Excellent thread regarding Beta participation (not Beta news)

WSIMike

 Read this thread over on ffxivcore.com and *really* find it informative and helpful. For anyone who's never beta-tested before or is perhaps not fully aware of what it is, reading this thread can be a big help.

There are far too many people who see Beta as a chance to play the game before everyone else, and that's it. They don't test, they don't report bugs, they do nothing to help improve the game for launch. In some cases, people will complain about the bugs they experienced in beta all over forums to bash the game... breaking the NDA left and right. But, they won't have spent even a tenth of that effort in submitting a bug report so the developers can fix it. It's a shame, and unfortunately those people will always exist.

Personally, I see Beta access - especially closed beta - as a privilege and a responsibility. I'm being allowed access to the game so I can help the developer find and correct issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. While I can't tell others what to do or how to think, it aggravates me when I see people abusing a beta slot to get a free preview, or to bash the game, while someone else who might have been more cooperative and productive didn't get the chance.



For those who *do* want to beta test to help SE out in getting the kinks out of FFXIV and having as solid and smooth a launch as possible, I highly recommend Reading This Thread. Lots of great information there.

Plutonicwoes

Great post, I think by this point most people have played a beta stage mmo, but most do not understand the difference between getting in beta to play before everyone else, and actually beta TESTING. 

bluegrazz

Originally posted by WSIMike


 Read this thread over on ffxivcore.com and *really* find it informative and helpful. For anyone who's never beta-tested before or is perhaps not fully aware of what it is, reading this thread can be a big help.
There are far too many people who see Beta as a chance to play the game before everyone else, and that's it. They don't test, they don't report bugs, they do nothing to help improve the game for launch. In some cases, people will complain about the bugs they experienced in beta all over forums to bash the game... breaking the NDA left and right. But, they won't have spent even a tenth of that effort in submitting a bug report so the developers can fix it. It's a shame, and unfortunately those people will always exist.



For those who *do* want to beta test to help SE out in getting the kinks out of FFXIV and having as solid and smooth a launch as possible, I highly recommend Reading This Thread. Lots of great information there.

 

Your correct- BUT what does one expect to happen? A company announces a beta test and lets the PUBLIC do it. If they actually used "professionals" or "paid" testers- Problem solved.

I love to Beta Test- Essentially try to exploit or break the game (not just "play it") and report accordingly- Beta Testing a game you have been following and helping to "polish out" the bugs is a blast- For this honor I get to donate my time, my bandwidth, my hardware, etc.... I am okay with doing this for a game I really want to see succeed, but (honestly) I sign up for many beta tests to just "try the game" because nobody is paying me to test their product and frankly- Its not my job.

A prime example is Dawntide- I just got into the test and I plan to test the hell out of this game because I REALLY want it to succeed... I beta tested for Atlantica Online and in CB1 I tested the hell out of it- BUT CB2 (when our input was ignored) I just played around a bit. Another game (I will not mention) I signed up to test just to try it (nothing new was being offered and they were implementing a cash shop and essentially wanting people to test their game for free.)

I guess my point is- Until the buisness model changes- Most Beta Testers are just going to be there to try the game UNLESS they are really behind the game before the test. This is a symptom of companys trying to be cheap and the outcome is going to be bad beta tests.

I imagine Sq could afford to give free copys or a few  free months of subs to Beta testers who actually spend time testing- But they wont. And you always get what you pay for.

WSIMike

Originally posted by bluegrazz

Originally posted by WSIMike


 Read this thread over on ffxivcore.com and *really* find it informative and helpful. For anyone who's never beta-tested before or is perhaps not fully aware of what it is, reading this thread can be a big help.
There are far too many people who see Beta as a chance to play the game before everyone else, and that's it. They don't test, they don't report bugs, they do nothing to help improve the game for launch. In some cases, people will complain about the bugs they experienced in beta all over forums to bash the game... breaking the NDA left and right. But, they won't have spent even a tenth of that effort in submitting a bug report so the developers can fix it. It's a shame, and unfortunately those people will always exist.



For those who *do* want to beta test to help SE out in getting the kinks out of FFXIV and having as solid and smooth a launch as possible, I highly recommend Reading This Thread. Lots of great information there.

 

Your correct- BUT what does one expect to happen? A company announces a beta test and lets the PUBLIC do it. If they actually used "professionals" or "paid" testers- Problem solved.

I love to Beta Test- Essentially try to exploit or break the game (not just "play it") and report accordingly- Beta Testing a game you have been following and helping to "polish out" the bugs is a blast- For this honor I get to donate my time, my bandwidth, my hardware, etc.... I am okay with doing this for a game I really want to see succeed, but (honestly) I sign up for many beta tests to just "try the game" because nobody is paying me to test their product and frankly- Its not my job.

A prime example is Dawntide- I just got into the test and I plan to test the hell out of this game because I REALLY want it to succeed... I beta tested for Atlantica Online and in CB1 I tested the hell out of it- BUT CB2 (when our input was ignored) I just played around a bit. Another game (I will not mention) I signed up to test just to try it (nothing new was being offered and they were implementing a cash shop and essentially wanting people to test their game for free.)

I guess my point is- Until the buisness model changes- Most Beta Testers are just going to be there to try the game UNLESS they are really behind the game before the test. This is a symptom of companys trying to be cheap and the outcome is going to be bad beta tests.

I imagine Sq could afford to give free copys or a few  free months of subs to Beta testers who actually spend time testing- But they wont. And you always get what you pay for.

