Sins BETA Expectations!

Our betas are not demos

from Sins Forums

For those of you who have been through a Stardock-run game beta program, welcome back. You know what you're in for so most of this will be just like what you've heard from us before.

But for those of you who haven't ever gone through a Stardock game beta, this post is designed to get your expectations ready.

Sins of a Solar Empire Beta 1 Objectives:

The goal of beta 1 is for us to test out the game engine. How well does it run on a wide range of PCs? How is the perfomance? How is compatibility?

There has been much discussion on galciv2.com by players who note that our games usually require few "patches" to fix major bugs. This is why. We release publicly the games during early beta to nail down these issues long before it hits the shelves. 

These days, many "beta" programs are little more than late-term demos designed with marketing in mind as well as nailing down final balancing issues.  That's not what this beta is for.

There will be at least 3 major beta releases. Possibly 4 depending on how well public feedback is.

There are no NDAs involved. If you don't like what we're doing, tell us.  We do not require NDAs precisely because we don't want you to feel any constraints on giving feedback. 

Most of you have no doubt played games where you later hear the beta testers didn't think the game was ready for release but they were stuck under NDA.  I've never seen an example where the beta testers were wrong.

Beta 1 specifics

In beta 1, it's a single player game. The multiplayer functionality has been disabled. The reason for this is because many game mechanics "work fine" when you're playing against another human on-line. People will work around problematic design decisions. But in the real world, the single player experience has to be good and so we want players to be able to tell us what issues they run into.

Beta 1 only has one of the 3 factions in it. The other two are currently disabled. They'll come in later when we've sorted out things with engine compatibility, performance, etc.

Setting Expectations

Those who were in any of the GalCiv betas know that the early betas for these games aren't very fun. I don't expect Sins to be any different. Think of your favorite PC RTS of all time. Starcraft, Total Annihiation, etc.  Imagine if in Starcraft you ran out of crystals very quickly. Imagine if in TA if the commander didn't have a Dgun how "rushing" might have gone.  It only takes a few little tweaks to turn a classic game into disaster.

That doesn't mean we don't want to get your feedback on game mechanics, but what we mostly need to find out from you for beta 1 is how well the game runs on your computer and how stable it is for you.

If you'd like to see our Galactic Civilizations II beta schedule to see how that went click below:

https://forums.galciv2.com/?forumid=162&aid=64347

Here is what was posted about beta 1 and 2 of Galactic Civilizations II:

March: Beta 1
Goal: Compatibility and performance.  How well does the new 3D engine work? Does it blow up on people? What hardare issues will people have?
Feedback we need: If it doesn't run on your computer or has some problem, we need to know your hardware specifications, what OS you're running, etc.
Feedback we DON'T need: Spelling errors, complaints about missing features, "suggestions" on UI, complaints about game balancing or "that it's not fun" (beta 1 won't be fun, we'll make it our business to ensure it's not fun in order to keep focus on the compatibility and performance

May: Beta 2
Goal: Performance/Compatibility still. But now with the focus moving towards user interface design. Is the UI looking okay? Is it intuitive? Are the basic game mechanics easy to figure out? Can you play the game without needing a manual (the game will have a manual but a well designed game shouldn't need much of one)
Feedback we need: Suggestions/complaints on UI. Crashing issues. Performance and compatibility.
Feedback we DON'T need: Spelling errors, complaints about missing features, , complaints about game balancing or "that it's not fun" (beta 2 should be playable but it won't be balanced yet). "First off, you spelled 'manufacturing' as 'manufaturing'. Secondly, I can't believe that a capital ship only takes 4 months to build but a fighter take 3 months. Hello? Why bother with a fighter?"

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Reply #1 from Sins Forums Top
(beta 1 won't be fun, we'll make it our business to ensure it's not fun in order to keep focus on the compatibility and performance ).

you cruel bastards!
Feedback we DON'T need: Spelling errors, complaints about missing features, , complaints about game balancing or "that it's not fun" (beta 2 should be playable but it won't be balanced yet). "First off, you spelled 'manufacturing' as 'manufaturing'. Secondly, I can't believe that a capital ship only takes 4 months to build but a fighter take 3 months. Hello? Why bother with a fighter?"

I think you should change the title to:
"things we still think you're useless for"
Reply #2 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks you frongboy, its always nice to read your posts

A question about some of the "NOT NEEDED" complaint.
If indeed some things really DO "suck" when will we be able to complain
Ashes of the Singularity II
Reply #3 from Sins Forums Top
I sit here thinking to myself. If the beta isn't going to be fun, why should I play it. Then I slap myself really hard for thinking that.

I am proud to be able to test and see if the game runs well on my poor little old pc...

