have they actually started beta testing r10 yet...

[Cicada]

was just wondering, we havn't seemed to have heard anything about it..

[Bashar]

afaik no, but I know for a fact that they HAVE started alpha testing r10.

[Chax]

As always they dont' start early enough.

[RealJames]

Originally posted by Bashar
afaik no, but I know for a fact that they HAVE started alpha testing r10.

We talking things like rebootings servers?

[Leshy]

Originally posted by Chax
As always they dont' start early enough.

You can't really test something before it's been coded. If I'm mistaken, then please point out where I can download Unreal Tournament 2005 for beta testing.

[The_Fish]

the coding is taking too long, which he means, unless I'm mistaken.

[Bashar]

Originally posted by RealJames
We talking things like rebootings servers?

lol, not. A PA-team only alpha I believe. It is coded mostly, or at least to the point where it is playable, I think it is just ironing out bugs, and getting it to the stage where a beta is necessary.

[RealJames]

Originally posted by Bashar
lol, not. A PA-team only alpha I believe. It is coded mostly, or at least to the point where it is playable, I think it is just ironing out bugs, and getting it to the stage where a beta is necessary.

Who will I need to cyber?

[Chax]

Originally posted by Leshy
You can't really test something before it's been coded. If I'm mistaken, then please point out where I can download Unreal Tournament 2005 for beta testing.

Either you know where I'm coming from or you don't. Going around being clever only shows your ignorance.

The way I see it you don't need a single line of code to start testing.

[Leshy]

Originally posted by Chax
The way I see it you don't need a single line of code to start testing.

Testing a game without having written any of it? I'm sure the game companies would love to hear your bright ideas. Think of the possibilities: We could already be checking if Quake 5 is going to be worth it!

[Chax]

Originally posted by Leshy
Testing a game without having written any of it? I'm sure the game companies would love to hear your bright ideas. Think of the possibilities: We could already be checking if Quake 5 is going to be worth it!

There are 2 things that mostly affect Planetarion.

1. Stats, formulas, galaxy composition, travel times.
2. Alliances reactions to the above.

For neither of these do you need the actual game running. Now I'm sure you wouldn't call it betatesting, but that is just pedantery.

[Leshy]

Originally posted by Chax
For neither of these do you need the actual game running.

Round 10 is going to be packed with new stuff. New options, new formula's, new tactics, etc. Which will all have an influence on the game. You can't test Round 10 features in a Round 9 environment.

It's not a matter of simply slapping in a new formula here and there, changing a galaxy size and swapping some travel times around.

[Chax]

Originally posted by Leshy
Round 10 is going to be packed with new stuff. New options, new formula's, new tactics, etc. Which will all have an influence on the game. You can't test Round 10 features in a Round 9 environment.

It's not a matter of simply slapping in a new formula here and there, changing a galaxy size and swapping some travel times around.

Well, how would I know? There's too little info released to be able to make a judgement. And that is my point.

[Leshy]

Originally posted by Chax
Well, how would I know? There's too little info released to be able to make a judgement. And that is my point.

Information on parts of Round 10 has already been released here and there.

As for making a judgement: How about doing that with everyone else in the preview that has been announced to take place before Round 10?

[SYMM]

...or indeed in the beta test when it happens. I believe it was said that anyone with a r9 account will be "invited".

and how you get from

As always they dont' start early enough.

to

There's too little info released to be able to make a judgement.

God only know.
Seems like another of the many compulsive moaners to me.

[Chax]

Originally posted by SYMM
...or indeed in the beta test when it happens. I believe it was said that anyone with a r9 account will be "invited".

and how you get from

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
As always they dont' start early enough.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

to

quote:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

There's too little info released to be able to make a judgement.
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

God only know.
Seems like another of the many compulsive moaners to me.

You can't see the connection? They release too little information. They wait too long to release the information. They aren't letting us discuss things before they're set in stone.

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally posted by Chax
You can't see the connection? They release too little information. They wait too long to release the information. They aren't letting us discuss things before they're set in stone.

Two questions.

1. How can you comment on how much information they were releasing when from your previous posts you didn't appear to have read anything that they had said at all?

2. When have the users EVER had a say in the format of PA? How many people do you know had an input before the start of round 1, which is the only comparable time?

[hyfe]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri

2. When have the users EVER had a say in the format of PA? How many people do you know had an input before the start of round 1, which is the only comparable time?

If PA just said: 'F*ck off, we're going to do this ourselves' that would be a thing its possible to relate to.

However; they *do* run Beta tests: which is are so badly organized the actual playing doesn't help one bit. The only usefull input they get is from the actual boards (where in theory a lot of smart persons are assembled), and they promptly ignore it *each* time.

His complaints about beta-testing are thus sound in the context that beta-testings are actually being planned. Argueing that they're a waste and he thus shouldn't point out what needs to be done to make them work is just plain silly.

As Chax said; you basically have to 'know where he's coming from'.. he's been complaining about this a long time ....

[MrL_JaKiri]

The Beta Tests have never been about this kind of thing; they've always been about 'should we have this limit on attacking, should we have clusters or parallels, should this ship be better?' and not on the overall game dynamics, which haven't changed since the game was formed.

I don't care if he's complained about betatesting ever since Spinner first thought 'hey, lets make this game!', that doesn't mean his comments are correct in this context.

[Psi_K]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
I don't care if he's complained about betatesting ever since Spinner first thought 'hey, lets make this game!', that doesn't mean his comments are correct in this context.

Nor does it mean they're wrong.

