We've had a couple of testers for a while, but it's back to the point where we need a few new testers. We need both general testing and a number of specific tests we need run. So, what would it take to be a beta tester for us?
First, you'd need some time on your hands. Not loads of it, but that doesn't hurt either, but enough to get a good dose of testing done every couple of days maybe.
New players to RTW need not put themselves up to this, and new players to EB probably shouldn't either, as we need people who have a basic understanding of the mod at least. Seeing lots of problems where there really aren't problems is a hassle for us to explain after all.
Another thing that we would prefer is if we sort of know you already, at least a little bit from being around the fora. Our first beta test experience famously failed as one of the testers leaked the build directly to other mods, and we definitely want control over who the testers are and we'd feel better about it if we knew you a little, or you've had a track record posting here or at TWC. There are a lot of new things that are added in the new build, and we need people who are going to keep their mouths shut about the new features for sure. So for us to understand the chances for this, be ready to tell us a little bit about yourself also (not in the first post really, unless you think it helps you a lot given things like a college major in one of these areas the mod deals with or other skills in modding and such, but we'll ask you in follow up PM's if we are interested).
Finally, being really really interested in the mod certainly helps. The beta testers have also been a big source of new EB members over the last couple of years, but that is not to be expected for sure. In each of our groups a couple of testers were so good at solving problems and finding bugs that we brought them onto the team just for that purpose - and most have since contributed in other areas too
We aren't sure how many folks we need, but I know there is a need right now. Who thinks they have what it takes?
09-03-2007, 19:23
Ice
Re: Request for beta testers
Yeah sure, I'd like to help you guys test. I can usually spare a couple of hours every couple days or so.
Just give me a PM if you need any more information or would like to use me.
09-03-2007, 19:24
Karo
Re: Request for beta testers
Man I would love to help played the mod for more than a year now. If you guys need my help, I'll make more time free during the week.
edit I've beta testyed for chivalry total war and sicilian vespers mod for MTWII so I've got some experince
09-03-2007, 19:29
KuKulzA
Re: Request for beta testers
I think I do. Let me know if you guys wouldn't mind me being one of the beta testers.
of course I'll have to set my Sauromatae AAR aside for a bit, but I have 18 chapters I haven't typed up so I should probably stop laying and do some of the AAR before continuing anyhow... it's just been a great campaign with the goods, bads, and uglies - times when I wanna give up and times when I am happy... (thanks EB team for such a great mod so far)
so yeah, I'm free to beta test :yes:
09-03-2007, 19:32
Bootsiuv
Re: Request for beta testers
I could beta-test, now that the busy season is over, I work when I want to. :)
09-03-2007, 19:34
Warmaster Horus
Re: Request for beta testers
I'm free too. I'm starting school again tomorrow but I should be able to put in an hour every day, 3-4 on the week-end.
As for the rest, I've played RTW for a couple of years, all the major mods, but especially EB. I'm active enough here, and I definitely wouldn't leak EB.
There was a thread about this a few months back, and here's what I wrote then. It's much more in-depth.
Spoiler Alert, click show to read:
I'm willing to beta test the next version of EB.
I haven't done any real beta-testing before (I was supposed to be on the 77BC beta-test team, but I couldn't because of time-managing difficulties then), but I'm ready to do my best, and to play turn after turn of a Romani campaign to find every possible difficulty.
I can get an hour done each day, generally, two or three on wednesday and friday afternoons, and a day (at least) on the week-end, so time isn't necesarily an issue. I'd post if I wasn't able to report for a couple of days (or more).
I've been playing Rome for about a year and a half, and more seriously EB since Christmas. I play campaigns on VH/M, if that has any influence. If I found a problem, something I believed to be a bug of somekind, first I would check it hadn't been showed before. Of course, specific year CTDs would be examined before and I'd send a savegame to the man in charge of beta-testing.
I know I'd keep the secret of the new features, because I wouldn't want to be hated by the whole EB team (which I believe is already considerable) and be generally seen as a guy who can't be trusted in.
If you need anything more, just ask. I'm still a student, and am very interested in the period covered by EB. Also, I believe EB is close to perfection, so I'd do my best to help.
09-03-2007, 20:05
Horst Nordfink
Re: Request for beta testers
I work 12 hour shifts, I've got hours and hours of time were I literally sit doing nothing. I could help!
