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Loampounder
10-28-2005, 03:04 PM
We also filtered out people who didn't have higher end systems. Yes, this is what Zack is going to kill me for saying as we said we wouldn't reveal any of our criteria. Right now, though, the game isn't optimized and requires some hefty stuff. Thsi doesn't worry me for release, because I know what will be available then and those sytems will be much faster than the fastest system now, but at a very reasonable price.

If you were borderline, we let you in (assuming you were picked, and we've only brought in about 300 thus far), but sent you an email reccomending hardware upgrades. If you were well under, though, well, we don't want you to have a bad experience.

Then we pull from that pull using sekret rituals and other above top sekret methods when we need more people in beta. So we have this huge pool, but only 300-400 have been actually invited in. I'm filling up beta 1 as fast as I can because we have a lot of Thestra online now and are suffering from lack of critical mass (underpopulation). But I'm stopped at times, like right now, when we reach points where we have to optimize network code, frame rate, or whatever. Right now there's a bug where if more than 50 or so people are in a chunk, and they are when we invite people in because most people start in Brennan's Stead, the newbie human area, where we are getting some bad lag. Shouldn't be too hard to fix, but lots of things going on in coding, all priority one.

As soon as this is addressed, I will be pulling in another 400 or so, and keep going until it feels right relative to the size of the world we have online (which is also growing soon to be all of Thestra).

From this thread (http://www.vanguardsagaofheroes.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=26348&mode=linear&perpage=40&pagenumber=1).

The amount of detail Brad is posting is amazing, more so about beta. After sending that application off a few months ago (or it seemed like a few months), I am interested in any beta news from Brad.

I love the idea of "if you are borderline..." as it really addresses the person rather than the machine. My machine is good but my video card may not be uber. It's very nice to know that our guessing at a machine spec does not disqualifies us for beta. With 20,000 people to choose from, I would imagine most companies would just pick-and-choose what they want instead of going through the hassle of contacting people.

300-400 people in beta so far. Friends and family, of course. Key fan site people and uber guilders, ok. They send appplications out to the first few hundred OVF members (in the first week) so I can see a lot of them being involved. If Sigil is only at the 300-400 level yet, but bet they are not disregarding a lot of applications. Something to keep my hopes up.

OK, a delay in beta. Interesting to learn where they are at.

Brennan's Steed. So beta testers begin as humans (right now) and fan out from there. I'm impressed that they intend to put all of Thresta online soon.

Another 400 soon. Sounds like a big piece. I wonder how many total they feel they need to populate Thresta sufficiently.

Just chatting about beta concepts. Anything else out there?

Orlun
10-28-2005, 03:15 PM
From this thread (http://www.vanguardsagaofheroes.com/forums/showthread.php?threadid=26348&mode=linear&perpage=40&pagenumber=1).

So beta testers begin as humans (right now) and fan out from there. I'm impressed that they intend to put all of Thresta online soon.

From the screenshots, I'd say that they are letting more races play but simply start there.

Blacki
10-28-2005, 03:23 PM
3.8 ghz, 4 gig corsair, x850x, raid..... denied :(


*next time opt for liquid cooling ....* :(



J.K. lol

agree, ANY news and snipits of info as to where they are is MUCH better than no contact and conjecture...

Loampounder
10-28-2005, 03:45 PM
Yes, Orlun, they are getting other races started. I wonder why starting there, then. Population control? Pretty good reason. It's the most finished area? Maybe. Best itemized? Just a bored mind running in circles.

Foxeye
10-28-2005, 04:01 PM
Yes, Orlun, they are getting other races started. I wonder why starting there, then. Population control? Pretty good reason. It's the most finished area? Maybe. Best itemized? Just a bored mind running in circles.

I believe they said, a while back, that it was simply so they could keep beta folks close together in a small cluster for the sake of finding groups.

Oloh
10-28-2005, 04:39 PM
I believe they said, a while back, that it was simply so they could keep beta folks close together in a small cluster for the sake of finding groups.

Foxeye is correct. The decision was made by SGO for a variety of reasons to start everyone in Brennan's Stead. It is not that the rest of the world isn't done (in fact, some newbie areas are even more complete than Brennan's Stead in specific areas), but Brennan's has a little bit of everything already in, so it is perfect for testing early beta.

Also, the world is huge. With the emphasis on grouping, you need players to all start somewhere to get a feel for the dynamics of the community. Later, testers will undoubtedly be asked to start in new areas to work through and test that progression.

And I am a halfling 8).

Skarlath
10-28-2005, 05:41 PM
Im quite suprised that Brad talked about the selection process - I wouldn't be suprised if a lot of people now go and adjust their profile to pretend their machine is just that little bit more powerful

("I'd be such a good beta tester, but what if mine pc isn't good enough. They are letting in those a little under the low spec, and i'm just a little bit under them. It wont matter!")

But I guess that's Brad. All enthusiastic. :D As Loam said, it's nice to know where things are at. :)

Well all of those 300, and for next 300, enjoy yourselves (you lucky devils!) Though hard work, i'm sure beta will be a lot of fun.

Havelock
10-28-2005, 07:41 PM
And I am a halfling 8).

/punt

Kalyper
10-28-2005, 08:55 PM
They should start asking for a copy of the DXDIAG if they don't already. Even that could be altered but most people wouldn't even think about it or no how to do it properly.

Sergo
10-29-2005, 09:27 AM
/punt

/em's eyes narrow slightly.
/em scribbles a note and quickly tucks it away.

I, too was heartened to see this specific information from Brad. Although all it really means is, I haven't been rejected yet. And all it leads too is more speculation on my part. Oh, well. The sweet torture of beta.

As to speculation about how many they'll need to fill up a server: Back when numbers were on the EQ server select screen, they topped out at a little below 2,000. Brad has said these servers will be way bigger. Let's call that a factor of 2. I've seen elsewhere that you can estimate about 25% of the server's population to be on at a given time. Beta people will be insane, though, so I'll bump that number up to 50%. Based on these rough numbers that would be 2,000x2x2. Looks like they'd need several thousand people to ensure a full server, even just at peak times.

Breogan
10-29-2005, 10:42 AM
They should start asking for a copy of the DXDIAG if they don't already. Even that could be altered but most people wouldn't even think about it or no how to do it properly.
Maybe an ActiveX plugin to collect system data. I think it was WoW beta that did this.

One thing I'm wondering about is processor speed. Do they take in consideration when thinking about speed that AMD processors have lower clock speeds but perform equally or better than their Intel counterparts? As an example, take an AMD64 4000 running at 2400Mhz and a P4 3600 1Mb/800. The AMD would most likely outperform the Intel in gaming, but still would be considered worse if you count just raw cpu speed.

Skarlath
10-29-2005, 10:56 AM
Maybe an ActiveX plugin to collect system data. I think it was WoW beta that did this.

One thing I'm wondering about is processor speed. Do they take in consideration when thinking about speed that AMD processors have lower clock speeds but perform equally or better than their Intel counterparts? As an example, take an AMD64 4000 running at 2400Mhz and a P4 3600 1Mb/800. The AMD would most likely outperform the Intel in gaming, but still would be considered worse if you count just raw cpu speed.

One of the game betas I have been in over the years used something along these lines. Quite sensible really. :)