Alpha Tester Acceptance Mails Heading Out!

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Originally Posted by Zyph

DERP

That's what I get for not checking the Lodestone.

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It's ok Zyph, we still love you. Want some fish?

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Originally Posted by LlenCoram

It's ok Zyph, we still love you. Want some fish?

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Only if I can keep one as a pet.

It's finally starting. . .

* rocks back and forth *

It's finally happening hehe

In non crazy words, this is good news. Really hope it goes smoothly so we can get some na/eu/ other? Into the testing ASAP.

I want to see the new login screen too :<

It was pretty basic but looked nice and clean. From what I recall, had the new logo of course, a Marauder (this one maybe? - press pause right away), a button in Japanese, and an "About" and I think "Setting" buttons on the bottom.

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Originally Posted by gahoo

It was pretty basic but looked nice and clean. From what I recall, had the new logo of course, a Marauder (this one maybe? - press pause right away), a button in Japanese, and an "About" and I think "Setting" buttons on the bottom.

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What color was the background?

black

10chr

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Originally Posted by gahoo

black

10chr

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Better than white :p. White blinded me MY EYES!

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Originally Posted by Zyph

Do I have to do anything in particular to sign up? Or is just based on "You're a legacy member."?

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The only true requirement is active XIV account.

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Originally Posted by Elexia

The only true requirement is active XIV account.

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and that you fill out the alpha application. That your pc meets the minimum specs is probably a good thing toward getting accepted too. Mine doesn't =/

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Originally Posted by Molly_Millions

and that you fill out the alpha application. That your pc meets the minimum specs is probably a good thing toward getting accepted too. Mine doesn't =/

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Probably not in regards to specs..since my friend got accepted and he didnt even met the 1.0 minimum lol. I doubt they even really look at the apps that deeply, just let their RNG handle selection.

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Originally Posted by Elexia

Planned: Late September - Early October for Alpha.
Planned: When worlds goes offline the Beta will commence, which would mean in early-mid November.

So there still can be delays and thinking it will start exactly end of october is very hopeful lol. I don't think anyone really cried about it, more like disappointment that SE is actually behind on everything, since what was planned has been the word for the last year up until around E3-Gamescom, then we learn differently.

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Didn't Yoshi said in one of the gamescom interview beta start in winter?

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Originally Posted by Felis

Didn't Yoshi said in one of the gamescom interview beta start in winter?

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Yeah he did, and technically he would be right since for one Alpha is not a very long process to being with, and secondly Winter lasts till April :P. so in a sense were on time :P. However I am sure the beta will start at latest December "Which is the start of winter after all ( December 21, 2012) <---- Yep will be dead before we play beta! XD

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Originally Posted by Felis

Didn't Yoshi said in one of the gamescom interview beta start in winter?

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that was the point it was pushed back from November, to December.

i remember he said in an interview that beta will not be out before january 2013 uhm..

The "open beta" was said to start in January.

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Originally Posted by Dragonheart

i remember he said in an interview that beta will not be out before january 2013 uhm..

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Alpha starts within the next 7 days, Alpha is a very short process, 1 month is usually an Alpha max limit. Then Beta comes shortly thereafter. October 30th till November 30th then Beta at some point in December. Depends how SE handles the time frame on alpha/beta tests. Alpha can be wrapped up as little as 2 weeks if all goes well. Beta is what takes the absolute longest ( anywhere from 1-4/5 months) again depends on how beta is coming along will determine the length of the beta.

These are all rough estimates on how I think it's going to go.

i guess alpha wil start for jp monday next week, maybe even this week but doubt it.
since yoshida said alpha would be "mostly" only server stress testing it should not take longer than a month.
One week will be jp only is my guess, after that others should slowly get invites too.
Beta will probably start right after alpha since they dont want to waste time (its a company) i guess and of november beta will start.

I could imagine a release in Feb. 2013

There's 2 phases for Japan, and given that it will take a month my bet is NA/EU will be last 1 1/2 of it. They now NA players will get pissy even though it's an alpha, so I wouldn't doubt they'd rather get all the major snags out the way with the local playerbase first even if it takes most of the time, since it is just testing and not really playing the game like some people take alpha and betas.

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Originally Posted by Elexia

There's 2 phases for Japan, and given that it will take a month my bet is NA/EU will be last 1 1/2 of it.

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Probably about right, certainly it won't be shorter than 9 days. Since it's 2 phases, there needs to be at least some downtime between them, and getting a large enough sample will take at least 3-4 days per phase.

I'm guessing week 1 is phase 1, week 2 is phase 2 and so on.

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Originally Posted by Lirion

I'm guessing week 1 is phase 1, week 2 is phase 2 and so on.

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That'd be pretty quick test phases lol, especially to throw in fixes/updates/restructuring etc.

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Originally Posted by Lirion

I'm guessing week 1 is phase 1, week 2 is phase 2 and so on.

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This is Square Enix we are talking about here, when they said the alpha would be a month they probably meant 1 month per phase lol.

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Originally Posted by Lirion

I'm guessing week 1 is phase 1, week 2 phase 2 and so on.

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Sounds right, but if all they are doing is stress testing they shouldn't need a a week per phase, Alpha is more of a prepping stage for Beta. Once they can able to bring in alot of people to test say 1,000 a server without breaking a sweat then they could enter closed beta. Once they can hold like 5k a server then they can go into open beta. Once they can see no major bugs and most bug squashed then they could go Retail. We as testers need to make sure we get all the bugs we can see =).

