Beta Testing Testing One Two Three Four
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Tuesday, October 4 2005 21:30
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I meant to ask this a good week ago. I've been wondering a few things about the beta testing process, assuming this general information isn't confidential. Can anyone answer me the following? 1) How many people typically beta-test a Spiderweb game? 2) Is it actually fun? 3) Is it tedious and repetitive? 4) Is there a reward for the hard work besides the privilege? (i.e., a free copy of the game when you're done?) We now return you to your regularly scheduled deprogramming. [ Tuesday, October 04, 2005 21:52: Message edited by: Synergy67 ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5268
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written Tuesday, October 4 2005 22:14
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1) Have a look at the credits for any Spiderweb game. It lists the beta testers - that should give you an idea. 2) I found it fun but there are some not-strictly-fun work-like elements to it (like paying attention and trying to precisely document bugs) 3) I think Jeff goes for multiple beta testers going over the game a few times each rather than one beta tester going over and over and over... 4) The knowledge of a job well done and your place in immortality (or at least, your name in the credits). You also get a free copy of the game. Posts: 148 | Registered: Tuesday, December 7 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Tuesday, October 4 2005 22:26
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Thanks 'roo. If I randomly mentioned "Severed Heads", would you know why? P.S. I counted 18 beta testers for BOA. [ Tuesday, October 04, 2005 22:35: Message edited by: Synergy67 ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5268
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written Tuesday, October 4 2005 23:39
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quote:Well, if you mentioned it randomly I wouldn't. But, as it so happens, not really. [ Tuesday, October 04, 2005 23:46: Message edited by: Skippy the bush kangaroo ] Posts: 148 | Registered: Tuesday, December 7 2004 08:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Wednesday, October 5 2005 01:02
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1) He likes to have 15-20 per platform. Not all are listed in the docs, and BoA had an abnormally large group of testers. 2) Yes, but also tedious and repetitive. 3) Yes, but also fun. 4) Your name in the credits, a free copy of the game, and a jump start on the next game's testing. You will need to go over every inch of terrain at least twice with at least two parties, record every little thing that's wrong (and that's usually quite a bit), and make a nuisance of yourself. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Infiltrator
Member # 6136
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written Friday, October 7 2005 17:32
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this make me think that maybe i dont want to be a beta tester. i prefer that the game go out for mac so the mac people can make fun of the windows people about all the great things of the game.anyway the windows version is just a few months after the mac, in march maybe? Posts: 446 | Registered: Friday, July 22 2005 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 4153
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written Friday, October 7 2005 19:41
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Wait... how would being a beta-tester spoil anything for us Mac users? They're only betatesting the Mac version right now, and Jeff hasn't said anything about Windows testing yet. -------------------- Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games." Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Friday, October 7 2005 20:26
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So...Skippy...very good. Did you know it already or did you have to Google it? I take it you noted the song ("Skippy-Roo Kangaroo") which inspired my inquiry regarding Severed Heads, a band originally from Sydney and now centered in Darlinghurst? Where is that? I didn't see it on my world map. What you knew and I did not was where Skippy the bush kangaroo orginally came from, so thanks for that trivia. Most amusing. Severed Heads are a very quirky, silly tongue-in cheek techno-pop-industrial-tape loop kind of band which have sounded like anything from a wall of looped noise to sort of New-Orderish. .... I asked about beta testing because I have been graciously invited to participate, and I am curious to know what I'm in for. I was expecting to not be selected and never got around to asking these questions in advance which would have been smarter. [ Friday, October 07, 2005 20:28: Message edited by: Synergy67 ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 4153
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written Friday, October 7 2005 20:50
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Are testers even allowed to reveal that they're testers? -------------------- Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games." Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Friday, October 7 2005 22:17
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The NDA focuses on keeping confidential all aspects of the game itself or anything specified as confidential (which didn't include the NDA itself), rather than the somewhat peripheral fact that one is involved in beta-testing. I was hesitant to say it, because no one else appears to be mentioning their confirmation, and I don't want to look smug either. I'm quite pleased of course, and I know it's also going to be a lot of work. I have mixed feelings about doing it, but am sure it will be worth it or I wouldn't have applied in the first place. I'm quite new around here still, so it feels good to be able to give something helpful to the community by doing this. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 4153
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written Friday, October 7 2005 22:19
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Well, then in that case, I can stop holding back the fact that I got accepted. Victory is mine! -------------------- Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games." Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5268
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written Friday, October 7 2005 22:47
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quote:I had to Google it. Darlinghurst is in Sydney - its a suburb very close to the CBD. Doesn't sound like they moved at all. If you go to here and enter Darlinghusrt, in the state of NSW you will see where it is. Zoom out a few levels to get some perspective. The area called "Sydney" on the map is just the CBD. Hope you enjoy the beta testing. Posts: 148 | Registered: Tuesday, December 7 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Saturday, October 8 2005 01:06
