Maniaplanet Update #3 information

[Omnixor]

So did the beta officially start this week, or was it being pushed off until next week? I must have misread something earlier on in the thread, but I thought it was getting pushed to start next week.

hylis said next week monday-tuesday.

[fng_thatoneguy]

Cool, thanks!

[Hylis]

We would like also to give an early access to the most helpful players around, just for the satisfaction of doing it, so it's also for us something that is really important. Meanwhile, keep in mind:
1. We have to make arbiratry choice or it would be impossible to perfectly put the limit at the exact good place.
2. The goal is to have enough people for the tests, and players that arrive after are welcome for a new perception
3. Not everybody that are in the first wave are already aware of it
This is why I like the system where people inside the beta can invite some other players a little after start, because it's easier for them to know who is active in their aera of expertise. But we can not do it from the start, or there are too many. And I agree it's strange that too many is less efficient, but that's a fact that we have seen many times. I explain it by two things
1. players tend to wait for other to report instead of doing it themselves.
2. There are so many reports at the beginning that it's confusing if many would like to report it multiple time. But it's difficult to see what has been already reported, because there are many.
It proves a little that being in the test group is also a duty that others benefit of having to do a little less when they arrive since a lot of reports are already done.
The most active beta testers are often amazing, and other should be really thankful to them for how they are doing such a great contribution.

[fng_thatoneguy]

2. There are so many reports at the beginning that it's confusing if many would like to report it multiple time. But it's difficult to see what has been already reported, because there are many.

To that point, would it be better to implement one of the well-known issue tracking systems for your beta tests (and maybe your regular development) where those helping can come and quickly see that reports are already there and up-vote them? It could help filter the most important defects to the top and allow you to know how many are experiencing the same problems.

I get lost sometimes trying to track the reports here in the forums when I've had the opportunity to be a part of it in the past. Would that help you all for these exercises?

[Ozon]

Beta ingame reporting be a huge improvement ( including sending multiple screenshots )

[Akbalder]

The forum works pretty well to report bugs.

[Demented]

I think fng_thatoneguy has a good idea. A vote counter at the top of a feedback/bug report topic would be good or even moderators monitoring and updating the front page with numbers of reports on the same issues.
As well as that last update worked, I'm guessing this next one will have some really cool new features.
Will we all be able to monitor the closed beta feedback forum? That would be like a teaser for what is coming.

[Omnixor]

The forum works pretty well to report bugs.

not good enough imho. there are no "statuses" which nadeo can put, etc.

[Darkminus]

The forum works pretty well to report bugs.

not good enough imho. there are no "statuses" which nadeo can put, etc.

Ingame report is not a solution, too. If 30 people encounter the same problem, there would be 30 reports for the exact same thing. I think that the best way is to talk about it in one place, and the forum is good for that ^^

[Hylis]

We have dozens of beta tests, and the freedom of the forum is really good. It's demanding and disturbing sometimes, but in the end, it's quite efficient. We put tags on topic to close them and can answer in thread directly. Sometimes there is too many topics created, but we usually find the right balance, depending on the number of players.

I would not use it to have reports on the long run, but in short term, it's quite efficient. It's as much a way to communicate than a matter of reports. So, many systems could be useful in addition, of course, but the main goal is quite well achieved so far.