Who should beta test Guild Wars 2?

gone

Guest

Join Date: Jan 2007

yep just like what is going on with AoC LoL. it's a pity too.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Whoever can get it through Anets head how to start off with a very good skill balance and no underpowered lines.

If they can convince anet to ditch the planned levels, even better.

makosi

makosi

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Mar 2006

"Pre-nerf" is incorrect. It's pre-buff.

Requirement Begins With R [notQ]

Me/

I think the players chosen to beta test GW2 should not just be well-known, prolific or hardcore players of GW1. A broader range of abilities, personalities and play styles will represent the community more accurately and could be more beneficial to the tests. After all, the common community are what makes the difference between a closed and open beta.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
...in MMO beta's over 1/2 the testers are the "OMG OMG OMG" and not actually testing the game...
This is inevitible. Even though the bulk of the random people will take it all for granted and not contribute constructively, some folk will.

Roo Ella

Roo Ella

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Jun 2007

Australia

Oz

E/R

Yeah let the true testers of the game have a shot not just sign a NDA
and then go OMG OMG GW2 has this and they have that and and and across a few forums.
Seen it happen like this before in at lest 2 beta games I have participated in
a few get kicked out cause they broke the NDA but the damage and information has escaped.
Being in any beta game should be a privilege and for TESTING bugs and abnormalities it not just bragging rights.
So I hope they chose wisely.
My 2c anyway

Carinae

Carinae

Forge Runner

Join Date: Jun 2005

Inside

Fifteen Over Fifty [Rare]

<- Um, hello?

/raises hand, looks around

Definates:
Ensign
Racthoh
Trubs
Savio
Avarre

Maybes:
Witte Was
Zinger
Moloch Vein
Cthton
Faer
Inde

MarlinBackna

MarlinBackna

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2007

[TAM]

W/

I have a feeling Anet wouldn't do small-scale invite beta because:
1) They didn't do that last time (well, not really....)
2) They wouldn't want super-respected people in GWO/Guru to potentially steer all of each community away from GW2 if they happen not to like it at first. I don't think GW2 is WoW-killer (although it could be...) enough to draw away a substantial amount of players (I'm talking millions ) so I will think that Anet will rely heavily on GW1 fan base. To have everyone in Guru/GWO not buy GW2 would be a nightmare.

But in the hypothetical situation, I would choose Racthoh for his understanding of PvE, and.....I don't do PvP so I couldn't tell you someone who is good. Some of the mods here would also be a nice addition. But I sincerely hope that they don't do private beta...mewants2play.

hallomik

hallomik

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: May 2006

The Illini Tribe

N/Mo

Ensign, FreekedOutFish, Fril, ArcaneMacabre, Savio, TMakanin, Mithran, HawkofStorms, Witte Was, Sab, Rezdogg, Inde

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Inde
Let in 1000 people and you'll get maybe 50 solid people out of the bunch. But yes... if you can FIND those people (which there is no way to know until they actually get in there) then they are the ideal.
QFT. Last beta I was invited to I was good for the first few weeks, then ran out of time to keep playing and had other games I paid for that I wanted to play, so the beta stopped getting played.



BTW, you are always going to need some paid testers in an MMO enviroment because even if you don't have them test everything (and they should be testing basic functionality before one freebie tester is even notified) at the very least you need them to test fixes. You also need them to go back and make sure all the things are being tested are real bugs that can be reproduced, to fill in anything the bug reports from the players left out, and to help give the coders an idea of priority and what is wrong. Also you need someone to organize the tests and to make sure all the bugs that are reported get fixed and aren't just lost in the queue. Paid testers also have an idea what should happen when X,Y, and Z occurs that is never given out to the players. If there's something where you can't let the players know the explict details, it needs to be tested too, so you have to test it in house or hire a firm to do it for you.

So that's one loose definition of a professional tester.

MMSDome

MMSDome

Raged Out

Join Date: Sep 2005

MMSDome
Evove
DE
Arkantos
Knoll
Racthoh
Gaile Gray
Lemming
The Haxor
FENIX
ZenRgy


I think that sums it up quite well.

