Cupcake: I think GemGemxxxxx means next time a test is on. But yeah, when the game goes into beta and then public public, we'll start from scratch as we did last test.
@Rachel I think the best answer anyone can give to the queation is,
Beta going to start when?........ sometime this year!
Oh,and how many more sessions of Alpha do you suppose we will have?....a good few yet!
There was talk about going beta by Spring. Well that is.... wow tomorrow!!!. We seem a little way off that yet. :)
What? No!!!!!!!! Where, what, how did you get to that conclusion? :S
We are currently in *alpha* testing - the first form of private testing where we -the tech savvy testers who *should* be used to testing alpha products/services- look for bugs in the game as the devs continue to develop it further. The long downtimes are due to the devs creating more features, designs and overall improvements to the game's structure and stuff.
Beta - the second phase of testing, letting more people in - is when the game is more developed and performance issues/most of the bugs have been squished, but we're still testing and searching for them. Beta is scheduled for Spring 2011, but I'd say we are still a few months off. The beginning of beta will be hugely announced and signaled by a reset (not the one we just had - that was simply a normal, 'start from scratch so testers can find more bugs in the earlier levels' reset).
Then, and only then, many more months away, will the game be released to everyone.
I can't see us not getting reset before beta. That would be very unfair to any new player.
I also, do not think at all that you "should" be usto alpha testing.. I do believe the dev's need tec savy tester of course. But also think they need "normal" everyday game players too. Other wise they would only get a one sided view on testing. If I can repost a bug then any one can. We are ALL as important as each other in our own way :)
I'm not sure I understand the "beta" concept. Usually, when I see "beta", I understand "mostly finished, but you may find a few bugs, that you need to report". But beta versions are usually available to anyone and as good as public.
A lot of people will join during the beta phase, not as dedicated as alpha testers. I'm not sure they'd take a reset as well as we do in alpha phase.
I would have thought the last and finale reset would be just before beta, not after.
But maybe I don't have the right idea about what is "beta testing".
I don't really care anyway. It's fun to go through the beginning again. We'll have plenty of time to level up when the game is live. ;)
Misha: Woops, I remember adding to the post after the tech savvy bit: "(up to a point and having fun in the process of course!)", but I must have got rid of it when editing. Sorry Misha, didn't mean to sound as harsh as that!
@hburger that's ok. :).. I like to feel I am helping too, even if it is in a small way. It's funny how you don't have to be here long to feel that "you" are helping to make a difference. I'm just sorry I did't get here sooner :)
Moumou, beta in MMOs and beta in other types of games are usually different. It also differs game to game. The biggest beta in the last year or so has likely been for Starcraft 2, and their system was to let people play for a couple months, take the game down for a week, then send everyone new codes and repeat.