[Speculation] Cataclysm beta contests

[thomasden2]

I started wondering about these beta contests and such stuff. I mean first Korea get one, now the US get one and i belive us in the EU also get one very soon (crossed fingers for easy one), and now that they are starting these contest it must mean that Alpha is soon over, and beta soon will begin.
But hey that can just be me thinking that (:

[Mazzel]

I think the beta will start in like 3-6 weeks. /who @ Alpha realm shows about 20 people, it's a god damn nonsense and even blizzard should know that.

[thomasden2]

Remember Alpha is just small scale

[Mazzel]

Which is why it would be a nonsens to let it run even more. You can't test shit with 20 people, but you can with a thousand.

[thomasden2]

The alpha is PR, nothing more, nothing less

[Hurrr]

Which is why it would be a nonsens to let it run even more. You can't test shit with 20 people, but you can with a thousand.

Depends what you're testing. Specific problems may be easier to pinpoint with a small population. For instance if they have a problem with random server crashes it's probably easier to find out why with few people playing so that they're not in a needle in a haystack scenario where they must find the one thing that one player among hundreds did that triggered the bug.

Also before getting more people in there they must make sure that what's best tested with a lot of people is done. In particular balance testing is one of the thing that they need lots of players to test, but it's pointless to do so if they're not at least mostly done with implementing class changes.

[Mazzel]

Testing BRC without being able to get into BRC cause noone is playing = fail
Testing stability with 20 people while the server needs to hold thousands = nonsens
Finding bugs that only occur sometimes with a low amount of players = nonsens, cause chances are they won't occur.
The alpha is running for more than a month now, it's a non-sens to let it run for more than two months at all.

[picotto]

the alpha was mainly to test very basic things, such as worgen and goblin starting areas

[Hurrr]

Testing stability with 20 people while the server needs to hold thousands = fail

Except if it's already unstable/slow with 20 players. Then adding more people is pointless.

Finding bugs that only occur sometimes with a low amount of players = fail, cause chances are they won't occur.

Unless they already occur with a low amount of players, in which case it's a good idea to fix those before adding more people.

That's how it's done. You stabilize the thing with a low amount of players before you consider adding more.

The alpha is running for more than a month now, it's a non-sens to let it run for more than two months at all.

I do agree with that.

[morxxx]

ESL: World of Warcraft: Cataclysm-Beta auf den Alienware Finals - News - ESL Pro Series - Germany - ESL - Die eSport-Liga

Auf den Alienware Finals der ESL Pro Series dürfen wir einen großen Kracher ankündigen: In der Free-Gaming-Area des Kölner Tanzbrunnen könnt ihr World of Warcraft: Cataclysm-Beta anspielen.

Who cant read german, it says, that the beta will be playable for public on an esl event, which is in 4 days and in europe

[Hurrr]

Who cant read german, it says, that the beta will be playable for public on an esl event, which is in 4 days and in europe

If you're implying that it means that beta will be released by then it's not necessary the case because they've been calling the F&F version either alpha or beta since it started. One example among others, the installation folder is called "World of Warcraft Beta".

[morxxx]

Hm Yes but the currect F&F Alpha has a non publicity nda or?

[Hurrr]

Hm Yes but the currect F&F Alpha has a non publicity nda or?

Yeah but I don't think it matters much because people playing there will probably not have much time to dig deeply. It's like the version that was playable at blizzcon, people didn't get a lot out of it besides a few blurry screenshots and videos of gilneas / lost islands.