Now I belive this could be a legitamet suggestion to keep the test alive post release.
Since the paying players will want continous service from the servers the test could be used to try out new things, weapon balancing and so on.
That way if anything unbalanced would come in the game or if the game would crash to often the devs could fix this prior to releasing to gold version of the game.

humbly a freeloading tester who really likes this game but has no finacial support to get the monthly fee(of any price except free)

I think ruskie has a point. I know I dont like it when HalfLife, C&C or Blizzards servers go down afetr all my trying to get on them because they are trying to update something and it ends up crashing the entire system.

Ruskie's idea could potentially lead to a great reputation for the Released Vendetta. Vendetta Test would quietly slide away into dissappearance and could be locked from new members joining and some members accounts being downsized (limit of 1-3 chars rather than the current 6) Then with the Test Locked up tight, the released version is the only way some people could play and therefore would then have to pay. Obviosuly the TEST would need to be locked up so that it wasnt just an outlet to get ingame for moochers.

I like the idea espicially because it would allow the current population to still work closely with the Devs to insure a great product (I've actually SERIOUSLY considered asking Guild if they had some position open, I wouldn't even accept a salary!) but also force new players to pay for the Good Final Product while us LabRats continued to screw around testing features soon to go into the new version and working bugs out there.

the devs have their own test server. As for balancing, I cannot see how it would dramatically effect the games playability. They would most likely tweak things in small amounts. Also I think most things will be tested here b4 they make the final version of the game.

That would be a very nice thing for the players who spend time testing it out and suggesting and finding bugs. And yes, a character limit sounds good too.

Perhaps just offer it at a rather nice discount, that would be a nice way too.

This sounds to me like a duplicitous move to create a loophole that allows you to get your vendetta fix without paying. Sorry, not gonna happen. I don't have the money to plunk down for Vendetta either, and I probably wont for at least another 2 or 3 years. But I still recognize the needs of a business. What you propose just isn't economically feasible.

I have the money and will pay, I'm not loophole hunting. I'm just stating that this could easily give Guild the player base and stresstesting base for updates or MAJOR RELEASES prior to full release so that any large bugs can be fixed before the update is released and turns out to be loaded with minor problems such as a sector stressing out or some minor weapon changing with certain battery configs.

Also, when the Flechette first came out it was rather underpowered for the price but after players testing the gun reported this, the problem was remedied. This is the kind of balancing the game needs. I don't think paying people are going to be nearly as thrilled with locating or hunting down bugs as we testers are. They will probably report one as it happens rather than actively Bug Hunting.

I know that several current testers actively hunt down bugs and do stress testing intentionally. Such as the major battle in s9 when a1k0n and Incarnate came to nuclear blows. Or when I flew my ship out as far as possible to test the limit of the sector size. Or when me and another guy went hunting down the invisibility bug and wingbug problems in multiple sectors trying to get an idea of how it works and where it occurs most often. Then we reported into guild. I know that several others do the same but paying players aren't going to be nearly as interested since it isnt their job. Testing this is OUR job so I think we need to be kept on retainer so we can do this type of hunting that other people wouldn't.

OK, idea. The devs have said they'd like to give us testers a little "thank you" for all the work *snicker* we've done here. Here's what I'd propose:

For all the testers that do choose to buy the game, have a sector or two where everything is free. However, you cannot warp out with anything you buy there. These couple of sectors would be for testing balance issues before a game update. You never see commercial games release tons of updates (Terminus and Descent 3 excluded, they were terrible at this). Guild will need some people to stress test balance issues before release. For those that choose to buy the game, allow a testing sector or two for this reason.

Camps is a bloody genious!

Although it does raise the ultimate question, if everything is free, the unvierse will be torn apart as the TITANs fight amongst themselves.

Lets treat these sectors like we treat Mexico: "What happens here, stays here."

In other words, the free craft purchased in these sectors can't be taken outside. All the fighting can happen inside but the craft cant leave, since it would allow the ex-testers ultimate power over the new people and each other.

Too much of a plus for the testers. It would have to be a random and open test for anyone to register. Not just us.

And the Flec was fixed? When? Where? How?

Not really, considering it would be pretty much just an all out FFA with free craft. (similar to bus wars now) and those craft cant leave thowe systems and therefore we could fight amongst ourselves just inside a smaller area that way we retain our already finely honed skills rather than they go dull while we wait for newbs to reach an acceptable fighting level.

id say a tester only sector....

but in there, you can buy lvl2 rockets and blue ions

also the old stations!

ooh and the wormholes have to have green balls around em!

asphy =p