Beta-testers not testing?

Dqua · 2003-03-18, 04:38 PM

From the new beta report on SoE's page they said 150 eager players showed up to do battle, or something like that. This sort of befuddles(sp?) me as a dev has said recently they have over 500 people currently in beta. I wouldn't expect all to show up, considering the tests are only done at specific times, but shouldn't they maybe reconsider the amount they currently have in. They sure aren't gonna have a continent with 500 or 1000 people on it at one time, or what ever the number was.

Camping Carl · 2003-03-18, 04:55 PM

They closely control which players test when. I'm sure they only let 150 players in.

Euroclydon · 2003-03-18, 05:57 PM

There's 720 people accepted, but that doesn't mean they all have their cds, games installed, internet working, and a free schedule opening to play.

My guess is most of them aren't set up yet.

Squeeky · 2003-03-18, 06:02 PM

Originally posted by Camping Carl
They closely control which players test when. I'm sure they only let 150 players in.

false

Warborn · 2003-03-18, 06:09 PM

I don't see why this is any surprise. Not everyone is going to turn off real life for a night and help test the game. We'd all like to, but it's impossible. Having 150 people out of 500 or whatever show up is actually a very good showing.

Destroyeron · 2003-03-18, 06:24 PM

Originally posted by Warborn
I don't see why this is any surprise. Not everyone is going to turn off real life for a night and help test the game. We'd all like to, but it's impossible. Having 150 people out of 500 or whatever show up is actually a very good showing.

bullshit, I'd turn off a full day If I was a beta tester

Arshune · 2003-03-18, 06:25 PM

Do you even have a full-time job? If not, then you don't have much of a day to shut off.

Edit: Not to mention timezones, I'm sure those tests are at like 4 in the morning for some of the testers.

Warborn · 2003-03-18, 06:26 PM

Originally posted by Destroyeron
bullshit, I'd turn off a full day If I was a beta tester

I wasn't talking about a not going out to a bar, I meant if you had an important social function or something work-related. And yes, you'll probably say you would not go to either of those things either, but that's just because you're not in the Beta. If you were in, your irresponsible dedication to the game would be dampened considerably.

XeeN · 2003-03-18, 06:27 PM

Gents, think of it in the bigger picture:

150/500 right now? Not bad. Actually, maybe just about right.

1500/5000 once the game is released? Pretty good, imo. =)

Same ratio.

Warborn · 2003-03-18, 06:29 PM

MMOGs generally have 10% of the total member base on during peak hours. So I think a 30% showing qualifies as a really good turnout.

Dqua · 2003-03-18, 06:39 PM

My point is this is still closed beta and is exclusive. And if people are being selected from europe or asia where their play times would put them at 4am during a test, why were they selected?

I'm eager as the next guy for this to get out the door, but when they have 700 being accepted in beta, assuming most have their cd's, why isn't there at least half the amount at a very select time test?

TheAvantGawk · 2003-03-18, 06:47 PM

It's not like anyone signing up for beta actually knew the schedule for testing. There are probably people who got accepted, found out the times, and wept quietly knowing that there was no way they could be on then. The numbers they're getting sound pretty reasonable.

XeeN · 2003-03-18, 06:54 PM

Well everyone here knows that they should have just taken all of us posters here from these forums and made us beta testers, because they would have had a 100% turnout. =P

Moleculor · 2003-03-18, 07:16 PM

Oh come on n00bs. This is how it works in EVERY beta test. There are quite often many beta testers who never actually test! I can't believe that all of you don't know this about betas.

TheLostOne · 2003-03-18, 08:20 PM

Spork already cleared this up in the official forums.
http://boards.station.sony.com/ubb/p...ML/000052.html

We have 750 people accepted to the beta. On Saturday, the server showed 150 online. The Producer's letter describes the future of the tests. The journal describes tests that have already happened. Most of the new testers had not downloaded the client by Saturday morning's test, as they had only just been notified. We should see a lot more of them this coming week. With that many people, the battle should be enormous.
Victor Wachter
Community Relations Representative