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Not only for the 1.2 patch - Maybe there should be an open beta for BG2:EE as well?

JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,754
edited October 2013 in Archive (General Discussion)
I'm very glad there's an open beta for the 1.2 patch. Apparently gamers tend to find more bugs than the Devs and it's very important the final version is as smooth as possible. I see that with more and more people are being involved in the open beta the number of useful reports is increasing.

At the launch of BG:EE the game has not been so bug-free as someone would hope. It seems the idea of this open beta for a major patch is connected to the wish to grant a very solid result. That's a very smart move by the Devs and I appreciate it a lot.

Having been studying the reports about the beta version for awhile I'm coming to a conclusion that the beta version has some problems related to different gameplay situations - I mean not all problems have hardware/software roots. From my point of view there're even more gameplay problems than graphics ones.

I think everyone wishes the launch of BG2:EE is great. So why not use the gained experience and not to make an open beta for the second enhanced game as well?

There can be only positives in it - if there're problems they will be found, reported and fixed so that the final version is nearly perfect. If the open beta for BG2:EE means the final release will be delayed till all the stages of testing are complete - so be it.

So I propose to organise an open beta for BG2:EE when the 1.2 patch for BG:EE is out. From my point of view those who have made a pre-order for BG2:EE would gladly participate in it.
Post edited by JuliusBorisov on

Comments

  • pixie359pixie359 Member Posts: 251
    I bought BG:EE through Steam, and have been reading the feedback on the patch beta eagerly. I would be happy to participate in a BG2:EE beta, as I have pre-ordered that (where's my badge?) and would like to see it as smooth as possible at proper launch.
  • CorvinoCorvino Member Posts: 2,269
    Nice try, @Bengoshi. I think we'll have a bit longer to wait though ;)
  • shawneshawne Member Posts: 3,239
    @bengoshi: For all practical purposes, that's probably what'll happen anyway - the game will launch, players will come here to report bugs, patches will follow, etc.
  • mlnevesemlnevese Member, Moderator Posts: 10,214
    @pixie359 It may take up to 24 hours for the badge to appear. If it doesn't send a PM to @Dee and he'll fix it for you.
  • pixie359pixie359 Member Posts: 251
    @mlnevese I've just PM'd @Dee, and he has pointed out that I hadn't, in fact, pre-ordered BG2:EE. So that would explain the lack of a badge. Makes sense really, doesn't it?

    I have now pre-ordered.

    Also, I think a beta phase would make a lot of sense if there is any real risk of major bugs - calling it beta acknowledges that and manages expectations.
  • SedSed Member Posts: 790
    From an engine perspective, the open beta is actually testing the engine for BG2:EE as well.

    From gameplay perspective, I tend to agree with @shawne that it will happen anyway once the community starts to test every little aspect of the game. If the Dev's then can focus on fixing gameplay related issues instead of hardware, it should be pretty easy to fix them quickly.
  • JuliusBorisovJuliusBorisov Member, Administrator, Moderator, Developer Posts: 22,754
    It seems there are proponents and opponents of my ideas. We never know what decision is right. Only time can tell.

    As far as I can see so many people take the first game version as something that must be immediately evaluated. If people face some challenges, disgruntled reviews appear. Critics are unmerciful. You can see the archive pages of this forum regarding November - December of the previous year.

    When we talk about an open beta it's different. There're the expectations as well of course, but they are on another level. That's why sometimes it's better to make an open beta test first, find and fix the most obvious bugs and then give the final version.

    In that case, I'm sure a general reaction of users will be much better as well as critic reviews.

    But of course the developers will decide it themselves.
  • KaltzorKaltzor Member Posts: 1,050
    I don't think an open beta for BG2:EE would be a good idea... Though A beta with people who pre-ordered it, that would technically be a closed one, would prolly make more sense than just throwing it at everyone.
  • DurenasDurenas Member Posts: 508
    Heaven forbid we get spoiled on the story.
  • shawneshawne Member Posts: 3,239
    @Amberion: That's actually a very real possibility - if you download the game at launch and get the dialog.tlk file, you can find out exactly how the new content unfolds. Hell, the first thing I'm going to do before even starting the game is check to see if Rasaad has an Evil ending, because then I'll know to take him with me. :)
  • PalanthisPalanthis Member Posts: 283
    edited October 2013
    Seems a good idea to me.

    The only problem is, we're not even sure of when this beta will finish. BG2EE launch date is 6 weeks from now.
    Even if the 1.2 patch is finished in, say, 3 weeks (and it's the optimistic version) then you only have 3 weeks to go for another beta.
  • mlnevesemlnevese Member, Moderator Posts: 10,214
    edited October 2013
    I don't think an open beta for BG2EE would be a good idea. The only reason there are no spoilers about the new plots and NPC everywhere is that all of us testing it are under NDA. Of course if a big patch is ever done to BG2EE as it`s now being done for BGEE then an open beta is the way to go.
    Post edited by mlnevese on
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