Alpha Stress Test ends... "monumental announcements" coming

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Oh boy... this can't end well:

The End of the Alpha Stress Test

Thank You for A Tremendous Alpha!

Players, some exciting news.

Our stress tests this weekend indicate that the server performance has improved to the point where it exceeds our minimum qualification requirements to move the project to the start of Early Enrollment.

The team is on Christmas break but we are still doing some basic housekeeping tasks in preparation for some monumental announcements just over the horizon. One of those things is changing the code to reflect the correct permissions for Early Enrollment.

So it is with a little bit of wistfulness but a heart full of excitement that I'm announcing that we're ending the Alpha Stress Test period this afternoon.

After we make the necessary server side changes the only people who will be able to access the game will be those with Alpha or Early Enrollment accounts. People who had Alpha Access via a friend & family invite or other mechanism will no longer be able to log in. Nor will users with Explorer or Open Enrollment access. (Remember - you can always upgrade your account in the Goblinworks.com store!)

We thank everyone for helping us with the Alpha Test. Without your participation and feedback we would not have been able to achieve the huge improvement in the game that Alpha has represented. Due to your help Crowdforging we've been able to get core game systems aligned with your expectations and to verify that the various systems are working as intended (or within parameters we'll accept in the short term).

Have a great Holiday!

RyanD

flizzer · December 2014

"this can't end well" because you have no faith in the game? Or you believe it is too early ?

Hrimnir · December 2014

How could OP possibly interpret that badly? I've not been following this game, so i have no skin in the game so to speak.

Reading that without bias, looks to be a good post. It means they've acheived the goal of the stress test and they're moving on to the next phase of the project.

twitch242 · December 2014

What can't end well ?

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

The last "Stress Test" was Sunday when they had (according to their forums) roughly 25 people in the same area. I believe the one before that they had roughly double the number.

The strong suggestion is that Early Enrollment (AKA paid beta) is about to launch.

Bluddwolf · December 2014

Originally posted by Slapshot1188
The last "Stress Test" was Sunday when they had (according to their forums) roughly 25 people in the same area. I believe the one before that they had roughly double the number.

The strong suggestion is that Early Enrollment (AKA paid beta) is about to launch.

I don't know if you are being serious or sarcastic, but doesn't it strke you as a bit absurd that Goblin Works can declare the stress test of an MMO successful, because their server was able to handle 30 Characters (to be generous) in the same hex, without the server crashing?

VassagoMael · December 2014

I doubt anything they say is going to cause someone to build a monument to it. At least one that isn't Play-Dough.

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Originally posted by Bluddwolf
Originally posted by Slapshot1188
The last "Stress Test" was Sunday when they had (according to their forums) roughly 25 people in the same area. I believe the one before that they had roughly double the number.

The strong suggestion is that Early Enrollment (AKA paid beta) is about to launch.

I don't know if you are being serious or sarcastic, but doesn't it strke you as a bit absurd that Goblin Works can declare the stress test of an MMO successful, because their server was able to handle 30 Characters (to be generous) in the same hex, without the server crashing?

Yup. That was my whole point about it not ending well. They have this hardcore group of 20-40 players that viciously attack any person who speaks negatively about the game. I have seen this many times before. They do not help the game, they are just greasing it's path to failure.

I have bought 4 accounts for the game of various types. I don't even know if I will activate any of them, even to use up the free time that came with my purchase.

maskedweasel · December 2014

Originally posted by Slapshot1188
Originally posted by Bluddwolf
Originally posted by Slapshot1188
The last "Stress Test" was Sunday when they had (according to their forums) roughly 25 people in the same area. I believe the one before that they had roughly double the number.

The strong suggestion is that Early Enrollment (AKA paid beta) is about to launch.

I don't know if you are being serious or sarcastic, but doesn't it strke you as a bit absurd that Goblin Works can declare the stress test of an MMO successful, because their server was able to handle 30 Characters (to be generous) in the same hex, without the server crashing?

