Beta testing starts on the New Demo

[NeoThermic]

Yeah, they are selected like this:

This isn't random selection. Near as I can tell, the folk at IV are looking for two things:
1) Unique hardware on which to test things (thus having a funky sound card would be a plus)
2) People who are active in the forums, and have a proven track record of reporting/tracking down bug

Actually each item of the beta tester's applied hardware is given a point value weighted against the rest of the items in terms of importance. Then a cutoff limit is given (dropping low spec systems), and finally an algorithm is applied to select systems that should give sufficent performance, while keeping random enough to ensure a even distribution of system specs.

Any culling done based on users postcounts, etc, can be applied after the selection; it would be a statisitcally independant event, but AFAIK, it is not done on the data.

Then again, that could be total bullshit based off of the wikipedia article on statistics...

NeoThermic

[Kajotex]

So its a bit like i cant get into the "hall of the testers" because i was never one

ah well.... i guess i have to live with it

[Luigi300]

Why am I not a beta tester, I signed up, I have a funky sound card, I'm always here

I AM THE ONLY REGULAR WHO ISN'T TESTING

[Miah]

The GoldFish isn't either.

[Luigi300]

Yes, but he sucks =/

[Miah]

And by that logic (none), so do you.

Actually, he didn't apply, I don't think. I was just trying to make you feel better.

[FinnG]

Luigi doesn't suck, everyone loves Luigi.

He has a funky sound card you know .

[TinFoil]

I have a funky overall setup. Beat that, Luigi!

[The GoldFish]

or maybe I did apply, and IV just hate me

[Dr4goN]

or maybe I did apply, and IV just hate me

How they can h8u?

[Miah]

The GoldFish hates everyone, so he probably thinks everyone else is like him.

[prophile]

I AM THE ONLY REGULAR WHO ISN'T TESTING

Nor am I, and I'm more regular than you. :p

[Miah]

Or, at minimum, more sane.

And don't forget our top spammer^K^K^K^K^K^K^Kposter (:P), xander.

[The GoldFish]

The GoldFish hates everyone, so he probably thinks everyone else is like him.

Or maybe they're jelous of my Darwinia modding skills and don't want to show me a shoddy incomplete level!

[xander]

And don't forget our top spammer^K^K^K^K^K^K^Kposter (:P), xander.

Worship my God-like SPAM! Bwa hahahahahaha!

At any rate, the demo is Windows only (as is the new patch, for the moment), and I am a hardcore Mac zealot. Well, that, and I don't really want to deal with Windows. I have enough of that at work.

While I am on the topic: I assume that all of the new buildings, &c. will be incorporated into the Mac binary as well (i.e. for modding). Does this mean that we will be able to download the demo, extract the data files, and run it like a mod? If not, some one needs to be whipped. I have heard so much about this new demo, and I will be very dissapointed if I will not be able to play it.

xander