NS2 Beta Testing

the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
<div class="IPBDescription">Constellation Members and Playtesters Invited?</div>Dear Natural-Selection Community:

Before getting started, let me say that this is quite early I know, DO NOT TELL ME THAT!

However, I think it will become an important discussion later and I'd like not to have it come too late to influence good decision making. I'm curious to know what the community thinks, not any one person.

I would hope the NS2 development team would decide to beta test in some fashion to a great extent before going public with the game. One of the reasons Halo and WoW were so successful is that they did a very large beta test. (had a lot of testers giving ons of great feedback to get the game to "feel" great) Even something as simple as the Halo 2 plasma sword was animated and tweaked from playtesting feedback to give it that satisfying lunge attack.

If you are on the development team you should focus on MAKING the game first, of course.

But for the rest of us... I have an idea to start work on implementing a dedicated I&S like feedback system NOW. Let the development team develop, but we can start thinking about some other things now. And even go as far as deciding who to allow to beta test phase III. <ul><li>My idea is to allow both old constellation members AND playtesters from the original Natural-Selection mod to beta test. </li><li>My other idea is to have a well organized system for bug reporting, balance feedback, and other feedback. Such a system takes time to set up, so why not start now?</li></ul>Now, I would appreciate some USEFUL feedback in the rest of this thread/topic on my idea. And this time let's actually get something done and on time (unlike Valve) if we are going to do something.

thank you,

<!--coloro:#CC0000--><span style="color:#CC0000"><!--/coloro--><b>x5</b><!--colorc--></span><!--/colorc-->
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Comments

  • Femme_FataleFemme_Fatale Join Date: 2005-06-21 Member: 54310Members, Constellation
    well,PT needs a reroll anyway.
    alot of pt's are inactive or retired.
  • FlayraFlayra Game Director, Unknown Worlds Entertainment San Francisco Join Date: 2002-01-22 Member: 3Super Administrators, NS2 Developer, Subnautica Developer
    Good point. We're certainly going to do a beta test for NS2 but I'm not sure if it's going to be with Constellation, or some other way like through Fileplanet, Gamespot, etc. We'll figure that out when we get closer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • tigersmithtigersmith Join Date: 2004-11-11 Member: 32749Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Supporter
    <!--quoteo(post=1614441:date=Mar 14 2007, 09:56 PM:name=Flayra)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Flayra @ Mar 14 2007, 09:56 PM) [snapback]1614441[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Good point. We're certainly going to do a beta test for NS2 but I'm not sure if it's going to be with Constellation, or some other way like through Fileplanet, Gamespot, etc. We'll figure that out when we get closer. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" /> fileplanet i really dont care for but if it helps the game out im down haha
  • KaineKaine Join Date: 2002-08-07 Member: 1096Members, Constellation
    please not fileplanet =< but hey, if its for the good of NS2, i could probably bear it. just.
  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    You all seemed to have missed the part of my post which I said we can start on now. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • SariselSarisel .::&#39; ( O ) &#39;;:-. .-.:;&#39; ( O ) &#39;::. Join Date: 2003-07-30 Member: 18557Members, Constellation
  • w00tiew00tie Join Date: 2006-10-30 Member: 58099Members, Constellation
    plx let the constellation players test it also <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • PikminwarsPikminwars Join Date: 2006-11-07 Member: 58468Members
    Please not fileplanet... it'll be BF2142 all over again. Back when BF2142 beta came out, in order to participate you have to sign up for a membership with fileplanet. People would go pay 10$ or however much you needed to sign up to get the beta, and then decided the game was terrible and wasted their money because of all the glitches. It's called a beta for a reason, and somehow I would guess fileplanet would still want money out of this.

    If you're going to do a beta, <b>don't make people pay for it</b>, it'll make people think they're getting the whole game, only to bash the game for its glitches because the incomplete version "sucks". It would probably be a good idea to have some sort of qualification other than paying money so you know out of the people you choose, you'll get helpful members who don't think they're there just to play the game they "bought".
  • sherpasherpa stopcommandermode Join Date: 2006-11-04 Member: 58338Members
    I'd be happy to pay for a beta- but only if it went directly to UWE's coffers. I wouldn't pay for it if it went to the GameSpy family.