Yup. That was my whole point about it not ending well. They have this hardcore group of 20-40 players that viciously attack any person who speaks negatively about the game. I have seen this many times before. They do not help the game, they are just greasing it's path to failure.

I have bought 4 accounts for the game of various types. I don't even know if I will activate any of them, even to use up the free time that came with my purchase.

Well that.. just sounds like poor planning and a waste of money.

But I think if they feel like it was a successful stress test, that they aren't deluded enough to say that without taking it as some kind of benchmark. Perhaps that data was enough to increase the cap. I was invited to the stress tests and didn't go... but regardless, I think its probably not the worst thing in the world that they feel they can move on from this alpha phase.

I mean, we won't really know what will happen until they actually say... "hey, we're going to launch in this condition" after all, most games are getting cash out of early access these days... of course... we who funded pathfinder paid for really... really... early access....

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Originally posted by maskedweasel

Well that.. just sounds like poor planning and a waste of money.

But I think if they feel like it was a successful stress test, that they aren't deluded enough to say that without taking it as some kind of benchmark. Perhaps that data was enough to increase the cap. I was invited to the stress tests and didn't go... but regardless, I think its probably not the worst thing in the world that they feel they can move on from this alpha phase.

I mean, we won't really know what will happen until they actually say... "hey, we're going to launch in this condition" after all, most games are getting cash out of early access these days... of course... we who funded pathfinder paid for really... really... early access....

Agreed. Getting in on the ground floor of a persistent universe territory control game was a huge part of my decision. I just think it's crazy that they will seemingly launch Early Entry (pay to play) in a few days.

Anyhow, the die is cast. It's just a matter of seeing how it lands now.

Wizardry · December 2014

Too many are looking for deeper answers,it is as every game has been doing the same,give us money we will let you play,we only use the term TEST because it keeps people from complaining about paying us money to play a weak unpolished game.This simple marketing tool is common house and used by the whole industry now,it is sad how lower standards have been accepted all because SOME gamer's want to be treated special so hand over money far too early.

Bluddwolf · December 2014

Originally posted by Wizardry
Too many are looking for deeper answers,it is as every game has been doing the same,give us money we will let you play,we only use the term TEST because it keeps people from complaining about paying us money to play a weak unpolished game.This simple marketing tool is common house and used by the whole industry now,it is sad how lower standards have been accepted all because SOME gamer's want to be treated special so hand over money far too early.

This is exactly the case I see with PFO and its current base of fanboys. They are rushing to have this game go into its paid subscription phase, in its current "early alpha stage' of development, because they have bought into the "You're a special snowflake" and you are playing the role of crowd forging the direction of the game.

The problem is, the direction of the game is to produce a game we have all seen back in 2006 - 2009, on a shoestring budget, and that is supposed to be the most impressive thing about the whole project.

From the player's side, we are paying the same $15.00 per month, regardless of how cheaply Goblin Works has made the game. In the end, we are playing a game that could have been made five or more years ago, and the development of the game will always find itself behind the curve.

If your minimum viable product at launch is a game that could have been made 5 years ago. Two years of additional development, will still leave the game looking, feeling and playing like a five year old game.

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

The part that I do not get is: What purpose does launching Early Enrollment (paid sub) serve when you only have a few hardcore fans that will pay?

From what I read the original plan was to have 3000-4500 participants in Early Enrollment. They have a catch-22 here because the game is not anywhere CLOSE to being able to attract those numbers (in my opinion). On the other hand they are already behind their plan for development as the EE should have launched a few months ago.

I mean... how can you launch a partial-loot, territory control PvP game into a sub model (call it whatever you want) without the actual territory control systems (they have some silly war of towers as a placeholder) and without the ability to loot your PvP opponents?

My choices at this time are to:

1 Activate my 4 accounts at Early Enrollment and just park them for a few months while they gather XP (and use up all my pre-purchased time)

2 Ignore the Early Enrollment and thus forfeit the XP advantage which was a major driver for my purchase (not to mention the fact that the game might NEVER get to a semi-completed state and thus I would never get to use my time...)