Arkantos

Arkantos

The Greatest

Join Date: Feb 2006

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by MMSDome
MMSDome
Evove
DE
Arkantos
Knoll
Racthoh
Gaile Gray
Lemming
The Haxor
FENIX
ZenRgy


I think that sums it up quite well.
I like your list, because I'm in it. But as DE said,

Ensign
Racthoh
8 fillers

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

I was just thinking, why not clone ensign 9 times and invite all ten of them?

Selket

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Aug 2005

Grand Court of Selket/Sebelkeh

What If You Had An Outpost Named After You [slkt]

W/

They'll probably just re-invite everyone they accepted into for ATS testing.

D:

Age

Age

Hall Hero

Join Date: Jul 2005

California Canada/BC

STG Administrator

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Winterclaw
QFT. Last beta I was invited to I was good for the first few weeks, then ran out of time to keep playing and had other games I paid for that I wanted to play, so the beta stopped getting played.



BTW, you are always going to need some paid testers in an MMO enviroment because even if you don't have them test everything (and they should be testing basic functionality before one freebie tester is even notified) at the very least you need them to test fixes. You also need them to go back and make sure all the things are being tested are real bugs that can be reproduced, to fill in anything the bug reports from the players left out, and to help give the coders an idea of priority and what is wrong. Also you need someone to organize the tests and to make sure all the bugs that are reported get fixed and aren't just lost in the queue. Paid testers also have an idea what should happen when X,Y, and Z occurs that is never given out to the players. If there's something where you can't let the players know the explict details, it needs to be tested too, so you have to test it in house or hire a firm to do it for you.

So that's one loose definition of a professional tester.
Those paid testers are Alpha testers.

Fril Estelin

Fril Estelin

So Serious...

Join Date: Jan 2007

London

Nerfs Are [WHAK]

E/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Roo Ella
Yeah let the true testers of the game have a shot not just sign a NDA
This is not going to happen, not one second. Given the secrecy of this project at Anet, I'm convinced they'll explain very clearly what an NDA is and give example of how people would be sued if they break it. They haven't done all this information control to just let it disappear for the beta-testing.

Quote:
Being in any beta game should be a privilege
Total disagree. It's a RESPONSIBILITY, not a privilege. It shouldn't be a reward for what you've done for GW1 but the logical consequence of your personal character and abilities, as shown through what you've done for GW1 (but not because you did it). Being a GW2 beta-tester would be a huge responsibility IMHO, because you'd have the opportunity to make the game better and could miss these opportunities if you're too "OMG OMG OMG" (to be fair, you have to have people like this because they represent a portion of the community too).

Quote:
and for TESTING bugs and abnormalities
I've seen many people mistakenly thinking that "beta-testing=debugging". It's only the case during LATE betas, while the EARLY ones are the ones where you focus on the game global design, structure, look&feel, NOT debugging the features. The earlier you correct/adapt the structure, the less work you'll have to do afterwards. Of course, the two are inseparable and you'll always have to report bugs, but during early beta I guess you can give your opinion about features and influence the game design (slighly).

Surena

Surena

Krytan Explorer

Join Date: Mar 2007

N/Me

I know a few people that really play good but most people on these lists excel at either whining (GW iz ded but I still play, Anet duz not caer but I iz still here, PvP iz ded but I can't let loose) or favoring repetitiveness/extreme grind (but it's optional!), technological regression.

I can't speak bad of Ensign/Avarre/Ractoh, they really know about game mechanics, but others should be avoided at all cost.

Lonesamurai

Lonesamurai

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Apr 2006

Cheltenham, Glos, UK

Wolf Pack Samurai [WPS]

R/A

Heh, this entire thread made me chuckle

I can think of a few people perfect to do it, but they all already work for NCSoft and ANet, so thats a bust

Div

Div

I like yumy food!

Join Date: Jan 2006

Where I can eat yumy food

Dead Alley [dR]

Mo/R

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black

Ensign

JR
I think Ensign will kill himself having to PvE with JR.

