Open beta server? Release date?

o_lord asriel · 08-01-2006, 04:58 PM

So I understand a beta-thing is coming, and woe to us (or at least, me) "noobish-veterans" who don't know what entities are, and are not "trustworthy" to be beta testers, we obviously won't be.

The question which forms is, is the beta testing time somehow associated with the game's official release date? Eg, a week or month or 2 months after?Or is it a "we know nothing about when this is going to happen" thing again?

Gosh, I misdirected myself into thinking I would play it and now I realised I won't. Bet all I can do with the HL2 now is install it and be sure I log into the first server the first millisecond.

Can't you make an "open beta and crash-for-all-I-care" server for people who are really waiting to get their hands on it but you cant bother their <insert adjective here> opinions on the beta? You stick to your development and we'll be playing even falsely....I'd rather play ff with 90% of the things not working rather playing some <enter disliked game here> anyways.

o_dancingfool · 08-01-2006, 05:23 PM

IBTL.

Edit: I'm going to be nice and take out the comment after IBTL.

o_zoe · 08-01-2006, 05:51 PM

I think the FF team is concerned about releasing a first beta to the public and then getting 10*(10^100!) brand new threads on the forums describing the same fifty problems. And only 10*(10^100!)-3 of those posts will be by authors who understand the technical aspects enough to actually help narrow the problem down.

schtoofa · 08-01-2006, 06:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Asriel

So I understand a beta-thing is coming, and woe to us (or at least, me) "noobish-veterans" who don't know what entities are, and are not "trustworthy" to be beta testers, we obviously won't be.

The question which forms is, is the beta testing time somehow associated with the game's official release date? Eg, a week or month or 2 months after?Or is it a "we know nothing about when this is going to happen" thing again?

Well, sort of, but we don't know what that correlation is

Like some folks have mentioned, when the official release happens depends on how quickly we can resolve the bugs that'll undoubtedly come up in beta. Once things slow down for that first group of testers, we'll open up the beta wider. How wide, no one knows.

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lord Asriel

Can't you make an "open beta and crash-for-all-I-care" server for people who are really waiting to get their hands on it but you cant bother their <insert adjective here> opinions on the beta? You stick to your development and we'll be playing even falsely....I'd rather play ff with 90% of the things not working rather playing some <enter disliked game here> anyways.

We're trying to make a good first impression on folks, many of whom have never seen a TF-style mod at all. People might make premature movies of action, only to claim that it's the real thing and finalized. We want to minimize the possibility of that sort of thing happening (that's just one example). So you won't see an open beta until we're fairly certain the kinks have been worked out.

o_ginger lord · 08-01-2006, 06:18 PM

I'm interested in how the FF team are gonna split the beta up and how they go about it. I'm waiting to see what sort of levels it goes in and how well it works out. Mainly so I can use it in HaJ when we get to beta.

Do they start small (say 10-20 people) but all of those are old TF vets that know TF inside out, or do they go half vets, half forum people. Or all forum people. Or maybe 1/4 vets, 1/4 clanners, 1/4 pubbers and 1/4 people that have never played TF.

Then at the next tier which way do they go.

I actually don't know why I just wrote all that, like any of you care.

Mulchman MM · 08-01-2006, 06:33 PM

I care.

o_ginger lord · 08-01-2006, 06:35 PM

\o/

o_tennovan · 08-01-2006, 06:36 PM

Ginger, I love you.

o_dammage · 08-01-2006, 07:45 PM

It would be rather interesting to know when the beta squad has been harvested so the database pollution like "minimum number of threads to access beta" and so on stops.

o_ginger lord · 08-01-2006, 07:47 PM

Agreed. Its getting rather tiresome now having the same threads pop up every day.

Then again you could write it in size 72 font at the top of each page and people would still ask.

o_ohcanep · 08-01-2006, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dammage

It would be rather interesting to know when the beta squad has been harvested so the database pollution like "minimum number of threads to access beta" and so on stops.

It'd also be fun to know who exactly were the ones chosen when the first round of testing has begun, if that's not what you already said

. There'll undoubtedly be a few heroes who claim to have tested it and how they like the new gazelle launcher.

o_etzell · 08-01-2006, 08:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohcanep

It'd also be fun to know who exactly were the ones chosen when the first round of testing has begun, if that's not what you already said

. There'll undoubtedly be a few heroes who claim to have tested it and how they like the new gazelle launcher.

Yeah, so we can spam their pm begging for leaks.

o_ohcanep · 08-01-2006, 08:16 PM

Would you? I thought they're going to release an in-game video (when it will out?) anyway.

o_someoldguy · 08-01-2006, 08:27 PM

If I were in the devs shoes, I'd not announce any names... even without an NDA. Besides the spamming thing, it would probably piss some of you off as to why person A was chosen instead of yourself.

The ones chosen are likely to be, amongst other qualities:
a) people who can keep their mouths shut,
b) people who will take the time to actually test things they need tested instead of just goofing around,
c) people who can put an intelligent sentence together to aid in debugging and discuss issues,
d) people who might be able to recommend alternate choices/methods/gameplay to aid in any issues that crop up
e) and most importantly, people who are "mature" enough not to brag/gloat about how they were picked and you weren't, if even in jest

There are more things involved, no doubt, but with a closed beta you want people with certain qualities and temperments, with a variety of skill levels and knowledge.

At least that's how I'm guessing it will be done. I could be 100% wrong, too.

My $.0000000002

o_nuk3m · 08-01-2006, 08:32 PM

it comes down to this pretty much, the most worthy people probably wont be in the beta, but either a random array of people chosen from applications submitted to the team... OR whoever looks the hottest in drag!

o_someoldguy · 08-01-2006, 08:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by nukem373

it comes down to this pretty much, the most worthy people probably wont be in the beta, but either a random array of people chosen from applications submitted to the team... OR whoever looks the hottest in drag!

