Wait... No Public Test Server for this game?

[xvshanevx]

I'm not a game developer or anything, but I would think for an MMO this large, that SE would have a Public Test Server to see what the community might do when new mechanics are released into the game. To have a hand full of dedicated testers and players try out the new content really helps these games with avoiding mistakes. I personally could care less about ways to fix the Hunt, but the fact that this game has no PTR, for how large it is, seems careless and a backhanded slap to the consumer.

[Nekodar]

While nice, a public test server would need to be quite restricted and would still have to leave some stuff out so that the economy of live servers are not affected.

The preliminary patch notes from 2.3 caused a rush to buy dodore wings and leather and mossy horns in anticipation of the new gather/craft accessories. Imagine how it would be if there was a public test server where you could find the next thing to price gouge...

[xvshanevx]

...a public test server would need to be quite restricted and would still have to leave some stuff out so that the economy of live servers are not affected.

From my understanding, a PTR is completely separate from the live game, and they usually set the player base up with the equivalent of "end of game" content, this way they can progress to the new content without having to grind anything. I guess for this game, and patch 2.3, in a PTR everyone would have level 50 classes/jobs and ilvl 90 gear (and same for crafting but I know little of crafting). This, then, allows them to rummage around the new content searching for things that might be a foul. Nothing from the PTR goes over to the live game, except maybe like a special mount or something.

That's what public test realms are for... testing.

Most games with "Public Test Servers" really do need to rename them due to what most people use them for... I suggest "Public PREVIEW Servers" or "Public NEW RAID PRACTICE Servers"

Yup, completely agree with this here. Either way you look at it though, you're having a select few trying, or previewing the new material, and if something fishy comes up, they then can report it. I think, what I'm trying to say is, SE creates new content for this game and then has no one try it out before releasing it. And this doesn't strike anyone as odd? Millions of players playing, world wide, and no player based testing. Nothing?

[Nekodar]

That's what public test realms are for... testing.

You miss the point. Anything you learn on the public test server, you can use to your advantage on live servers.

[xvshanevx]

You miss[ed] the point. Anything you learn on the public test server, you can use to your advantage on live servers.

Okay, I see what you mean. That is a valid point. But I have to argue: do you then find it better for them to ship broken and flawed game play for the sake of some people given an advantage? (Not like Apps or giant LS have ruined the Hunt or anything, and this came out without a PTR.)

...but if Yoshi and the team decide that's the way it is, then that's the way it is.

This is leading to the main point I think I am trying to formulate, is that this development team sees it as "their way or the high way." I personally think that what they have done with the game is great. But leaving the concerns of the player base (the customer) out of their business plan really only spells disaster for the future of the game. I understand the trope of "early access for some = complaining about nothing to do," and there is very little you can do about that. Simply because a few hundred players will cry that there is nothing to do, since they spent their time in the PTR "playing" the game instead of "testing" the game, is no ones fault but their own.

Here's an analogy that might work: You're hosting a dinner party, and your main dish is going to be a dish that you have never cooked before. What do you do?

Most of the time I would leave options to choose, but you can come up with your own. But know this, if you've never cooked the dish, never tried what you have made, and no one you know has tried it either, then how will the party go once the dish is served?

[Nekodar]

Okay, I see what you mean. That is a valid point. But I have to argue: do you then find it better for them to ship broken and flawed game play for the sake of some people given an advantage? (Not like Apps or giant LS have ruined the Hunt or anything, and this came out without a PTR.)

I just pointed out one reason for why PTR needs restrictions, I didn't say or mean that there shouldn't be any at all.
A PTR wouldn't have helped one bit against radars though, and the drawbacks of this kind of open world content was pointed out way before hunts, but people just waved it away as a non-issue.
I maintain that hunts should have been based on limited amounts of base pop items, possibly farmable for extra, with higher tier pop items being a possible drop from the base.

[Saccharin]

This game would HUGELY benefit from one.

Hopefully then we could prevent things like Atma, Broken Hunts Systems, & Crafting Material Boss Drops.

None of those things are actually bugged though so a PTR would not pick up on them. They all work as SE intended.

Only elite guilds would benefit from public test server as they can do their kills earlier.



Public test servers are just to fix last bugs, not to change the way stuff works. SE is making a much better job at this than publishers of games I know they have public test server.

Indeed. Some games progression starts on the test realm. Considering how much content they have put out there's been surprisingly few bugs in the game. Anything that people complain that is broken are intended outcomes and those can only be judged on live when there are thousands of players on a realm. SE make surprisingly good quality code. I wish some other developers would put quality over content.

[KarstenS]

Nothing from the PTR goes over to the lie game

Thats not true. The knowlegde what is coming does. Do you have ever asked yourself, why SE releases the patchnotes regular not before the servers shutdown for patch?

[Pandastirfry]

.


Yup, completely agree with this here. Either way you look at it though, you're having a select few trying, or previewing the new material, and if something fishy comes up, they then can report it. I think, what I'm trying to say is, SE creates new content for this game and then has no one try it out before releasing it. And this doesn't strike anyone as odd? Millions of players playing, world wide, and no player based testing. Nothing?

From my experience with PTRs, yeah people rummage around and find a few minor bugs and report them, maybe give some feed back about drop rates and boss mechanics that lead to wipes, but exploits, easily farmable stuff that will allow one to dominate the market, Player PvE abilities that really should be nerfed, and such... Prison Rules, baby! Snitches get stitches!

[Pandastirfry]

Most games with "Public Test Servers" really do need to rename them due to what most people use them for...

I suggest "Public PREVIEW Servers" or "Public NEW RAID PRACTICE Servers"