Suggestion Pimp my TS account?

Discussion in 'General Archive' started by Muscle, Dec 21, 2014.

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  1. Muscle

    Muscle Forum Pro

    Hello,



    A while ago when 6v6 was first introduced in the TS(Test Server) BP gave end-game characters to people. Unfortunately I didn't know about this back then, and when I requested one, it was too late.

    After that, someone made a request saying forum admins should be able to pimp up TS ac/s, but unfortunately that was rejected.

    Im pretty much active on the Test Server, and im an experienced player. I've been playing for almost 3 years.

    Im pretty sure others are willing to give consructive feedback, well atleast I do, maybe even make videos while doing it, and some already are.

    I mean this is a test server, not a live one. Why is it such a big deal to hand out high-end, or atleast level 40-45 characters with EO/LEG gear only. We want to test things, and having to start from the very beginning to get a "decent" character just so you can test and check stuff kind of seems pathetic to me.

    All I am saying is, allow the Forum/TS admins to be able to "pimp" up characters on the Test Server. Heck, set conditions. Just make it possible, all I am asking for.



    Please take this into consideration.





    Kind Regards,



    Muscle ;)
     
  2. An excellent suggestion.

    You are correct: higher level characters equipped with (random) legendaries were given to people who logged in for testing 6v6 when it was first released to the TS. The characters still weren't on par with live server Lvl 40s (top level at the time), but it was a far more realistic test than using characters that most players had on the TS.

    Yes, it was suggested that Admins be given TS ACP access in order to efficiently administer TS a/cs of select forum posters (ones with a history of providing constructive feedback) so that the community could more easily be involved in spotting bugs/errors on the TS in a timely manner before they hit the live servers. And, yes, this was rejected by Big Point. No reasons were given.

    I have been informed that this is how it is done on other BP games, so I am uncertain as to why it is not done on DSO. Feedback from the community re. this idea would be appreciated. If enough posters are keen, I will forward the suggestion (again) to Big Point.
     
    trakilaki and Muscle like this.
  3. BigPapa

    BigPapa Forum Overlooker

    The DSO team needs a good process or technical operations engineer on their staff. It is obvious they continue to skip the necessary steps prior to releasing a product. One of those CRITICAL steps is product testing. It appears they are relying on their own staff to provide this feedback and testing when the true experts are the player base that in addition to being willing to do the testing, will do it for FREE. Any product that went to market with this many malfunctions would send a company to bankruptcy, and not many companies can tap volunteer human resources to this level. Luckily their customers are very forgiving, patient, committed, and loyal.

    The simple fact that this many bugs are not found and reported(or are not acted upon) prior to live server release tells me that ANY change to help discover and correct those errors should be accepted. Your customers await your logical acceptance of their talents, but need you to take the step of providing them the proper tools. In this case, the gear and levels required to help you.

    When was the last time we had a release that included new content, that did not have an emergency hotfix needed? Did you release that content knowing it was broke? If there is some reason your current method, although it remains broken, is still used? Do you continually tell yourselves, "We'll get it right next time." Or do you tell yourselves, "No biggie, we'll fix it later." In either case STOP IT!! Let us help you.
     
    Last edited: Dec 21, 2014
    VMmage and Muscle like this.
  4. trakilaki

    trakilaki Living Forum Legend

    Being programmer and gamer myself .... I can say one thing. Programmers have theoretical approach to things while gamers have practical.
    If you want to test the game then hire gamers not programmers.

    Big thumbs up for this suggestion.
     
    Muscle likes this.
  5. Muscle

    Muscle Forum Pro

    Let's hope this won't get rejected this time!

    We need more people to post here, c'mon guys!
     
  6. thedarklordmorgoth

    thedarklordmorgoth Forum Greenhorn

    Yes i agree with you,and since they removed grimmagstone dungeon and crafting for gold there's nothing a low lvl player can do to get good items.
     
    Muscle and Wyrwiflaka like this.
  7. trakilaki

    trakilaki Living Forum Legend

    OK, here are the facts: if we have more resources on TS ... we could test more intensively. We can find bugs and inform them on time.
    Here is where it gets crazy: we were informing them and gave feedback in the past ... yet they did nothing about it. There is one conspiracy theory that says: they don't wan't you to find the bugs because they make them on purpose.
    I hope I am wrong and I hope they will give us some resources on TS .... but that doesn't change the fact that there are STUFF THEY DON'T WANT YOU TO KNOW.
     
    Muscle likes this.
  8. Darwarren

    Darwarren Count Count

    This isn't rocket science, where things have to go right the first time. Most Free to Play stuff now is only tested until it is good enough to release. It only has to work well enough to get enough people to play it.
    And that applies to the test server as well. It's more a formality than a requirement.

    It's free. Are you going to demand your money back, if not satisfied?
     
    Last edited: Dec 24, 2014
    Muscle likes this.
  9. Muscle

    Muscle Forum Pro

    Ofcourse not, but we still should be able to test things out on the TEST server ... for free ;)
     
  10. BigPapa

    BigPapa Forum Overlooker

    There is a big difference between the annoying bugs, and the; game crashing-nebula-EC21-rubberband-no group-chat break-no drops. The annoying stuff is of course, just that, and doesn't hamper anyone from participating in the primary elements of the game. The bugs that limit game play or cause you to avoid main elements of the game need to be fixed Pre-release. I understand that some of them are VERY complicated and it is hard to figure out why it only effects certain people or servers. Those may be the ones that do not get discovered on the TS. But, the more realistic the tester can be the, the more likely these items will be discovered.
     
