Discussion: MMORPG.com Dev Diary about Inventions
By
8_Ball,
Posted on: 2007-03-05 11:30 in CoH and CoV General Discussions
There have been a lot of questions about the "closed testing" that it mentions at the end of the article. How long will that go on and how will you be determining who will be in it?
I think most players are focusing on another part of the article, LH:
[ QUOTE ]
New Test Method
We first need to make sure that the system is ready for prime-time, and we determined that the best way to accomplish this is with a closed environment server. This means that we will be closing the North American Training Room shortly and using it to test Issue 9 in a more private capacity. Once we get enough feedback and incorporate the necessary changes so that we feel it's ready for public, we'll open the Training Room for all, and the full on testing can begin. We are proud of this new system and not only do we hope that our existing players will love it, but we also think this is a compelling reason for new players to get in and check it out!
[/ QUOTE ]
Yup! The best thing you guys could do right now would be to explain how the closed testing is going to work, or at some point you're going to have to close the forums entirely, as the player base explodes!
Remember CoV beta! <sharpens his kitten killing devices in anticipation>
Only saying mind...
Egor.
I'll be making an announcement today regarding the closed testing as well as some further details about the open testing.
Don't worry gang, there is time in the schedule for a LOT of player feedback to help polish the Issue up before release. Everyone who wants to will be given the opportunity.
Lighthouse
Community Relations Manager
If you have a specific in game, account, tech or billing problem please contact our Customer Support team via The Knowledge Base "Ask A Question" page.
I don't like this idea on closed testing.
I don't get it, what can be accomplished on a closed test server that can't be accomplished on your current form of internal testing? Will you be inviting select players to help test or some such like another Beta?
[ QUOTE ]
I don't like this idea on closed testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not? I don't see how it's much different from beta testing.
"Exclusives" are all well and good.
Official site first, please. Or just close it and let the other sites do the work.
[ QUOTE ]
I don't get it, what can be accomplished on a closed test server that can't be accomplished on your current form of internal testing? Will you be inviting select players to help test or some such like another Beta?
[/ QUOTE ]
One shotting +6s, etc...
The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants. It is its natural manure. --- Thomas Jefferson
Formerly known as YFNDBA
[ QUOTE ]
I'll be making an announcement today regarding the closed testing as well as some further details about the open testing.
Don't worry gang, there is time in the schedule for a LOT of player feedback to help polish the Issue up before release. Everyone who wants to will be given the opportunity.
[/ QUOTE ]
Cool, thanks for the heads up. I'll be refreshing constantly looking for the announcement then. 
Cool.... I would love the opportunity. 
CatMan - some form on every server
Always here, there, and there again.
[ QUOTE ]
"Exclusives" are all well and good.
Official site first, please. Or just close it and let the other sites do the work.
[/ QUOTE ]
It would not be exclusive to MMORPG.com then if it appeared here first Yes, it would be prefereable to learn it here first than deal with a third party site you can't view from work *cough**cough* but it always makes it way back here. Official notices that the article is appearing with full text provided later on (when the exclusive period is obviously over) would be nice.
CatMan - some form on every server
Always here, there, and there again.
[ QUOTE ]
I don't get it, what can be accomplished on a closed test server that can't be accomplished on your current form of internal testing?
[/ QUOTE ]
Here are a few reasons, although I am sure there are others
(1) Because the test server could not likely handle the load of the initial swarm of people coming to take a peek
(2) It lets them NDA a smaller group so that they have less complaints about how things were at the beginning, as there could potentially be many changes from what it originally hits test with
(3)Its easier to focus a smaller group of people on certain specific aspects of testing (ok, today everyone try out the respec trials, please).
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't like this idea on closed testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not? I don't see how it's much different from beta testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
Except that Beta testing for this game ended a looonnggg time ago....letting a certain section of the playerbase test a much anticipated issue before others is a little alienating. We don't usually have enough interest in the test server as it is.
But I can accept it if it means inventions will turn out better in the end.
COH/CoV - Virtue
8 Ball - Lev 50 Kin/Energy Defender
The Canadian Fist - Lev 50 Ice/EM Blaster
Omega Ghost - Lev 50 Robo/Dark MM
Ghostfall - Lev 50 Arachnos Crab Soldier
[ QUOTE ]
Matt "Positron" Miller drops by MMORPG.com to give an exclusive developer journal about Issue 9s coming Invention System.
...
Read the full article on MMORPG.com.
[/ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Set Enhancements
Finally, we wanted to have an awesome aspect to the entire Invention system that would really excite our players, and we think we achieved that with Invention Sets. Sets are themed groups of Enhancements that all slot into a single power, and here we could use the new Enhancement technology we'd created. Individual Enhancements can grant new types of bonuses, such as extra Health or faster Endurance Recovery. On top of that, you can gain additional bonuses by equipping multiple Enhancements from the same set in the same power. The more Enhancements you equip from a set, the more bonuses you get. These bonuses are powerful, they are always active, independent of the power they are slotted into, and encompass your entire character giving them things like Defenses or Resistances, or an overall boost to their Damage.
