About
In most aspects the quality of today’s mods have reached the professional level and you only need to look at the number of downloads to see that the gaming community is eager to play these mods.
Proposal
I propose the creation of a specialist Independent Single Player Beta Testing Team. The objective would be to create a team that mods and mappers can use to ensure that their product is the best it can be.
Why is a team Need?
One area of development that is often neglected is beta testing. Unfortunately most mods think that it is simply a case of getting team members or friends to play the levels a few times. It can be this approach that forces the mods to release patches. Or perhaps more importantly lose potential players.
In the past a mod could be made by one person but things have changed. Now, if a mod is to reach its potential, it requires specialists – level designers, coders, concept artists, modelers etc.
If a mod separates the above mentioned skills why not the beta testing? Perhaps because there are few known specialist beta testers? Another reason could be that everybody thinks they are capable of being a beta. No matter how hard you try to view things from another person’s point of view you can never do it properly.
Being objective about your own or a colleague’s work is difficult. In-house testing is important for early stage development but there comes a time when having a fresh pair of eyes view the work is very useful. Being deeply connected with project or piece of often means we miss certain things that are very obvious to outside people
Why only Single Player Mods
The starting premise here is that a Multiplayer game is almost always in development. Every release, whilst not openly called a beta, is in fact just another test version. Maybe it contains a few new maps or some extra features but if anything is not suitable if can easily be removed from the next version
Single Player mods are very different in this aspect. Beside serious bug fixes most SP mods are released and never updated! Occasionally a single developer may listen to the community and make a version two but that’s quite rare
.
Another point to consider is that Single Player maps and mods normally require more time and effort, especially if they want to stand out from the crowd. This in turn means more testing may be required
Status
The project is in a dormant phase, this means I am too busy with other projects to devote enough time and effort to make it happen. However, if somebody was interested in taking this project on then I am happy to discuss it.
PlanetPhillip (2350)
andyb (1022)
Mel (819)
Goddess Alyria (424)
Stef (404)
Jasper (364)
AI (314)
piledriver (311)
Grey Acumen (298)
Kasperg (283)
21 June 2006 at 6:08 pm
What a truly excellent initiative! I wish I had the time to participate but alas have too many commitments already.
It would be a pity if this did not get off the ground, so I’ll add my two cents (beta testing the beta testing project idea
.
I think this would pick up sooner if initially you set the bar a little lower. While your description of an ideal professional beta testing team is inspiring and well-observed, it makes it somewhat daunting for people to take the plunge and jump in – in short it scares off potential talent.
Ideally, IMHO, you’d start by doing a one off deal with a particular mod and then advertise to get a relatively informal team, with informal procedures together to do the beta testing work. The only place you’d be formal is re. security issues. If all goes well, this team will learn a lot in the process and also enjoy the fun of working as a team. People would also discover the role they best fit, some would even decide to abandon it. Nevertheless, it would give a base for further development, and a piece of portfolio work that could then be used to attract new ‘customers’.
In short, how about a slower, more ‘organic’ approach?
21 June 2006 at 6:13 pm
You could be right about lowering the bar, as long as people know where we are aiming then it could be worth a try, although I don’t think I’ll have much trouble getting the testers.
You also could be right about starting with one mod and I would be happy to try that.
The *real* stumbling block will be finding a leader with the drive and motivation.
21 June 2006 at 7:27 pm
“The *real* stumbling block will be finding a leader with the drive and motivation.”
Perhaps you should look to the grey gamers? Us young’uns have got schools to go to, jobs to do, or (as in my case) businesses to run.
Perhaps GG think they may lack the l33t street-cred for such a job – but think of the strengths of age: gravitas, patience and eye for detail…
(feel free to also post under the GG post…)
Afterthought: Have you tried contacting some of folks hanging the old Hangar 16 site on this one?
22 June 2006 at 3:17 am
Beta testing is hard work, i have done it for my own mods and mutiplayer maps and my friends, constantly playing something and tweaking the levels takes ages and is rather Yawneriffic!
People think oh! playing games for a living would be great but you would be playing the same bits over and over again.
Then when your day is done you would not want to play games anymore.
08 October 2006 at 11:53 am
I would be grateful to Beta test..I have no coding experience what so ever but Gameplay yes!
Ive always been a single player orientated player..never much for multiplayer but slowly getting there
By all means forward an email And i would be happy to help if needed
02 December 2006 at 3:58 pm
Likewise, I’d be very interested in helping out with this role. I’m personally trying to get a job as a beta tester, so any experience is a HUGE bonus to me. As a result, I’m very dedicated to the task.
I would even volunteer to lead the project but I don’t have a huge amount of beta testing experience at the moment (besides my own projects) but I’m more than willing to be an extra pair of hands so to speak.
If this goes anywhere, please let me know.
02 December 2006 at 8:25 pm
If I get time next year I may put a small team together and try and pitch for some work.
02 December 2006 at 9:25 pm
Count me in!
06 December 2006 at 6:47 pm
I’d be interested too.
Won’t bother making a long post saying why I could be suitable just yet thoguh seeing as you have no immediate plans for it, but thought i’d make my interest known.
21 September 2007 at 1:04 am
I’m volunteering
21 September 2007 at 9:58 am
Don’t hold your breath! Maybe some time in the future, but who knows.
23 May 2008 at 6:47 pm
Okay, this idea has finally fruished (Yes, I know that word doesn’t exist but my best friend used it recently and I want to support his attempt at creating a new word!)
The total and complete failure of The Turbine Collective to gain ANY community exposure was the straw that broke the camel’s back. I hereby announce that I will NEVER start another community project. From now on I do it all myself or not at all!
Anyway, it’s not as grand as I had hoped but it’s a start: Beta Testing