Beta testing for the following games
http://matrixgames.com/beta/
- Mark H. Walker's Lock 'n Load: Heroes of Stalingrad
- Piercing Fortress Europa
- Flashpoint Campaigns: Red Storm
- Conflict of Heroes: Storms of Steel
- Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations
So many games that I want to test. LnL, Command, Flash point.
I signed up for LnL so far.
I know from previous experience that
a) I don't have the stamina to keep going
b) I kind of end up not really enjoying the game on release because I "see" the mechanics beneath - and for me it kind of takes away the magic of gaming
But - if I was going to it would be in this order
a) LnL Heroes of Stalingrad (maybe I should do this as I am already aware of the ruleset)
b) Flashpoint Campaigns:Red Storm
c) Command:Modern Air/Naval Operations
My choice would be b, c, a of Judge's list.
They do give you a beta tester discount once released. But maybe you're too burned out to consider playing it again. Lol.
i imagine Command will be a b****** to beta
Quote from: jomni on July 05, 2013, 03:06:25 AM
They do give you a beta tester discount once released. But maybe you're too burned out to consider playing it again. Lol.
IIRC the discount is 100% ;)
its always a balance between 'seeing it unready', and marble at it NOW and play it as often as the time allows it NOW, or waiting a long long time for the release and enjoy the bug-free/balanced version. ....and play it as often as the time allows it Then ;)
also take into account that you help
shape the game which gives a warm feeling of accomplishment in its own, when an idea or comment make it into the game.
why does all those interesting betas always have to be in lovely spring/summer ... i would have much more time to dedicate to the projects in late autumn / winter
JD its much less stamina needed then for your extraordinary good AARs with pictures and such
... well its not haptic and i know you like the haptic board game component of wargaming a lot
Quote from: MikeGER on July 05, 2013, 03:36:26 AM
also take into account that you help shape the game which gives a warm feeling of accomplishment in its own, when an idea or comment make it into the game.
^^^ GFT
could be interesting to do but i wouldnt have the time Flashpoint, Command, Conflict and Piercing Fortress Europa all interest me. I attempted to register yesterday for Piercing fortress Europa but it saying for me invalid forum login details, even though i entered in everything i enter for logging in to the forums. Maybe its a special beta testers forum.
Never mind, i am probably far too merciful to be a beta tester, when really they need people i imagine who would test the game to the limit and hopefully ensure that games arent too easily ruined with gamey tactics and or poor ai.
Quote from: jomni on July 05, 2013, 03:06:25 AM
They do give you a beta tester discount once released. But maybe you're too burned out to consider playing it again. Lol.
Last I checked, Matrix will send you a free physical copy on release if you have stuck to it.
The trick is trying to guess which ones you can stay with and which you won't. I've had some luck in the past, but my last one just couldn't hold my attention for the extensive beta period. That was the first time I had to duck out gracefully and it's made me more wary of testing in the future, despite having had great experiences doing so with the Matrix crew.
IMO, if you're gonna beta test.. it doesn't get much better than doing it for Matrix. The few other devs/publishers I've tested for just didn't compare to the ease, openness, and friendliness. :D
I'd really like to help test
Command but I have so many games I've not even touched and I'm so damn scattered as it is these days that someone else would likely be more thorough at this time. :-\
I have to agree, beta testing can really take the fun out of a game.
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 03:11:17 AM
i imagine Command will be a b****** to beta
I applied to test it. I guess we will see.
Can anyone give me some insight into what sort of committment this is? I'm retired now and have the time, and I am a long time wargammer with many Matrix titles, although I don't do multi-player, not even pbem. But what would I am be getting myself into? I've never done anything like this before so I really don't know and so I wonder if I am up to the task.
You would send a request to become a beta tester to Matrix. Karlis from Matrix will respond and if accepted, he will send you an NDA that you can print and fax back or what I do is convert the pdf to MS Word and then just type in my info. In either case, once he's gotten the NDA back, they will open up the private beta tester's forum for whichever game you're helping to test. In that forum will be instructions for using FTP to download the game and any other files as needed. You will also receive a license number from Karlis for your copy of the game.
The testing process can be as regimented as you want or as lax as you want. Matrix isn't going to send you an email or call your house asking why you aren't keeping up with the testing. You basically just play the game in whatever mode you choose (solo, pbem, etc) and if the game hiccups or you have some suggestions, then you take a screenshot and/or copy the crash log and then post it to that private development area of the forums.
When you test a game that you really enjoy, it's a fun thing as you're talking to the game's developer/coder and what you do or say could wind up in the game. Frank Hunter (Piercing Fortress Europe) is great to test for as he's very active on the forums and will explain how the game works and why he's coded things the way he did.
If you have the time and an interest in a particular title, then I'd suggest you give it a try.
Thanks GJK...coincidentally, 'Piercing Fortress Europe' is the game I was interested in.
Cool, would love to have you on the beta testing team. I haven't done too much testing for it lately (I did the graphics for the game and was automatically included in the beta test team) but will pick it up again as soon as I wrap up some other projects that I've been working on. As mentioned, Frank Hunter is very open to suggestions and is very easy to do work for.
