Test Server vs. Wiki rewards: Question for PSU Community

GeoGnome · 2013-06-04, 12:02 PM

So, you know those times when you aren't quite sure how to react to something? I'm having one of those now, so I thought I'd bring it to the PS:U crew before starting a fire on the PS2 forums about it.

Here is the back story of the situation: Currently the test server does absolutely nothing. Higby said in the MLG report, that the test server has been good for bug testing, but they don't have enough people available thereon, to test balance of items... which I see as kind of a big deal. One of the most polarizing issues in PS2 has been balancing of weapons and whatnot, and while the test is kind of only one server, and people play differently everywhere, to the point each server practically represents a whole different game... you could still get a general notion of how the weapon would behave in the real game if there were enough people on test to check things out.

So, the big thing with the test server is that no one seems to want to play there. The devs update it every week, but you rarely see more than a handful of people playing, and tbh while I kept a journal of bugs and such On the test server near the beginning, if there are only 4 people on the entire test, I have little reason to try and look through things.

So one thing that was always suggested, was that the devs could put some kind of rewards on the test to allow people to contribute to their main character on the test server. Maybe items or SC or titles... something that would show that they were members of the test server, they contributed to the game in that way, and rewarded them for their help. In the beginning I dismissed this as people being selfish. Also there wasn't much of a precedent for it, and most of the people who were proposing it, are people that I didn't see sticking with PS2, or were just active trolls. Thing is, as time went on and the test became neglected, it became kind of hard to argue that no one was needed on the test server.

And then the other day I saw this: Link

So what I am taking from this, is that contributors to the Wiki, will get rewards for their participation in wiki.

Even going as far to offer IG ITEMS, for people who contributed to the wiki.

And now I'm kind of at the point of getting annoyed, because why in the world would you offer that kind of incentive to the Wiki of all things, but ignore the test?

Honestly looking for an opinion from the PSU community here as to what you think, and as to if this changes matters, if this is something worth getting angry about... etc.

TL

R: The Wiki is looking like they will receive rewards for contributing to the wiki, while the test server has next to no people and have been requesting similar rewards for months. Is it worth getting angry over this and requesting rewards for the test, based on the precedent set by the wiki contributors

Shogun · 2013-06-04, 12:19 PM

i wouldn´t become angry over it, but you are making a point here!

the devs really should consider giving rewards for donating time on the testserver!

there are a lot of possible ways to reward people:

excessive cert rewards for anything on the testserver, to be able to try out stuff you have no access to on live

certs, sc, exclusive weaponskins or camos, decals, titles for the liveserver chars

most people only have limited time to play, and they consider using that time on testserver as wasted. give them something that helps their mainchar would cut on those feelings.

Bocheezu · 2013-06-04, 12:31 PM

It is pretty surprising to me how low the turnout is on Test. When they first introduced lattice on Indar, my outfit was going to have ops on Test the whole week and ahead of time I wondered if we were going to have trouble getting the entire outfit on the server. As it turned out, we had to split the outfit into NC and TR platoons because the two platoons we brought were about 65% of the total population across all factions. This was for the absolute, #1 most anticipated change to the game. We only played for a couple hours because it really felt stupid fighting ourselves, and I don't think we've been back for more than 30 mins since. Seriously one of the most disappointing moments in PS2 for me, personally. So many people clamored for a test server, "oh god we need a test server," "if only we had a test server!" and on and on, and when they finally put together a test server, no one gives a shit.

I honestly don't understand it myself. I guess there needs to be some sort of additional incentive to go there, because new content on its own is not enough. Not certs, obviously, but maybe some special camo/decals/titles.

Shogun · 2013-06-04, 12:37 PM

and other mmos do the same thing.
startrek online is a good example here. every major patch, called season there, has a weekend where everybody who plays on testserver for a preset amount of time gets a little reward for the mainserver chars. nothing big, but it´s worth the hassle and this testserver is full on those weekends.

GeoGnome · 2013-06-04, 12:40 PM

Originally Posted by Bocheezu

It is pretty surprising to me how low the turnout is on Test. When they first introduced lattice on Indar, my outfit was going to have ops on Test the whole week and ahead of time I wondered if we were going to have trouble getting the entire outfit on the server. As it turned out, we had to split the outfit into NC and TR platoons because the two platoons we brought were about 65% of the total population across all factions. This was for the absolute, #1 most anticipated change to the game. We only played for a couple hours because it really felt stupid fighting ourselves, and I don't think we've been back for more than 30 mins since. Seriously one of the most disappointing moments in PS2 for me, personally. So many people clamored for a test server, "oh god we need a test server," "if only we had a test server!" and on and on, and when they finally put together a test server, no one gives a shit.

I honestly don't understand it myself. I guess there needs to be some sort of additional incentive to go there, because new content on its own is not enough. Not certs, obviously, but maybe some special camo/decals/titles.