And the beta tests HAVE dramatically changed the game.
Our current race system was NOT made by the PA creators. Sadly, only a few know this.
Other implementations have also came about during beta testing.
If beta testing was just for pure ship stats, it might take 5 mins running some matimatical testing, and say what needs changing.

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally posted by Psi_K
And the beta tests HAVE dramatically changed the game.
Our current race system was NOT made by the PA creators. .

That's still a cosmetic change.

ps.

You can't run the tests mathematically, so don't try to suggest that you can.

[Chax]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
Two questions.

1. How can you comment on how much information they were releasing when from your previous posts you didn't appear to anything that they had said at all?

When I don't appear to anything.. huh? I'm sorry but you'll have to elaborate on that. I haven't a clue what you're saying so I can't answer it. Some verb missing there?

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
2. When have the users EVER had a say in the format of PA? How many people do you know had an input before the start of round 1, which is the only comparable time?

I think the betatesters have had a say in a lot of things every beta round. Spinner does listen to the betatesters and has made quite a few changes to things like galaxy size, clustersize, ship stats, scoring, and some mechanics. Several changes that I've suggested have been implemented, so what you're talking about I don't know.


My main complaint is as ever the timing. What happens is before the new round starts there are a lot of things that need doing but no time to code them because the start date is getting nearer. They need to get the betatesting going earlier to avoid such things. And as I've stated in other threads when I say betatesting I include time on boards with game mechanic discussions, not only playing a working game. Ideally a betateam for next round should be in place when the current round starts.

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally posted by Chax
When I don't appear to anything.. huh? I'm sorry but you'll have to elaborate on that. I haven't a clue what you're saying so I can't answer it. Some verb missing there?

The word is read, and I think I have my answer, because you haven't been reading what I've been saying, judging by the next part. Maybe you just don't understand.

Originally posted by Chax
I think the betatesters have had a say in a lot of things every beta round. Spinner does listen to the betatesters and has made wuite a few changes to things like galaxy size, clustersize, ship stats, scoring, and some mechanics. Several changes that I've suggested have been implemented, so what you're talking about I don't know.

I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Those AREN'T CHANGES IN THE GAME MECHANIC.

[Chax]

Define game mechanics please

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally posted by Chax
Define game mechanics please

You know, the important things, like 'capturing roids', 'building ships' and 'having a single planet'.

The overall important stuff, not the details.

[Chax]

This isn't about designing a new game, this is about testing Planetarion.

If what you're saying is just another way of rubbing everyones noses in the fact that r10 is a different game and that you know more than the rest of us I don't see how that makes my argument for more information sooner any weaker.

[Chax]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
The word is read, and I think I have my answer, because you haven't been reading what I've been saying, judging by the next part. Maybe you just don't understand.



I've said it before and I'll say it again.

Those AREN'T CHANGES IN THE GAME MECHANIC.

OK, you haven't said anything in this thread prior to the post I was answering there, so my failure to read what you've said is certainly not a failure on my part. How am I supposed to take into account later writings when replying to your first post here?

[MrL_JaKiri]

Originally posted by Chax
If what you're saying is just another way of rubbing everyones noses in the fact that r10 is a different game and that you know more than the rest of us I don't see how that makes my argument for more information sooner any weaker.

I don't know anything that everyone else reading the announcements doesn't know.

I'm not privy to some 'secret knowledge'.

I'm just going by what they, and other people, have said.

[DarkAngel]

couldnt we have left the answer at "no" ?

[Waku]

I really hope it will start after the summer

[Chax]

Originally posted by Waku
I really hope it will start after the summer

Why do you hope that? is it realism or are you just not familiar with the concept of shooting for the stars?

I wished the beta for r10 started when r9 started ticking

I really hope it will start when 9.5 starts ticking.

[Ultimate Newbie]

Well, Having been promised a spot in the beta team by Spinner (hahaha! I wonder if that’ll come true!) I can say that I have not received word of it starting already, nor have I heard of a planned start date.

And Chax, as you said above beta teams should have been organised at the beginning of the current round – with round 9.5 beginning soon then there is an opportunity for them to adhere to ‘Chax’s Directorates’ ™, though I am a cynical bastard and I wouldn’t be surprised if the testing was still going to be late.

Also, as Planetarion has no end date when the round begins, it is slightly more difficult to plan such things. /me points at R3 etc.

Waku: is your sig spelt incorrectly – Turst = Trust?

[Yeggstry]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
Two questions.

2. When have the users EVER had a say in the format of PA? How many people do you know had an input before the start of round 1, which is the only comparable time?

perhaps u didn't read about the shuffle info and the fact that ppl are complaining about it meaning that spinner may have changed his mind???

[SYMM]

ffs yegg, did you read any of the posts?
By "format" of PA, it has already been made clear that he meant the foundation game mechanics, not the surface-look of the game.

If this is a personal thing against mr jigglypuff, then take it elsewhere. If you just can't be bothered reading threads, then go to GD or something.

[Cochese]

Originally posted by MrL_JaKiri
That's still a cosmetic change.

The page GFX was a cosmetic change, yes. Making 4 races with 12 unique ships each is far from "cosmetic".


I'd guess with whatever Spinner has in mind for real coding changes (specifically the combat system), they have been focusing on...and if the general page layout was reasonably complete last I saw, one would expect to see the beta get fired up fairly soon.

The estimated duration of r9.5 (6weeks) should be an adequate period of time to run the beta. Personally, I wouldn't try to do it in less than a month due to the fact so much has changed, and it's not a matter of just messing about with ship stats like previous rounds.

[Chax]

my old start beta now thread