My list would probably be like:
Ensign
Racthoh
Avarre (sarcastic choice here, obviously)
Sab
Malice
2 guys in SMS
2 guys between me and the rawr guys (Torsen+Jaden+?) with God walking amongst mere mortals
Some random

RTSFirebat

RTSFirebat

The Humanoid Typhoon

Join Date: May 2005

UK

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

R/

Aww I've seen my name put forward a few times, massive thanks

But I'd like to think I could be in the first beta, I'd have a guide knocked together in no time flat

As anyone seen Ensign as of late?

There's a lot of interesting lists been put up, with all the names I'd expect.

Nominate RTS for GW2 beta But here's my list:

Ractoe
Faer
Avarre
Ensign
RTSFirebat
tmak
Makkert
Guru bug testers

Darkobra

Darkobra

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Scotland

Type like an idiot, I'll treat you like an idiot

E/Me

Balan Makki, so he can see how much like WoW it is and have a heart attack.
Zinger, so the two can fight constantly.
Pablo for the bug testing.

MirkoTeran

MirkoTeran

Forge Runner

Join Date: Sep 2005

Slovenia

Scars Meadows [SMS]

Mo/

Quote:
Originally Posted by fgarvin
Ubermancer
Racktoe
Sab
RTS Firebat
Good choices. I would probably add a few to the list like Ensign, holymasamune and Avarre (some more possibly).

OT, is Uber/RT playing again? I've seen him on a few days ago.

Quru

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2007

Acolytes of Death

N/

Fuzzy Taco and Witte Was. Happy farming-nerfs for devteam

Dr Evove

Ascalonian Squire

Join Date: Mar 2008

Atlanta GA

Tears Of The Ascended [ToA]

Mo/

Beta testing has never really sounded like fun to me, I /wrists when someone doesnt skip a cut scene. I cant imagine dealing with all the bugs that must come with developing a game. Count me out, Ill wait for a Semi-Bug free copy to hit the shelves.

Lord Sojar

Lord Sojar

The Fallen One

Join Date: Dec 2005

Oblivion

Irrelevant

Mo/Me

Pardon my input, but quite honestly, there are a lot of people deserving of invites to the beta. Many won't get one.

This thread is full of lolz. Guru MODs no more deserve an invite to the beta (if that is the structure that this beta will incur) than say... a well liked giving community member or a passionate Guild Wars artist. Taking a few of the casual players would be a great idea, getting their perspective.

The layout for beta invites should be as follows:

25% Experienced Veteran Players in the PvP area of the game.
25% Experienced Veteran Players that are greatly involved in community.
25% Casual Players who log on for 1-2 hours every other day.
15% Completely new players who never tried GW1.
10% Official Wiki Mods/Admins who are very involved.

Personally, I would love an invite to the beta, but I may or may not get one. I personally believe that my community service and expertise at the game would be beneficial, but at the end of the day, ANET decides this, not us.

I created these:
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Ascal...asquerade_Ball
http://wiki.guildwars.com/wiki/Oktoberfest

Albeit, I ended up resigning my position from Oktoberfest, I did create the event. The Ball was truly a sight to see, and I think many old Guru posters will remember it.

I also created some epic threads here on Guru. Most notable are:
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10144641
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10252917
http://www.guildwarsguru.com/forum/s...php?t=10204029


Do I get a beta code? Maybe, maybe not. I would love to, but if I don't I will still purchase GW2 and most likely enjoy it as much if not more then I have enjoyed my GW1 experience.

Discussing e-Peen is so childish... Honestly, who cares? If you're a nice person, you're a nice person. People shouldn't have events with the notion they will get something in return. The Ball cost me over 1000 ectos. I am now a very average GW citizen, with little more then 200k to my name (and I have been farming a lot lately). I never expected anything in return for my community work here on Guru and the random acts of kindness I do ingame. I always expected respect, but nothing material. Beta access is something that you are gifted, you can't "Earn" it.

