Author Topic: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)  (Read 100349 times)

Offline x4000

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #45 on: April 30, 2015, 01:11:18 pm »
Sorry for my super slow responses!  I've been so sucked in with the first wave of testers that I've not had time to do much else.  With the release date pushed back to allow for more refinement, I'm also taking the waves of testers a bit slower, at least particularly at first, so that the biggest issues of each "wave" get resolved prior to the next wave coming in.  With this first wave of redshirts, of course that list of issues is... well, pretty massive, given the scale of the game.  But that list is getting smaller by the day, and we're hitting a point where new testers will be useful within the next week.

The really gratifying thing for me has been seeing that despite all of the expected carnage of confusion and bugs for the redshirts, that they were still really enjoying it / hypnotized by it.  So that's a really exciting thing for me personally, because it speaks to what the game will hopefully be for people once it's actually properly fully polished!

As noted in another thread: I think what I'm going to do is start an "orange shirt" group to come between the redshirts and the blueshirts, on reflection.  The redshirt period has been a lot longer than I expected, and a lot rougher on that group.  I still haven't had time to focus on proper documentation for what the blueshirt experience is supposed to be.  So I think I'll add this orange shirt level that is basically "redshirts round 2, but this time with way more balance and way fewer bugs compared to before."  And anyone who was previously marked as a blueshirt and wants to become an orangeshirt can do so.  I'll make another thread about that.

I forget if I'm in or not, but consider this my hat-toss into the ring! Put me in whatever wave you like!

I've got an 8 month old who is crawling everywhere and starting to stand on her own, so I'm not an amazing tester who can sit still for five minutes, but I can't help it, Arcen makes games that are just too interesting not to play.

Amazingly you were not on the list!  I've added you now, and put you in the general after-blueshirts category.  Gosh it's been 8 months already, I remember when she was just "coming soon."  This past 8 months has been a lot longer for you than me, I suspect. ;)  Time starts passing a lot quicker again once they pass a year.  And then suddenly it's TOO fast.

Would not a "Apply for Beta" topic make your job easier?

Maybe there is one, but I could not find it so far.

Yeah, if I had sense I'd definitely do that. ;)  I'll do that shortly.  You're in from another thread, by the way.

I am interested in helping test. I haven't been following the development of the game closely, if that helps you locate me in a wave at all. I'm ready to be pleasantly surprised! :)

Always good to see returning folks.  I've got you marked down on the list!

I've been hemming and hawing and have decided that I would like to be part of the testing beta, and that I should be able to make time to genuinely participate.

I expect to be busy from June, and then horribly busy from July, so for me, earlier is better.  Then again, predictions of future workloads are not super reliable in my work.

Based on your notes there, I'm adding you as a blueshirt.  If that doesn't fit for you, just let me know!

I tested TLF and I love your concepts.
I am superkeen to test out and contribute to SBR.

Hook me up  :)

Added you to the list!  If you want to be orange or blue, let me know. :)

I tested TLF and i'd like to test this, whenever you want to drop me in.

Got you from another thread! :)

Hi Chris, never played any of your other games to be frank, but this one has me intrigued! :) Would love to test if you'll have me!

Newcomers are always welcome!  Having a completely fresh eye is really useful.  Right now I've got you on the list in general, but if you'd like to have a shirt color let me know!

I want to be part of this beta.

Got you from another thread!

Proud tester and feedback-giver of Skyward Collapse and TLF reporting in! Would be happy to test Stars beyod reach as well!

You're another one I'm surprised I didn't already have on my list!  I've added you to the list. :)  If you want a shirt color, just let me know.

I think I've already asked, but just in case please put me down as well.  :D

I have you down from January 19th. :)

Since now this thread became an application thread, please count me in as well, I am so enthusiastic about seeing how Arcen will make 4X genre more unique.

Got you on there!

I'll toss my hat in to offer to test the beta . .mostly did testing with Arcen before with the early stages of AVWW 1, since we're all posting credentials on this.  I've been following Stars Beyond Reach a bit, though certainly haven't read everything, so I suppose I'd be more of a "interested person that doesn't know too much yet" sort of impression/ responses.  Still, if that helps, I would be happy to test things out.

