Green Monster Games (Curt Schilling) - Page 410

Draegan · 05-12-2009, 02:42 PM

If you're letting in a large number of the public into a closed/open beta, your game better be pretty close to being complete. Please take note that of the "large number" you're inviting. Small closed beta's are usually beneficial. But you need larger groups of people to test out your leveling curve, content transition speed for different types of players etc. So your content should be close to perfect as you can get it.

Ngruk · 05-12-2009, 09:33 PM

Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS!

bonanno · 05-12-2009, 10:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ngruk

Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS!

I'd put WOW's forums during beta at the top of the list, personally..

ToeMissile · 05-13-2009, 01:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ngruk

Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS!

Ha, that is pretty amusing

I'll go out on a limb here and assume we'll see something similar with the Copernicus beta?

Flight · 05-13-2009, 03:35 AM

A few people have referred to vanilla WoW beta. To put that into perspective I'm going to re-post the following numbers :

I keep a record of all sorts of stuff. This is my personal record of how many players there were, by class and side in WoW beta shortly before it was unleashed on the world.

Following lists are class followed by the number playing them, first number Alliance and second number Horde.

Friday 08/10/04 Peak

Warrior ..189.....124
Warlock ..59......73
Mage .....119......51
Rogue .....88......38
Hunter ...152.....60
Priest .....58.......19
Druid .....101......37
Pal/Sham 163.....67

Sat 09/10/04 Off Peak

Warrior ...28......14
Warlock ..14......10
Mage ......22.......2
Rogue ....17.......6
Hunter ....31.......10
Priest .....10........0 (zero)
Druid ......16.......1
Pal/Sham 23.......8

Northerner · 05-13-2009, 04:15 AM

For what it is worth, WoW did a pretty exceptional job of filtering the people for the F&F/Alpha/Beta/Pub. and it wasn't entirely accidental.

Yes, they did draw from a lot of EQ and other MMO people for Alpha (and some for F&F) but most of it was just getting people into the right mind rather than getting the right-minded people. Hell, I think I was a great alpha-tester and I paid cash for that. Tigole still owes me for that I figure.

Flight · 05-13-2009, 04:29 AM

Yeah, they actively sought us and the other top guilds out and approached us to be a part of it.

It was interesting because we were working with both the EQ and the WoW devs. The difference between the two organizations was very obvious - both sets of devs were talented, creative and likeable people, but the processes and methodology they used were very different.

darksensei · 05-13-2009, 06:47 AM

I'm not sure if we provided a valuable beta experience, or served as a marketing gimmick, perhaps both. That said, trying to recruit the top guilds seems like a strategy worth replicating.

Palum · 05-13-2009, 06:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ngruk

Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS!

I'd like to report this board for future breaking of the NDA for early access to your beta. Thank you.

Gnome Eater · 05-13-2009, 06:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Ngruk

Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS!

during closed friends and family beta/alpha, the leaks will be very small. During closed beta, you will 100% have leaks, and there is nothing at all you can do about it, I am sure you don't have any delusions about this point.

Azrayne · 05-13-2009, 07:18 AM

I think at any point that you're inviting random people, you'd be foolish not to expect leaks.

Cadrid · 05-13-2009, 02:56 PM

Since we're talking about Betas, I've always found it far easier to test when playing with a group of friends, and my reports are more frequent/thorough. It can be difficult (for myself, anyway) to keep logging in, day after day, squishing bugs and doing balance testing without a familiar face to help alongside and keep things fun. I think that's a big part of the strength in recruiting well-established guilds to Beta test a game; sure, they've got the experience to know when things are screwy, but when they're motivated to keep coming back to test as the process moves along, you get that kind of "expert" result consistently.

Ngruk · 05-13-2009, 11:15 PM

Nerfbat

Give it a peek.

James · 05-13-2009, 11:34 PM

No one likes crafting but masochists and freaks (i.e. Zehn probably LOVES crafting). Blizzard's crafting system was a step in the right direction though, even if it's balanced for shit. The more complex the crafting process, the worse the system is. I don't wanna sit down for two hours to figure out which fucking ingot I need to mix with what eye of newt or some shit to get a (maybe) decent item out of it.

My crafting system would be perfect. Check it. Mob drops Rare Ingot, you're an engineer, you click a button called "Engineer this shit, yo!" and BAM you got a badass new non-random item. Maybe add in a second ingredient for raid quality items that drops from bosses, but even that might be pushing it. No vendors, no running half way across the world because Dipshit Dan only carries Water Ingots and the Fire Ingot you need is sitting up the ass of Fuckwit Fred over in fucking China. No bullshit money sinks, no nothing. Can I get a hell yeah?

Hell yeah.

Kuro · 05-13-2009, 11:47 PM

Crafting gave us the Coldain quests.

Crafting has a free ride for a long time due to their levels of awesome.

The EQ2 Mini-game Crafting was shit though. "So, I just strip naked and pound three buttons for 20 seconds?"

