FYI - Firaxis Public Beta Tester Call

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Author Topic:   FYI - Firaxis Public Beta Tester Call

tfs99 posted 07-06-99 03:01 PM ET
From JKM on firaxis.com:
Firaxis Games Public Beta Tester Call
Firaxis Games will be shortly increasing the size of our public beta testing team. This team will be drawn upon to volunteer their services on our upcoming SMACX data disk, Sid Meier's Antietam, and future, unannounced products. Previous experience with Sid Meier's games is by no means a prerequisite, but testing experience on commercial games is.
If you wish to participate, email the following information in the following format to [email protected]:
1. Name
2. Daytime Phone Number
3. Email Address
4. Previous Game Testing Experience (references prefered)
5. Brief example of technical writing (1-2 paragraphs)
6. Reason for wishing to participate (1-2 paragraphs)
Jeffrey Morris
Director of Quality Assurance
Firaxis Games
LackOfKnack posted 07-06-99 03:32 PM ET
So, who actually signed up?
Lack
Elfi Wolfe posted 07-06-99 03:35 PM ET
I think that alot of the old beta testers are signing up again.
evil_conquerer posted 07-06-99 03:51 PM ET
I nominate tfs99 for Firaxis PR guy! That's the second time you were the first person I heard real news from .
I wish I had previous beta experience <sigh>, I'd give anything to be on that team.
Bribes, anybody?
Resource Consumer posted 07-06-99 06:56 PM ET
It's one of those classic catch 22s. What do you need to be a beta tester (apart from having bought the game in the first place).
I would happily volunteer but having no experience of such an exalted task (other than buying buggy games) or being able to keep straight enough to make a coherent report, I think I'm inappropriate.
Resource Consumer
- social outcast -
Elfi Wolfe posted 07-06-99 07:29 PM ET
Boy oh Boy is Firaxis going to get swamped.
www.cdmag.com put up an article today announcing that Firaxis is looking for some beta testers.
I would hate to sort through that many emails
Elfi Wolfe
"Now where is that new beta test cd."
Shining1 posted 07-08-99 06:54 AM ET
RC - Heh. Email Jeff and ask if that counts...
WHY exactly is previous experience as a public tester REQUIRED for this? And is it any gurantee that the game will be better because of it? If they use the same testers that did the original SMAC or who worked on CtP, the answer might well seem to be NO. And who's to say that a previous tester on starcraft or Half-life knows anything about playing TBS games?
This odd qualifications fetish upsets me a little - not because it means I don't qualify (living in New Zealand and with limited net access already guarantees that), but because firaxis seems to be shooting themselves in the foot again.
Shining1
Shining1
Aredhran posted 07-08-99 09:45 AM ET
Shiny, you haven't beta tested your posting algorithm, it suffers from the ISS (Infamous Stuttering Syndrome )
Aredhran
Shining1 posted 07-08-99 09:55 AM ET
MY posting algorithm? I can't even edit the damned thing...
Elfi Wolfe posted 07-08-99 02:41 PM ET
On behalf of the SMAC beta testers.
We found quite a bit of bugs.
and with 25 people there are bound to be some bugs that get through.
Because of the beta test.
it was found that the orginal intent of multi-player would not work over the wilds of the internet but only on a lan.
ect.ect
Now that 10 of thousand of people are playing they find bugs that we missed.
And I don't know who beta Civ:CTP but "no comment"
Shining1 posted 07-09-99 02:08 AM ET
Elfi: Sorry. I should have expressed myself more carefully. You guys did a great job.
Darkstar posted 07-10-99 03:35 AM ET
I have posted my application for Beta Tester. Wish me good luck.
Elfi, for only 25 people as testers, I understand you guys did a great job in meeting the criteria you were given. I am sure if the team had the amount of time to pour over things like the general public has had, it could have identified more. I understand several of the problems came in with the fact that new testers weren't brought in occasionally which meant that once someone was familir with something, they didn't have a reason to repeat certain "Silly things". Jeff has also stated that emphasis shifted from testing to marketing during the beta and that they asked you guys to do something different in midstream... give reactions rather than bug hunt, etc. etc. etc.
Whatever has happened/stories/gossip, I do want to thank ALL of you guys and gals for getting the alternate victory conditions in (Diplomatic, Economic) and the other changes that you and your Testing brethren were able to influence Firaxis to make. Thanks a lot!
-Darkstar
Andrew Goldstein posted 07-15-99 04:21 PM ET
Darkstar:
Thank you
PS: I've signed up again.
Darkstar posted 07-18-99 05:44 AM ET
Andrew, you are welcome.
