Empire: Total War Beta Group

[gollum]

Originally posted by BeenPlayingSinceRTW
I'm just making a valid point, which is that beta testing is supposed to happen before a software product ships. They (CA) should have done this type of thing before ever releasing the product and taking people's money for it.

Unless Pevergreen and TiberiusBeskar are affiliated with CA/Sega, I really don't see why my opinion should be of such great concern to them. The whole purpose of a message board is to see a variety of different points of view, and IMHO it is always suspect when certian individuals seem to want to stifle divergent points of view.

Well they didnt exactly put their hands in peoples pockets to get the money out BeenPlayingSinceRTW. CA had a chronic problem with patches and patching policy that manifested most evidently in M2TW. Steam gives the opportunity to overcome these problems.

If you are asking for a game that has no bugs or has had extensive betatesting before release then TW simply isnt that kind of game anymore, and every one who plays since RTW should know that. If you are looking to put a consumers ethos into a mainstream video game release you are wasting your own time and effort. Better stick with less mainstream games that do provide support closely because their releases are smaller and more manageable and their fanbase smaller and more fragile.

CA/SEGA are doing alright for a mainstream/developer publisher - they have taken their fanbases demands into consideration in this release to the extend their position as a mainstream developer allows.

In short, in principle i agree with you in many points - i just think that they are somewhat misplaced relative to TW games.



EDIT
As for patrons like pevergreen, they act like this because they are pet patrons - they dislike any against the grain infusion of opinion, because they cant see what is legitimate complain and what illegitimate banter - and not because they are CA affiliated. Just let them be.

[Barkhorn1x]

Tell you what I see:
- Evidence points to an unfinished product knowingly pushed out the door too early.
- The STEAM release was a fiasco due to a STEAM Client issue and that reflected poorly on CA
- The hot fix process has been a sad joke – fix one thing and break two more
- And now CA finally invites actual players to help them QA the fixes

Two approaches would have been very helpful up-front:
- Admitting on release day that some functionality was not fully implemented and that patches were in the offing
- Immediately inviting players to test the fixes

Bottom line = ETW I a huge black eye for CA and they really should have done much more to manage expectations.

[Beskar]

As for patrons like pevergreen, they act like this because they are pet patrons - they dislike any against the grain infusion of opinion, because they cant see what is legitimate complain and what illegitimate banter - and not because they are CA affiliated. Just let them be.

Though the user in question doesn't even have the game and makes countless topics and posts insulting it. They can't give a valid critical opinion of the subject since they never actually once played the game and only do so to cause trouble.

Saying there is trouble and what needs fixing is one thing, especially from a customer, but he isn't a customer. He is the person who comments about food at the restaurant saying it is bad, yet, has never tasted it or seen it, or any valid independent assumptions.

[Relic]

-runs off to apply-

I loves the beta testing!

[Tsavong]

Guys I know some of you are having problems with Empire total war and are not happy and I understand your need to voice your opinions about this. But there are plenty of other threads where this has happened.

I started this thread so people at the .org would know about it not to start another rant thread. Could you please not hijack this thread just to say what has already been said else where.

Thanks
Zerg

[Veresov]

Is this a legitimate post or another hoax from a hacker. I did see the same post on Totalwar btw but it seems odd that CA would be using terms like 'betatestor'. That is sure to rile people up who still don't have the game working.

[Kraxis]

I remember being a patch betatester back in the old MTW days... yes the old one.

Was quite nice since we had a specific MP room (using the CA system, not Steam obviously) and we had daily contant with the devs about issues we found. And it included some of the best MPers I have had the pleasure to know.

Ahh the days... of sending one unit to it's death one at a time to test out stuff.

[pevergreen]

As for patrons like pevergreen, they act like this because they are pet patrons - they dislike any against the grain infusion of opinion, because they cant see what is legitimate complain and what illegitimate banter - and not because they are CA affiliated. Just let them be.

Dear Sir,

You offend my honour! I demand satisfaction!

I defend this game because I like the game, and because I personally don't have any of the problems anyone else seems to get. Someone's gotta stick up for CA.

No more personal attacks please.

[Jambo]

I remember being a patch betatester back in the old MTW days... yes the old one.

Was quite nice since we had a specific MP room (using the CA system, not Steam obviously) and we had daily contant with the devs about issues we found. And it included some of the best MPers I have had the pleasure to know.

Ahh the days... of sending one unit to it's death one at a time to test out stuff.

Ah yeah Kraxis, those were the days. I even beta tested Shogun TW patches. :)

No time for beta testing anymore. Plus, I just don't care enough. Time for others to take up the 'often futile' mantle.