I bugged Higby on Twitter for like 2 solid weeks, trying to get some word on the test server at one point prior to it's release. And then it's released and it's much like you said there.

And again, I hated the idea of providing incentive, but there just aren't enough people who want to try and test on the test server without it.

ChipMHazard · 2013-06-04, 12:43 PM

I agree about adding an incentive for testing. As Shogun pointed out you're not going to get people away from the live servers, where they can actually gain something by playing, without giving them something in return.
Certainly sad that so few people ever bothered going to the test server, since it was something that the community really, really wanted. I can't help but think that the devs went "You ungrateful bastards!" when they saw how few actually used it.

Rahabib · 2013-06-04, 12:45 PM

I think that 100SC per hour of use would be a good reward. Yes that's a $1/hr, but after just 2-3 nights on the test server that unlocks a new weapon, and since its SC you can use it on any character. Its enough that I would do so when new weapons are coming out, but not enough I would make it my primary play area (as many are afraid of over incentive-ising). In essence you are getting paid to QA and balance - seems fair.

In fact they could do double SC testing on select days when they need the most input. Or if they dont care about people testing "off peak" they could just specify the times that are available for SC, although that would be a bit unfair.

Just a thought.

ChipMHazard · 2013-06-04, 12:48 PM

They would obviously have to have the reward be something that you can't get unless you partake in the test, as opposed to just standing around.

Shogun · 2013-06-04, 12:48 PM

you only need a small incentive that matters.
it will draw some people from every server to the testserver.

don´t know if it´s necessary to always give incentive, or just for sheduled tests or testweekends?

Rahabib · 2013-06-04, 12:49 PM

Originally Posted by ChipMHazard

They would obviously have to have the reward be something that you can't get unless you partake in the test, as opposed to just standing around.

well they could just monitor movement and kick AFK/squatters. Just tighten it up on the test server so that its very rigid and also have a max - 3 hours a night.

ChipMHazard · 2013-06-04, 01:08 PM

Originally Posted by Shogun

don´t know if it´s necessary to always give incentive, or just for sheduled tests or testweekends?

Aye, could just do that. That would also guarantee the largest amount of participants, being scheduled and all.

GeoGnome · 2013-06-04, 01:26 PM

Instead of a constant reward for time on (Which can be easily exploited and requires moderation) What about simply a reward for bugs found?

Simply put, if you report a bug, and it is confirmed, then you get X number of whatever.

Another thing that could be done, could be to offer something for a Lot of hours online. So like, if you spend 24 hours on the test server, you get a decal or a gold weapon, or a beam sword or something. Instead of rewarding every minute of play, reward a lot of play ... something that people can't exactly fake, because it takes so much time out of what they are doing.

Sunrock · 2013-06-04, 01:32 PM

You need to reward players for time spent on the test server. Nothing else would work. Also those rewards most be applied to the main live server you play on. Because the main reason way players don't play on the test server is because they rather level there real character then wait time on a test server.

So you need to give test server players certs for there main char. Say 1 hour of test play rewards 20 certs for your main char.

Rahabib · 2013-06-04, 01:35 PM

Originally Posted by GeoGnome

Instead of a constant reward for time on (Which can be easily exploited and requires moderation) What about simply a reward for bugs found?

Simply put, if you report a bug, and it is confirmed, then you get X number of whatever.

Another thing that could be done, could be to offer something for a Lot of hours online. So like, if you spend 24 hours on the test server, you get a decal or a gold weapon, or a beam sword or something. Instead of rewarding every minute of play, reward a lot of play ... something that people can't exactly fake, because it takes so much time out of what they are doing.

thats assuming people find a bug even after hours of play, and the fact that if someone already submitted the bug you may not get anything. If they do allow multiple people to submit bugs, you will find friends "sharing" bugs.

Moderation, for time based rewards, especially if its a set testing time, wouldn't be terrible. If someone hasn't moved for more than 2-4 minutes they can be kicked by a script. If people are moving via "artificial" means during a testing period, you would assume there would be some moderation - and its not 24/7 surveillance. Also, sticking a max time would make it so that the pay off isn't worth the hassle and there can be rotation among players for more data.

Its not perfect, but by most metrics, its the most fair - so far.

raumfahrer · 2013-06-04, 01:37 PM

People wanted the PTS because every, and I mean every when I say every, every fucking patch was bugged as fucking hell.

For an incentive: You could buy SC-items for certs at one point on the PTS. Bring this back but only with the certs you gained on the PTS, not the 10k starting certs. Or make this a third currency. Bring back Auraxium. This can only be gained on PTS when there are events or with a daily cap on other days.

Something like this:

Inf. camo costs 500SC, on the PTS it'll be 500Aux. You can gain a max. of 50Aux per day (for doing stuff like killing, capping bases, where you'd get certs otherwise) or 200Aux on an event day. Stuff you buy for Aux is account wide. Numbers are subject to balance.

Though special PTS only items would be cool as well (the mentioned PTS camo, decal, whatever).