... or even better ...

since most (if not all) of the devs are single and geeks, they could just ask for hot rich women who send them money and nude pics of themselves and will agree to meet them for a personal 'interview' and special 'beta testing'.

o_nuk3m · 08-01-2006, 08:40 PM

hahahaha thats not nice and im NOT laughahaing.

o_zoe · 08-01-2006, 08:44 PM

The FF Beta in 3 stages:
1. Those who can add to the development process
2. Those who will pay a hansome royalty or perform sex acts via webcam
3. Everyone else

o_nuk3m · 08-01-2006, 09:43 PM

hahaha i think you just created an idea for a new thread. random things you have to do to get into the beta no but seriously i dont care ause my system doesnt like source so i cant play any source games.

o_etzell · 08-01-2006, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ohcanep

Would you? I thought they're going to release an in-game video (when it will out?) anyway.

Cynicism > you.

08-01-2006, 04:58 PM	#1
o_lord asriel Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Between absolute's vertical lines Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Open beta server? Release date? So I understand a beta-thing is coming, and woe to us (or at least, me) "noobish-veterans" who don't know what entities are, and are not "trustworthy" to be beta testers, we obviously won't be. The question which forms is, is the beta testing time somehow associated with the game's official release date? Eg, a week or month or 2 months after?Or is it a "we know nothing about when this is going to happen" thing again? Gosh, I misdirected myself into thinking I would play it and now I realised I won't. Bet all I can do with the HL2 now is install it and be sure I log into the first server the first millisecond. Can't you make an "open beta and crash-for-all-I-care" server for people who are really waiting to get their hands on it but you cant bother their <insert adjective here> opinions on the beta? You stick to your development and we'll be playing even falsely....I'd rather play ff with 90% of the things not working rather playing some <enter disliked game here> anyways.

08-01-2006, 06:33 PM	#6
Mulchman MM Retired FF Staff Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: Lacey, WA Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I care. __________________ Head of the Orca Revolution (TM)

08-01-2006, 05:23 PM	#2
o_dancingfool Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	IBTL. Edit: I'm going to be nice and take out the comment after IBTL.

08-01-2006, 05:51 PM	#3
o_zoe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I think the FF team is concerned about releasing a first beta to the public and then getting 10(10^100!) brand new threads on the forums describing the same fifty problems. And only 10(10^100!)-3 of those posts will be by authors who understand the technical aspects enough to actually help narrow the problem down.

08-01-2006, 06:18 PM	#5
o_ginger lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Carlisle, UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	I'm interested in how the FF team are gonna split the beta up and how they go about it. I'm waiting to see what sort of levels it goes in and how well it works out. Mainly so I can use it in HaJ when we get to beta. Do they start small (say 10-20 people) but all of those are old TF vets that know TF inside out, or do they go half vets, half forum people. Or all forum people. Or maybe 1/4 vets, 1/4 clanners, 1/4 pubbers and 1/4 people that have never played TF. Then at the next tier which way do they go. I actually don't know why I just wrote all that, like any of you care.

08-01-2006, 06:35 PM	#7
o_ginger lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Carlisle, UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	\o/

08-01-2006, 06:36 PM	#8
o_tennovan Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Texas Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Ginger, I love you.

08-01-2006, 07:45 PM	#9
o_dammage Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	It would be rather interesting to know when the beta squad has been harvested so the database pollution like "minimum number of threads to access beta" and so on stops.

08-01-2006, 07:47 PM	#10
o_ginger lord Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Carlisle, UK Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Agreed. Its getting rather tiresome now having the same threads pop up every day. Then again you could write it in size 72 font at the top of each page and people would still ask.

08-01-2006, 08:16 PM	#13
o_ohcanep Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Finland Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	Would you? I thought they're going to release an in-game video (when it will out?) anyway.

08-01-2006, 08:27 PM	#14
o_someoldguy Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: Just east of the jug handle Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	If I were in the devs shoes, I'd not announce any names... even without an NDA. Besides the spamming thing, it would probably piss some of you off as to why person A was chosen instead of yourself. The ones chosen are likely to be, amongst other qualities: a) people who can keep their mouths shut, b) people who will take the time to actually test things they need tested instead of just goofing around, c) people who can put an intelligent sentence together to aid in debugging and discuss issues, d) people who might be able to recommend alternate choices/methods/gameplay to aid in any issues that crop up e) and most importantly, people who are "mature" enough not to brag/gloat about how they were picked and you weren't, if even in jest There are more things involved, no doubt, but with a closed beta you want people with certain qualities and temperments, with a variety of skill levels and knowledge. At least that's how I'm guessing it will be done. I could be 100% wrong, too. My $.0000000002

08-01-2006, 08:32 PM	#15
o_nuk3m Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersy, USA! reppin' Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	it comes down to this pretty much, the most worthy people probably wont be in the beta, but either a random array of people chosen from applications submitted to the team... OR whoever looks the hottest in drag!

08-01-2006, 08:40 PM	#17
o_nuk3m Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersy, USA! reppin' Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	hahahaha thats not nice and im NOT laughahaing.

08-01-2006, 08:44 PM	#18
o_zoe Join Date: Jul 2006 Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	The FF Beta in 3 stages: 1. Those who can add to the development process 2. Those who will pay a hansome royalty or perform sex acts via webcam 3. Everyone else

08-01-2006, 09:43 PM	#19
o_nuk3m Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: New Jersy, USA! reppin' Posts Rated Helpful 0 Times	hahaha i think you just created an idea for a new thread. random things you have to do to get into the beta no but seriously i dont care ause my system doesnt like source so i cant play any source games.

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