When will you guys know when you've been picked up again?
-Darkstar
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Author	Topic: FYI - Firaxis Public Beta Tester Call
tfs99	posted 07-06-99 03:01 PM ET From JKM on firaxis.com: Firaxis Games Public Beta Tester Call Firaxis Games will be shortly increasing the size of our public beta testing team. This team will be drawn upon to volunteer their services on our upcoming SMACX data disk, Sid Meier's Antietam, and future, unannounced products. Previous experience with Sid Meier's games is by no means a prerequisite, but testing experience on commercial games is. If you wish to participate, email the following information in the following format to [email protected]: 1. Name 2. Daytime Phone Number 3. Email Address 4. Previous Game Testing Experience (references prefered) 5. Brief example of technical writing (1-2 paragraphs) 6. Reason for wishing to participate (1-2 paragraphs) Jeffrey Morris Director of Quality Assurance Firaxis Games
LackOfKnack	posted 07-06-99 03:32 PM ET So, who actually signed up? Lack
Elfi Wolfe	posted 07-06-99 03:35 PM ET I think that alot of the old beta testers are signing up again.
evil_conquerer	posted 07-06-99 03:51 PM ET I nominate tfs99 for Firaxis PR guy! That's the second time you were the first person I heard real news from . I wish I had previous beta experience <sigh>, I'd give anything to be on that team. Bribes, anybody?
Resource Consumer	posted 07-06-99 06:56 PM ET It's one of those classic catch 22s. What do you need to be a beta tester (apart from having bought the game in the first place). I would happily volunteer but having no experience of such an exalted task (other than buying buggy games) or being able to keep straight enough to make a coherent report, I think I'm inappropriate. Resource Consumer - social outcast -
Elfi Wolfe	posted 07-06-99 07:29 PM ET Boy oh Boy is Firaxis going to get swamped. www.cdmag.com put up an article today announcing that Firaxis is looking for some beta testers. I would hate to sort through that many emails Elfi Wolfe "Now where is that new beta test cd."
Shining1	posted 07-08-99 06:54 AM ET RC - Heh. Email Jeff and ask if that counts... WHY exactly is previous experience as a public tester REQUIRED for this? And is it any gurantee that the game will be better because of it? If they use the same testers that did the original SMAC or who worked on CtP, the answer might well seem to be NO. And who's to say that a previous tester on starcraft or Half-life knows anything about playing TBS games? This odd qualifications fetish upsets me a little - not because it means I don't qualify (living in New Zealand and with limited net access already guarantees that), but because firaxis seems to be shooting themselves in the foot again. Shining1 Shining1
Aredhran	posted 07-08-99 09:45 AM ET Shiny, you haven't beta tested your posting algorithm, it suffers from the ISS (Infamous Stuttering Syndrome ) Aredhran
Shining1	posted 07-08-99 09:55 AM ET MY posting algorithm? I can't even edit the damned thing...
Elfi Wolfe	posted 07-08-99 02:41 PM ET On behalf of the SMAC beta testers. We found quite a bit of bugs. and with 25 people there are bound to be some bugs that get through. Because of the beta test. it was found that the orginal intent of multi-player would not work over the wilds of the internet but only on a lan. ect.ect Now that 10 of thousand of people are playing they find bugs that we missed. And I don't know who beta Civ:CTP but "no comment"
Shining1	posted 07-09-99 02:08 AM ET Elfi: Sorry. I should have expressed myself more carefully. You guys did a great job.
Darkstar	posted 07-10-99 03:35 AM ET I have posted my application for Beta Tester. Wish me good luck. Elfi, for only 25 people as testers, I understand you guys did a great job in meeting the criteria you were given. I am sure if the team had the amount of time to pour over things like the general public has had, it could have identified more. I understand several of the problems came in with the fact that new testers weren't brought in occasionally which meant that once someone was familir with something, they didn't have a reason to repeat certain "Silly things". Jeff has also stated that emphasis shifted from testing to marketing during the beta and that they asked you guys to do something different in midstream... give reactions rather than bug hunt, etc. etc. etc. Whatever has happened/stories/gossip, I do want to thank ALL of you guys and gals for getting the alternate victory conditions in (Diplomatic, Economic) and the other changes that you and your Testing brethren were able to influence Firaxis to make. Thanks a lot! -Darkstar
Andrew Goldstein	posted 07-15-99 04:21 PM ET Darkstar: Thank you PS: I've signed up again.
Darkstar	posted 07-18-99 05:44 AM ET Andrew, you are welcome. When will you guys know when you've been picked up again? -Darkstar