devicenullJoin Date: 2003-04-30Member: 15967Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
<!--quoteo(post=1711201:date=Jun 8 2009, 03:28 PM:name=Cxwf)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Cxwf @ Jun 8 2009, 03:28 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711201"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If I had to guess? During Alpha they will run some number of servers internally (like I dunno, 4 or 5 servers at 18 people each or something). The load on the servers won't be too bad, its just that only a small number of people will be able to play at once. Everyone else will have to wait in line.
Then for Beta they'll hand out the server code and let you all run your own, so they can mass-test the game with lots of people playing at once.
We have no idea how many preorders they have actually sold. The last stats I heard said 95% of people bought the special edition.. meaning they need enough servers for everyone to play. IMO, 4-5 servers aren't going to cut it for a few hundred people wanting to play the alpha. They would need at least 100 servers, and the hardware to run all of them isn't exactly cheap.
If even 1000 people preordered the alpha, they would need 80+ servers, assuming 6v6 gameplay. Do you have any idea how long you would be waiting to play if there were 1000 people wanting to play on 4-5 servers?
If anything should be avoided, than its false error reports made by stupid server admins that dont know how to setup a server.
So, of course at first they will run their own servers until they are pretty sure its more or less bug free and they need a large scale test to detect the not-so common bugs. Once that happened, the game will eventually get in the beta stage where there will surely be a dedicated server available to everyone.
<!--quoteo(post=1711227:date=Jun 8 2009, 04:05 PM:name=w0dk4)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (w0dk4 @ Jun 8 2009, 04:05 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711227"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->If anything should be avoided, than its false error reports made by stupid server admins that dont know how to setup a server.
So, of course at first they will run their own servers until they are pretty sure its more or less bug free and they need a large scale test to detect the not-so common bugs. Once that happened, the game will eventually get in the beta stage where there will surely be a dedicated server available to everyone.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The simple way around that is to make requirements on who can host a server during the alpha/beta, with restrictions like, don't go modding the game to have co/admins tools/glowing red skulks/whatever. There are server owners out there who know what they are doing and can summit good bug reports. The problem is that not everyone with a server will be a good host for an alpha.
I know a few play testers from NS1, who are both good enough to know how to set up a server, as well as responsible enough to set it up exactly how the devs would want an alpha server set up. It those who are likely going to be hosting servers during the alpha, some time in the beta, and I am will to bet it after the first or second beta patch they are going to releasing, they will likely open it up to everyone who want to host a server, most likely with a statement that modded server are not going to have bug reports accepted from them.
In the most likely case, these server owners are going to be contacted by the devs themselves to request if they would be willing to host a server. So no need to go spam the devs pm box asking to be running an alpha/beta server. All you are likely to do is waste some time that could be used on getting the game out faster.
I am willing to help out with NS2 in whatever I can, I spent close to 1500 on a server that will just run NS2, and it will be in a east coast internap data center for premium connections and bandwidth, putting a lot of money into NS2 and drawling in a lot of members from my community to come here, I don't expect anything what so ever, I am just dedicating to see the game flourish like it did as a mod. So I could careless of I am a alpha server tester or not, bit I will say if a dev wants me to help them, I do whatever i can to fallow through with what they ask of me as far as running test servers for them.
<!--quoteo(post=1711272:date=Jun 8 2009, 08:20 PM:name=homicide)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (homicide @ Jun 8 2009, 08:20 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711272"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->I see no reason to keep the alpha server private.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd--> With respect, I can understand why the alpha is private.
Lots of server ops like to hack the server to push the engine/game to its limits. You don't potential testers to play on a hacked server and report bugs that are false to the dev team.
Once the game is more complete, it would be good to release the beta server files to community members.
<!--quoteo(post=1711287:date=Jun 8 2009, 08:57 PM:name=Firewater)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Firewater @ Jun 8 2009, 08:57 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1711287"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->With respect, I can understand why the alpha is private.
Lots of server ops like to hack the server to push the engine/game to its limits. You don't potential testers to play on a hacked server and report bugs that are false to the dev team.
Once the game is more complete, it would be good to release the beta server files to community members.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I will agree with you on this, the alpha wont really show the true performance of the game, and nor will the beta.
devicenullJoin Date: 2003-04-30Member: 15967Members, NS2 Playtester, Squad Five Blue
There is a way to both allow people to host their own servers, and prevent them from changing files... Contact any of the game server providers and make a deal <img src="style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin-fix.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid=":D" border="0" alt="biggrin-fix.gif" /> As I work for one I'm a little biased in suggesting gameservers.com, but for a few games we have to restrict people's access to their servers, as per the rules of whatever game they are hosting (mainly "ranked" servers). Of course I realize this would piss off people who actually have machines available to run the servers but.. I think it would be a good solution to a) having a standard environment for the server, b) preventing modifications to the server, c) ensuring there are enough servers in enough locations, and d) still letting people feel that they are hosting a server.
Comments
Then for Beta they'll hand out the server code and let you all run your own, so they can mass-test the game with lots of people playing at once.
Sound likely?<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
We have no idea how many preorders they have actually sold. The last stats I heard said 95% of people bought the special edition.. meaning they need enough servers for everyone to play. IMO, 4-5 servers aren't going to cut it for a few hundred people wanting to play the alpha. They would need at least 100 servers, and the hardware to run all of them isn't exactly cheap.
If even 1000 people preordered the alpha, they would need 80+ servers, assuming 6v6 gameplay. Do you have any idea how long you would be waiting to play if there were 1000 people wanting to play on 4-5 servers?
So, of course at first they will run their own servers until they are pretty sure its more or less bug free and they need a large scale test to detect the not-so common bugs.
Once that happened, the game will eventually get in the beta stage where there will surely be a dedicated server available to everyone.
So, of course at first they will run their own servers until they are pretty sure its more or less bug free and they need a large scale test to detect the not-so common bugs.
Once that happened, the game will eventually get in the beta stage where there will surely be a dedicated server available to everyone.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
The simple way around that is to make requirements on who can host a server during the alpha/beta, with restrictions like, don't go modding the game to have co/admins tools/glowing red skulks/whatever. There are server owners out there who know what they are doing and can summit good bug reports. The problem is that not everyone with a server will be a good host for an alpha.
I know a few play testers from NS1, who are both good enough to know how to set up a server, as well as responsible enough to set it up exactly how the devs would want an alpha server set up. It those who are likely going to be hosting servers during the alpha, some time in the beta, and I am will to bet it after the first or second beta patch they are going to releasing, they will likely open it up to everyone who want to host a server, most likely with a statement that modded server are not going to have bug reports accepted from them.
In the most likely case, these server owners are going to be contacted by the devs themselves to request if they would be willing to host a server. So no need to go spam the devs pm box asking to be running an alpha/beta server. All you are likely to do is waste some time that could be used on getting the game out faster.
With respect, I can understand why the alpha is private.
Lots of server ops like to hack the server to push the engine/game to its limits. You don't potential testers to play on a hacked server and report bugs that are false to the dev team.
Once the game is more complete, it would be good to release the beta server files to community members.
Lots of server ops like to hack the server to push the engine/game to its limits. You don't potential testers to play on a hacked server and report bugs that are false to the dev team.
Once the game is more complete, it would be good to release the beta server files to community members.<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
I will agree with you on this, the alpha wont really show the true performance of the game, and nor will the beta.