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"A simple nova star next to any tester's name is enough to signify the person's status. A dev would have a different color star, and a guide/moderator, a third kind. Anything more complex is either an ego trip for the person suggesting it or just plain too difficult for the devs to implement."
It's for the new players after the final version goes out if they wish to ask for help they know how long the person they're asking has been playing and how likely they will be able to help them out.....like someone who just started playing a week before final release wouldn't be that helpful whereas someone playing for years would be very helpful.
It's for the new players after the final version goes out if they wish to ask for help they know how long the person they're asking has been playing and how likely they will be able to help them out.....like someone who just started playing a week before final release wouldn't be that helpful whereas someone playing for years would be very helpful.
Depends on the player, too. Some form of mentorship would be cool, like in Project Entropia.
All accounts have been locked, so any beta-tester will have been playing for at least several months--more than enough time to learn the game inside-out.
Play for free? I've been playing for free and I'm grateful for the opportunity. Getting some small insight into the development of a game like Vendetta has been fascinating and if I have contributed anything, even better. (yes, I have submitted a few bug reports)
As to the acknowledgment of testers, this sounds a bit like an award and awards are so often meaningless or unfair. A brighter star for length of service? My account goes back, I don't know, a year and a half or something like that. But I've been online more in the last month than in all the rest of that time. Just a week ago I was accused of noobishness with some justification. I wouldn't like to see myself listed next to those who truly did test the game. Plus some of those long time "testers" are the reason I and probably many others would leave for six months at a time.
On the other hand, identifying the "vets" in some way could add some depth and history to the game. I'm all for that.
The only award that matters is someone buying you a pint of stout because your stories are just that good.
As to the acknowledgment of testers, this sounds a bit like an award and awards are so often meaningless or unfair. A brighter star for length of service? My account goes back, I don't know, a year and a half or something like that. But I've been online more in the last month than in all the rest of that time. Just a week ago I was accused of noobishness with some justification. I wouldn't like to see myself listed next to those who truly did test the game. Plus some of those long time "testers" are the reason I and probably many others would leave for six months at a time.
On the other hand, identifying the "vets" in some way could add some depth and history to the game. I'm all for that.
The only award that matters is someone buying you a pint of stout because your stories are just that good.
If the devs have recorded it: just use the amount of time somebody have been online. If you want to differ in 'vet tester' and 'noob tester'. But hell, the fact that you can P0WN every non-tester should be more than enough.
The way the game seems to be going... all the testers will dominate the player vs. player combat. If you've been playing vendetta before 3.4, you must have some experience PvP. Most of the noobs entering the game will rarely have any player vs. player confrontations... and less experience overall in PvP combat. (Unlike us beta testers…)
So we are all going to dominate the noobs :P.
>If the devs have recorded it: just use the amount
>of time somebody have been online. If you want
>to differ in 'vet tester' and 'noob tester'.
It’s just simpler to find the join dates (the dates the accounts were created) and see who’s a vet and who isn't that way.... I sure as hell don't have 1 year of Vendetta gaming under my belt (hell, I haven't even been here for a year yet...).
What’s the definition of "Vendetta Veteran”? Maybe the us Beta testers can list all the Vets instead of the devs...
So we are all going to dominate the noobs :P.
>If the devs have recorded it: just use the amount
>of time somebody have been online. If you want
>to differ in 'vet tester' and 'noob tester'.
It’s just simpler to find the join dates (the dates the accounts were created) and see who’s a vet and who isn't that way.... I sure as hell don't have 1 year of Vendetta gaming under my belt (hell, I haven't even been here for a year yet...).
What’s the definition of "Vendetta Veteran”? Maybe the us Beta testers can list all the Vets instead of the devs...
For the final product, if there was no ability to hire AI wingman for players to fly with, would there be more of a player to player interaction when it comes to PvP and politics as well? Just remember, the more player to player interaction you have, the more people that will play. But thats just me.
Also, will the game stick to one flight model in the full game?
As for the previous discussion, beta testers of an mmorpg won't get to play the full game for free while they have to pay just like everyone else. At least the beta testers would get something special in-game for beta testing the game.
Also, will the game stick to one flight model in the full game?
As for the previous discussion, beta testers of an mmorpg won't get to play the full game for free while they have to pay just like everyone else. At least the beta testers would get something special in-game for beta testing the game.
In my humble opinion testers should get paid for testing. A regular wage like 7$ per hour seems appropriate to me...
/me wanders off mumbling something about playing for free, bs and other things
/me wanders off mumbling something about playing for free, bs and other things
Do you honestly think the devs could have afforded to pay all of us 7 bucks an hour? Also, I've *never* been in an MMORPG where the testers got paid, and Vendetta Online isn't the only one I've done.
Yeah, amq, software testers usually get a free copy of whatever they're testing, and that's about it. If that...
Please tell me you're joking, amq.
Beta testers in general don't get paid a whole lot, if at all, for most commercial games. When we're talking about beta testers we need to distinguish between the two types--public (or open) beta testing and private (or closed) beta testing. Public beta testers don't get paid. If it happens it's very rare. In return, however, they receive free game time for something that would otherwise cost money to the consumer. That's the reward.
Private beta testers, on the other hand, dedicate several hours a day to break the code and try to duplicate any bugs while constantly sending reports to the developers. They're obligated to find every single bug they come across, no matter how minor. The process becomes repetitive and boring after a while, to the point where you're just sick of the game. They get paid very little for doing this, unless of course they work for Microsoft or some other giant company.