PM me if you need any info.
09-03-2007, 20:10
mcantu
Re: Request for beta testers
I'd like to help. EB has been my obsession for the past 6 months and i'm pretty good with poking around the EDU. I also have BA in History and a pretty good amount of free time...
09-03-2007, 20:13
Intrepid Adventurer
Re: Request for beta testers
I study (history), so I can plan my time as I see fit. I'd love to help out! Been playing EB for some time, figure I can be of use.
And I can keep my mouth shut. (:
Edit: I should probably add that I have experience! I was a beta-tester for Lord of the Rings Online. Open beta, but still beta. Including reporting and discussing bugs.
09-03-2007, 20:15
Thaatu
Re: Request for beta testers
Me! Me! Me!
Edit: I hope my thoroughly planned speech convinced you.
09-03-2007, 20:18
Spoofa
Re: Request for beta testers
I'll test if you need me. I meet all the criteria in the post, besides knowing me, since that is totally up to you to say if you know me or not. :laugh4:
09-03-2007, 22:26
Kepper
Re: Request for beta testers
I am ready
09-03-2007, 22:32
Hooahguy
Re: Request for beta testers
does this mean the next version is coming soon???!!!!!! :grin: :grin: :grin: :beam: :beam: :beam: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
give me an "E!" "E!" give me a "B" "B!" what does that spell???!!! next version of EB!!!!!!!!! (may need to redoe that one....) anyhow, YAY EB!!!!! :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader: :cheerleader:
09-03-2007, 22:44
Tellos Athenaios
Re: Request for beta testers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Thaatu
Me! Me! Me!
Edit: I hope my thoroughly planned speech convinced you.
Well, you do have quite a record... :laugh4:
Anyhow: your limitted-time-issue is a thing of the past, now?
09-03-2007, 22:51
Tellos Athenaios
Re: Request for beta testers
Quote:
Originally Posted by hooahguy14
does this mean the next version is coming soon???!!!!!! :grin: :grin: :grin: :beam: :beam: :beam: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :wideeyed: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup: :2thumbsup:
Two things:
1) We only know it when the beta-results are in. And real bugs are squashed. :smash:
2) We need beta testers. Bad. (Usually some Team Members (Me! Me! Me!) join the beta testers time permitting...)
09-03-2007, 22:57
Sassem
Re: Request for beta testers
I want to help I have never done this before but I'm eager to learn about it and want to help you guys if it's to difficult for me I will say it but you have my word that I will shut up even when I drop out
I'm not a historian but I'm a big FAN of EB and understand a little bit of the scripts
Just ask your questions in a PM
Good Luck
ps I'm single so that says a little bit about the time a have for this :laugh4:
09-03-2007, 23:32
Teleklos Archelaou
Re: Request for beta testers
I would suggest not being bashful about your abilities if you really want to do it also. Have you got other skills that might help us? Mention them. A lot of experience doing X, Y, or Z (that relates to the period/coding/history/languages/etc.) really does help us make decisions if it's between a few people we don't know much about. On the other hand, a really cocky braggart probably won't do himself any good by going on and on either. :laugh4:
09-03-2007, 23:35
Megas Pyrrhos
Re: Request for beta testers
I've been playing EB since .72-ish, and have a boatload of time on the weekends. I also have some experience with the EDU and a bit less with the EDB. I've never beta-tested before, but I'll help in any way that I can. Also, keeping a secret shouldn't be too hard; in fact, I still have a secret kept even back way when during elementary school (im in college now)....oops i just told everyone that there is in fact a secret...hmmm. :laugh4:
Edit: I also play mostly as Makedon, or Baktria, so thrusting me into the seat of a Romani legate would be ill-advised. I'm also fairly good at spotting spelling or grammatical errors.
09-03-2007, 23:54
Bootsiuv
Re: Request for beta testers
I've been playing EB for about two months, but lurking for about six. I've never modded. I like to think that I have a fairly good grasp on history (favorite subject in school, and something of a hobby since graduation). I'm also mature enough to avoid pissing away tons of hard work by leaking anything.
