Alpha/Beta Announcement thread. Next Alpha: ???

[sruon]

Nah they post that everytime a new Alpha Test Session come, by next they actually mean the Seven Alpha test.

* The first feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the first Alpha Test and last until just before the launch of the second Alpha Test.

* The second feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the second alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the third alpha test.

* The third feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the third alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the fourth alpha test.

* The fourth feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the fourth alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the fifth alpha test.

* The fifth feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the fifth alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the sixth alpha test.

* The sixth feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the sixth alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the next test.

semantics, getting hopes up etc.

[Destinye]

I hope that was a bad troll attempt.

Really, after a month of time to fix this, the server stability issues shouldn't be as bad as they are. You're telling me it takes a month to stabilise a client with as few as ~2000 people playing? Sure it's a new game, but still.

This would probably go quicker if they opened the servers every day.

1. No it wouldn't.

2. Server instability in terms of online gaming or even just plain server hosting for websites/serrvices can come from different variables, it's not always the same each time instability happens.

[Khamsin]

I realize that, but I am not a beta tester so I have to go on other people's words So no way for me to have known if they were gmt or pst.

For reference, the test times will always be 6-10pm PDT on tue, thur, or sun.

So whenever new times are posted, just assume it's one of those time slots, on whatever day the euro guy posted.

[Vacht]

Why did you agree to be an Alpha tester, seriously ?

SE don't owe you anything, so stop acting as if they do.

You grab cookies' legs and ill grab his arms... and then lets find the nearest pool.

[Spoony]

Man I really hope semantics matter here and we see some beta news this week...as early as tomorrow would be nice.

[King Zuca]

Man I really hope semantics matter here and we see some beta news this week...as early as tomorrow would be nice.

im thinking we will. other then a few testers *cough* the servers seem to be running much, much smoother. i can't imagine them needing too many more sessions before moving onto alpha 2 or beta 1, whatever they choose to call the next phase.

[Hyan]

Aside from latency issues, I agree. I think they're not sure when exactly to shift phases, but it could be anytime now, based on the wording.

EDIT: And it's probably Alpha 2 with the different growth speed they were talking about. Hopefully more testers will be invited anyway though ;o.

[Jinko]

A second and third world may conicide with the different growth speed, we can hope at least.

[Chakra]

I hope that was a bad troll attempt.

That wasn't trolling. You do seem to complain a lot and it makes everyone question.. are you there to test or to play and enjoy the game? 'Cause if you're complaining to BG how frustrating it is for you to sign on, which you have no business blabbing about anyway, then you're not fucking interested in testing. You're interested in playing.

Please stop responding. The hole you're digging is only getting deeper.

And it's probably Alpha 2 with the different growth speed they were talking about. Hopefully more testers will be invited anyway though ;o.

It would be wonderful, but if they decide to do an Alpha phase 2, I don't imagine there will be more invites. I remember when they discussed roughly what phases they anticipated on having, Beta 1 is when they add new servers and assuming more invites. They didn't say more invites, but it's clearly a safe assumption.

I do think "* The sixth feedback submission period will begin with the launch of the sixth alpha test and continue until just before the launch of the next test." sounds like it is going to be alpha 2. It feels like they started just recently to really gather viable testing and seems too premature for Beta 1.

[Gokulo]

That wasn't trolling. You do seem to complain a lot and it makes everyone question.. are you there to test or to play and enjoy the game? 'Cause if you're complaining to BG how frustrating it is for you to sign on, which you have no business blabbing about anyway, then you're not fucking interested in testing. You're interested in playing.

Please stop responding. The hole you're digging is only getting deeper.

You're forgetting one thing in all this hate: you need to be able to play the game to test it.

[BlackheartX]

Lag hasn't been fixed and there is no chat filters. I don't see next phase happening so soon.

[Loaar]

You're forgetting one thing in all this hate: you need to be able to play the game to test it.

Actually the fact that he (she?) can't log on is still testing providing they give the details to SE. Finding hardware configurations that don't work (assuming it meets the specs) is important too.

Lag hasn't been fixed and there is no chat filters. I don't see next phase happening so soon.

While I agree I can't see a new phase (maybe alpha 2 and the new growth pattern, not beta 1), I very much doubt we will see chat filters until we move to beta.

[Cesaria]

God I get so sick of people who signed up for Alpha and complain it's laggy, unstable, there are server kinks still to be ironed out - it's a fucking Alpha, if you want something that's 100% working, go to the local store and pick up something in shrinkwrap.

And anyone who dares point that fact out is "kissing SE's ass"

[Hyan]

God I get so sick of people who signed up for Alpha and complain it's laggy, unstable, there are server kinks still to be ironed out - it's a fucking Alpha, if you want something that's 100% working, go to the local store and pick up something in shrinkwrap.

And anyone who dares point that fact out is "kissing SE's ass"

It doesn't mean it should be 100% working, only that it would have no X, Y, Z, W, E, R, K, L, M, N, F, G,R, T, Y, U, I, O and C issues. Alpha or not those problems should not be present anymore because I participated in the NA FFXI beta and there were no such problems there.

[zalasta]

Alpha or not those problems should not be present anymore because I participated in the NA FFXI beta and there were no such problems there.

I don't like to argue semantics, nor do I care to make excuses for SE, but you are assuming that the current testing is at exactly the same point of progression as the one you participated in over 7 years ago (which it obviously isn't). Not to mention the game was already running in Japan by then. Using FFXI's beta as a benchmark for comparison is pretty silly, considering how technology and net codes have changed since then.

[Hyan]

The post was a (poor?) attempt of sarcasm.

[Jinko]

You're not serious when you compared a beta of what was esentially a localization to an Alpha I hope

[Hyan]

I've actually seen such comparison on this forum. Good times.

[tri]

Lag hasn't been fixed and there is no chat filters. I don't see next phase happening so soon.

Chat filter is definitely needed to move up in testing phase. I think the game should go gold before it moves up to the next phase actually.

[Spira]

one might think fixing chat filters would kinda help improve lag on the client side.

also the lag is only bad in Limsa-Lominsa and Lower La Noscea, mostly because of overcrowding, coupled with the fact that the servers aren't ready to handle so much load yet.

There's no lag in Eastern/Western La Noscea or Cassiopeia Hollow at all.

So, if you want to have more of a lag-free test experience, just go to those places. It lessens the lag on those who are in the affected areas too, so everyone benefits.

in other words, lag is something that can (and should) be dealt with server-side by the developers, but can also eased by the player community making choices to better enjoy the game.