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Skippy—ah, so I see. Now it all adds up. If you felt so inclined, you could hop on over to sevcom.com, select Classic Albums in the scroll box, find the Severed Heads album Cuisine and click on the MP3 for Skippy Roo Kangaroo. It's really very silly. What is it that makes so many Aussies so delightfully whacked, anyway? ;) Ephesos—hey, good goin'! Your first time too it sounds like? I take it you got your NDA via email, so I'm not sure why you were asking me about the policy? You know what I'm really wondering now is whether it is permissible (or useful) to have private dialog with other beta testers during the testing? Or maybe Jeff sends lots of feedback to everyone about snags and issues people are encountering. I'd hate to get stuck with no FAQ to consult, heh. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 4153
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written Saturday, October 8 2005 09:49
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Well, I just wasn't sure if I'd missed something. I have little experience sifting through legal documents... the NDA took about 15 minutes for me to really grasp. quote:From this, it appears that we can consult each other. After all, I believe all testers would constitute the "Receiving Party's own organization." -------------------- Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games." Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Saturday, October 8 2005 09:56
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Heh, Eph, my eyes quickly began to glaze over trying to read that NDA myself. Not easy to chew through at all, and I had to look at it several times to feel confident I had not missed something critical. I might holler at you at some point if I get stuck or sumthin' if that's cool (privately of course) and you're welcome to do the same if you want. If anyone else knows this is not acceptable according to either the NDA or Jeff's wishes, please pipe up. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Saturday, October 8 2005 12:54
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I trust that you're smart enough to do it through PM, email, or AIM. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Law Bringer
Member # 4153
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written Saturday, October 8 2005 14:54
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Of course... I'm not quite stupid enough to post details here. (#400! Only a hundred until Erudite!) -------------------- Thuryl: "Runescape: for people who are too stupid to save their games." Gamble with Gaea, and she eats your dice. Posts: 4130 | Registered: Friday, March 26 2004 08:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5274
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 04:26
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Out of curiosity have either of you two recieved the beta version yet? I had to send the NDA as an international fax so I'm not sure if it got through, if not i'll just mail it. -------------------- I assume my reputation for arrogant presumption precedes me Posts: 107 | Registered: Thursday, December 9 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 06:17
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Not yet, Poit. I mailed my NDA since I didn't want to try to dredge up my fax software. I live about fifteen miles away from Spiderweb, so it should have been there by Wednesday or so last week. I'm not sure what happens next...I assume we will get an email about an URL to go to, enter a password and download the beta or something like that? [ Sunday, October 09, 2005 06:20: Message edited by: Synergy67 ] -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Master
Member # 5977
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 06:34
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quote:That's only if you have been chosen to test. Not verybody will test. The once that don't get the chance to test wouldn't here anything from Jeff, for as far as I remember. -------------------- Play and rate my scenarios: Where the rivers meet View my upcoming scenario: The Nephil Search: Escape. Give us your drek! Posts: 3029 | Registered: Saturday, June 18 2005 07:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 06:37
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We have been chosen to test. We've been talking about submitting our signed Non-Disclosure Agreements which are our contracts with Jeff to beta test. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |
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Triad Mage
Member # 7
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 06:53
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Once he receives it you'll get the URL and password. -------------------- "At times discretion should be thrown aside, and with the foolish we should play the fool." - Menander ==== Drakefyre's Demesne - Happy Happy Joy Joy Encyclopedia Ermariana - Trapped in the Closet ==== You can take my Mac when you pry my cold, dead fingers off the mouse! Posts: 9436 | Registered: Wednesday, September 19 2001 07:00 |
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Master
Member # 5977
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 08:38
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So he already chose people? I thought he didn't yet... Sorry. Just ignore that last post then. So everybody who was chosen now already got the email saying that you were chosen? :( I wasn't chosen. :rolleyes: Oh,well. I new I wouldn't be chosen anyway, so what the heck. -------------------- Play and rate my scenarios: Where the rivers meet View my upcoming scenario: The Nephil Search: Escape. Give us your drek! Posts: 3029 | Registered: Saturday, June 18 2005 07:00 |
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Warrior
Member # 5274
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written Sunday, October 9 2005 21:05
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Thanks both of you, I just wanted to be sure I didn't stuff up my fax. I'm still not sure of course, but at least I know no one else has recieved the beta yet. -------------------- I assume my reputation for arrogant presumption precedes me Posts: 107 | Registered: Thursday, December 9 2004 08:00 |
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Shaper
Member # 6292
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written Saturday, November 12 2005 16:35
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Hey, anyone finally finished the game yet? I'm stuck in what I believe is the last or second to last confrontation. I'm wondering if others are having the same issue I am—might be a bug, or might be something I missed (not as likely). Email me or IM me ASAP, please: Synergy7167 on AOL. I want to finish this thing. -------------------- A4 Items • A4 Singleton • G4 Items • G4 Forging • G4 Infiltrator • NR Items • The Lonely Celt Posts: 2009 | Registered: Monday, September 12 2005 07:00 |