However, I guess I'm relatively new to the forums, so you guys probably don't know me very well. Whatever, it's all good. :)
09-04-2007, 00:53
Elminster12
Re: Request for beta testers
I'll volunteer myself My schedule is structured so that I can stay up well into the AM on some school nights, meaning I have plenty of time. I also love EB and spent some time "proselytizing" on GameFAQs, and work to solve their EB problems. My lips are sealed though....
09-04-2007, 01:46
Horst Nordfink
Re: Request for beta testers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Teleklos Archelaou
I would suggest not being bashful about your abilities if you really want to do it also. Have you got other skills that might help us? Mention them. A lot of experience doing X, Y, or Z (that relates to the period/coding/history/languages/etc.) really does help us make decisions if it's between a few people we don't know much about. On the other hand, a really cocky braggart probably won't do himself any good by going on and on either. :laugh4:
In that case, I'm not going to profess to be a know-all in any of those fields. I do think I have a fair understanding of Roman history, but I bow to most folks knowledge on here. My scripting/coding is nigh on non-existant and the only language that I feel comfortable enough to correct people on is English.
But....... if you want folk who have hours and hours of spare time on their hands and will sit and play your Beta for hours on end, and report back to you, then I am happy to help.
If not, that's fine too. The offer's out there. :beam:
09-04-2007, 08:19
Thaatu
Re: Request for beta testers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tellos Athenaios
Anyhow: your limitted-time-issue is a thing of the past, now?
Aye.
09-04-2007, 09:22
Marku
Re: Request for beta testers
hi EB team, i dont post here often, im mostly on TWC. but im willing to beta test for you, ill be free till october. infact ive been playing EB with Macedonia & Carthaginians ^_^
Is being a Beta tester complicated? I have loads of time but I don't know if I could do it. What does a beta tester do anyway?
09-04-2007, 10:07
MarcusAureliusAntoninus
Re: Request for beta testers
Quote:
Originally Posted by Xehh II
Is being a Beta tester complicated? I have loads of time but I don't know if I could do it. What does a beta tester do anyway?
It is basically playing the game while putting effort into looking for bug/problems. Sometimes playing a certain faction that needs testing. Sometimes trying to make an event (that needs testing) occur. Sometimes just playing for a long time to see how the AI reacts to changes made since the last release.
Mostly, it is just playing as normal and getting as much time in there, so that bugs that crept through will be caught and fixed before the release.
09-04-2007, 10:09
bovi
Re: Request for beta testers
Good question Xehh!
Our beta testers mainly do these things:
Report bugs!
Verify that bugs are fixed!
Start up games with specific factions to test some of the new functionality, such as the new previewed Hayasdan reforms. Do they work if I follow the instructions found in the preview? What happens if I do this instead? Is it possible to get triumphs with the romans now? That sort of thing.
Test game balance, possibly coming up with ideas to improve it.
Identify recruitment holes and oddities. Why are there no units in this region for the Ptolemaioi? Why are these Indian archers recruitable in Iberia?
Regression testing. Does all the old stuff still work as they are supposed or is some of it broken?
Play the game, reporting general bugs encountered such as missing UI cards and descriptions, crashes, spelling mistakes, glitches in unit appearances, inconsistent stats and other stuff that doesn't seem right.
Ooh and aah at the marvellous advances of the internal build :clown:.
09-04-2007, 10:16
Xehh II
Re: Request for beta testers
Hmmm, I could do most of that... but I'm not that good at spotting bugs and I... no I don't think I'm right for the job. I probably have the most time to play it out of all of you but I would be useless.
09-04-2007, 12:54
LusitanianWolf
Re: Request for beta testers
I dont have lots and lots of time, but I think I'll have enought....:yes:
I'm not an historician but I love history since kid and actualy EB is my main history teacher.:egypt:
I love your work and would love to help!!! :2thumbsup:
09-05-2007, 00:22
Hooahguy
Re: Request for beta testers
ready for duty! :charge:
though my time can be somewhat limited- wrestling season in a month!
09-05-2007, 00:33
Gaias
Re: Request for beta testers
Beta testing for modification is great fun. Doing the same task over and over again until you are confident that is gone is rewarding. Suggesting new ideas or innovating ones that are currently in place is joyful. Praising the ingenuity and creativity of the powers that be is helpful.
Would love to test EB, don't have the time due to my testing for another game. Guess you will have to settle for my cold, hard cash that I donated awhile ago.