Beta for each patch

What does the community think about SE releasing each patch 3-4 weeks ahead of time to users for beta testing? Allows users to test drive the client and report issues and gives SE valuable feedback that can improve the chances of a successful GA (general availability) release.

Let users download a client separate from the live client that gets periodically updated with beta versions to try out.

the idea isn't that bad, but with what characters?

i don't think you can easily switch with your normal character between beta and normal server.
also the progress you would make in the beta.

means you would have to level a new character only for beta purposes.
and more cost to service/maintain the servers.

test servers was planned since when 2.0 announced, thou no timeframe was given. We'll sure get sooner or later, but for now they have more pressing thing to do

I have been wondering this myself.

However, considering the way they handled the alpha/beta schedule there would be insufficient time for testing as it would only be open for one weekend the week before launch and only for a few hours at a convenient time for Asia/Australia. It would be treated as a preview instead of a test. Please look forward to it.

It should be open a month or two prior to launch 24 hours a day for a few weeks to gather meaningful feedback and bug reports from all regions.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Phe

the idea isn't that bad, but with what characters?

i don't think you can easily switch with your normal character between beta and normal server.
also the progress you would make in the beta.

means you would have to level a new character only for beta purposes.
and more cost to service/maintain the servers.

---

Other games provide a service that would allow you to copy your character as-is onto the test server instead of starting from the bottom.

i think they'll establish a test server once they find the time.

That's a terrible idea.

Would be hell to just think of a way to make this "work" with the general public. Too much resources better spent on new content, really.

They could do something like character copy, available from mog station, works like a server transfer service so to speak, but it copies your character instead?

Also, I guess to test high lvl content SE can put a system where people can create a template character specifically in test server, already geared and whatnot. Not sure how the queue is going to work if too many people create a character there lol. Purge servers with every new patch? XD

With that said, I thought SE already has internal testers or something?

I'm surprised they haven't done this yet for 2.1. As great as a company's internal testers might be, there are still many bugs and issues that go by unnoticed or don't even come into effect until a large number players are there. More testers means its more likely these things will be caught. Plus it's basically free help as there are more than enough players willing to test new content.

You wouldn't even need to level a new character. Most other games allow you to copy over your character to test servers, or offer template characters for those that are too low. Of course, playing these characters will have no effect on your characters on the main servers and will likely be wiped at the end of the testing phase.

The only downside for this to SE is that you'll get hardcore groups going in and testing the endgame content, beating it shortly after it's live, and potentially unsubscribing a lot sooner than they normally would have after running out of content.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Orophin

The only downside for this to SE is that you'll get hardcore groups going in and testing the endgame content, beating it shortly after it's live, and potentially unsubscribing a lot sooner than they normally would have after running out of content.

---

That's going to happen anyways. There will always be those hardcore players that will go at content non-stop and clear it quickly. Thing is, this is such a tiny percentage of their player-base; most people will take weeks or even months to complete everything, if that.

Mind you, Crystal Tower is supposed to be easier than Binding Coil, so I doubt it'll take very long for even the average player to do it. This more applies to when actual harder content comes out. The only challenging content this patch might be the Extreme Primals.

Will OP really first beta test 2.1 and bring it february to the live servers?

I think the idea is that there is a way to copy your character info to a beta environment where progress is not saved. You can test run content before launch.

Using 2.1 as an example, beta would have gone our in November.

dataminers!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by LarsCroft

dataminers!

---

This is probably one of the biggest reasons we don't have test servers. Before Early Release they released Beta4, which was the last build and techincally a pre-Early Release Early Release barring any unforeseen problems. It was also effectively the full game client and dataminers published all the item data to XIVDB. The data was promptly ordered removed by Square within days. If they did launch a test server they'd have the same problem over and over again...

They have a test server for FFXI to let you try out new patches before they are out and they let you copy your character over to the test server.

So maybe SE will make one for FFXIV. But it wasn't for a long time before FFXI got a test server.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by cotti

That's a terrible idea.

Would be hell to just think of a way to make this "work" with the general public. Too much resources better spent on new content, really.

---

You're not really familiar with Public Test Servers, are you? xD

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Gilraen

This is probably one of the biggest reasons we don't have test servers. Before Early Release they released Beta4, which was the last build and techincally a pre-Early Release Early Release barring any unforeseen problems. It was also effectively the full game client and dataminers published all the item data to XIVDB. The data was promptly ordered removed by Square within days. If they did launch a test server they'd have the same problem over and over again...

---

I honestly don't understand why they got in such a huff over data miners. It's important to have an accurate database of items in the game, in my opinion.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Naunet

You're not really familiar with Public Test Servers, are you?

---

You're not really familiar with ARR's specific circunstances as of now, including development methodology and period of such development, publisher, accuracy on server load previsions, etc, are you?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Naunet

xD

---

Way to put the tongue on the sewers.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Naunet

I honestly don't understand why they got in such a huff over data miners. It's important to have an accurate database of items in the game, in my opinion.

---

ENTERPRISE isn't meant to think with logic. You may don't understand, but it does not make your point valid for a corporation. It's their product, and datamining is against the ToS.

Almost every MMO I've played over the past ten years has had a Test Server of some sort. Some had one that was always available while others only came online when a major update needed some testing. Some allowed characters to be copied over from Live servers while other required you to start from the beginning and level up a whole new character just for testing. In all of these scenarios, I've enjoyed testing new content and updates. I would gladly do so here should Square-Enix offer a Test Server for this game.

If they don't keep the patch to themselves what will they post to tease us all the time?

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Zumi

They have a test server for FFXI to let you try out new patches before they are out and they let you copy your character over to the test server.

So maybe SE will make one for FFXIV. But it wasn't for a long time before FFXI got a test server.

---

FFXI has the test servers took them a few years, But they got it so i would put money on it. That once this game settles down some they will, Put the test servers for this game online. I would say it would be after the ps4 launch that way ps4 and PC players can both be on the test server at same time. Unlike FFXI were only PC users were allowed on it.