Alpha Tester Acceptance Mails Heading Out!

[Starlord]

That'a boy.

BARK BARK!!!!

[Lirion]

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

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?

[Valmonte]

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?

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.

[Molly_Millions]

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

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.

[Lirion]

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

[Gokulo]

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.

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

[Jynx]

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.

[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.

[Denmo]

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.

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.

[Valmonte]

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.

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.