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Originally Posted by Starlord

Sounds right, but if all they are doing is stress testing they shouldn't need a a week per phase, Alpha is more of a prepping stage for Beta. Once they can able to bring in alot of people to test say 1,000 a server without breaking a sweat then they could enter closed beta. Once they can hold like 5k a server then they can go into open beta. Once they can see no major bugs and most bug squashed then they could go Retail. We as testers need to make sure we get all the bugs we can see =).

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It will not be that quick. lol A short downtime between phases would be a week to a week and a half. Let's not get irrationally optimistic on this games transition into retail. Especially when this is it's second go. Fully expect them to take all the time in the world between phases and between open beta and release.

were not testing to decide wether or not the game sucks people o.o were here testing so we can make the game the best that it can be!~

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Originally Posted by BruceyBruceyBangBang

It will not be that quick. lol A short downtime between phases would be a week to a week and a half. Let's not get irrationally optimistic on this games transition into retail. Especially when this is it's second go. Fully expect them to take all the time in the world between phases and between open beta and release.

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Alpha is not ment to be a "long process"
Beta on the other hand is a Long process and should be

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Originally Posted by Starlord

Alpha is not ment to be a "long process"
Beta on the other hand is a Long process and should be

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You clearly don't understand the process then. I wasn't inviting a debate on what you speculate an alpha is for or even what this alpha is for. I was just offering some realistic expectations that some people should follow.

The only people who think this is going to be a short and painless process are people who, either don't understand the work that is needed to be done between phases, or simply people who don't participate in many alpha/beta tests.

It's not a crime or anything to be optimistic, but really these made up phase periods you guys are allowing yourself to believe are wildly short and unrealistic.

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Originally Posted by BruceyBruceyBangBang

You clearly don't understand the process then. I wasn't inviting a debate on what you speculate an alpha is for or even what this alpha is for. I was just offering some realistic expectations that some people should follow.

The only people who think this is going to be a short and painless process are people who, either don't understand the work that is needed to be done between phases, or simply people who don't participate in many alpha/beta tests.

It's not a crime or anything to be optimistic, but really these made up phase periods you guys are allowing yourself to believe are wildly short and unrealistic.

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It will be whatever it will be. Longer they test the better.

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Originally Posted by Starlord

It will be whatever it will be. Longer they test the better.

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That'a boy.

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Originally Posted by BruceyBruceyBangBang

That'a boy.

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BARK BARK!!!! :D

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Originally Posted by Elexia

That'd be pretty quick test phases lol, especially to throw in fixes/updates/restructuring etc.

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Well if they plan on having the alpha last one month then the phases would probably last a week unless S-E wants more testing time. But really how much time do you need to stresstest your servers?

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Originally Posted by Lirion

Well if they plan on having the alpha last one month then the phases would probably last a week unless S-E wants more testing time. But really how much time do you need to stresstest your servers?

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i highly doubt there using Alpha as a stress test for there servers, that's more open beta territory. alpha is for the more glaring issues like "falling through the map" type stuff.

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Originally Posted by Lirion

But really how much time do you need to stresstest your servers?

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That depends on how well they set them up to begin with, how quickly they can identify any issues, how fast they can make changes in the case that issues are found, and if those changes end up being the right ones.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

i highly doubt there using Alpha as a stress test for there servers, that's more open beta territory. alpha is for the more glaring issues like "falling through the map" type stuff.

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Yoshi himself said the alpha is a stresstest in his letter.

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Our first big step—the alpha test—is almost here.
I’m on pins and needles waiting to see how the stress tests turn out. I have a feeling I’ll be trapped in the office for about two weeks once they’re underway.

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http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/55751

Falling through the map type of stuff have probably been ironed out but bugs and glitches happens and if they happen in the alpha people should report them. But the devteam have said that the alpha is a stresstest with the beta being a test for gameplay mechanics and balancing stuff.

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Originally Posted by Molly_Millions

That depends on how well they set them up to begin with, how quickly they can identify any issues, how fast they can make changes in the case that issues are found, and if those changes end up being the right ones.

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Of course the test can turn out showing that they will need more time, all I said was that they said they plan that the alpha will last one month and have 4 phases, that would make the phases one week each. That's all. :)

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

i highly doubt there using Alpha as a stress test for there servers, that's more open beta territory. alpha is for the more glaring issues like "falling through the map" type stuff.

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It's been mentioned a couple of times they are using alpha to test the new server infrastructure.

Alpha length can vary wildly depending on how smooth or rocky it runs. A planned month could turn into 2-3 (for good reason) if the second they launch the servers they crash.

Let's cross our fingers for a smooth and quick transition to Beta where we will get to actually see stuff (And hopefully participate). Alpha is mainly just logging in and running around...if that.

it doesn't make sense to stress test with only a few thousand, unless there forecast of new players is so low they only expect around a thousand on each server. the servers not being able to handle thousands of connections was one of the hundreds of reasons 1.0 Failed at launch.

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Originally Posted by Valmonte

it doesn't make sense to stress test with only a few thousand, unless there forecast of new players is so low they only expect around a thousand on each server. the servers not being able to handle thousands of connections was one of the hundreds of reasons 1.0 Failed at launch.

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Testing starts small, then grows with more invites. By the 4th phase, end of November-ish, they'll be putting as much load as possible onto their test server(s). I'd wager to guess they only have one server open for testing, and are just piling in all the alpha participants into that. From there, they'd just copy the same settings/adjustments to all other servers and start prepping for Beta.

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Originally Posted by Denmo

Testing starts small, then grows with more invites. By the 4th phase, end of November-ish, they'll be putting as much load as possible onto their test server(s). I'd wager to guess they only have one server open for testing, and are just piling in all the alpha participants into that. From there, they'd just copy the same settings/adjustments to all other servers and start prepping for Beta.

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Right, but wasn't it said while back that there's a limited number of alpha invites.

Lets just hope they get it right this time.