    Not as bad as if EA got involved though (not that they would with a smaller project), but i they did I'd find the instigator, a "THIS IS SPARTA!" soundbyte and a large well.
  • KungFuDiscoMonkeyKungFuDiscoMonkey Creator of ns_altair 日本福岡県 Join Date: 2003-03-15 Member: 14555Members, NS1 Playtester, Reinforced - Onos
    Make sure you're not confusing 'playtesting' with 'play early'. Playtesting is a whole different beast than just playing a game early.
  • Gunman_AddraekGunman_Addraek Join Date: 2004-11-19 Member: 32883Members, Constellation
    Old Constellation members, playtesters, and people who pass in an impressive application.

    Keep pay-to-participate people out of it (Fileplanet) unless it goes directly to UWE.
  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1614501:date=Mar 15 2007, 01:15 AM:name=Sarisel)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Sarisel @ Mar 15 2007, 01:15 AM) [snapback]1614501[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Need a new Zunni. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->Haha. Yeah, I miss Zunni on these forums but he's too busy with ID and otherstuff to visit us anymore. <!--quoteo(post=1614654:date=Mar 15 2007, 02:05 PM:name=w00tie)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(w00tie @ Mar 15 2007, 02:05 PM) [snapback]1614654[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> plx let the constellation players test it also <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> That's kind of what I'd hope to have happen; let your loyal fan base of PT's, Devs, and Consties test your game throughly. There is MUCH to be gained from great and wide base beta testing. Please remember that Charlie, <i>please</i>.<!--quoteo(post=1614733:date=Mar 15 2007, 06:46 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Mar 15 2007, 06:46 PM) [snapback]1614733[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Make sure you're not confusing 'playtesting' with 'play early'. Playtesting is a whole different beast than just playing a game early. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->I'm not. Are you? <!--quoteo(post=1614734:date=Mar 15 2007, 06:47 PM:name=Gunman_Addraek)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Gunman_Addraek @ Mar 15 2007, 06:47 PM) [snapback]1614734[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec--> Old Constellation members, playtesters, and people who pass in an impressive application.
    Keep pay-to-participate people out of it (Fileplanet) unless it goes directly to UWE. <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> Oh god yes. Why in the heck would you do something like that?! That would be the ultimate cutdown and very sad for the community if you ignored your loyal fans who would test your game for <i>free</i> and went to pay a third party who really doesn't care about the NS2's well-being in the same way.



    I still can't seem to get you all interesting in starting work my feedback system idea. *sad* <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/sad-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":(" border="0" alt="sad-fix.gif" />
  • digzdigz be still, maggot Join Date: 2002-05-07 Member: 588Members, NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1614733:date=Mar 15 2007, 04:46 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Mar 15 2007, 04:46 PM) [snapback]1614733[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Make sure you're not confusing 'playtesting' with 'play early'. Playtesting is a whole different beast than just playing a game early.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    God, lets put this quote to max font size, bold, in flashing neon colors.
  • ZavrixZavrix Join Date: 2007-03-20 Member: 60424Members
    Draw names from a hat! The quick and fair way to choose unsuspecting playtesters. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    "You've been contracted to playtest NS2!"
    "Do wha?"
  • the_x5the_x5 the Xzianthian Join Date: 2004-03-02 Member: 27041Members, Constellation
    Just become a constie Zavrix. It's good for the community to support the orginal NS anyways.

