Beta Testing
So after doing some beta test playing of (censored due to NDA), there are things I want to post about, but can't. Darn.
It also got me thinking a little about the very nature of beta testing. There was a time it was all done internally, but these days there are big closed and open betas of some major games. I suppose it's mostly crept up like that in MMOs, where fielding "massive" numbers of testers is impractical or impossible internally. It puts some degree of stress on the hardware and software, which is pretty crucial to getting the grounding for even a halfway stable launch.
It also, inevitably, serves as a preview to potential customers. Judging by chat conversations, some people get wrapped up in that and lose sight of the testing part. But even those who report every glitch and look for ways to "breaK" things will be forming opinions along the way.
No real deep insights, but I find it interesting to see how that's become such a major part of at least one section of the industry.
It also got me thinking a little about the very nature of beta testing. There was a time it was all done internally, but these days there are big closed and open betas of some major games. I suppose it's mostly crept up like that in MMOs, where fielding "massive" numbers of testers is impractical or impossible internally. It puts some degree of stress on the hardware and software, which is pretty crucial to getting the grounding for even a halfway stable launch.
It also, inevitably, serves as a preview to potential customers. Judging by chat conversations, some people get wrapped up in that and lose sight of the testing part. But even those who report every glitch and look for ways to "breaK" things will be forming opinions along the way.
No real deep insights, but I find it interesting to see how that's become such a major part of at least one section of the industry.
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