So is there a difference between focus testing and just flat out regular closed beta?
Is focus testing more up the alley of what Square is doing with Final Fantasy XIV where they only show certain parts of the game to test, but the rest(the meat) of the game is left for after launch?
If so YAY! Maybe we can get back that mystery of wondering what the game will have for us once it launches. I much prefer a small demo of a game as opposed to showing me it all at once during a test phase. Lets keep the mystery and wonder alive unlike being deluged with the whole game 2 months before release(Warhammer, AoC, WoW, etc.)
Usually, focus testing is where a company sits down with a handful of specially screened and selected people to make sure that the design and direction of the game are going to work for their target audience. These focus groups might play the game, and they might not.
"Beta" testing is when the company invites a much wider group to actually play the game more like it was launched. They will look for things like "Can you install the game, and connect to the servers?" "Is the service stable?" "Are all the features working as they should be?" "Are there any game-breakers?" and, closer to launch "How much concurrency can we support?"
I'm not sure what Square Enix is doing with FF, but in the Wrath of the Lich king beta, they raised the level cap from 71 to 75 and after that, let you copy a premade level 80 character. They had a lot of new talents and abilities that really needed to be tested.
Whatever BioWare does, I seriously hope this game gets thoroughly tested in a way that doesn't spoil all of the surprises. But they've said that this game is going to be much larger than a KOTOR sequel for each of the eight announced classes. If they restrict people to only playing one of two of the classes, there will still be several hundred hours of gameplay for people to explore when the game launches.
Comments
Usually, focus testing is where a company sits down with a handful of specially screened and selected people to make sure that the design and direction of the game are going to work for their target audience. These focus groups might play the game, and they might not.
"Beta" testing is when the company invites a much wider group to actually play the game more like it was launched. They will look for things like "Can you install the game, and connect to the servers?" "Is the service stable?" "Are all the features working as they should be?" "Are there any game-breakers?" and, closer to launch "How much concurrency can we support?"
I'm not sure what Square Enix is doing with FF, but in the Wrath of the Lich king beta, they raised the level cap from 71 to 75 and after that, let you copy a premade level 80 character. They had a lot of new talents and abilities that really needed to be tested.
Whatever BioWare does, I seriously hope this game gets thoroughly tested in a way that doesn't spoil all of the surprises. But they've said that this game is going to be much larger than a KOTOR sequel for each of the eight announced classes. If they restrict people to only playing one of two of the classes, there will still be several hundred hours of gameplay for people to explore when the game launches.
WHAAAT and I am not invited! Bah... Bioware ows me!
Don't belive it? Google for "elikal", "sean dahlberg" and "gay jedi". They SO owe me.
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