46 replies to this topic

[Himack]

It's been said...

Quote

On our end, we are doing our best to bring you a beta version as soon as we can! When we are ready an announcement will be made and we will select people that have been around and active.

Although I've not posted on the forums before I hope I count as being active. I may not write on the forums, however I am here every day (almost) reading and keeping up to date. I would be disappointed if I were to miss out simply because I choose not to post. I'm interested and eager... so please don't forget about me.


In other news...


Not many specifics about the mechanics of the game have yet been revealed. My biggest hope is that the strategical, tactical and meta game elements of this game are going to be deep and complex. I want this game to be more than a simple formulaic problem, which once cracked means it's just a case of going through the motions and hoping for some good cards in the STACS. With just four actors in a game (a single lance) I wonder if it's possible to add the depth that will keep the game interesting.

I used to play Star Wars CCG many years ago, which I enjoyed greatly. The number of strategies and tactics that could be employed were massive (well large), which when combined with the card collection side of things gave it longevity. Here's hoping for the same from MWT.

[Zecro]

So, is this the thread where us lurkers get to post in?

[Battalia]

Well, I can't asnwer that first part, as I'm not a dev, but I can quote a dev:

IGP_Chris, on 10 July 2012 - 12:07 PM, said:

We really mean active in a "bring something to the discussion" way not just spam around.
It's not really about who has the most posts.

So its not that you have to be a massive poster, you just have to voice your opinions and contribute, much like the 2nd portion of your post here.

As for longevity of MWT, yes, at release, there will only be 4v4 games, but they have plans to go beyond that. Our support will decide how far this game progresses.

[XZealot]

I want a PONY!
I want a PONY!
If I can't get a PONY then I will settle for a Goliath!

[Modred189]

According to the devs:
http://mwtactics.com...ndpost__p__4107

[ClaudiusSteiner]

Lurking is not contributing

[Erolat]

<sigh>

Guess I better go find something to comment on.

[Aeornex]

I find this kind of unfortunate bacause, well I've been a BattleTech fan since I was nine or so, twenty years ago. I've always followed it but I don't feel as though I'm an expert on the subject, as obviously some of the people on these forums are. I'm sure there a a lot of people like me who feel this way...kind of intimidated. Though everyone does seem to be pretty friendly. Oh well, suppose I'd better come up with some posts

[Battalia]

Aeornex, on 10 July 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

I find this kind of unfortunate bacause, well I've been a BattleTech fan since I was nine or so, twenty years ago. I've always followed it but I don't feel as though I'm an expert on the subject, as obviously some of the people on these forums are. I'm sure there a a lot of people like me who feel this way...kind of intimidated. Though everyone does seem to be pretty friendly. Oh well, suppose I'd better come up with some posts

Don't be discouraged and don't think it is too late. Post in areas dev's are encouraging input, comment in others. Heck "CPLT VS TBT who wins?" is contributing. If you are a battletech fan, then odds are, you have questions, and an opinion. Use them both and lets grow as a community

That said, even if you don't get in the closed beta, odds are you will never know due to the NDA (heck for all I know it could be ongoing right now! ;. so you won't be too put out, and closed beta odds are is going to be a rough experience. It is to find bugs, exploits, and think of ways they can improve the game BEFORE sending it off to BT fans such as yourself.

From what I hear on the MWO Beta, alot of people who don't have the heart for beta are getting discouraged as there are frequent wipes making them start over and knowing a wipe is coming really dampens your desire to play for fun, knowing that grinding those last 6 matches for your platinum STAC really means nothing as in a week from now you lose it anyways, so why bother? So getting into the closed beta could be just as much a curse as not getting in... Although I'd still like to be in either way

I guess the moral of the story is that closed beta doesn't translate to early access very well, so don't be too put off and feel like you have to go out of your way to get it if your not comfortable to do so.

[MacabreDerek]

While I do agree that the idea that someone will miss out on a beta invite due to not being active is a little sad, I doubt this will be the Dev's primary way of deciding who will be doing the testing.

That being said, for a game like this to survive, there needs to be a community. Just because you are listening to a conversation does not make you a part of that community, a community is based off a back and forth communication. The reality is that those who 'just read' may be informed, but they are not facilitating discussion nor are they bringing their thoughts to the topic.

For a community to thrive, that back and forth needs to be continuous. It's always needing someone to be proactive, and a person who proves themselves to be proactive is just more useful for the means of beta testing. Active participants also have the luxury of knowing specifics, because their is far more communication than just what is posted on the forums. There is private messages, IRC chats, other forums you may not be aware of discussing topics, and sometimes live participation at conventions where you might get some information that is not found in the reported interview (Anyone who has done interview work knows about 1/4 is typically what actually shows to the viewership, and alot of the details are left out of the 'lead up' questions).

I typically have a problem when someone decided to register to a forum then proceeds to remain lurking. Why would you do this if you had nothing to ask or contribute? Your experience does not change drastically for simply reading the forums without a registered account as it does with one. The choice to register is an action, it's taking a single step in saying you are participating, and then proceed not to. The only reason to do this is in hopes of getting into the Beta in this forum, but if you're just doing that then how are you demonstrating the ability to communicate, and more importantly the interest in actually giving the feedback required of from a Beta Tester?