That is my 2 cents. I am sticking with it.

Best wishes,
Connor

Nevin

Nevin

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Jul 2005

I don't think they'd ever limit it like that, a vote would never really be possible- because technically to be democratic about it, the whole community's opinions would need to be represented. Unless the poll was in the start up screen of GW1 or something... but even then, if some of the people on these forums barely recognize elite members or mods to begin with, I doubt many would even bat an eyelash at it in game. Plus I don't believe it should be restricted like that either, elite members and mods don't exactly represent the interests of the masses, rather just the hardcore/elite pvp or pve.

MagmaRed

MagmaRed

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Mar 2007

Our Crabs Know True [LOVE]

R/

I'd vote for the 10 people who don't care about their epeen. So that excludes the majority of those who posted here.

Winterclaw

Winterclaw

Wark!!!

Join Date: May 2005

Florida

W/

Quote:
Originally Posted by Age
Those paid testers are Alpha testers.
As long as they keep working through release...

lakatz

lakatz

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Jun 2006

Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkofStorms
I disagree with point one.

Your ability to communicate is an important part of game testing. I would never nominate...., ummm certain people who shall remain nameless, who can not write a competient sentance and follow a logical arguement.
Quote:
Originally Posted by HawkofStorms
I disagree with point one.

Your ability to communicate is an important part of game testing. I would never nominate... ummm certain people who shall remain nameless, who cannot write a comprehensible sentence and follow a logical argument.

Note 1: If you're using a dot ellipsis, there are only three dots and no commas.

Note 2: Competent (the correct spelling) isn't really the best adjective for a sentence. It would be better used to describe the writer of a comprehensible/articulate/adequate sentence.
Here... I fixed it for you. (Sorry... I just couldn't resist even though that's a hackneyed phrase here any more.)

Seriously though... was that an attempt at irony? Or not?

That said, I nominate everyone who has posted on this forum viable builds and strategies and other insights into the game. Y'all rock!

Res Ipsi

Res Ipsi

Lion's Arch Merchant

Join Date: May 2006

Canada

Angel Sharks [As]

Me/

Quote:
Originally Posted by MagmaRed
I'd vote for the 10 people who don't care about their epeen. So that excludes the majority of those who posted here.
QFT (gogogo random players from the wider community of players)

Ciric

Academy Page

Join Date: Mar 2008

all 10 members from [RAWR] anet lgives them special treatment all ready.

Racthoh

Racthoh

Did I hear 7 heroes?

Join Date: May 2005

Scars Meadows [SMS], Guild Leader (Not Recruiting)

Ensign
Vanquisher
Kuntz
Tiyuri
Makkert
Epinephrine
Gus
Fillers

lyra_song

lyra_song

Hell's Protector

Join Date: Oct 2005

R/Mo

I wont name names, instead ill name different things people need to be able to do to do an Beta, imo:

1) GOOD COMMUNICATION SKILLS. Articulate players who can tell the devs whats going on. What works for them, what doesn't work. What were you doing exactly when the game crashed, etc.
2) Honesty, Respect, Tactfulness, Patience
3) Player skill is really not relevant. In fact you want MANY player types in a Beta. Good players and bad players. this way you can see how the game feels to many player types, since the live version will have to cater to both. If something is confusing to bad players, then what's going on there exactly?
4) Variety in system specs. I wanna see people with different computers testing Guild Wars, that way we know if it will work with various video cards, cpus, drivers, etc.
5) Varied player types, PvErs, PvPers, OCD item collectors, Lore fans (these guys find your typos and point out your story loopholes), etc.

Accursed

Accursed

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Sep 2007

I'd say that Anet would probably choose the oldest accounts in the game (mine just turned 36 months today).

-or-

1. Racthoh
2. Sab
3. Trub (cuz she is teh cool)
4. Malice
5. Inde
6. Arky
7. Avarre
8. Shan
9. Xander
10. Kai

Yichi

Yichi

Furnace Stoker

Join Date: Sep 2005

Guild Hall, Vent, Guesting, PvE, or the occasional HA match...