05-12-2009, 02:42 PM	#6136 (permalink)
Draegan ҉̵̞̟̠̖̗̘̙̜̝̞̟̠͇̊̋̌̍̎ ̏ Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 6,631 -20 Internets	If you're letting in a large number of the public into a closed/open beta, your game better be pretty close to being complete. Please take note that of the "large number" you're inviting. Small closed beta's are usually beneficial. But you need larger groups of people to test out your leveling curve, content transition speed for different types of players etc. So your content should be close to perfect as you can get it. __________________

05-12-2009, 09:33 PM	#6137 (permalink)
Ngruk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 691 +60 Internets	Oh and fwiw, coolest Beta 'thing' I've ever seen? WAR giving players free beta keys for turning in ANYONE violating NDA rules during BETA, frickin' GENIUS! __________________

05-13-2009, 02:56 PM	#6147 (permalink)
Cadrid Registered User Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Acton, Massachusetts Posts: 1,832	Since we're talking about Betas, I've always found it far easier to test when playing with a group of friends, and my reports are more frequent/thorough. It can be difficult (for myself, anyway) to keep logging in, day after day, squishing bugs and doing balance testing without a familiar face to help alongside and keep things fun. I think that's a big part of the strength in recruiting well-established guilds to Beta test a game; sure, they've got the experience to know when things are screwy, but when they're motivated to keep coming back to test as the process moves along, you get that kind of "expert" result consistently. __________________ Fuck Cancer!

05-13-2009, 11:15 PM	#6148 (permalink)
Ngruk Registered User Join Date: Sep 2006 Posts: 691 +60 Internets	Like crafting? Nerfbat Give it a peek. __________________

05-13-2009, 11:34 PM	#6149 (permalink)
James You are just another normal! Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: Houston, TX Posts: 9,383	No one likes crafting but masochists and freaks (i.e. Zehn probably LOVES crafting). Blizzard's crafting system was a step in the right direction though, even if it's balanced for shit. The more complex the crafting process, the worse the system is. I don't wanna sit down for two hours to figure out which fucking ingot I need to mix with what eye of newt or some shit to get a (maybe) decent item out of it. My crafting system would be perfect. Check it. Mob drops Rare Ingot, you're an engineer, you click a button called "Engineer this shit, yo!" and BAM you got a badass new non-random item. Maybe add in a second ingredient for raid quality items that drops from bosses, but even that might be pushing it. No vendors, no running half way across the world because Dipshit Dan only carries Water Ingots and the Fire Ingot you need is sitting up the ass of Fuckwit Fred over in fucking China. No bullshit money sinks, no nothing. Can I get a hell yeah? Hell yeah. __________________ Like a ship without an anchor, like a slave without a chain, just the thought of those sweet ladies sends a shiver through my veins. And I will go on shining, shining like brand new. I'll never look behind me, my troubles will be few. Goodbye stranger, it's been nice. Hope you find your paradise. Tried to see your point of view, hope your dreams will all come true. Goodbye Mary, goodbye Jane, will we ever meet again? Feel no sorrow, feel no shame. Come tomorrow, feel no pain.

05-13-2009, 03:35 AM	#6140 (permalink)
Flight I'm your huckleberry Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 1,323 +39 Internets	A few people have referred to vanilla WoW beta. To put that into perspective I'm going to re-post the following numbers : I keep a record of all sorts of stuff. This is my personal record of how many players there were, by class and side in WoW beta shortly before it was unleashed on the world. Following lists are class followed by the number playing them, first number Alliance and second number Horde. Friday 08/10/04 Peak Warrior ..189.....124 Warlock ..59......73 Mage .....119......51 Rogue .....88......38 Hunter ...152.....60 Priest .....58.......19 Druid .....101......37 Pal/Sham 163.....67 Sat 09/10/04 Off Peak Warrior ...28......14 Warlock ..14......10 Mage ......22.......2 Rogue ....17.......6 Hunter ....31.......10 Priest .....10........0 (zero) Druid ......16.......1 Pal/Sham 23.......8

05-13-2009, 04:15 AM	#6141 (permalink)
Northerner Shiny Join Date: Sep 2002 Location: Calgary Posts: 1,761	For what it is worth, WoW did a pretty exceptional job of filtering the people for the F&F/Alpha/Beta/Pub. and it wasn't entirely accidental. Yes, they did draw from a lot of EQ and other MMO people for Alpha (and some for F&F) but most of it was just getting people into the right mind rather than getting the right-minded people. Hell, I think I was a great alpha-tester and I paid cash for that. Tigole still owes me for that I figure.

05-13-2009, 04:29 AM	#6142 (permalink)
Flight I'm your huckleberry Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Liverpool, UK Posts: 1,323 +39 Internets	Yeah, they actively sought us and the other top guilds out and approached us to be a part of it. It was interesting because we were working with both the EQ and the WoW devs. The difference between the two organizations was very obvious - both sets of devs were talented, creative and likeable people, but the processes and methodology they used were very different.

05-13-2009, 06:47 AM	#6143 (permalink)
darksensei Registered User Join Date: Jan 2006 Posts: 1,063	I'm not sure if we provided a valuable beta experience, or served as a marketing gimmick, perhaps both. That said, trying to recruit the top guilds seems like a strategy worth replicating.

05-13-2009, 07:18 AM	#6146 (permalink)
Azrayne Registered User Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Awsome Posts: 2,722	I think at any point that you're inviting random people, you'd be foolish not to expect leaks.

05-13-2009, 11:47 PM	#6150 (permalink)
Kuro Support Beam Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 1,977 +56 Internets	Crafting gave us the Coldain quests. Crafting has a free ride for a long time due to their levels of awesome. The EQ2 Mini-game Crafting was shit though. "So, I just strip naked and pound three buttons for 20 seconds?" __________________ Alt Army-Over 9,000 Games

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes	Rate This Thread
Linear Mode Switch to Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode	Rate This Thread:

LinkBacks (?) LinkBack to this Thread: http://www.fohguild.org/forums/retard-rickshaw-hall-shame/24711-green-monster-games-curt-schilling.html
Posted By	For	Type	Date
f13.net forums - Schilling's Green Monster Games	This thread	Refback	11-22-2006 07:59 AM
MMORPG's - Page 2 - General [M]ayhem	This thread	Refback	11-22-2006 07:29 AM