Alpha First Look: Video 4 - The Black Shroud II

[Tupster]

Damn it it's alpha! They've said multiple times animations are not complete

Alpha is the time to make sure you point out things that look like problems. If for some reason they do not see it as a problem then they won't fix it and you cannot assume that anything is considered to be not be final. Being alpha is exactly the reason one should complain, it is easier to fix now rather than later.

Also, that bit about personal attacks you quoted seems inappropriate, because the post you were responding to actually praised the devs but was simply pointing out something which might be changed to make the game better. I would consider that more constructive, and more helpful than "It all looks perfect", which is nice but actually unhelpful to anybody's creative process (although it does help ones self-esteem).

[Soukyuu]

Alpha is the time to make sure you point out things that look like problems. If for some reason they do not see it as a problem then they won't fix it and you cannot assume that anything is considered to be not be final. Being alpha is exactly the reason one should complain, it is easier to fix now rather than later.

While that's true, and YoshiP tells the devs that having an apologetic mindset of "it's only alpha" is not allowed (read the interview translations), complaining about stuff that they already said is not implemented yet (= animations) doesn't do any good.

[Tupster]

While that's true, and YoshiP tells the devs that having an apologetic mindset of "it's only alpha" is not allowed (read the interview translations), complaining about stuff that they already said is not implemented yet (= animations) doesn't do any good.

Thank you for pointing that out. That's fine, if they've actually noted they are working on that particular aspect. I had not seen that bit of info.

[Jamison]

Alpha is the time to make sure you point out things that look like problems. If for some reason they do not see it as a problem then they won't fix it and you cannot assume that anything is considered to be not be final. Being alpha is exactly the reason one should complain, it is easier to fix now rather than later.

Not an attack on you, just a jumping-off point for my post.

Alpha is *not* for pointing out problems, it's for testing the server structure and limitations. It's for putting load on the entire system looking for points of failure. These alpha client/servers branched off from the main code some 2-3 months ago and are not reflective of where the team is today -- let alone when beta starts.

That being said, the MMO world is unlikely to ever see another alpha that looks as polished as ARR does.

Beta will be the time to offer constructive feedback on all aspects of gameplay and design.

[Tupster]

Not an attack on you, just a jumping-off point for my post.

Alpha is *not* for pointing out problems, it's for testing the server structure and limitations. It's for putting load on the entire system looking for points of failure. These alpha client/servers branched off from the main code some 2-3 months ago and are not reflective of where the team is today -- let alone when beta starts.

That being said, the MMO world is unlikely to ever see another alpha that looks as polished as ARR does.

Beta will be the time to offer constructive feedback on all aspects of gameplay and design.

Not sure if we need to split hairs this much. I appreciate what you are trying to say here, but my general point is that the earlier problems are addressed the cheaper and easier it is to fix them. This is a basic tenant of software engineering.

[hrdndv]

Not sure if we need to split hairs this much. I appreciate what you are trying to say here, but my general point is that the earlier problems are addressed the cheaper and easier it is to fix them. This is a basic tenant of software engineering.

As a software engineer... hogwash. Every program is different. For example, testing servers does not use the program that will be implemented. Not the same program. So making it look like Beta is only a flourish.... it is still NOT Beta. You will get a chance to nitpick Beta when it is up and running. In the meantime... just cool your heels and wait.

[Tupster]

As a software engineer... hogwash. Every program is different. For example, testing servers does not use the program that will be implemented. Not the same program. So making it look like Beta is only a flourish.... it is still NOT Beta. You will get a chance to nitpick Beta when it is up and running. In the meantime... just cool your heels and wait.

I'm a PhD candidate in computer science (if we are going to compare careers). You know very well if you are a software engineer that finding and fixing problems early in development saves money and time. If I was going to pick one thing from a software engineering class that a student should learn it is that.

They have said that alpha is actually running a months old branch of the code, but obviously anything about alpha that is the same in beta can be "nitpicked". YoshiP has already said they have incorporated feedback from alpha players (or elsewhere, the translation didn't say exactly). If he had his fingers in his ears and was only testing server load then he just needs to go over the server logs and observe lag in the game himself (so I don't think that is what he means by incorporating player feedback.) The only problem would be if what we are nitpicking has already changed, but I see no reason to assume any particular thing has already been fixed until we see it.

You seem to be saying that because they have disabled or missing features that we cannot comment on features that clearly present. Maybe you are implying that they completely made up a fake client that is unrelated to beta at all.

In short, I do not think YoshiP would be having conversations with players in alpha about the game and incorporating user feedback that he gets if he was only looking for alpha to test the server load. That is the official goal of alpha, but obviously not the only one.

[Thebard]

I'm a PhD candidate in computer science (if we are going to compare careers). You know very well if you are a software engineer that finding and fixing problems early in development saves money and time. If I was going to pick one thing from a software engineering class that a student should learn it is that.

They have said that alpha is actually running a months old branch of the code, but obviously anything about alpha that is the same in beta can be "nitpicked". YoshiP has already said they have incorporated feedback from alpha players (or elsewhere, the translation didn't say exactly). If he had his fingers in his ears and was only testing server load then he just needs to go over the server logs and observe lag in the game himself (so I don't think that is what he means by incorporating player feedback.) The only problem would be if what we are nitpicking has already changed, but I see no reason to assume any particular thing has already been fixed until we see it.

You seem to be saying that because they have disabled or missing features that we cannot comment on features that clearly present. Maybe you are implying that they completely made up a fake client that is unrelated to beta at all.

In short, I do not think YoshiP would be having conversations with players in alpha about the game and incorporating user feedback that he gets if he was only looking for alpha to test the server load. That is the official goal of alpha, but obviously not the only one.

Maybe theres another alpha (the real one) and this ones just for keeping people interested. Thats what I'd do.

[Gawen]

great video! keep up the good work!

like many other said, i hope that the music we hear on background , it's the same music in the game, and it's possible because yoshi-p said that in different zone we'll listen different parts of a single track, so maybe in the video we're just listening that complete track (explaining why there aren't interruptions when the scenes changes).
anyway i like a lot the new atmosphere!!! really fine!