Dark Alley [dR]

We need Yahtzee to beta GW2

http://www.escapistmagazine.com/arti...eropunctuation

Malice Black

Site Legend

Join Date: Oct 2005

LOL!

First time I've seen a Yahtzee review. He'd do.

Chthon

Grotto Attendant

Join Date: Apr 2007

Quote:
Originally Posted by Fril Estelin
've seen many people mistakenly thinking that "beta-testing=debugging". It's only the case during LATE betas, while the EARLY ones are the ones where you focus on the game global design, structure, look&feel, NOT debugging the features. The earlier you correct/adapt the structure, the less work you'll have to do afterwards. Of course, the two are inseparable and you'll always have to report bugs, but during early beta I guess you can give your opinion about features and influence the game design (slighly).

...

you'd have the opportunity to make the game better and could miss these opportunities if you're too "OMG OMG OMG"
Yes. And I think that's a significant aspect that's getting mostly overlooked in this thread. The most important trait in a tester is the willingness to tell the devs that something totally sucks balls. When you (the dev) surround yourself with fanboys for testers (and we're all fanboys here on the forums, just some more than others), you're going to end up with a worthless echo chamber that approves of good stuff that you were already going to do anyway without their approval and totally fails to help you see when you've buggered something up. Try to imagine, if you can, how Factions might have turned out if a-net had had testers who told them, for instance, how much fed-ex quests suck, or how lame (and eventually population-killing) restricted access to elite missions was, or how obnoxious the KC explorable maps are, etc. Although Zengeri was suggested as a joke, the idea of picking testers who have a history of frankly criticizing a-net's mistakes should be taken seriously.

Boogey Mancer

Frost Gate Guardian

Join Date: Feb 2008

Raven Alliance

N/

when i it comes time to pick beta tester if
they do full closed beta run i think they have to look
at not only the people with the oldest accounts

but also the beta testing exp of the people that apply
so asking people in a forum who should or shouldnt get in
really might not be the best idea

Darkobra

Darkobra

Forge Runner

Join Date: Aug 2006

Scotland

Type like an idiot, I'll treat you like an idiot

E/Me

Quote:
Originally Posted by Malice Black
LOL!

First time I've seen a Yahtzee review. He'd do.
Really? He's brilliant.

Morgoth the dark

Wilds Pathfinder

Join Date: Feb 2006

[CDEX]

R/

Well you are missing the point about beta testing, that is discovering bugs and it's not like "wow we can play gw2 before everyone else, haha screw you i'm important" behaviour. It's not fun to play a game which chrashes like 10 times in 1 hour or bugging / lagging as hell, but you have to provide devs with usefull information about them.
So my vote here goes for Pablo. and noone else, he did discovered couple of nasty bugs on is own, that kind of people we need for beta testers. All the rest can wait until the open beta.

Take care, Morgoth out.

tmakinen

tmakinen

Desert Nomad

Join Date: Nov 2005

www.mybearfriend.net

Servants of Fortuna [SoF]

E/

Um ... it doesn't work the way some people seem to think. Even alpha testers have very little leverage in how things turn out. The devs have some vision that they want to implement, and testers play it out and tell whether it worked as intended or not. Since the game is tested in small pieces (some pieces several times over with completely different setups) and not in a linear order, it is very hard to get an overall view of the entire game.

Besides, I would see the original GW as a huge and long lived beta for GW2. There's less need for look-n-feel testing since most of that has already been done in the original, and the majority of the actual testing that is required is very mundane checking of various mechanics, bugs and potential exploits, best done by the current alpha team.

Snow Bunny

Snow Bunny

Alcoholic From Yale

Join Date: Jul 2007

Strong Foreign Policy [sFp]

Having beta testers be well-known in the community would be fairly essential to maintaining a healthy relationship with your community. I have less conventional choices, I suppose, but whatever...

Tommy
Avarre
Cerb
Racthoh
Mokone
Pablo
Arkantos
Witte Was
Sno
Lulu