6 MORE DAYS!!!!!

I am also glad it is being limited in terms of what is being released with the beta (limited races,music,art), I sure as heck don't want to get tired of the entire game before it even comes out. When I get the final version I still want one or two moments where I can say "Damn I never saw that before"...
Reply #4 from Sins Forums Top
I will patiently wait for the boxed set, letting you lackies sort out the problems.
Reply #5 from Sins Forums Top

I will patiently wait for the boxed set, letting you lackies sort out the problems.


Thats not very nice!
Reply #6 from Sins Forums Top
It makes me feel better knowing that I cant afford it.
Reply #7 from Sins Forums Top

It makes me feel better knowing that I cant afford it.


Ah your a young'n I am guessing... Ah well there was once a time I wouldn't have been able to afford it either. I'll post tons of screenshots for ya!
Reply #8 from Sins Forums Top
See it matters on the time frame. Right now I have X amout of dollars each week I earn about 10 dollars(thats minus clothing, music, hang out expenses). Now i need 45 to get the beta.

So it matters how long untill they stop handing it out.
Reply #9 from Sins Forums Top
I will patiently wait for the boxed set, letting you lackies sort out the problems.


The best part of beta testing a strat game is that when it comes out to the masses you already know how to play. And you get to play with n00bs, its feels like you have god like powers. Usually I smack them around for a bit and them help them but I start with evil intentions .

Beta testing is a blast though if you can see the diamond in the rough, this is our chance to have a hand in the end product. The better we can help make it the more chance there is that we will see more games published by Stardock, I think the world could use more intelligent sci-fi games. At least my world can.
Reply #10 from Sins Forums Top
Not necessarily. If I know SD, they are gona run Ironengine into the ground making sure the game is turned upside down by the time its finished.

Plus theres always balance issues, by the end of the beta youll be more confused the knowledgable.
Reply #11 from Sins Forums Top
Mmmm I love the idea of smacking around noobs once the full game is out!

Also I will make sure to provide the following feedback for Beta1 ~

Spelling errors, complaints about missing features, "suggestions" on UI, complaints about game balancing or "that it's not fun". "This game sucks, where's the starbases? Where are the fleets? I hate to say this but this is a big step backwards from any game ever made. Perhaps you should read up on about the differences between 'alphas' and 'betas' and think over your obvious ignorance on basic software development. I'll check back in a few months to see if you'e managed to cobble together a decent game but I won't count on it. In the meantime, I'll be on Usenet and IRC making sure everyone knows you guys suck."

Reply #12 from Sins Forums Top
I cant wait till they anounce that youve been banned
Reply #13 from Sins Forums Top
FIXED!


I cant wait till they announce that you've been promoted to head beta tester!


Reply #14 from Sins Forums Top
Yes, except you cant change the original...
Reply #15 from Sins Forums Top
no no no, I fixed it... you didn't realize what you were saying when you first posted, and since I replied so quickly I know the edit button disappears so you couldn't correct yourself.
Reply #16 from Sins Forums Top
Mmmm I love the idea of smacking around noobs once the full game is out!


Thats how it was after beta testing Company of Heroes, the n00b level skyrocketed, as did my score and ego.
Reply #17 from Sins Forums Top
Right... sorry I forgot that for a minute Oh Great One.
Reply #18 from Sins Forums Top
Reply #19 from Sins Forums Top
I can't wait to help!
Reply #20 from Sins Forums Top

I sit here thinking to myself. If the beta isn't going to be fun, why should I play it. Then I slap myself really hard for thinking that.

I am proud to be able to test and see if the game runs well on my poor little old pc...

6 MORE DAYS!!!!!

I am also glad it is being limited in terms of what is being released with the beta (limited races,music,art), I sure as heck don't want to get tired of the entire game before it even comes out. When I get the final version I still want one or two moments where I can say "Damn I never saw that before"...


That's actually my big concern is that I'd be tired of the game by the time retail was released.


Reply #21 from Sins Forums Top

A question about some of the "NOT NEEDED" complaint.
If indeed some things really DO "suck" when will we be able to complain

That'll be more of a Beta 2 type thing most likely. But we'll probably set up one thread for technical feedback and another for gameplay feedback.

Reply #22 from Sins Forums Top

Thanks you frongboy, its always nice to read your posts

A question about some of the "NOT NEEDED" complaint.
If indeed some things really DO "suck" when will we be able to complain

Beta 2 would be when the game should be reasonably fun to play.

Reply #23 from Sins Forums Top
Thanks bouts of you
Reply #24 from Sins Forums Top
Thats crap, I'm still going to have fun playing beta 1, even laugh at my self as I run into problems.
Reply #25 from Sins Forums Top
I think polls should be enabled on the forum. So the devs could get an idea about what the testers feel about serten things.