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 09:45:16 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 03:11:17 AM
i imagine Command will be a b****** to beta
I applied to test it. I guess we will see.
good luck
make it good or ill be round your house!
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 01:32:58 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 09:45:16 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 03:11:17 AM
i imagine Command will be a b****** to beta
I applied to test it. I guess we will see.
good luck
My first suggestion will be that they change the name to something like Byzantium 1908. How did they come up with "Command"...that is the most Nimrodian of Nimrodian Names. In fact "Nimrod" (or Nimrad -- my inspired typo) would be much much better.
Their original name "Red Pill" was very good. They could take up the Red Orchestra theme (haha) and have:
Finale
Allegro
Cosi Fan Tuti
Abduction from the Seraglio
The Civil Barber of the Seraglio
Or the Game formerly known as Command
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 01:51:17 PM
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 01:32:58 PM
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 09:45:16 AM
Quote from: undercovergeek on July 05, 2013, 03:11:17 AM
i imagine Command will be a b****** to beta
I applied to test it. I guess we will see.
good luck
My first suggestion will be that they change the name to something like Byzantium 1908. How did they come up with "Command"...that is the most Nimrodian of Nimrodian Names. In fact "Nimrod" (or Nimrad -- my inspired typo) would be much much better.
Their original name "Red Pill" was very good. They could take up the Red Orchestra theme (haha) and have:
Finale
Allegro
Cosi Fan Tuti
Abduction from the Seraglio
The Civil Barber of the Seraglio
Or the Game formerly known as Command
They actually had a contest to pick the new name, and Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations was the winner. I imagine the rest of the entries really...really sucked.
Red Pill would have been a cool name but its not very descriptive of what the game is for those that haven't been following it.
I'd really like to apply to test Command or Red Storm. But I've been in the beta test for several MMO's and I find testing takes something away from the first time you fire up the release build of a game. Then again testing MMO's that have a loose story to them is different from testing a strategy game that doesn't have one at all.
Quote from: Kushan on July 05, 2013, 03:04:08 PM
Red Pill would have been a cool name but its not very descriptive of what the game is for those that haven't been following it.
I'd really like to apply to test Command or Red Storm. But I've been in the beta test for several MMO's and I find testing takes something away from the first time you fire up the release build of a game. Then again testing MMO's that have a loose story to them is different from testing a strategy game that doesn't have one at all.
I spend most of my time in most games fooling with the editor to set up interesting scenarios, so beta testing would be something like that at least for Command ( aka Comma or Coma or Coma Berenice -- that constellation invented in ye olde Hellenistic days). Well, i don't want to get my hopes up.
Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations...I'm in.
Quote from: Jarhead0331 on July 10, 2013, 10:19:29 AM
Command: Modern Air/Naval Operations...I'm in.
Me too.
I applied for the Red Storm Beta...so, Cap'n Darwin, if you read this my application is sitting somewhere in Matrix's inbox (or circular file since I applied a few days ago and still haven't heard back :( ).
Command probably would be more appropriate for me given my background, but I really want to enjoy a game like Red Storm, and I don't have time to test two games. Gotta be realistic here.
I got accepted for Lock n Load. Downloading now.
Quote from: Toonces on July 10, 2013, 08:52:57 PM
I applied for the Red Storm Beta...so, Cap'n Darwin, if you read this my application is sitting somewhere in Matrix's inbox (or circular file since I applied a few days ago and still haven't heard back :( ).
Command probably would be more appropriate for me given my background, but I really want to enjoy a game like Red Storm, and I don't have time to test two games. Gotta be realistic here.
I know they have the system up. We have not heard anything on new folks yet. Hopefully soon. Part of the delay I believe is having an installer and serial numbers and that got worked between last night and some today. Everyone is of course in a frenzy getting materials ready for Historicon next week. Hope to see you soon in the beta. 8)
Quote from: Toonces on July 10, 2013, 08:52:57 PM
I applied for the Red Storm Beta...so, Cap'n Darwin, if you read this my application is sitting somewhere in Matrix's inbox (or circular file since I applied a few days ago and still haven't heard back :( ).
my application for RS is in the queue overthere too
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 03:13:37 PM
I spend most of my time in most games fooling with the editor to set up interesting scenarios, so beta testing would be something like that at least for Command ( aka Comma or Coma or Coma Berenice -- that constellation invented in ye olde Hellenistic days). Well, i don't want to get my hopes up.
All the better - low hopes mean even stronger positive shock 8)
Wow two devs on the same post. :)
Not sure if they are still accepting testers for Command but I just sent my request in.
Quote from: MengJiao on July 05, 2013, 03:13:37 PM
I spend most of my time in most games fooling with the editor to set up interesting scenarios, so beta testing would be something like that at least for Command ( aka Comma or Coma or Coma Berenice -- that constellation invented in ye olde Hellenistic days). Well, i don't want to get my hopes up.
Probably what I would spend most of my time doing. I was already planning on doing some scenario design when it was released. This would give me a way to test them and the game at the same time.