Droid Engineer Archive
Thread: CU Related Inquiry To TheRealTK421, Drashk, & Jenden
Page 1 of 1
Handsnake
Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:22 pm
#1
Hi fellas.
I know you are all busy and such with dealing with the CU changes to our many modules. However, while perusing the forums and reading the background info as presented last year and through the current beta, a question comes to me.
Now, you have to understand - My job for 6 years was QA and implementation for a governmental accounting software package. I've been testing game software on the side in alpha and beta stages for the last ten years. I've done a lot of work with development houses and used to do custom jobs back in 1981 through 1984. So, my perception of the current beta isn't just your normal resistance-to-change type of analysis.
My question is this - Being that there were to be 6 reps from each profession put into a sandbox server for alpha testing of the CURB, and judging from the state of the current build - I have to ask - Was there actually an alpha test of thecode on a sandbox server that you and your CURB sandbox candidates actually were able to run? If so, for how long? If not, can you let us know why?
I ask this because I cannot see the implications of these changes and the implementation as it is currently in TC as being the end result of testing with reps from the various professions - especially since there are so many obvious issues to core resource and economy concepts (the one that jumps out at me is the ranger ranklessness in combat and therefore in supplying to just about every organic-using profession).
If I were a betting man, I'd say that the sandbox testing server with the CU candidates and correspondents just didn't occur. Am I right?
RasalTheWise
Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:36 pm
#2
We never got to see the alpha phase of the testing. Of course, that doesn't mean the alpha phase didn't take place. I believe they took all our feedback from the CU forum and used that during their internal alpha test.
Handsnake
Tue Apr 12, 2005 1:41 pm
#3
RasalTheWise wrote:
We never got to see the alpha phase of the testing. Of course, that doesn't mean the alpha phase didn't take place. I believe they took all our feedback from the CU forum and used that during their internal alpha test.
Thanks. That's what I suspected. The sandbox server was never opened to the sandbox testers. I've seen this kind of error before - single item/issue unit testing tends to miss connections that users see immediately.
Straker_Atrella
Tue Apr 12, 2005 2:07 pm
#4
As another person on the sandbox forums as well, I can kind of say you are half right.
Were still not allowed to talk about everything that happened really due to NDA, still a little fuzzy on what we can and can't say.
We DID see some information that others didn't, we gave a lot of input on that information. Supposedly a lot of changes were made based upon those inputs. As to actually getting to "test" anything, well that was already addressed.
TheRealTK421
Tue Apr 12, 2005 3:39 pm
#5
My answer:
This is SOE and SWG...where things can, may and will change.
I can only tell you that I'm in the beta now...the first I've had a chance to play the CU changes.
/bow
Respectfully,
This is SOE and SWG...where things can, may and will change.
I can only tell you that I'm in the beta now...the first I've had a chance to play the CU changes.
/bow
Respectfully,
Drashk
Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:08 pm
#6
Here are a few things to chew on, that don't violate NDA, in semi chronological order
- The DEVs, and SOETyrant in particular, stated that in a letter to the community that the DEV team was going to try and concentrate on making much more refined Publishs, with extended testing, to try and weed out more bugs, so that they did not slip out to Live.
- SOETyrant stated that the CU testing would take as long as would be needed, to make sure that the Combat Upgrade was fully sucessful, with minimal issues.
- The GCW changes were released to Live, before a lot of issues were resolved.
- Tiggs made a post that stated that Publishs would be changed to a two week cycle, which resulted in many moreissues being relased to Live.
- SOETyrant becomes silent on the forums, not be heard from since.
- Press releases of the Rage of the Wookiees expansion are announced to a number of gaming sites, including the LucasArts site, before solid information was released from SOE.
- An interview with Tyrant mentions that Tyrant is in between projects.
- LucasArts.com, and not SOE, releases a job listing for Tyrants old position.
- LucasArts sets the RotW release for May 5th and lists the upgraded combat system as one of its features. (Meaning that the Comat Upgrade must be completed before the RotW release.)
- TC-5 is brought up, with the CU Open Beta.
Ifyou connect the dots, a picture is formed that clearly shows who is really in charge of the current rapidprogression of the Combat Upgrade.
Message Edited by Drashk on 04-12-2005 05:41 PM
Road-runner
Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:36 pm
#7
looks like all the bs about feedback and testing is exposed for what it is....we will be force fed this shiet regardless of if its ready, get those credit cards ready, lol
everyone should copy this to their other forums of interest/server forums...we must speak loudly and clearly
Handsnake
Tue Apr 12, 2005 5:56 pm
#8
Thanks, guys. You outlined what I suspected, as I know that certain issues simply could not have blindsided DE's like yourselves as some of these seem to have.
We're an analytical bunch and some interrelationships of a large number of these changes couldn't have slippedany Droid Engineer'sattention if you all had been given a chance to actually do hands-on testing.
Well, in any event, I've put money on my subscription and am going to grind up on TC5. Hopefully I can help polish this before it hits Live.
Page 1 of 1