I always love hearing about you guys' past experiences, because honestly things blur together and while I recognize heavy contributors and even light ones, I couldn't swear which games people were active with, etc.  But folks really don't have to sell me with credentials or anything of the sort. ;)

I've got you added to the list -- I'll probably keep you to a very late wave if that's okay with you, because I could use some good folks in those waves that are coming in as blind as possible.  It definitely is a good test for release candidates, if that makes sense.

Man, i really dig all the games made by arcen, they're really good games, except for AVWW, it couldn't match the same quality as the rest of arcen's games :(, hopefully its not too late for me to join in the arcen does alpha centauri beta test train, for i want to hop in and see if the future will continue to awe me.

anyhow, count me in for testing.

Thanks very much!  Added you to the list!

Hey, heard about Stars beyond reach on some of the podcasts/posts by eXplorminate4x.com!  Super excited when I realized you were devs behind AI!

Anyway, count me in for the beta, any wave/shirt color/ is fine!

Sweet, thanks!  And welcome to the forums.  I've got you added to the list!

timfortress here for help ! Was in TLF before

Oh yes, of course. :)  I have you as an orangeshirt from another thread I finally got around to answering this morning.  Thanks!

Of course I would see this topic after I finished posting in the "Beta Begins" news post's topic. I'd like to help out with the testing in whatever wave you'd have me. I've got a good bit of spare time since exams ended.

I've got you added from I think that same other thread.  Thanks!

Sign me up to help out in whatever wave you think would be best.  I've given a lot of critical and technical feedback in the past, starting with Light of the Spire, through the Valley Games, and TLF.  Whether that sort of feedback is better at the beginning of the beta cycle or the end I don't really know, but I'm up for another go whenever it's best.

Sounds good!  And yes, I remember your style vividly. ;)  You're extremely useful as a tester, but I think I'd like to have folks like you, Cyborg, and chemical_art in waves where things are a little bit more mature.  Otherwise you'll get frustrated.  But I have you marked down, as -- like the other two -- you guys are absolutely positively invaluable.  Thanks for signing up!

I'm hyped... so count me in :)) Looking forward to play another awesome game from you guys.
I can obviously wait till July to buy it, but if given the chance I'm willing to play as soon as possible

:))
have a nice day

Added you to the list!  If you have a feeling on shirt color, let me know.

Looks like a great game.  I'd be willing to give it an early look if you need me.  Otherwise, I'll look forward to buying it on release.

Added you to the list!

And yes, definitely still looking for testers.  In my view we can't really have too many.  I think for TLF we had about 150, but then person 10,000 after the game comes out finds something critical that all of the rest of us missed, heh.  I'm trying to take this in waves so that too many people don't get too hung up on one specific set of issues (and instead the later groups see whatever new issues are there with fresh eyes), so hence the slower waves.  But I still am looking for tons of folks.

Sign me up. I'd love to get into as soon as I can, but I'll take whatever shirt you give me. Love AI War and Bionic dues.

Thanks!  And welcome to the forums.  Added you to the list as an orangeshirt! 

I would really like to be part of this beta. I've been pondering about this since your very first post mentioning the beta... That would be my first participation in an Arcen beta, but I'm really excited about Stars Beyond Reach and would love to help testing it.

Welcome also!  (And big apologies to anyone I miss welcoming by accident, by the way).  I've got you added to the list!

I'm interested in the beta if people are still needed.

Added you to the list!

Hi Chris, I've been following the developments of SBR for a few weeks already an I would love to join the beta if possible. :)

Welcome!  And I've added you to the list. :)

I heard about this game through eXplorminate, and it sounds amazing!  I was just involved in a beta test, and it really whetted my appetite.  I'd love to be a blueshirt/everyone else - whatever you need.

Cheers, and welcome!  I've marked you as a blueshirt.

I would love to help out if possible.

...

Why such a long post?
I simply believe that this is not a marketing kind of beta and is based on criticism so I want you to know what I can and can't offer before being accepted into the beta - I prefer that the right people are picked for the right tasks :)

Awesome, thanks so much for the post and the offer.  Based on your comments... how about I put you in a wave in late May?  That would give you a month between then and launch (since that was pushed back to July), so you wouldn't be too crunched to just a week or so.  And the game would be in a more mature state with hopefully reasonably-robust documentation, etc, so your particular brand of testing will be more useful.  I fear that bringing you in too early would lead to a lot of the sort of writing-up-of-stuff that wouldn't be as productive, but where later on you'd be solid gold.  Once the game hits a certain point of maturity, that sort of first-experiences stuff is just what I need.  Would that work from your end?