    <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • Moving_Target0Moving_Target0 Join Date: 2006-12-21 Member: 59174Members
    edited March 2007
    Having the beta closed off to the constellation and original beta testers, in my opinion, isn't entirely a good idea. Although they deserve the spots very much, I think that perhaps others should be allowed to beta test besides them, perhaps by randomly handing out a few invitations. There wouldn't be a whole large group, but it would be good to hear from a very wide variety of people to get the most from a beta test. What good does a beta do if only the non-casual players get a say in it? You're going to need to have, as much as it's dreaded, the n00b factor to consider. People who are going to buy the game for the first time will need to have a hook. Being greeted to NS2 by noting issues that make it impossible to learn the game, or other such problems, isn't a good one.
  • PetcoPetco Join Date: 2003-07-27 Member: 18478Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    <!--quoteo(post=1615835:date=Mar 20 2007, 11:07 AM:name=digz)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(digz @ Mar 20 2007, 11:07 AM) [snapback]1615835[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    <!--quoteo(post=1614733:date=Mar 15 2007, 03:46 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Mar 15 2007, 03:46 PM) [snapback]1614733[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Make sure you're not confusing 'playtesting' with 'play early'. Playtesting is a whole different beast than just playing a game early.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    God, lets put this quote to max font size, bold, in flashing neon colors.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    Indeed. There are a lot of people that think that way. Play testing should be renamed to "Play a buggy game, report the things that make it buggy".

    One thing I do like about playtesting a game is that the playtesting "spoils the fun and surprise" of a new version. So after I play the "playtest versions" and then actually play the final version, the final version isn't actually as exciting or fun as if I were to play the final version without actually playing the test version before.



    Though, since there are people who donate money, buy Sudoku, etc to help out the NS community/devs, there are obviously people who'd like to help by being a bug finder.

    <!--quoteo(post=1615269:date=Mar 18 2007, 12:16 AM:name=the_x5)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(the_x5 @ Mar 18 2007, 12:16 AM) [snapback]1615269[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I'm not. Are you?
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    x5, I am pretty sure KFDM was just speaking of people "in general" and not directly at you.


    There may be people that want to play test to "play early" but there are indeed people that want to play test to just find bugs and do all that other tedious work to help the community like people who donate money.
  • Sephiroth2kSephiroth2k Join Date: 2002-04-21 Member: 481Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    Lets go with a combinations of PT's (current) forum membership number, and consties... eh? eh?
    [edit] and make sure p/ts actually have the time and capacity to properly contribute to NS2 advancement,
    not just people who want to play the game early. (obvious, yes i know)[/edit]
  • Moving_Target0Moving_Target0 Join Date: 2006-12-21 Member: 59174Members
    I love how all the playtesters and constellation members are the ones in favor of having it closed to them. <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/tounge.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":p" border="0" alt="tounge.gif" />

    Just an observation. Don't take offense to it.
  • ikirikir Join Date: 2003-07-19 Member: 18265Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Gold
    I can betatest it under Mac OS X with Crossover <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" />
  • RiotingNerdRiotingNerd Join Date: 2003-09-15 Member: 20896Members
    edited March 2007
    3.0 vets plz kthx

    might actually encourage some of us to start playing again
  • tigersmithtigersmith Join Date: 2004-11-11 Member: 32749Members, Constellation, Reinforced - Supporter
    <!--quoteo(post=1617291:date=Mar 27 2007, 01:58 PM:name=RiotingNerd)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(RiotingNerd @ Mar 27 2007, 01:58 PM) [snapback]1617291[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    3.0 vets plz kthx

    might actually encourage some of us to start playing again
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    you dont play any more? In between classes i play its fun haha
  • locallyunscenelocallyunscene Feeder of Trolls Join Date: 2002-12-25 Member: 11528Members, Constellation
    edited March 2007
    It seems like the fan base will follow you whatever route you decide to do, but in the interest of attracting new players I would avoid an open beta. Sure I would like to help playtest too as a constie but if it's between an open beta on fileplanet or a closed beta without constie access I would hope for the latter. All of the open betas/alphas I have played (with the exception of the constie betas, which were for an all ready mostly complete/stable game) I haven't ended up buying the game. Partly because of bugs and partly because I see the games go in a different direction than I would have hoped and that tends to sour the game for me. I would have been happier just seeing the finished product and accepting it for what it was. Just my two cents.
  • KhaimKhaim Join Date: 2002-06-28 Member: 841Members, NS1 Playtester, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1614733:date=Mar 15 2007, 06:46 PM:name=KungFuDiscoMonkey)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(KungFuDiscoMonkey @ Mar 15 2007, 06:46 PM) [snapback]1614733[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    Make sure you're not confusing 'playtesting' with 'play early'. Playtesting is a whole different beast than just playing a game early.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->

