Plea to stop abusing the beta versions

from AshesoftheSingularity Forums

I know games need a certain amount of beta testing before a patch can be released, which means people need to play it so on and so forth.

But im finding an increasing number of "active players" are ONLY playing the beta builds. For example, there was a 6 player(??) match last night (saturday = PEAK HOURS) which was the beta build. Our community is not big enough to accommodate this type of behavior. On the weekend following the release of escalation to so many new players, guess what those players find in the lobby? Nothing. Or matches with newbs, so according to them, the lobby is empty and experienced players dont play ashes.

Please, in the name of growth, can we please stick to beta testing in limited quantities or not during peak periods.. I know the current meta is getting boring or is imba, but PLEASE rather push for patches to come out sooner, as opposed to endlessly testing them. Whats basically happening now is anyone that can or thinks about the beta, plays the beta, while the basic game stagnates.

If the community was larger, this behavior would be fine, but the community isnt, so this behavior isnt fine..

50,245 views 7 replies
Reply #1 from AshesoftheSingularity Forums Top

I agree in one way, another not... best thing we can do is to just let callum and is team test it out bugs will some1 allways find so not a problem...  I think hey rather should push it out sooner... like the 2.03... 2.02 was not playble... the beta saved it for me at least.. push ballance up sooner is better also @draginol push the ballance from callum out... it's just one of many things that will change the ballance... next is probly buldings I guess

Reply #2 from Stardock.net Forums Top

I don't get why this is an issue. Can you explain more please? 

Galactic Civilizations III
Reply #3 from AshesoftheSingularity Forums Top

active MP players dont like the current meta, and instability, so logically they would play the beta whenever possible. they create a MP match, non beta players either dont see the MP match, or when trying to join get "mismatch". making them think either people dont play or game is bugged.

if everyone played the base game during peak hours everyone would be able to join / see everyone else's games. allowing people to see there is an active MP community, playing beta during peak hours/constantly, makes it like the community is even smaller than it is, stagnates growth, deters players etc etc.

theres nothing wrong with beta testing, but it seems people are very comfortable with constantly playing the beta, but then EVERYONE should play the beta.. ie release the patch.. OR everyone plays the base game, and only plays the beta for testing. in a small community like we have there is a big difference between testing and only playing (abusing) the beta.. one promotes growth the other kills it

last night (sunday) worked out much better i think. there was a good number of players even if as the current MP games are instable.. up to 12 at one point in the lobby. which is looking better and better each weekend, except when the beta is spammed, then it drops to only "veteran players"

Reply #4 from Stardock.net Forums Top

Ah ok. I myself am constantly in beta, but I don't play MP much. I'll keep this in mind ^^

 

Btw, when are peak hours?

Reply #5 from AshesoftheSingularity Forums Top

Well of course its a totally different story if ur playing SP then u wouldnt effect the MP community either way :)

Peak hours are roughly 2200-0400 GMT (if u look at the steam charts) and the highest peak is from Friday til Sunday.. iow when the majority of people are not working.....

Reply #6 from AshesoftheSingularity Forums Top

I don't think they should be using opt in betas for balance changes. Save that for expansions. Balance changes shouldn't be in a beta state longer than a few days, the problem is last two patches were opt in betas for a week or more. 

Reply #7 from AshesoftheSingularity Forums Top

Yeah, got game mismatch 3 or 4 times, and see 6 games going, and dont match any of them..