I'd love to help iron out the bugs/balance issues with SBR before release. I'll be out of the country for the first couple weeks of May but I'll be available any time after that.  :)

Sounds great!  I've got you added down with a note to make sure you're in a wave in mid-May or after.  If I happen to send you a build before you're back and ready, don't feel pressure to test right away or anything.  It will keep, and so give it until you actually have time you're comfortable with spending on it.  Release is now early July, so we're good.  Thanks!

Does the beta include Linux support? If so, I would gladly help out spotting and reporting bugs. Especially technical and Linux related things.

By the way, big thanks for your general Linux support and for publishing your games DRM-free on gog.com :)

Welcome!  And yep, the beta is already linux, osx, and windows -- we always put out all three at the same time.  To some extent our ability to fix things on certain platforms is limited since it's all about the unity 3d engine usually.  But that said, there are some gotchas on occasion that affect only one platform that we've had to work around.  I think we might have some testers on linux already, I'm not sure -- but more are always really desirable spread across all the platforms.

And it's my pleasure on the linux support and the DRM-free GOG builds!  Even our steam builds are DRM-free, by the way -- you can take the game's folder out of the steam folder and just move it onto another computer or a thumb drive or whatever, and it will continue to function.  You can also still get updates via the in-game updater at that point, too.  Although during beta it's just a steam updater, steam-only build -- keeps our bandwidth costs down during this period of rapid iteration, and makes things slightly faster for us, too.  But shortly before launch we'll switch on the non-steam updater as well and make sure that works well before we release on GOG, etc. :)

I would really like to participate in the beta sir, and I will do my best reporting any and all bugs as well.

Welcome!  And I've added you to the list. :)

I would love the opportunity to test and report my findings :) either way ill be grabbing the game on release! XD

I've had you on the list since January 18th, so you're all set!

I volunteer! Put me behind those blue shirt guys please, as I don't want to clamber over too many bodies. :P

You're on the list!  And after the blueshirts it is. :)

If there is still places, I would like to participate to the beta !

I'm following this project with high interest and watch regularly to see the news since I loved AI War and Bionic Dues, and I played a little Last Federation and it is really interesting. In the last update of the site, you say that you would like to have even more beta-testers, so... I was hesitating to be volunteer in the beginning of the project (I never participated to a beta) but if you need more people and want another beta-tester, I'm here :)

Welcome!  And thanks for the kind words. :)  I have you added down as a post-blueshirt!

I would like to participate if there is still places.

Indeed there are, and I have you added to the list!  Welcome also. :)

Think I'm already on some sort of list somewhere, but I'd be fine wearing a fairly blue shirt on this one.  If not, please add me to some sort of list :)

Yep, I've had you on there since January 29th.  I've updated you to a blueshirt now, though. :)

Please put me on the beta tester list.  I'm on an Early 2009 iMac, if that matters.

Added you!  Welcome to the forums.  Thanks for posting your specs, that should be a useful test rig.

Please add me to the list of people to beta test this thing.

TV is winding down and gaming is winding up!

Added you!

Sign me up! I hope being a first-time poster (but long-time player of Arcen games) is not a problem.

Are you kidding?  I don't care if you never heard about Arcen until the day you asked to be a part of the beta.  I have the very opposite of a problem with new people. :)

Anyway, I've added you to the list -- and welcome, by the way.  If you have a shirt color preference, let me know!

I'd love to be in for whatever wave of testers. I've been looking around for something new and interesting lately whenever Monster Hunter hasn't devoured my attention.

Added you to the list!

I'd like to try and beta test this as well! I like 4x games a lot but I can be kinda picky with them, if I get in I probably won't be able to hardcore play it due to life, but I'd give feedback when possible.

Note: Keep in mind I'm somewhat of a casual gamer (depends on the game/mood) so my feedback would most likely come from that perspective.

