RabidZombie wrote:Mattu wrote:I think Introversion's intentions are good, but it is unfortunate that the beta testing slots are balanced as they are. I don't say this because I believe they should have a brand new batch of testers and throw away all the ones from the past that they have worked with, but rather because it is difficult to assess their fans simply from the community and previous beta testers. There is a difference between fans and fanboys after all, no offense.
I'd like to point out that, in the past, the number of non-regulars in the beta test has been quite high. But as you'd expect, many simply don't help at all. Not a single post. However, Introversion get a great response from the regulars who submit bug reports and are often around on the forum to help reproduce bugs and be available for games. They're also easy to communicate with on IRC, unlike those people who signed up for the beta test.
There's a reason why people who have beta tested in the past are more likely to get a place. They're considerably more likely to be helpful.
Of course, if you really want to beta test, why don't you try posting in the forum a bit, hang out in IRC, and try registering for the beta test (I expect when the test comes around, the good old sign up form will make an appearance).
It's not like my life is depending on beta testing the game or anything, I just was making a point that simply because people have beta tested before doesn't mean they are more qualified than other people, just that they are more battle hardened. The act of inviting mostly beta testers from before is good, assuming every beta tester from previous betas was good at doing what they were meant to, and if you claim that a lot weren't, well that's a bit contradictory.
The point is moot perhaps, and I know it is a tough thing to say "let more new people in" when really I just mean, "give other people a shot too". I mean, a ratio of 5 to 1 for previous beta testers and new beta tester hopefuls is a bit outbalanced. I guess that's my main concern.
The only real point to be made here is IV is doing what they deem appropriate, and if it works for them, then good. I was merely lending my own personal thoughts to the situation. Things never get nice when companies create small groups of people who have an in to help shape their games. You often see a certain direction get taken with products and balancing, and that can deter from the goal of expanding your market.
If the only people that play your game are 5 year old girls, it's going to be a whole lot more pink and glittery than if you opened up your horizons. That's the best analogy I can come up with at 1 in the morning.
As far as sticking around the forums more often and hanging out in IRC, well, I'd love to but like I said before I literally just don't have the time. I currently have three finals I am studying for, 3 end of semester projects, haptics API feedback to write up, and a website to design by Christmas. Then when winter break hits, I'll be developing a game of my own probably near full-time. I get limited time to play games, but when I do, I do it well. ;D And for IRC, well, I am on a laptop that goes everywhere with me throughout the day, and gets swapped from Mac OS X to Windows XP back and forth constantly. Unless you could use a few dozen more disconnect/reconnect message a day, I think it's really more hassle than it's worth for me right now.