Is this mysterious patch betaware?

[TechnoMage of Shadows]

No

Quote Originally posted by GilJaysmith:
GameSpy needs to test each game for Arcade and toolkit compatibility, so Activision has been sending GameSpy a copy of each patch build.
My assumption (which may be wrong) is that someone at GameSpy concluded that the final version they got for testing was also for release.
So they put it up on FilePlanet for download - because they own FilePlanet.[/QUOTE]A perfectly rational explanation.

BUT, why not release beta patches to the community?
The community, especially here, always test every new addition, patch and mod to breaking point - and beyond!
Each time a patch has come out the community has, within days, identified all sorts of oddities and bugs.

So to Creative Assembely and Activision,
Why not take advantage of the massive pool of willing and capable beta testers available right here?

Before CA and Activision announce a final version, they could release it as strictly beta to the community,
the feedback may identify unexpected omissions or errors and will also identify just how much detail the final documentation will require.

Quote
Case in Point
The Unusual composition of armies in rebel provinces,
A supposition has been put forward that these weird compositions are not a bug, but a feature.
The argument being perhaps the rebels have access to the pool of mercenary units, just as the factions do.[/QUOTE]
If this is a feature then CA now know they have to include that detail in their documentation!


So why not include the community as a beta test pool?

In such a case everybody would win,
the final patch will be as bug free as humanly possible,
the community will feel they have had an input into the creative process,
and the documentation will be spot on!

Everybody Wins!

[This message has been edited by TechnoMage of Shadows (edited 11-08-2002).]

[zipnar]

one problem would be 15 diffrent versions of the game unable to play each other, and lots of frustrated people getting dropped from games because files don't match.

[barocca]

I think most people here would know the difference between a beta version and a final release.

The new forum should have sticky topics,
announcements of the change over to a new patch would be made on the boards.

and as far as i know you can only see games that match the vesion you are using?
- If not then that could be included in the code, it may take some work, but if that was possible between STW and WE/MI then perhaps it is already possible with Medieval.

====
edit - me and my spelling errors

[This message has been edited by barocca (edited 11-08-2002).]

[Prodigal]

Beta, it's just a word means maybe there's a few bugs, but so what, to cover large corps behinds. Name me anything without bugs in it, (that was rhetorical btw).

As Barocca says "I think most people here would know the difference between a beta version and a final release."

Damn straight. I like the patch, & I like posting everywhere that I do.

[Dionysus9]

With the number of MP players much less than 10%, and most of those being regular visitors to this forum, I don't think we'd have too much trouble beta testing.

Its easy to make the server name "Bachs Beta Test" and also easy to explain to newbs that it is a different version.

I think we are getting to the root of the problem-- 1) Activision doesn't really care about the MP aspects of this game, 2) they aren't interested in beta-testing, 3) they aren't really interested in our input.

The fact that Gil and Steel have to come here to post on their own time[/] and that [i]they are the only emmisaries from Activions/CA illustrates the point that the publisher doesn't give 2 craps about our input. If it wasn't for Gil's personal efforts to talk with us, we wouldn't have any input into the patch.

So, I think those three factors explain why we aren't officially beta testing anything.

I also have a hard time believing that Gamespy/Filplanet would take it upon themselves to decide which one (of a number) of patches is the official release. If they regularly get beta's to test, then why would they "accidentally" throw one up as the official patch? It just doesn't make any sense-- unless of course Gamespy is a bunch of disorganized unsophisticated boobs (which is entirely possible).

And then, of course, why no official explanation of the rogue patch from Activision (or Fileplanet for that matter)? Again, see #3 above. Frankly, I think Activision has made their money and they just don't care what we think anymore.

I hope CA finds a new publisher for the next installment in TW series.

Bacchus

[Pachinko]

Do you remember that Warlord Edition was a beta patch?

P.

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Crush your enemies, see them driven before you on the field of battle, and hear the lamentation of their women.

Dev quote>>Sigh, ye of little faith. Don't assume everything is a bug.

[MagyarKhans Cham]

comon guys there is enuf evidence gathered now at our GWIS office that teh devs and proActivision only care about teh MP guys within some small limitation of time.

we have had teh patch, beta but dont believe the real patch will be much different. mark my words.

what we seek is a more multiplayer friendly game, twm is unique in its discipline of RTS.