Picky?  Yes please!  Kind of casual?  Also very useful!  I'm going to keep you to a later wave if you don't mind, sometime in mid or late May.  I think that will make the best use out of your nature, if that works for your schedule.  Thanks!

I wrote in another thread, but for simplicity's sake, I think it's better if everything is centralised.

So if you'd want me I'd like to be in the beta, as necessary.

Gotcha on the list, thanks! :)

I'm really excited about this, 4x is my all time fav genre and Arcen one of my fav Devs. Can't wait to get my hands on it.
Count me in for the Beta

Sweet!  Thanks for the kind words.  Added you to the list!

I'd love to beta test Stars Beyond Reach! Either as a blueshirt or as "other guys". I've actually been following Arcen since AI War was released and enjoy every single one of your games, just lurked on the forums :P

Sounds great!  And yep, there are tons of places I've just been a lurker, too.  I've added you as a post-blueshirt for now, but if you change your mind just let me know.  Thanks!

I am a huge fan of AI War and have spent nearly 400 hours playing it. Also, I am a big fan of Arcen Games approach to game design and I would really like the opportunity to help test out and possibly contribute positively toward Stars Beyond Reach.

Whew, I'm always so honored when I see people with that many hours in one of our games (almost always AI War).  That's just so cool to me, on a personal level, so thanks for sharing. :)  I've got you added to the list!  Right now in the main mix, but did you want a shirt color?

Following tradition, I want to be the last wave of beta testers so I can examine if things "make sense" for someone who has not followed things before the release. I will attempt to provide perspective for someone familiar with the genre but has little idea about the specific game, and giving "roadblocks" that would stop me from playing if I was not actively beta testing.

Oh yes, I've had you on the list for the last wave since February 28th, looks like.  And I actually like your "I play until I would normally stop" approach so well that I adopted that in my own pre-beta testing, incidentally.  It led to 300+ unfinished games for me, but it really let me perfect the early game.  It's left the midgame and the late game in need of a lot of refinement, but that early game is just so important.

Anyway, I still have you on there!
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Offline eduran

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #46 on: April 30, 2015, 01:53:57 pm »
Are you kidding?  I don't care if you never heard about Arcen until the day you asked to be a part of the beta.  I have the very opposite of a problem with new people. :)

Anyway, I've added you to the list -- and welcome, by the way.  If you have a shirt color preference, let me know!

Thank you for the warm welcome :) No preference, any shirt color is fine for me.

Offline x4000

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #47 on: April 30, 2015, 02:07:07 pm »
Sounds good!  I'll probably keep you in the shortly-post-blueshirt period, then, as that seems to be a solid area where I can use people right now. :)
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Offline Physicaque

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #48 on: April 30, 2015, 03:52:59 pm »
Hey, a freshly registered account here. I am interested in testing the game. Blue group would be better for me as I am busy with finishing my school atm so I cannot delve really deep into it.

Offline x4000

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #49 on: April 30, 2015, 04:16:59 pm »
Hey, a freshly registered account here. I am interested in testing the game. Blue group would be better for me as I am busy with finishing my school atm so I cannot delve really deep into it.

Added you to the list as a blueshirt for now!  If you'd rather be post-blueshirt, I don't know if that would fit better as an experience for you with being busy with school, etc.
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Offline Castruccio

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #50 on: April 30, 2015, 07:00:36 pm »



Sounds good!  And yes, I remember your style vividly. ;)  You're extremely useful as a tester, but I think I'd like to have folks like you, Cyborg, and chemical_art in waves where things are a little bit more mature.  Otherwise you'll get frustrated.  But I have you marked down, as -- like the other two -- you guys are absolutely positively invaluable.  Thanks for signing up!


Great, looking forward to it.

Offline Drakonis

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #51 on: April 30, 2015, 09:40:14 pm »
Hey, a freshly registered account here. I am interested in testing the game. Blue group would be better for me as I am busy with finishing my school atm so I cannot delve really deep into it.

Added you to the list as a blueshirt for now!  If you'd rather be post-blueshirt, I don't know if that would fit better as an experience for you with being busy with school, etc.

When are the beta keys going out? i really can't wait to start, its looking quite good right.

Offline x4000

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #52 on: April 30, 2015, 10:03:49 pm »
Great, looking forward to it.

