Beta Question

Spook · Postby **Spook** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:49 am

danielwellsfloyd wrote:I've got another question: If wsomeone were to be chosen to enter Phase One of Darwinia beta testing, would that person be able to tell people that he or she is a beta tester, or would that get you "kicked out?"

My best guess would be "No" - the Beta Test page on the site says that it's only Phase Two testers that will have to sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement (which seems right and fair, seeing as they'll have access to the full game - whereas Phase One testers will have just one level).

Although, of course, I don't doubt they'd be most upset were someone to distribute the code in Phase One, too..

Postby **NeoThermic** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 1:58 am

Flamekebab wrote:Erm, what difference does it make if it's a laptop?

Performance may be affected, but it's still a PC <unless it's not, heh>.

Since when did your PC fit into a box measuring a measly 11.5 inches by 10 inches by 3/4'ths of an inch, with a 14.1 inch TFT screen attached by two hinges?

You must remember that most, if not all laptops have a 4200RPM HD, which not only affects access time (and thus they need slighty more CPU to get the info out at the same rate as a normal 7200RPM drive), but it also limits what can and can't be pulled out of the HD at whim. Also, 98% of laptops rely on onboard compoments, as you can't just open up a laptop and stick in a AGP card, or a new sound card.

NeoThermic

Smart guy · Postby **Smart guy** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 8:47 am

There's another problem.

I seem to have a Graphics Card that is not on the list. Could anyone help me??? My Graphics card is called SoundMAX Integrated Digital.

Darksun · Postby **Darksun** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:03 am

Probably only a % percentage of errors will be down to imcompatable hardware, I'm guessing the majority would be common to all systems. Therefore, the quality of bug reports should be an important factor in selection. I'm good at finding and reporting bugs. Hint hint, Chris

elDiablo · Postby **elDiablo** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:09 am

Actually, Chris said that phase 1 beta testing is mostly for fixing hardware conflicts

Though I suppose major crashs too!

Phase 2 is gameplay and stuff =/

Edit: quoting the darwinia beta page:

Beta Phase 1

Introversion Software will select around a hundred individuals from the applicants as phase 1 beta testers. We will send a beta demo to those testers and phase 1 will begin. The intention of phase 1 is to find and fix all hardware compatability bugs with the game. Hence, only one level of the game will be provided, and the level will not be entirely finished. Fresh applicants may be selected if we are having difficulty resolving particular hardware problems, and if they have the appropriate hardware to test our fixes to those problems.

Phase 1 beta testers who leak the beta demo we provide them will be removed from the test immediately, and will be banned from all future Introversion forums, projects and beta tests. Big men with sticks will be sent to their houses and their kneecaps will be broken.

Iris · Postby **Iris** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 9:14 am

NeoThermic wrote:
Flamekebab wrote:Erm, what difference does it make if it's a laptop?

Performance may be affected, but it's still a PC <unless it's not, heh>.

Since when did your PC fit into a box measuring a measly 11.5 inches by 10 inches by 3/4'ths of an inch, with a 14.1 inch TFT screen attached by two hinges?

You must remember that most, if not all laptops have a 4200RPM HD, which not only affects access time (and thus they need slighty more CPU to get the info out at the same rate as a normal 7200RPM drive), but it also limits what can and can't be pulled out of the HD at whim. Also, 98% of laptops rely on onboard compoments, as you can't just open up a laptop and stick in a AGP card, or a new sound card.

NeoThermic

Very true. Even the heat buildup from a notebook's internals greatly affects its performance over time, much faster than it would affect a desktop. I know this for sure because what I'm using now is one, a Presario 2814KR. Very fast and very good, but try playing for like 5 hours straight and you will notice that warm stream of air gushing from the right side of the housing. Not that I'm complaining, it's actually quite useful especially when working during winter. =)

Sirveri · Postby **Sirveri** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 12:37 pm

Iris wrote:
NeoThermic wrote:
Flamekebab wrote:Erm, what difference does it make if it's a laptop?

Performance may be affected, but it's still a PC <unless it's not, heh>.

Since when did your PC fit into a box measuring a measly 11.5 inches by 10 inches by 3/4'ths of an inch, with a 14.1 inch TFT screen attached by two hinges?

You must remember that most, if not all laptops have a 4200RPM HD, which not only affects access time (and thus they need slighty more CPU to get the info out at the same rate as a normal 7200RPM drive), but it also limits what can and can't be pulled out of the HD at whim. Also, 98% of laptops rely on onboard compoments, as you can't just open up a laptop and stick in a AGP card, or a new sound card.

NeoThermic

Very true. Even the heat buildup from a notebook's internals greatly affects its performance over time, much faster than it would affect a desktop. I know this for sure because what I'm using now is one, a Presario 2814KR. Very fast and very good, but try playing for like 5 hours straight and you will notice that warm stream of air gushing from the right side of the housing. Not that I'm complaining, it's actually quite useful especially when working during winter. =)

You could melt snow in the winter and survive on the water! YOU ARE A GENIUS!
1337

NeoTheOne175 · Postby **NeoTheOne175** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 3:47 pm

Smart guy wrote:There's another problem.

I seem to have a Graphics Card that is not on the list. Could anyone help me??? My Graphics card is called SoundMAX Integrated Digital.

Choose whichever sound card you think is most like the one you have, then post your actual system specs in the "Additional Information about Beta Testers' Hardware" thread.

Stewsburntmonkey · Postby **Stewsburntmonkey** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:01 pm

Believe it or not SoundMAX is an audio card not a video card.

NeoTheOne175 · Postby **NeoTheOne175** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:08 pm

Stewsburntmonkey wrote:Believe it or not SoundMAX is an audio card not a video card.

LOL, my advice still applies though.

danielwellsfloyd · Postby **danielwellsfloyd** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:08 pm

IS that a typo or a n00b?

NeoTheOne175 · Postby **NeoTheOne175** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 4:14 pm

danielwellsfloyd wrote:IS that a typo or a n00b?

I would guess "typo" sooner than "n00b," though I wouldn't be terribly surprised if it were a n00b mistake.

Andcarne · Postby **Andcarne** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 5:42 pm

They probably wouldn't mind people saying if they were testers or not, but they would get rather annoyed at people leaking screenshots or anything else, probably.

NeoTheOne175 · Postby **NeoTheOne175** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 6:59 pm

andcarne wrote:They probably wouldn't mind people saying if they were testers or not, but they would get rather annoyed at people leaking screenshots or anything else, probably.

I doubt even leaking screenshots would get them too mad; not only has IV already done so, but in Phase 1 testing, it's only the first level. Phase 2 testers leaking stuff they will NOT like.

danielwellsfloyd · Postby **danielwellsfloyd** » Mon Jun 28, 2004 7:02 pm

If I were IV, I wouldn't even let screenshots leak out.

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