About the playtest

Flayra · April 2002

You're right: releasing movies does wonders for PR. The only problem is that it's a ton of work and requires expensive equipment to do properly. You'll probably see at least one more movie before we release NS though.

Davyb · April 2002

Play test or no play test - it will be worth it in the end <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

And yeah a Movie would be kewl. But as u said it is expensive to do :/

But hey i can wait <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

Infinity · April 2002

just use hypercam to record ingame movie from NSPT2, then u can convert it to an .avi file

sorry, i cant remember url for it

Hydro · April 2002

personally i rather wait for beta then to be a tester.

the first time the games done i wanna be new to it and ask "WHAT DOES THIS DO" and "OMG WHAT IS THAT THING COMING TOWARDS ME!!! DIE DIE DIE DIE DIE MUAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAH"
then bob comes from behind and kills me <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Blinking_Flip · April 2002

I'm sure that numbers of testers also relies on hardware, so you had 2 servers was it? if you had too many testers they would never get on a server and none of them would be able to spend enough time playing to make detailed comments. I would rather it was kept as it was as I know that it will be a better game for it - though i would love to know how NS plays on my 56k modem, I REALLY hope it will play well on it as I can't get cable or dsl where I live <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('>

Keep up the fantastic work everyone and well done to all you testers who put up with HOURS of filling in questionairs.

realityisdead · April 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Blinking_Flip @ April 10 2002,12:22)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">though i would love to know how NS plays on my 56k modem, I REALLY hope it will play well on it as I can't get cable or dsl where I live <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/sad.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':('></td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'm connected to the internet at 26400 bps and once we got on the gamehelper server I had an average 200 ping. There were no noticable slowdowns that everyone else didn't encounter. And the ns code apparently hasn't even been optomised for internet play yet. That and most things are going to be transfered over to client side in the actual release.

Lag definitly shouldn't be a big problem for 56k users at all. At least not by my standards. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Dark_Side · April 2002

I would drather be a tester all the way through.
I just like being abled to help people in making mods/games.. Though I havent helped menny at all and never play tested befor,it was fun on the few times I did get a chance to help.

So far so good as far as screenshot wise,makes me want to play it even more <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

Please dont get mad at me for mentioning CS but I have ben playing it latly (going on the 2end day of playing it) and so far my best score is 30 kills 4 deaths. (I like the Pump Action Shotgun,also the MP5)

Shuvit_Viper · April 2002

i -actually- dont think i will be a playtester though... i give my opinion on everything i have an opinion about, but have a bad english (:D yes i know it myself too)... and i live in europe.. unless maybe im in the european testing team, i got the hardware...

but, i dont think you need a reason for being a playtester. Its Flayra who chooses people (maybe during his satanic rituals?)

Blinking_Flip · April 2002

Thanks for the info Ken, you don't know how good it is to hear that it should be fine on a 56k'er... sorry this is slightly off topic <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Killtoy · April 2002

I know I'm coming in late on this - I've been out of town for the past few days.

I think most of those not chosen for playtesting have dealt with it fairly well. Perhaps that is easy for me to say when I don't see the emails Flayra gets, but as far as forum and channel traffic goes, I have not seen much resentment.

For me, it was just a case of, "Oh well..."

However, I would like to ask one thing of those whe are playtesters. Please don't add insult to injury. Please don't patronize those of us who are not playtesters by telling us how difficult or time consuming it is to playtest.

I know many of the playtesters have been very cool, and I'm not trying to offend or single out anyone. I'm just kindly requesting that you share only the enthusiasm for NS that we all hold in common.

Thanks, and I wish all of you the best of luck and enjoyment this weekend!

Killtoy

Hikuso · April 2002

yea.... i think viper has a good point there.... European playtest.....

i might even be able to get a few servers if that ever comes up

Hell , maybe even a scandinavian playtest , eh banan ? <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

*Edit: Acctually the more i think about it the better it seems. And no , not because of the possibility to become a playtester (allthough i would be lying if i said i wouldn't want to be one , besides i bet there is tons of europeans here that has contributed more to the community than me , let's face it , all i do is lurk around <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>) , but because of 2 things:

1: Europeans are active while Americans sleep (generally speaking)
and
2: Europeans and Americans tend to see slightly different aspects (?) of things and (/me becomes lost as he is helluva tired and his english has deteriorated over the years) anyways...someone is bound to see where i'm going with this?

SoulSkorpion · April 2002

Being a playtester would be kinda cool. Not because you get to play NS, but because you get to actually participate in the development of a game. Think about it. How many times have you wished you could design a game, or at least contribute in some way to the eventual creation of a game? Even filling out the bug reports and playtest feedback at 2am would be worth it. Even the fact that from where I live the playtests begin at 1am or something, it would be worth it :)

Shuvit_Viper · April 2002

hikuso, i think you might even get to be a playtester if you can arrange some servers... you do not need to be a total freak like us roaming the forums every day...
its up to flayra... but i hope this might be the start of an actual european playtesting squad...

although it might be something just to keep the europeans quiet.. (european flaytona?? WHEN??? <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>)... but its true europeans have a different view on thing i think....

