises hand*
  • NecroNecro &lt;insert non-birthday-related title here&gt; Join Date: 2002-08-09 Member: 1118Members
    my rise to ptdom came frmo begging and bribery!
  • ChesterChester Join Date: 2006-11-03 Member: 58296Members, Reinforced - Silver
    I just wants to be a Beta Tester <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/wink-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=";)" border="0" alt="wink-fix.gif" /> I think, we need GERMAN testers, too, because there lives a big part of this NS Community^^

    I hope, my dream will be true...
  • glimmermanglimmerman Join Date: 2004-04-29 Member: 28300Members, Constellation
    What about AUSTRALIAN beta testers, alot of the comminty live in aus.
  • HarrowerHarrower Join Date: 2005-03-16 Member: 45478Members
    <!--quoteo(post=1583533:date=Dec 3 2006, 04:07 AM:name=Marik_Steele)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Marik_Steele @ Dec 3 2006, 04:07 AM) [snapback]1583533[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->then just be a friendly community member.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I was getting all excited until I read that. Thanks for ruining my day.
  • ScrapScrap Join Date: 2005-01-06 Member: 32953Members
    have you do dignity and must beg for a beta tester position? well everyone should just be quiet...they will surely pick me . <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />
  • HarrowerHarrower Join Date: 2005-03-16 Member: 45478Members
    edited December 2006
    <!--quoteo(post=1585375:date=Dec 7 2006, 03:12 PM:name=Scrap)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Scrap @ Dec 7 2006, 03:12 PM) [snapback]1585375[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    have you do dignity and must beg for a beta tester position? well everyone should just be quiet...they will surely pick me . <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/marine.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="::marine::" border="0" alt="marine.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" /><!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->


    Who is that aimed at?
  • Sephiroth2kSephiroth2k Join Date: 2002-04-21 Member: 481Members, Constellation
    I think at the very least they should add all forum members under number 500.....
  • NeroNero Join Date: 2002-12-20 Member: 11236Members
    edited December 2006
    PT is not just play and have fun... you must do a technical job looking for any minimal weird things inside the game and stress test every single function.
    If you agree with those things you need to prove that you can really do that. So, i suggest you contribute at forums first with ideas and comment other people ideas. If you do a lot of good technical points for NS2 you probable get PT.
  • FfeonixFfeonix Join Date: 2006-12-09 Member: 58991Members
    Why I could/want to playtest:

    Dell 400SC Server P4 @ 3.6ghz
    2 gb ram
    Nvidia 7800gs
    Audigy 2 zs
    Windows Xp Professional.

    I am connected to an "unlimited" dsl line, which in reality is capped at 6mb/s. Also, I live in Northern California. Average download speed is 400-700kb/s.

    I've been playing first person shooters since the days of Doom & Duke Nukem. Along side that I always played the original RTS games ala Command & Conquer. I'm currently out of a job and I spend nearly all day playing various computer games, Natural Selection being one of them. Ha, I even remember playing the demo for Half-life 1. I played the first betas of Counter-Strike, Day of Defeat, The Trenches, The Specialists, and too many others to recollect. Essentially I love mods and a <i>good</i> NS game is sure to please. Always wanted to get involved on the clan/league level with NS but I never got around to it.

    I own Half-life 2 & have been playing FPS/RTS games for about 10 years. I've always wanted to playtest a game, and once aspired to become a game designer, but now merely stick to <i>playing</i> the games. I am a perfectionist when it comes to games, so I'll be sure to let you know if anything is clunky or unnecessary.

    I've always imagined NS, DoD, and TS being recreated on HL2, and I'd like to help.

    Email is Chris@net10.net and I check it daily.

    Ty
    ::marine::
  • CoolCookieCooksCoolCookieCooks Pretty Girl Join Date: 2003-05-18 Member: 16446Members, NS1 Playtester, Contributor, Constellation
    Why has this thread turned into a PT position beg thread? The developers will come to you, not you come to them.
  • FfeonixFfeonix Join Date: 2006-12-09 Member: 58991Members
    It was worth the effort in terms of possiblity.
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