Whatever happened to beta testing new game concepts?

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the Fish Apr 10, 2011

I remember there being a vendettas beta out before the actual release of vendettas. Why wasn't this done with Plane tickets? Itd be nice to see how plane tickets would affect gameplay without permanently affecting gameplay
Leprechaun Apr 10, 2011

Good question. It'd definitely would have been nice since for the most part, either side of the fence seems to agree once a week is too often.
Ʈℍㅌ ʘㄕㅌℝ₳₮ミℝ Apr 10, 2011

Arguably this change in one form or another has been discussed since as long as I can remember... It was prob inevitable. But I agree that you would think this might have been tested....
★ʗℝ₳ℤㄚℝㅌⅆℕⅇʗҜ★ Apr 10, 2011

Nick said it's like a mega hop so if you don't know yet how to plant a turf then go back to planting crops on farmville!!
PSALM40 Apr 10, 2011

Diamonddave wrote:
Nick said it's like a mega hop so if you don't know yet how to plant a turf then go back to planting crops on farmville!!

Damn it! 🍉🍓🍅🍆
the Fish Apr 10, 2011

Diamonddave wrote:
Nick said it's like a mega hop so if you don't know yet how to plant a turf then go back to planting crops on farmville!!

I understand the "turf hop" aspect. I was concerned that there will be no idea how a significant change in game dynamics will change gameplay (for better or worse). Once plane tickets are here Pandoras Box will have been opened and there will be no return
\\// (/\dd Vee) Apr 10, 2011

Um duh, Brown Note was beta tester.
the Fish Apr 10, 2011

IndridΞCold wrote:
No need to test. It is pretty simple. This could have remained in beta forever if some people weren't happy with it. This needed to be just like a bandage... "right off". This finally makes the game more interesting. Well done Nick!

Good point, this idea could be "beta'd" for months to work out the kinks. I'm sure Nick has already done some testing. But there's a fine line between opening up game play for the vets (which has been needed for a while) and fostering fair gameplay for the rest. But I see Nicks motivation, "you got to keep the deep pocketed players happy!"
nick Apr 10, 2011

Beta testing game balance is nearly impossible from a practical standpoint. Just like it's completely different to use real money in the stock market vs paper trading, players will behave differently when they know their actions have no long-term consequences. Apple limiting devs to 100 devices doesn't help either.

The Vendettas beta was a bug-fixing beta – that feature made huge changes to the existing combat system that needed to be tested by players before going live.
Katclaws Apr 10, 2011

You know the old saying Nick. Damned if you do,damned if you don't. I think Lincoln said it to you can please some peeps some of the time,some peeps all the time,but you can't please all peeps all the time. I think it is an interesting idea only time will tell how it changes things.
Ʈℍㅌ ʘㄕㅌℝ₳₮ミℝ Apr 10, 2011

Well there you go that explanation is reasonable enough. Makes sense too
Tom Servo Apr 10, 2011

nick wrote:
Beta testing game balance is nearly impossible from a practical standpoint. Just like it's completely different to use real money in the stock market vs paper trading, players will behave differently when they know their actions have no long-term consequences. Apple limiting devs to 100 devices doesn't help either.

The Vendettas beta was a bug-fixing beta – that feature made huge changes to the existing combat system that needed to be tested by players before going live.

Limiting developers to 100 devices I believe apple calls that the psi rule.