    Darwarren, Muscle and silverseas like this.
  11. georgesaltidis4

    georgesaltidis4 Forum Greenhorn

    I agree :p
     
    Muscle likes this.
  12. Muscle

    Muscle Forum Pro

    Exactly.
     
    Darwarren likes this.
  13. DocWhisky

    DocWhisky Forum Mogul

    This has all been asked before. Many, many times. The reason I was given by a former mod was that BP/DSO does not want non BP/DSO people to "play" TS over live servers.
    I have suggested in the past that they do random premium for all ... but you must log in every day to see if active. I even asked if they would copy my tegan account over to TS .. all met with the same stone wall.
    I applaud you for your effort, it is a very keen idea.
    Many times suggestions have been made, many times bugs have been reported... and almost always met with the same stone wall.
    Every time I open the DK pvp fame tree and see under Better Specialized Combat Techniques it still says "Sloody Wild Swing" I just have to laugh.
    I have lost my faith in TS, although I still maintain my toons there. BP/Admin/Mods have pretty much made it clear, we are an unwelcome presence on "Their" server.
    To a point, Im very surprised that a MOD actually posted to this thread. So many "helpful/bug report" threads, posted right here to the TS forum, go completely ignored.
    If they actually cared about our input, it would never have taken this long to accommodate those of us that would really like to have a hand in making DSO a better game.
    We will just have to wait and see if this goes any where. After 3 years of experience with BP/DSO, You'll have to excuse me if I dont hold my breath.


    Thanks and Merry Christmas to all, Doc \,,/(-_-)\../
     
    Last edited: Dec 25, 2014
    Muscle likes this.
  14. silverseas

    silverseas Count Count

    For BP to hand out characters that mimic our real ones on the TS, they would have to change their perspective and first of all realize that their fan base is more than just money bags, but actually a resource they can tap into. Players volunteer their time to moderate the forums and keep the wiki up-to-date, why not use this same resource to actually help find bugs on the TS?

    For one thing, it is, relatively speaking, free. For another, it's just a matter of more pairs of eyes to spot things is better than one. Any number of employees who might be responsible for testing can only test so much, and think of only so many possibilities to test. You increase the number of people testing, you increase the number of things being tested, and increase the probability of finding a bug before it hits the live server.

    I am a bit surprised that BP, which has been nicknamed 'BugPoint' by its own fan base isn't in any hurry to shed this negative reputation it has; but perhaps that's because putting their TS to actual use would, in some sense, obligate them to fix their bugs (without creating new ones) before a release can happen. Personally, I would like to see this happen. Especially when it sometimes results in a few months of crashes every other map change, or rubber banding, or broken groups, which are bugs that really mess with gameplay. It's a fine balance between new content and new bugs, and if the name 'BugPoint' is any indication, I'd say there are too many new bugs for the new content that is released.
     
    Muscle likes this.
  15. BigPapa

    BigPapa Forum Overlooker

    That's an understandable answer actually. In other games I've played there was specific elements they would ask people to test and a specific reporting regimen. People that didn't follow the regimen or didn't test what they asked were booted from the server. For example, toons would be given specific items or skills and told to complete a specific dungeon using the items and skills as much as possible. Then fill out a questionnaire or form as a report. Then the next time you logged in, the items and skills may be gone and newer items would be in your inventory or at a vendor for pickup. IDK, it seems if they are ignoring feedback, either they don't trust what they are getting as feedback, they don't know how to sort and prioritize it, or they don't care.
     
    Muscle likes this.
  16. 1) The response you claim that you were given is incomplete. While BP, for obvious reasons, does not want players to limit their play to the TS, access to the TS is generally open to all. On other BP games, everyone who logs into the TS near the start of an event being implemented on the TS (announced in the game forum, not just a surprise appearance) has their TS a/c automatically "pimped out" appropriate to the material being tested. This is reset when the testing period ends so that players are not tempted to just park up on the TS. This has only ever been done once on DSO - for 6v6 testing.

    2) There is no reason why Premium could not be part of that enhanced TS "pimping" - at least during the testing phase of new material

    3) A/Cs can not be transferred from one server to another at this stage. And, for obvious reasons, even if this were a feature, BP would not allow live server a/cs to be transferred to the TS.

    4) DSO appears to be unique even among BP games for allowing reported TS bugs to make it onto the live servers. On other BP games, reported TS bugs are generally nipped in the bud. I doubt this is intentional or done out of malice.

    5) Neither admin/mods or BP have ever said that general players are unwelcome on the TS. That is why TS access is usually open to all. And forum admin/mods have absolutely zero say regarding access.

    6) Just because the Weekly Report that the team send in to BP is not published here, that does not mean that 'many "helpful/bug report" threads, posted right here to the TS forum, go completely ignored'. It just means that you don't get to see the content of the Weekly Report. Want to be "kept in the loop"? Apply for a moderator position. It isn't a closed/secretive little society - the application is here in the forum. Go for it.

    7) If the uncaring "they" you refer to is admins/mods, see point 5) above.

    In future, if you have any questions or you are unsure: ask. Don't make assumptions or pull stuff out of your hat and claim it to be fact. Thanks.


    Thread closed pending a formal response from BP.
     
    Last edited: Dec 26, 2014
    Muscle likes this.
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