Hikuso · April 2002

actually...i check the forums about 3-4 times / day

it's just that i don't post unless i have a good point...

errr i mean unless i THINK i have a good point <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

Kassinger · April 2002

Might I point out that we will <b>all</b> become playtesters when
the first <u>beta</u> comes out?

It's called betatesting where I come from. <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/smile.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':)'>

We will all get the chance to report bugs and
suggest improvements before
the final release comes out.

Hikuso · April 2002

shut yer pie-hole <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Mouse · April 2002

i don't know about anyone else but i don't really want to be a playtester. for two and possibly maore reasons

1. it requires effort

2. less time to work on my map
[shamelesspimp] ns_frigid [/shamelesspimp]

Silver_Fox · April 2002

This is going to come out the wrong way, but since theres no other way to say it - I'll just say it.

I certainly wouldn't mind being a playtester ...

I've never been afraid of hard work or putting effort towards something (well, when I <b>wanted</b> to do it).

Also, I don't have a map .. er, or a life, so my schedule is pretty much open ... all the time ...
<img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/confused.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt='???'>

Hikuso · April 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Silver Fox @ April 13 2002,19:17)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">Also, I don't have a map .. er, or a life, so my schedule is pretty much open ... all the time ...</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
*sniff* I'm not alone :.) *sniff* *sniff*

<img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/wink.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=';)'>

Hellocke · April 2002

Man. I'm feeling at home already...! Nothing to do but sit around and play CS all day... *sniffle*

As for the betatesters... Well, I just joined today. So there's not much chance of me being one. Albeit, I am pretty critical...

Anyway, needless to say, I'm happy with the screenshots. And I can wait for the finish version to come out... *drools.*

Dark_Side · April 2002

Sometimes its hard waiting for mods you want to play to be released to the public. I get bored from playing 1 or 2 mods all the time (for the most part,not allways TFC used to be a good one but becase of that model error..) and normaly look for a new mod to try out.Also some times I just want to try/play the mods I am waiting for soo badly I just cant play HL otherwise <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/tounge.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':p'>

I THINK I AM GOING INSANE! (If you ever seen SouthPark you will know what char sed it and you might get a lough)

Shuvit_Viper · April 2002

</span><table border="0" align="center" width="95%" cellpadding="3" cellspacing="1"><tr><td><b>Quote</b> (Flayra @ April 08 2002,1800)</td></tr><tr><td id="QUOTE">I really don't want this event to split the NS community down the middle, into the haves, and the have-nots.</td></tr></table><span id='postcolor'>
I'm sorry Flayra, but this is an obvious thing to happen. In these forums, all the people do is speculate on how the game will feel, look and play. There will be new ideas brought up and stuff..
If i now have an idea and post it, and some playtester says 'i have played the game, and it is not this way, so i dont like it', then surely you split the forum group into two people. Its just something that happens.

I also understand not everyone can be 'one of the chosen', you dont want to make a split community, but there will be a bit difference between the two groups... although we can handle it. Its just a bit odd to tell people who played the game how you think the game is...

This was my last thing about the playtesting... i feel like a whiner... i will now go home with my feelings, not to mention them anymore <img src="http://www.natural-selection.org/iB_html/non-cgi/emoticons/biggrin.gif" border="0" valign="absmiddle" alt=':D'>

pielemuis · April 2002

That hasn't happened yet Viper, and I doubt they will act that way, well I hope they don't, but I'm pretty sure 'bout 90% of the testers...

MonsieurEvil · April 2002

That's why we instruct the testers not to talk about their experiences.

Freestyler · April 2002

About the 56k... I'm connecting to US NS serevrs from the UK with a 56k at 44000bps and have an average ping of about 350. Even without NS optimised for net play, it plays almost perfectly.

humbaba · April 2002

Playtesting is obviously appealing to everyone. I have tried to lie to myself and say that it wouldnt be worth spending all the time and effort, but this is only denial, upon reflection. The thing is, if everyone and his uncle becomes a playtester, it decreases the likelyhood that it will remain confidential.
We all want it, but not everyone is picked for the football team. We just still have to provide as much support as we can through the forums. We can still play a roll in supporting this mod by welcoming new people and providing ideas and response to others ideas.

coil · April 2002

Actually, I can confidently say I'm glad I'm not a playtester... I'm so close to failing school right now, playing NS all weekend would DEFINITELY push me over the line!

humbaba · April 2002

True, I might have to quit track and I might fail school. But wouldnt it all be worth it, when it all boils down . . .heh heh heh. Yeah, I would have time, but it would fill up my weekends. (Im still willing to make the sacrifice, flayra . .heh heh)

About the playtest

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