Update on the games I've been beta testing

[Slick Wilhelm]

Hi guys,

As many of you know, my gaming life in the last two years has been mostly dedicated to beta testing two games: Brother Against Brother and Commander: The Great War. Just thought I'd give a little update to let you all know how things are progressing.

BAB - For whatever reason, development has stalled on this title for about a year now. I think it's mostly because Western Civilization Software was concentrating on Conflict of Heroes due to contractual commitments. Anyway, it's really too bad, because BAB was shaping up to be an awesome ACW tactical small unit game. I had some fantastic battles against other beta testers, and even the AI was putting up a decent fight. All of this using placeholder graphics. Bottom line, if WCS gets back into the swing of things on this title, it's going to be great. unfortunately, things have been quiet, even after the release of CoH.

CTGW - This game is being actively developed, and barring some unforseen problems I assume it will ship in 2012. WWI enthusiasts need not hesitate, although don't expect micromanagement along the lines of WitE. There are research and development decisions to make, although very basic. Production decisions are pretty simple, too. Do I want to purchase infantry unit, or a cavalry unit, or maybe a dirigible this turn?

We are now in the game play balancing phase, with most of the show stopping crash bugs eliminated. There is still a lot of work to be done with the AI, but the devs seem to be very serious about giving us a legitimate AI to play against. It's a daunting task, though, because in a game like this you can use some gamey tactics to lure the AI out of an entrenched hex, make it chase a nice juicy target like a fighter unit, etc.

As with all games, there is some controversy with certain design decisions. I don't want to give too much info away, but let's just say that artillery is handled in an unusual way in CTGW. You can purchase an arty unit like any other unit, but you can't use it every turn. So, think of the arty unit as representing a "Somme-like" barrage unit. You will only have enough ammo to use this unit every so often, for planned attacks and major offensives.

Certain things like diplomacy and naval operations are not fleshed out like I wish they would be, but hopefully the devs will decide to add more to do in these areas.

Game play is quite fun, and against another human, it should be very challenging via multiplayer. Playing against the AI is a bit too easy right now, but as I said earlier, they are working very hard on improving the AI with each release.

Overall, it's been a fun experience beta testing. All sorts of funny errors and strange behaviors happen along the way, which is quite amusing/disconcerting to the player, but is all in a day's work to a game developer.

When these two games ship, I think I'll need a palate cleanser. I may even have to play something from WWII!  ;D

[junk2drive]

I'm working on stuff.

WCS seems like a good bunch of guys from my home town but...

One thing that I have noticed about most game programmers, they are programming geeks but not game players. They may have played some kind of game but are baffled by requests for things to make a war game playable.

[Shelldrake]

Thanks for the update SW. I am really looking forward to CTGW but it sounds like release is still quite far in the future. :(

[Nefaro]

I'm glad to hear the AI in The Great War is a high priority.  :-*

[tgb]

I've done beta testing for Slitherine.  Are you sure you aren't in danger of violating an NDA?

[steve58]

Thanks SW, I've been keeping an eye on CTGW and am looking 4ward to its release...

[jomni]

Actually the bombardment constraint reminds me of Guns of August.  Not a bad idea if you ask me.
It forces the player to attack in sections of the front instead of all over the front.

[Nefaro]

I've done beta testing for Slitherine.  Are you sure you aren't in danger of violating an NDA?

Heh.  I wasn't gonna be the one to mention it.  Figured maybe this would fall under the rug.  :-X

[Grim.Reaper]

I've done beta testing for Slitherine.  Are you sure you aren't in danger of violating an NDA?

Heh.  I wasn't gonna be the one to mention it.  Figured maybe this would fall under the rug.  :-X

Although I love the updates, I was kind of thinking the same thing...when I have done betas, they have been pretty tight lipped, but maybe permission was granted to generate excitement since none of these seem close to release.  Too bad, I really was looking forward to the civil war game myself.

[Staggerwing]

I've done beta testing for Slitherine.  Are you sure you aren't in danger of violating an NDA?

Heh.  I wasn't gonna be the one to mention it.  Figured maybe this would fall under the rug.  :-X

Although I love the updates, I was kind of thinking the same thing...when I have done betas, they have been pretty tight lipped, but maybe permission was granted to generate excitement since none of these seem close to release.  Too bad, I really was looking forward to the civil war game myself.

When I was a beta tester for one of Shrapnel's games they gave us permission to start talking up the game a little while before release to get the public interested. Still, you have to be careful what you say.

[tgb]

The last beta I participated in for Slitherine was for Panzer Corps, and the NDA was not lifted until right around the release day, iirc.

[meadbelly]

beta testers -- how many hours a day/week do you find yourself betatesting a game? If you had to, what's a guesstimate on how much time is required to be beneficial?

[tgb]

beta testers -- how many hours a day/week do you find yourself betatesting a game? If you had to, what's a guesstimate on how much time is required to be beneficial?

It depends on the game.  If I'm enjoying it I'll devote my regular play time - 2-3 hours/day.  If not, or it's in horrible shape. I might drop out early.  The danger of testing a really good title that you devote a lot of time to is you can get burned out on the game before the final version is even released.  At least I have.

[Slick Wilhelm]

beta testers -- how many hours a day/week do you find yourself betatesting a game? If you had to, what's a guesstimate on how much time is required to be beneficial?

I think about 10-15 hrs per week is an average time input for someone who is serious about beta testing. It's been my experience, though, that there are few dedicated testers willing to put in that much time. A lot of testers come and go without much real input.

Hopefully Slitherine and WCS think of me as a dedicated tester. I have a lot of fun doing it. Maybe it just takes an unusual mindset to beta test.  ;)

[meadbelly]

Thanks for the intel, guys.