/sigh

I know I should have known better... but part of me will always be a sucker for these sales pitches.

maskedweasel · December 2014

Well.. either that or try to sell of the accounts....

I mean.. I have only watched videos... I watched them before activating my account... and saw that it wasn't in a condition I'd really want to play it in.

Thats not to say that they won't get it there eventually.. but too often have I supported unfinished games and gotten burnt out on the bad things waiting for them to get better, and when they finally did .. I was over the game entirely.

I doubt they'll get a 3000+ playerbase right now... but because of that.. I think theres a mindset where if they have half that or less contributing a subscription, then they are at least guaranteed something.

We can only hope it gets much better before launch. An honestly in the scope of other kickstarters, this is... (maybe sadly) one of the better more active teams developing a game.

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Originally posted by maskedweasel

We can only hope it gets much better before launch. An honestly in the scope of other kickstarters, this is... (maybe sadly) one of the better more active teams developing a game.

Oh I dunno about that part.

I have supported Star Citizen ($40 or so), Shroud of the Avatar ($40 or so), Camelot Unchained ($30 or so), and Shards Online ($30 or so). Then there is PFO ($250 or so).

I would say that all of those teams are at LEAST as active as Goblinworks and at this point seem much more promising. Given that I already pumped $250 or so into PFO there is no way I will put in another dime until the game get's exponentially better.

Bluddwolf · December 2014

Ryan Dancey just announced about an hour of so ago that Early Enrollment will begin on December 31. Yep, you got it, on New Year's Eve!!

That tells me they are not confident their servers can handle the load of several hundred clients at once. Most people won't be at home on their computers, they will be at parties.

Of course the 40 or so fanboys will log in, and the servers will remain stable, and Ryan will declare the most successful MMO launch in history!!! LOL, how F'ing silly this will be.

F0URTWENTY · December 2014

That is just crazy. The current state of the game looks like a high school project or something. If people are going to be paying a subscription for this just because it has a skill system like eve that is just nuts. People more worried about getting a little advantage than if the game is actually going to be good.

I really hope nobody supports a game developer like this.

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Probably some business related decision where they had to show they "launched" in 2014...

Only thing I can think of that makes ANY sense at all...

maskedweasel · December 2014

Originally posted by Slapshot1188
Probably some business related decision where they had to show they "launched" in 2014...

Only thing I can think of that makes ANY sense at all...

Are they actually launching the game? Or is it just early access?

I mean there are plenty of games that are in early access that are unfinished... I don't think it counts as a launch.

Slapshot1188 · December 2014

Originally posted by maskedweasel
Originally posted by Slapshot1188
Probably some business related decision where they had to show they "launched" in 2014...

Only thing I can think of that makes ANY sense at all...

Are they actually launching the game? Or is it just early access?

I mean there are plenty of games that are in early access that are unfinished... I don't think it counts as a launch.

If you charge a subscription.. you are launched in my book. Anything else is just wordsmithing.

Maurgrim · December 2014

So was the game fun for those who played?

Pinosaur · December 2014

Originally posted by Maurgrim
So was the game fun for those who played?

Overall, no not real fun. The people I am with make it more fun, but we could be playing any of a number of better polished games together, and have that much more fun. I'm an officer in the largest in-game group, & I see nothing to make PFO stand out (in a good way) among the plethora of fantasy mmo's out there, yet. Everything that will make PFO shine is in what is promised to come, and requires a decent sized, active population. Which is simply not there currently. Paying for PFO in a few months is simply a bet that PFO will become as active and long lasting as EVE, and If I am being honest, it is my investment to date that makes me say: of course it will. join us !

SpottyGekko · December 2014

Hmmm... so PFO looks set to join the long list of "it has great potential" MMO's ?

That list just seems to get longer every year, because most of the games on that list remain there forever...

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Alpha Stress Test ends... "monumental announcements" coming

The End of the Alpha Stress Test

Thank You for A Tremendous Alpha!

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Alpha Stress Test ends... "monumental announcements" coming

The End of the Alpha Stress Test

Thank You for A Tremendous Alpha!

Comments