The person who puts in the effort, shows their love of the material, and shows they can put in the time and thought to become an active participant on the forum and more importantly in the community, looses their shot to someone who just registered an account to get in, and hasn't shown much of anything outside the initiative to read a few forum posts and register?

The thing is consistency, you know what you are getting from a participant, rather than someone on the sideline who never took the time to step forward.

Food for thought.

[TheDragon]

Aw man, us lurkers never get any love (Yes, I am aware of the irony in that statement... )

On a more serious note, though. It would be disappointing if they went back on their original e-mailed statement that everyone who had registered prior to a certain date would get in the Beta. I do understand (and am hoping), however, that as this may just be a dividing of the Beta stage into an additional iteration where they take some of the most active members and then bring in the rest later on.

[Battalia]

TheDragon, on 10 July 2012 - 02:54 PM, said:

Aw man, us lurkers never get any love (Yes, I am aware of the irony in that statement... )

On a more serious note, though. It would be disappointing if they went back on their original e-mailed statement that everyone who had registered prior to a certain date would get in the Beta. I do understand (and am hoping), however, that as this may just be a dividing of the Beta stage into an additional iteration where they take some of the most active members and then bring in the rest later on.

Much like MWO is doing, minus theirs being random. MWT could be going active members then moving onto all registered forum members. Who really knows?

[Modred189]

TheDragon, on 10 July 2012 - 02:54 PM, said:

Aw man, us lurkers never get any love (Yes, I am aware of the irony in that statement... )

On a more serious note, though. It would be disappointing if they went back on their original e-mailed statement that everyone who had registered prior to a certain date would get in the Beta. I do understand (and am hoping), however, that as this may just be a dividing of the Beta stage into an additional iteration where they take some of the most active members and then bring in the rest later on.

Also, keep in mind there will likely be multiple phases:
Closed Beta
Open beta

and within those, there will be phases including balance, stability and server stress testing. i think that if you want in, and are somewhat active here with decently useful posts, you at least have a good shot. There are over 9kpeople registered, and only a small fraction have posted.

Remember, your participation here is an indicator of how you would participate in a beta, and a good beta tester is one that gives DAILY useful feedback (Iv've done my fair share)

[Wolf22]

Aeornex, on 10 July 2012 - 02:14 PM, said:

I find this kind of unfortunate bacause, well I've been a BattleTech fan since I was nine or so, twenty years ago. I've always followed it but I don't feel as though I'm an expert on the subject, as obviously some of the people on these forums are. I'm sure there a a lot of people like me who feel this way...kind of intimidated. Though everyone does seem to be pretty friendly. Oh well, suppose I'd better come up with some posts

I'm in the same boat as you. I've been a fan for over 20 years and read the forum nearly every day, but don't like to "ditto" what others have already said. In the immortal words of Abraham Lincoln, "Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt."

[Modred189]

Well, start your own thread so you can set your own rules for the conversation. I like to think of myself as relatively active, yet I haven't plat tableteop battletech in 15 years, and mechwarrior since MW4 Mercenaries. You don't need to be an expert, just interested!

Besides, there seems to be an abnormally low douchebaggery level around here, so, WELCOME!

[MacabreDerek]

Hell, sometimes you can go outside the box into stuff you specificly specialize in. I started a Redesign Challenge that has taken off gloriously, along with some questioning some things people take for granted. Get creative, and you'll find often a simple question can offer tons of insight through discussion and speculation from the rest of the forum!

Give it a go!

[Modred189]

Link to afore-mentioned CHALLENGE

[Badillard]

I am trying to contribute as intelligently and regularly as I can.

Just seems like sometimes the stuff I want to say or ask about has already been said or asked.

I hate just saying "Agreed" all the time.

[MacabreDerek]

Badillard, on 10 July 2012 - 07:33 PM, said:

I am trying to contribute as intelligently and regularly as I can.

Just seems like sometimes the stuff I want to say or ask about has already been said or asked.

I hate just saying "Agreed" all the time.

After getting to know Havoc, and seeing DHB in your banner, all I can say is he is an excellent judge of character, so if you're in his crew, then I am confident you have a few contributions lurking. The hard part if anything is absorbing information at the speed of interwebs, and really picking at it.

I am glad you take the time to consider posting more than just 'agreed'. While I am glad when someone does that, there is a reason for the "Like This" button on the post. Use it, because it's not being used as frequently as most people should in showing support.

I sometimes have to force myself to look over old material, and bring up my thoughts and feelings on particular elements, and eventually you start finding things that dont quite 'click', which is usually a good time to bring it up to see why it feels it doesnt work, or why it does and you're not quite getting it.

I look forward to seeing more from all our would-be lurkers, and who knows? Maybe sometime you'll be leadng the charge in the forum rather than following.

[Cever]

XZealot, on 10 July 2012 - 01:29 PM, said:

I want a PONY!
I want a PONY!
If I can't get a PONY then I will settle for a Goliath!

One Goliath coming up...

Spoiler

Oh wait... wrong game.

OT: We lurkers and less than frequent posters will probably be in one of the later stages of testing, though it's anyone's guess really.