[/ QUOTE ]
Sigh, still no glimmer of some debuff love.
Poison Pill
On a side note...did you see the salvage requirments for just one Dual aspect IO? 8+ pieces is a little ecessive IMO...especially if some of those are uncommon/Rare.
COH/CoV - Virtue
8 Ball - Lev 50 Kin/Energy Defender
The Canadian Fist - Lev 50 Ice/EM Blaster
Omega Ghost - Lev 50 Robo/Dark MM
Ghostfall - Lev 50 Arachnos Crab Soldier
o.o I realize that all the new enhancements ate up a hideous amount of time.. and don't misunderstand, I'm looking forward to the new system.. but.. I can't help but feel sad that we won't be having any new out of combat things to do.
>.> any chance of getting that card game added back in as just a mini-game or something?
I am Sleepy! Hear me Yawn!!
Veni, Vidi, Dormivi!
-Alpha Kitty of the Guardian chapter of the Legion of Catgirls
Never forget--Sleepy could conquer the world, if she could just stay awake long enough. =) -Llanwe
[ QUOTE ]
"Exclusives" are all well and good.
Official site first, please. Or just close it and let the other sites do the work.
[/ QUOTE ]
/agreed
Official site for official news. Or should we just give up and hit google for Co* news?
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't get it, what can be accomplished on a closed test server that can't be accomplished on your current form of internal testing?
[/ QUOTE ]
Here are a few reasons, although I am sure there are others
(1) Because the test server could not likely handle the load of the initial swarm of people coming to take a peek
(2) It lets them NDA a smaller group so that they have less complaints about how things were at the beginning, as there could potentially be many changes from what it originally hits test with
(3)Its easier to focus a smaller group of people on certain specific aspects of testing (ok, today everyone try out the respec trials, please).
[/ QUOTE ]
(4) A smaller group keeps the volume of feedback down to a (reasonably) managable level.
(5) Multiple character purges and restores are likely going to happen as they mess with various aspects of inventions.
(6) A lot of speical casing will need to take place early on. That is, the testers will have to get recipes and salvage much faster than will be usual to be able to test effectively. A closed environment saves having the much larger open test population become disppointed as testing drop levels and powers and whatnot get balanced.
I'm sure there will be open testing as well once they've kicked major issues out. One of the things that will be checked during open testing will be what the "reason" drop rate will be.
Z
"I don't have an angel and a devil on my shoulder, I have Rocky and Bullwinkle." - Lore Sj�berg
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I don't like this idea on closed testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not? I don't see how it's much different from beta testing.
[/ QUOTE ]
Why not? I believe everyone should get a chance to try it out in the beginning like every other Issue, not like a beta. I could see if this was really a 'paid' expansion, but it isn't.
I really don't care, but I don't think it should be closed/limited to a certain amount of people.
[ QUOTE ]
On a side note...did you see the salvage requirments for just one Dual aspect IO? 8+ pieces is a little ecessive IMO...especially if some of those are uncommon/Rare.
[/ QUOTE ]
It's not 8 pieces. It's 4 pieces. One group of 4 pieces for levels 30-40, and one group of 4 pieces for 41-50. (or 5 pieces in the case of the +Rec/+Regen one)
Isn't this where someone is supposed to point out all the threads about this topic from this morning? IBTL! 
There are no words for what this community, and the friends I have made here mean to me. Please know that I care for all of you, yes, even you. If you Twitter, I'm MrThan. If you're Unleashed, I'm dumps. I'll try and get registered on the Titan Forums as well. Peace, and thanks for the best nine years anyone could ever ask for.
[ QUOTE ]
Because the test server could not likely handle the load of the initial swarm of people coming to take a peek
[/ QUOTE ]
It's funny, because that's what happens every single time a new Issue goes to test. You'd think they'd beef up the Training Room server in anticipation by now. Or open up a Training Room 2 to help offset the load or something when testing a new Issue.
[ QUOTE ]
"Exclusives" are all well and good.
Official site first, please. Or just close it and let the other sites do the work.
[/ QUOTE ]
I don't even bookmark the official site. The forums are a better source of news, and invariably have links to articles and news about CoH on other sites posted by players before the community relations staff get them up.
Heroes
Dysmal
Lumynous
Sam Steele
Pluck
Wile
Slagheap
Pressure Wave
Rhiannon Bel
Verified
Stellaric
Syd Mallorn
Villains
Jotunheim Skald
Saer Maen
Jen Corbae
Illuminance
Venator Arawn
Taiga Dryad
Tarranos
Matt "Positron" Miller drops by MMORPG.com to give an exclusive developer journal about Issue 9s coming Invention System.
[ QUOTE ]
We tried to think of new, exciting things that Enhancements could bring to the game. We determined that adding mini-powers to your existing ones had a lot of potential, as the sky would nearly be the limit on what we could accomplish...
[/ QUOTE ]
Read the full article on MMORPG.com.
Lighthouse
Community Relations Manager
If you have a specific in game, account, tech or billing problem please contact our Customer Support team via The Knowledge Base "Ask A Question" page.