    I would like to point out the truth of this statement. If you want a 'play the game early', beta is not what you're looking for. :X Many commercial betas are almost complete or feature complete versions of products, but that is not what all betas are by a long shot.
  • CyberPitzCyberPitz Join Date: 2004-09-04 Member: 31301Members, Constellation
    Maybe chuck a "BetaTest" thing up there. And don't make it too cheap *10 bucks* but don't make it too expensive *50 bucks*. Just enough that the serious people will contribute, and not some kids with a little allowance money, and that way you will be getting that little bit towards the completion of the game.

    Actually, that's a ###### idea.
  • XenoWolfXenoWolf Join Date: 2007-04-14 Member: 60621Members
    Concerning a player 'feedback' system, I think RunUO developed a very nice system to model one after. It essentially works like a tech support ticket system.

    <a href="http://www.runuo.com/issues/" target="_blank">http://www.runuo.com/issues/</a>

    I'm not sure if this is exactly what you meant, but I figure I'd throw it out there anyways.
  • HeymanHeyman Join Date: 2005-03-29 Member: 46895Members
    I think it's best that way. While there are people who certainly deserve to playtest it, keeping it under control will maintain or even increase publicity, from all the rumors from the testers themselves.
  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1617958:date=Mar 30 2007, 11:18 PM:name=Khaim)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(Khaim @ Mar 30 2007, 11:18 PM) [snapback]1617958[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    I would like to point out the truth of this statement. If you want a 'play the game early', beta is not what you're looking for. :X Many commercial betas are almost complete or feature complete versions of products, but that is not what all betas are by a long shot.
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    I'd like to third the statement about betatesting. The general opinion of the gameplaying world, rather than the gamedeveloping world is that it's just a chance to play the game for free, early. Hence, a very small minority will actually give you any useful info, unless you're generating it automatically, and are just looking for balance / statistical issues. Individual client/server bugs aren't going to turn up much.

    Add on the tendancy for people to forget it's in beta, and to treat it as if it's gospel the final game will be exactly like the beta, and personally I'd steer well clear unless there's a load based reason you need lots of players, fast.

    - Shockwave
  • ShockehShockeh If a packet drops on the web and nobody&#39;s near to see it... Join Date: 2002-11-19 Member: 9336NS1 Playtester, Forum Moderators, Constellation
    <!--quoteo(post=1622063:date=Apr 20 2007, 05:33 AM:name=nizb0ag)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE(nizb0ag @ Apr 20 2007, 05:33 AM) [snapback]1622063[/snapback]</div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->
    It's allways the playtesters that have some problem. The only reason you say that is because you are a playtester
    <!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
    What do you think I did beforehand? <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smile-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":)" border="0" alt="smile-fix.gif" /> I'd say that for any game, whether I was an existing playtester or not. You only need to look at the various Gamespy (blergh!) cash-ins in the guise of Beta test to see that.

    Them: "Hey, we've invented this new car, but it might just randomly decide to not start. It's going to retail for £30,000, would you pay £10,000 just to drive it around for us for the next 3 months, while we work out why it keeps stopping?"
    Us: "Oh snap, I'll take 3!"
  • devil-firedevil-fire Join Date: 2002-11-09 Member: 7912Members
    haven't most NS players been kind of like beta testers so far? i mean there have been so many changes in the game over the years its tough to consider the only 'play testing' to have been the stuff on private servers and such.

    i point you to all the changes made to the various game versions that have been influenced by people other then 'play testers' and all the content that has been OKed by play testers that has ended up being changed after the public NS community got a chance to test it
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