A question

**Mr Jones** · 09-24-2005, 01:30

i agree with meatwad. release it with a huge warning: beta sign on it, preferrably several. it should lead to a more polished product sooner. after all, the point of a beta is that it is NOT polished, and needs polishing. so all those people saying wait until it is polished, i am not trying to bash on you or anything and i respect your opinion, but beta's r not sposed to be polished so i say release it if your closed beta failed.

P.S i am not asking for the release just because i want to play it soon. in fact i will probly wait for the actual "release" of the mod because i hate downloading big files and probly won't be able to help much with the open beta testing.

**khelvan** · 09-24-2005, 04:10

Why is soliciting opinions translated as worrying about the mod's reputation? I was curious about what people wanted. None of us can control the reaction to the mod, and no matter what we do, people aren't going to like it. We've tried to set expectations properly, but some people are going to assume different things that we just can't live up to.

These same people are likely those who wouldn't understand or care what a "beta" is, or that we would announce it to be released with bugs so that the public can help us test. They are the ones who will be outspoken and be upset, no matter what we do.

However, the fans who have posted here and waited here for so long have opinions that matter to us, and that is why I asked for these opinions. It doesn't have anything to do with reputation, but with what our fans would like to see. We can't control our reputation, but we can control other things, such as the timing of our release, and the degree to which it is polished.

I can tell you that internally there are rumblings that we shouldn't release until all bugs are squashed, and everything is completely polished. That would mean it isn't an open beta, but a full release.

I promised to you long ago that there would be an Open Beta. This open beta is what you have been waiting for, for so long. You'll either get an open beta with me as the head PR guy and the integrator, or you will get a full release with someone else in that role, because I will not break my word to you.

I have always said that the mod will be released as soon as it is playable, and I have read no overwhelming opinion that leads me to believe that there is any reason to go against this promise. I intend to keep it.

**Steppe Merc** · 09-24-2005, 18:30

Originally Posted by khelvan

I promised to you long ago that there would be an Open Beta. This open beta is what you have been waiting for, for so long. You'll either get an open beta with me as the head PR guy and the integrator, or you will get a full release with someone else in that role, because I will not break my word to you.

I have always said that the mod will be released as soon as it is playable, and I have read no overwhelming opinion that leads me to believe that there is any reason to go against this promise. I intend to keep it.

And we love Khelvan, so we'd never get rid of him.

**Ianofsmeg16** · 09-24-2005, 18:37

nomination for "emotional Speech"?....

I promised to you long ago that there would be an Open Beta. This open beta is what you have been waiting for, for so long. You'll either get an open beta with me as the head PR guy and the integrator, or you will get a full release with someone else in that role, because I will not break my word to you.

**jerby** · 09-24-2005, 18:48

sounds a bit 'george bus'h-like' ...

**Reverend Joe** · 09-24-2005, 20:35

Wait... you mean... Khelvan...

**edyzmedieval** · 09-24-2005, 21:47

Originally Posted by Steppe Merc

And we love Khelvan, so we'd never get rid of him.

Everybody loves Khelvan.

**Ianofsmeg16** · 09-24-2005, 22:30

Everybody loves Khelvan.

*Breaks into tune*
Oh We ALL LOVE KHELVAN...
All over this land
*Breaks out of tune*

**Dunhill** · 09-24-2005, 23:18

This level of the TW community is a bit more "mature" and I think we are happy to wait a little longer for a product that has less bugs.

I'd suggest the team continue closed testing, open up the website, then once the website is settled and the game is 95% playable, release.

It's fine to have some bugs, and we'll be able to help you after release. However, you don't want a CTD buglist that runs for pages.

Good luck with whatever decision you make, and keep up the good work.

Cheers,

**Ludens** · 09-24-2005, 23:55

I second Divinus Arma. You determine what is best. I can wait.

**Meneldil** · 09-25-2005, 10:58

Originally Posted by Dunhill

This level of the TW community is a bit more "mature" and I think we are happy to wait a little longer for a product that has less bugs.

Err, there's no question of maturity or not. If EB release an open beta, it will likely mean that bugs will be found and fixed faster, that game balancing will probably also be achieved faster, and hence, that the final version will be released earlier.
I'm not trying to make fun of RTR, but most RTR version are bugged as hell, and no one complain. Knowing the EB team, I doubt they would let us dl a totally unbalanced version that CTD when you conquer a 50th province.