What has been said recently about Beta Testing in CE?
Suggestions to improve the current processes
Have a current centralized pinned post that covers all particulars of the Beta Testing process instead of snippets of information in multiple posts, comments and categories.
Fix the Bug Reporting template so that the Create New Report button works as intended.
Change the settings for Beta Reports to remain open for discussion.
Create a discussion space (Discord or any other) for Beta Testers and staff to collaborate.
Be clear that videos for most reports are required.
Consider scrapping the Forums as a space for Beta Reports and look for alternatives that foster clear communication, collaboration and instill faith.
The fact here is that the players are giving up their time willingly to help with the success of the game. They are not paid, they are volunteers. This means that they care. I appreciate the fact that there are many things that happen behind the scenes in the gaming industry that require some compromising. Choosing what to compromise can be walking a tight rope - but having at least an inkling and assurances would help greatly.
Having EXTENSIVELY tested the Beta for the new Age of Heroes Iâve come to the conclusion that the current Beta testing process is fragmented and poor.
The report template is BROKEN and reporting on the forums is time consuming on top of testing itself. Itâs also IMPOSSIBLE to create multiple running reports at the same time so you MUST do it one at a time.
I had to learn how to record more than my few prior forays doing so, open up a Youtube channel, wait for the videos to process. So learned a few new skills. But it is not explicitly stated anywhere for video and I was asked by the ONLY reviewer a few times for videos⊠this made my time allotted for this bloat beyond what should have been expected of me in the time I had taken already, having to do over the work I already did.
I did feel alone. Where was I supposed to go to talk to other Beta Testers? Here on the forums but it wasnât fluid, didnât feel like I was collaborating or part of a âteamâ even though I did slightly attempt that. There needs to be some kind of space created for collaboration and to prevent over-duplication of communication. Also, to work through thingsâŠ
If a Public Beta is there to help YOU then make US feel like weâre a part of the journey.
Suggestions for future CE Testing
Generally there is Alpha, Closed Beta and Public Beta in most games. Now that 6 months is the turn around for updates, this will open up possibilities. Admittedly, this tends to be for releasing games, however, because the Ages present GIGANTIC overhauls, new systems and changes to existing systems, IMHO this might be required.
Open up the Alphas and Closed Betas to application with NDAs. Stop relying on hand-picked individuals so that you get a wider variety of skills and opinions and it does not create an echo chamber. Ensure these testing phases have multiple update timeframes, foster communication and collaboration.
For Public Beta, consider 1-3 testing phases: First implementation, gather bug reports with communicated pain points to focus on. 2nd update includes criticals and anything that can be fit in for the additional testing phase and allow that testing to weed out any additional issues or if the fixes do not work. Rinse, repeat if necessary.
Going back to compromising: I realize that there are limitations but hard release dates are flipping the bird at critical bugs and in turn the playerbase; it might be time to consider not sticking to those hard dates? If that is not possible then explain, improve the processes.
Suggestions for CE
Create and keep a running ROADMAP - I understand that thereâs this fun little thing happening where people like to âguess what is nextâ but it has withered up. Time to tell us what the future holds.
Consistently keep in communication on what is new and CROSS POST all communication in all spaces at-the-same-time. Thereâs tools for that
Consider responding to inquiries within a reasonable time frame.
Show that longstanding bugs are actually a priority. Yes, new features are important but they wonât be well received if pre-existing bugs being overlayed with new content creates additional.
I am not perfect, have no training and no prior experience. I could only use the tools and knowledge I had at my disposal for testing going in essentially blind other than what I read for prior Betas. I now understand why so many gave up.
Oh, gods love you, Kikigirl. You keep pushing out excellence. <3 I want to print out your whole post, and yell it from a mountaintop, on high.
This. 100%.
I keep screaming about this. If a âCommunityâ âManagerâ actually got out here in the wild with us, and actually âmanagedâ the âcommunity,â I think that we as players would feel much more connected to the journey. Heard, and appreciated. Looking, as always, at you @AndyB . But, as always, I know that my best expectation here is more of the same. I am just a wallet and a collection of Crom Coins to you.
Highlighted for emphasis. It has never been made --MORE CLEAR-- than recently that there is a small cadre of player elites that have managed to rub elbows with our dear Funcom game producers. I wonât go an cite sources today. But I think those that read this probably can think of two or three examples. Where an âI know better than youâ was tossed at someone in an arrogant fashion, or a âThey already addressed the Battle-Eye issueâ was casually tossed out there when NO PUBLIC statement had been made.
Funcom - your beloved Echo Chamber is ruining the game for the rest of us. But hey - I suppose itâs cool. So long as you keep your best buds happy. Yeah?
Once great studios who are hiding on the secret forums with their fanboys instead of communication with wider community.
BioWare, Ubishit, Funcom⊠and how does this end?
They dumbed down Conan when it was already a very nice game around-ish 2.6 times (they fixed thralls following) and all it needed was content to fill that map with options.
And they said that they have gained much experience and used it in making Dune
So itâs going to be dumb from day 1
I know itâs targeting Gen Z, but even they are not so dumb, are they?
Is Tencent going to buy them again after Dune flops? (just read the comments on YT).
Maybe they will agree to sell them to me
Alphas, Closed Betas, and Open Betas are all used in CE currently.
While I personally would prefer that they go to an update schedule that prioritizes getting major things fixed before major updates. This is not going to happen during this Age of âxâ phase that Conan Exiles is currently in. Once they finish the Ages, then we might see some more focus on bugs being fixed. Now I have to point out that this is anecdotal and speculation.
Right now there seems to be a heavy focus on using artists and getting revenue for their work. Iâm just being honest from the observations Iâve seen and anyone here can tell that is what is going on. Its paying for the major changes and content weâre seeing, but that content seems to be justified by the fact they can use it to push more sales by bringing in spurts of players.
Once that settles down and they move those resources away, the game will likely stabilize. Of course that could also mean it being close to development sunsetting. But I would personally take that, plus a more stable experience, then a hectic update cycle. But thatâs always been my stance.
Fortunately, and unfortunately we have at least an age or two coming. So around a year or so of instability ahead if I were to hazard a guess.
I donât want to say that all the effort made by people in the Open Beta was a waste of time. They are using the information gathered. But I wouldnât expect much in the way of feedback or or acknowledgement. Its not that they donât care, but that theyâre not great at it. All youâre going to have to look forward to is AndyB or Carrol saying thankyou in a post or apart of the patch announcements, and maybe a small mention in a Devstream. And if youâre getting anything of that nature youâre getting more than most do.
Still wondering where @Narelle is?
When age of sorcery landed @Narelle was pointing these issues. Seeing thatâs nothing changed yet is a bit heartbreaking!