Well yeah... I expect that to happen. The thing is, I see a trend among more and more people where they seem to see beta access as an entitlement rather than a privilege and see it as nothing more than a chance to play the game for free. There are those out there who might simply think Beta access is nothing but a free preview of the game, without realizing what it really is or what their intended task is while they're in it. 



I just think that thread on ffxivcore is a great asset to those who might very well be willing to help out. Heck there's a few things on there that I wasn't aware of, and I've beta tested numerous games. Always more you can learn.

Unknown

Originally posted by WSIMike


 Read this thread over on ffxivcore.com and *really* find it informative and helpful. For anyone who's never beta-tested before or is perhaps not fully aware of what it is, reading this thread can be a big help.
There are far too many people who see Beta as a chance to play the game before everyone else, and that's it. They don't test, they don't report bugs, they do nothing to help improve the game for launch. In some cases, people will complain about the bugs they experienced in beta all over forums to bash the game... breaking the NDA left and right. But, they won't have spent even a tenth of that effort in submitting a bug report so the developers can fix it. It's a shame, and unfortunately those people will always exist.
Personally, I see Beta access - especially closed beta - as a privilege and a responsibility. I'm being allowed access to the game so I can help the developer find and correct issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. While I can't tell others what to do or how to think, it aggravates me when I see people abusing a beta slot to get a free preview, or to bash the game, while someone else who might have been more cooperative and productive didn't get the chance.



For those who *do* want to beta test to help SE out in getting the kinks out of FFXIV and having as solid and smooth a launch as possible, I highly recommend Reading This Thread. Lots of great information there.

 

I hear what you're saying but after spending hours and hours beta testing a game and doing my due diligence to report problems/bugs only to have them fall on deaf ears and get released with the game, I have to ask, do you blame the free loaders?

I don't fault people for beta testing just to get a free ride, they are helping to stress test if nothing else.  There will always be those (like myself) who make an effort to do legitimate testing so I wouldn't be too worried about the others.

WSIMike

Originally posted by Sixpax

Originally posted by WSIMike


 Read this thread over on ffxivcore.com and *really* find it informative and helpful. For anyone who's never beta-tested before or is perhaps not fully aware of what it is, reading this thread can be a big help.
There are far too many people who see Beta as a chance to play the game before everyone else, and that's it. They don't test, they don't report bugs, they do nothing to help improve the game for launch. In some cases, people will complain about the bugs they experienced in beta all over forums to bash the game... breaking the NDA left and right. But, they won't have spent even a tenth of that effort in submitting a bug report so the developers can fix it. It's a shame, and unfortunately those people will always exist.
Personally, I see Beta access - especially closed beta - as a privilege and a responsibility. I'm being allowed access to the game so I can help the developer find and correct issues that might otherwise go unnoticed. While I can't tell others what to do or how to think, it aggravates me when I see people abusing a beta slot to get a free preview, or to bash the game, while someone else who might have been more cooperative and productive didn't get the chance.



For those who *do* want to beta test to help SE out in getting the kinks out of FFXIV and having as solid and smooth a launch as possible, I highly recommend Reading This Thread. Lots of great information there.

 

I hear what you're saying but after spending hours and hours beta testing a game and doing my due diligence to report problems/bugs only to have them fall on deaf ears and get released with the game, I have to ask, do you blame the free loaders?

I don't fault people for beta testing just to get a free ride, they are helping to stress test if nothing else.  There will always be those (like myself) who make an effort to do legitimate testing so I wouldn't be too worried about the others.

I'm fully aware of the cynical attitude some people take toward it. Like I said, I can't change the way people think or act... doesn't mean I have to agree with it.

I posted this thread so people who *are* interested in doing their part to help the company identify and fix problems in the game can maybe pick up some pointers, etc.  

 

Bellarion

Thanks Mike,

I am a PS3'er or else I would love to send off messages to Devs clearly stating perceived bugs or glitches.

Mike, watch Idiocracy and laugh at the people you are talking about, don't let them get you down. And thanks for this thread. Bringing the reason for Beta tests to the forefront of gamers minds is always good and might prove to stimulate the proper use of Beta Tests. Keep fighting the good fight. ... losing battle or not. :P

Wizardry

I have been in many Beta,and i feel like the bigger problem is with the developers.I feel more or less that developers are making Betas ONLY to hype their game and give the "impression"they care about the released product.Look no further than AION,people cannot get on servers?The Nguard won't work for many players,extreme lag for many players,after a year beta? my god ,what did they actually do in that year?They obviously did not pay attention to anything.

IMO all the developer gets out of it is a stress test.I do not feel like the developer listen to anything,as i have sent in beta feedback many times,and yet it shows up in game still.Then about 3 weeks maybe later the issues get fixed,it's like all developers have this small niche of people they actually listen to.

Aside from what i just said,i never had to think about it in FFXI,because there was nothing close to a bug when i started to play on the PC release.Square does not release a game full of bugs.I feel the beta will once again just be a server stress test,nothing more.

There will of course be many people with black screens,whatever,pretty much because their system is not updated.It is quite rare that PC systems are up to date when you buy it,the different Bios are always outdated as it seems Hardware developers release a lot of unpolished junk.You cannot even trust Microsoft's verified driver compatibility.

 

Toquio3

The thing is, the way companies handle betas these days, it IS a free preview. Look at Aion. Pre-Order and get in beta is a marketing tool. Not saying its wrong, but you cant expect any serious testing when you hand out beta invites like that.