Now, Guild Software doesn't force anyone to report bugs. It's a public beta, therefore nobody gets paid and it's completely voluntary. They just ask that you send bug reports from time to time. You won't get sued if you neglect to do this or you decide to stop testing halfway along development. Best of all there are no NDAs to sign or paperwork to fill out. There are many more benefits to public beta testing for both the gamer and the developer.
You know how you buy a game off the shelf and install it only to find out that the final product is buggy as hell? Then you wonder wtf the beta testers were smoking when they were testing the game to allow such bugs to leak through. And then you're thinking to yourself how you'd probably make a better tester for that company and that you wouldn't have to deal with crappy games like this if they hired you to do the job.
Well, public beta testing gives you that opportunity. You can find bugs that others might've normally ignored or missed. You also get to offer suggestions that might help contribute to the making a better final product. So even if the game you bought wasn't buggy as hell, I bet you wished the control scheme was better. Well as a beta tester you can make that possible also. To ask for an hourly wage for having such a wonderful privelage is preposterous.
Beta testers in general don't get paid a whole lot, if at all, for most commercial games. When we're talking about beta testers we need to distinguish between the two types--public (or open) beta testing and private (or closed) beta testing. Public beta testers don't get paid. If it happens it's very rare. In return, however, they receive free game time for something that would otherwise cost money to the consumer. That's the reward.
Private beta testers, on the other hand, dedicate several hours a day to break the code and try to duplicate any bugs while constantly sending reports to the developers. They're obligated to find every single bug they come across, no matter how minor. The process becomes repetitive and boring after a while, to the point where you're just sick of the game. They get paid very little for doing this, unless of course they work for Microsoft or some other giant company.
Now, Guild Software doesn't force anyone to report bugs. It's a public beta, therefore nobody gets paid and it's completely voluntary. They just ask that you send bug reports from time to time. You won't get sued if you neglect to do this or you decide to stop testing halfway along development. Best of all there are no NDAs to sign or paperwork to fill out. There are many more benefits to public beta testing for both the gamer and the developer.
You know how you buy a game off the shelf and install it only to find out that the final product is buggy as hell? Then you wonder wtf the beta testers were smoking when they were testing the game to allow such bugs to leak through. And then you're thinking to yourself how you'd probably make a better tester for that company and that you wouldn't have to deal with crappy games like this if they hired you to do the job.
Well, public beta testing gives you that opportunity. You can find bugs that others might've normally ignored or missed. You also get to offer suggestions that might help contribute to the making a better final product. So even if the game you bought wasn't buggy as hell, I bet you wished the control scheme was better. Well as a beta tester you can make that possible also. To ask for an hourly wage for having such a wonderful privelage is preposterous.
He. Was. Joking.
Touche. Nevertheless there are those who seriously think that. So I'll leave my post up for others to see.
amq wins.
SirCamps: When I suggested the various star types I meant that they could be used so that new player's in Release could see who could best answer their questions. Like if the question revolved around weapons or ships, than anybody can answer, but if it involves some sort of history, who better to ask then someone who was there?
amq is a very funny person....
amq is a very funny person....
Still too complicated. If the devs are going to recognize us, it's going to be as a group. I highly doubt any favoritism will show in the final product. No five stars next to someone like Phoe, SF, or me who've been around several years contrasted to MonkRX's one star. An example would be this: Beta Tester: Grey star. Dev: Red star. Guide/Moderator: Blue star.
If they have a real question, they can hope to see a Guide (which will become more abundant in the final game, I'm assuming), or a dev. If not, there will be enough experienced testers. Remember that even the newest tester will have at least three months under his or her belt, which is more than enough time to learn the game inside out.
EDIT: And of course the future up-and-coming tutorial will totally rock and kick butt so there will be no questions, savvy?
If they have a real question, they can hope to see a Guide (which will become more abundant in the final game, I'm assuming), or a dev. If not, there will be enough experienced testers. Remember that even the newest tester will have at least three months under his or her belt, which is more than enough time to learn the game inside out.
EDIT: And of course the future up-and-coming tutorial will totally rock and kick butt so there will be no questions, savvy?
Jesus Chrimina!!!
The best way to be acknowledged in the new game isn't thought the DEV's, but by longstanding peers who testify to your contributions in game and by the undeniable skills and maturity that is obtained only through countless hours of play.
All of the testers, specifically the "Old School Vets" will enter the new game with the ultimate tribute, a name, a reputation and the knowledge and skills to back it up.
Nothing is more important in the RPG world.
Besides all the newbies will worship us, even the middling players for a long time to come.
And newbies suckling at my teat of knowledge and worshiping my "in their eyes" war god like powers is the ultimate tribute.
Carry on.
mutorcs
The best way to be acknowledged in the new game isn't thought the DEV's, but by longstanding peers who testify to your contributions in game and by the undeniable skills and maturity that is obtained only through countless hours of play.
All of the testers, specifically the "Old School Vets" will enter the new game with the ultimate tribute, a name, a reputation and the knowledge and skills to back it up.
Nothing is more important in the RPG world.
Besides all the newbies will worship us, even the middling players for a long time to come.
And newbies suckling at my teat of knowledge and worshiping my "in their eyes" war god like powers is the ultimate tribute.
Carry on.
mutorcs
Very true. The greatest tribute will be your reputation, whether good or ill.
"Recognition? We don't need no stinkin' recognition..."
"Recognition? We don't need no stinkin' recognition..."
We should have a special tester sector, that only us deserving testers could go to. That way we could all talk together as a group about things. It'd be cool, and I don't think it'd take up too much space. Heh heh, the sector background could be like, in big letters "THANK YOU".
Simple enough..... create a Testers IRC channel or an in-game Testers channel.