Thanks again. :)

When are the beta keys going out? i really can't wait to start, its looking quite good right.

It depends on what wave people are in.  I'm trying to do a group a week or thereabouts, restarting that process tomorrow after two weeks with just the redshirts.  The early phases are the ones that are just riddled with bugs and other issues that will suck the life out of you if you don't enjoy that sort of process (whereas some folks just absolutely thrive on that and enjoy nothing more than getting their elbows in the muck at that stage of the game).

Right now the plan is for keys to go out to a new wave of "orangeshirts" tomorrow, which will be a cross between redshirts and blueshirts.  Basically, it's still going to be a mess for the orangeshirts to some extent -- some mechanics are broken, some unbalanced, a lot undocumented.  It's still bloody fun in the opinion of the redshirts who have chimed in, thankfully, but it's definitely not a 1.0 game or anything. ;)

For the blueshirts, ideally the worst of that will be cleaned up and things better documented.  They will be in another week most likely, unless the orangeshirt phase takes two weeks rather than one, in which case I guess we'll add in "yellowshirts" prior to the blueshirts, haha.  Anyone can change shirt color as they desire, it's up to them, but blueshirt is supposed to represent a certain amount of stability and documentation, so I'm not going to call that color until we hit there.  One or two more weeks should do it, but I don't know which yet because I don't know what these orangeshirts are going to find (and what the redshirts will continue to find).

Beyond the blueshirts, right now it's pretty unorganized as to who is in what week except for a few people who have specifically requested to be in the very late release-candidate stages, or who I think would be the most help there based on their self descriptions.  For everyone else I'll try and make a mix of people I know and people I don't know in each week, to keep the perspectives varied.  But if someone has time concerns (busy later, free now, etc) or just can't hold their horses and is okay with the state of the game as it is at a given time, I'll be happy to send a key earlier.

In your particular case, I don't currently have you marked down as any color shirt, so you're in basically the period from mid-May through late May, most likely.  If you'd like to be in tomorrow's group of orangeshirts, or in the group next week if that sounds better, then just let me know!
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Offline Drakonis

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #53 on: April 30, 2015, 10:15:33 pm »
Put me in the Orange shirts group then!

Offline x4000

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #54 on: April 30, 2015, 10:20:04 pm »
Put me in the Orange shirts group then!

The paint has been applied! :)

I'll PM you orangeshirts a key shortly before 5pm EST tomorrow, most likely.
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Offline cww256

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #55 on: April 30, 2015, 11:16:58 pm »
Whew, I'm always so honored when I see people with that many hours in one of our games (almost always AI War).  That's just so cool to me, on a personal level, so thanks for sharing. :)  I've got you added to the list!  Right now in the main mix, but did you want a shirt color?

Any shirt color if fine with me. As a 35 year old PC gamer I have had the opportunity to test quite a few games at various levels of development. I understand the process and don't mind toughing it out through the rough early stages.

Offline Vacuity

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #56 on: May 01, 2015, 05:46:59 am »
Sounds great!  I await my turn with baited breath.

Offline KillerofGods

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #57 on: May 01, 2015, 07:56:43 am »
I'd like to try and beta test this as well! I like 4x games a lot but I can be kinda picky with them, if I get in I probably won't be able to hardcore play it due to life, but I'd give feedback when possible.

Note: Keep in mind I'm somewhat of a casual gamer (depends on the game/mood) so my feedback would most likely come from that perspective.

Picky?  Yes please!  Kind of casual?  Also very useful!  I'm going to keep you to a later wave if you don't mind, sometime in mid or late May.  I think that will make the best use out of your nature, if that works for your schedule.  Thanks!
Thats perfect! Thanks! :D
« Last Edit: May 01, 2015, 08:53:51 am by KillerofGods »

Offline Shrugging Khan

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #58 on: May 01, 2015, 08:32:49 am »
Hey, hey, me! Me!

Not like I haven't asked a bazillion times already, I know :D

(But job and university stuff is going to get hot in the coming months, so I'd rather be in early D: )
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Offline Endymion

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Re: Signup thread for beta (any wave, not specifically the next one)
« Reply #59 on: May 01, 2015, 11:23:39 am »
I picked blue just based on when that wave was expected to happen, so orange please.
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