Stupid NDA breakers

[Otarin]

/rant
I'm getting so sick of seeing people break the NDA. On the FoH boards, there's a new NDA-breaker just about every day. The worst part is that most of the people breaking it seem to be doing it for the dumbest reason, e-peen bragging rights. "Look at me! I'm in beta!" :(

Seriously, if you are going to be stupid enough to risk getting kicked out of beta, throw us a bone and give us some real information! hehe ;)
/rant

Back to checking my email in the hopes that I get picked when some of those morons get booted out of beta.

[Havelock]

Back to checking my email in the hopes that I get picked when some of those morons get booted out of beta.

A-freaking-men.

[Spirit]

Yeah I agree. I kind of expected it in a way -- I think we all did really -- it's still annoying to see it happen though, especially when you know in your heart of hearts you wouldn't blow your chance like that.

Console yourselves with the thought that you're a little more honorable. And right after they let slip they're in beta, you tend to forget who they were anyway. So the fame thing ain't really working out for them.

Now I've said that, I've talked myself around to feeling sorry for them. What the

[Sergo]

Is there some reason to believe they're telling the truth?

[Rune]

I just hope NDA violators get banned ASAP. This really isn't a joking matter.

[Mack Bolan]

Sometimes i agree with that and others i dont. I guess it depends on the content.

If its a hahah im in beta, then yeah they need to get banned.

But this weekend i played in a stress test and i realized i had some comments about it. I didnt say the game or anything like that, i just stated something i seen that the games these days are doing.... is that a voliation worth getting booted?

[moonglum]

I agree. Its foolish to talk about your live experiences in a game your testing in vivid detail or in any detail for that matter. It makes you look bad. I also believe in an indirect way that you the tester poorly represent the company making the game by discussing or sharing game information that should not be disclosed to the public.

My concern though is with press traps. There are a large considerable number of things that are common knowledge about games that have not been released or gone gold. For example, the developers release this information in interviews to known gaming websites. So I ask where do you draw the line when you talk about a game that has not gone gold yet or lifted the NDA when you are drawing your information from interviews?

For example I think its common knowledge that Vanguard will be a seamless world or close to seamless and there will be watercraft and horse combat. I only know this because I read some of the interviews from gaming websites. Note: on horse combat I may have this mixed up w/ Age of Conan. I know that horse combat was mentioned in an interview for one of them or both of these games.
I certainly hope its in for Vanguard and Im right. I know I read about it from either AOC or Vang. Im certain though it was mentioned for Vang. Things can be changed at any time though.

So does mentioning this get someone in trouble. If you are sharing intricate details of your experience in this game while testing ie boats..how they operate look , move etc... then yes you are probably breaking the NDA.

My concern is about posting known information and then getting punished for posting information that was based on open interviews. Im not in the Vanguard Beta but this has always been a concern of mine. I guess you have to use good judgment and tact when mentioning game information if you are referring to general common knowledge about the game especially if you are a tester.

Anyone care to comment.

[Otarin]

When I've been under NDAs in the past, I just stopped talking about the games outside of beta boards or the games themselves. Saying nothing removes all doubt (and temptation to brag). It also helps to be hopelessly addicted -- you can't break the NDA if you are so busy testing the game every waking non-work moment that you don't have time to troll non-beta boards.

If you absolutely have to say something about the game, it's best to say "based on what developers/interviews/articles have said" and so on.

[Loampounder]

I just hope NDA violators get banned ASAP. This really isn't a joking matter.
Yet Sigil has said that they seek out pre-formed communities like older guilds and press affiliation. Do they really think that these guild members will not talk among themselves? I don't think they are that naive.

[Wolf216]

When I've been under NDAs in the past, I just stopped talking about the games outside of beta boards or the games themselves. Saying nothing removes all doubt (and temptation to brag). It also helps to be hopelessly addicted -- you can't break the NDA if you are so busy testing the game every waking non-work moment that you don't have time to troll non-beta boards.


Exactly my thoughts!

[Garioch]

On the FV server in EQ we have someone trying to sell their Beta account to Vanguards, along with some EQ accounts.

I really detest these people.

They are out there doing crap like that, while good people are sitting here blogging on site like this that would actually rather be in there testing and making suggestions that would impact this game for the rest of us.

What a gomer.

Garioch, Last of the Lone Rangers

[Atoyota]

Now I've said that, I've talked myself around to feeling sorry for them. What the

I really do hope they lose their accts for having a big mouth.
Just think if they are blabbing in plain sight, then what are they saying elsewhere?

[Liin]

Since it has been stated that Aradune was an honary member of FoH you can be certain that many of that guild got automatic invites since they were looking for guild affiliations to get a guild into the testing process. It is sad however that those same people getting in are breaking the NDA.

[Atoyota]

Since it has been stated that Aradune was an honary member of FoH you can be certain that many of that guild got automatic invites since they were looking for guild affiliations to get a guild into the testing process. It is sad however that those same people getting in are breaking the NDA.
Uh Oh... and they accuse the President of these here United States of Cronyisms... (they being democrats and not Sigil)

Well I suppose "Brad knows best"

[Otarin]

To be fair, none of the NDA-breaking posts that got me riled up were from FoH members, just people posting on their public general MMO discussion forum. And the posts with substantive violations were edited/removed pretty quickly, which isn't surprising since Aradune posts there a lot and several Sigil employees are or used to be members.

[Webtroll]

Maybe they should add "Are you surrently in an NDA protected beta for another game?" question to their survey: Anyone who lists any games there is automatically excluded from the beta.

Well I thought it was a good idea. :confused:

[Havelock]

Maybe they should add "Are you surrently in an NDA protected beta for another game?" question to their survey: Anyone who lists any games there is automatically excluded from the beta.

Well I thought it was a good idea. :confused:

You know, that is a really good idea.

[Merwenn]

It's annoying if you're in beta, but somewhat cool if you're not like the rest of us =\

[Ieranii]

Maybe they should add "Are you surrently in an NDA protected beta for another game?" question to their survey: Anyone who lists any games there is automatically excluded from the beta.

Well I thought it was a good idea. :confused:


I like that idea too. As long as they don't exclude folks who are beta testing applications. I actually get invited to those but can't for the life of me get game beta invites. ><

Which brings me to a grumble...when they(game companies) are asking for beta experience on tester applications...why don't they just ask "what have you beta tested?".

Don't testers for applications (like servers, disk cleaners, productivity applications ect) count? They know how to look for bugs, they know how to report bugs and give impressions ect.

All beta experience ought to count because how can you get game beta experience if they won't give you a chance to test unless you already have experience! ><

[Loampounder]

Don't testers for applications (like servers, disk cleaners, productivity applications ect) count? They know how to look for bugs, they know how to report bugs and give impressions ect.
HA, I was a quality assurance manager for years and currently a systems engineer in aerospace (which means I beta test satellites and have professional NDA experience) but do you think THAT counts? Nope, time zone and being in FoH.