Breakfast topic: Why should you be in the Beta?
by Amanda Dean 
Jul 7th 2008 at 8:00AM
Not long ago Blizzard opened up the expansion content to selected friends and family. We've had a few days to sign up for the Wrath of the Lich King beta test. Blizzard has made it clear that assignment in the Beta test that aside from a better chance of selection among* World Wide Invitational attendees, the beta testers will be selected by a random lottery. But what is it that makes a good beta tester?
I've entered twice for the Beta, as I have two accounts. I'm not sure how many participants will be selected, but I really hope I get in. If I wasn't with WoW Insider, I probably would avoid the beta. I'm rather in favor of delicious surprised once the expansion is actually released. Recent iterations of the Public Test Realm have invited everyone to come and play. Many have taken that challenge to see nifty, new gear and test new mechanics. Blizzard has proven open to feedback through progressive testing.
If beta entry were an application process, I have much to offer as a tester. I have a more keen awareness of balance and mechanics than I once did. If they're offering character copies, my five level seventies would be a boon as I'd be able to discuss a range of classes. I'd certainly be all over PvP mechanics. If I were selected, I'd supply Blizzard with comprehensive feedback about the way things work (or don't work,as the case may be). I'd be both excited and critical as a beta tester. Of course, I'd share as much information as of official policy allows with the wonderful readers of WoW Insider.
What would you put on your Beta application?
* Forum post is in French, see the translation at MMO Champion.
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, Blizzard, Breakfast Topics, Expansions, Alts, Wrath of the Lich King
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 4)
kunukia Jul 7th 2008 8:13AM
Well, I have 6 seventies, and 4 of them are hunters, so I do not bring such a wide range of experience as you. I would be all over hunter mechanics and new pets and new pet skills, though, and druid also. I am also an explorer, so if I happen across an edge of the map that suddenly disappeared or such, I could offer that. Oh, and I solo almost everything, so have learned to solo quests that most folks group for, so I could give feedback on the solo-er's experience. In other words, I don't bring much except enthusiasm. LoL
Radiophonic Jul 7th 2008 12:46PM
4 Hunters? Fail.
sigepdan21 Jul 7th 2008 1:06PM
4 hunters? I can see 4 druids...one resto, one balance, one feral tank, one feral dps...but hunters are all dps. I imagine finding groups for 4 hunters would be troublesome at best...
Its ok, I'll /facepalm for you.
kunukia Jul 7th 2008 1:49PM
Well, they are not all on the same server, or the same faction. And I DID say I mostly soloed, did I not?
You play your game, I will play mine. :)
Smurk Jul 7th 2008 8:21AM
As a rogue, I can make sure the new dances work when executed upon everyone else's carcasses.
Aigarius Jul 7th 2008 8:27AM
Linux player here. Need to test that as well :)
NeSuKuN Jul 7th 2008 9:21AM
OSx86 User here, need testing too!
Kyrra Jul 7th 2008 11:48AM
Even if you were in the beta under NDA, you could not report bugs back to the Linux community if you ran into any. Sure you could test to see if it works, but with how much things can change during a beta, it's probably better to wait to testing WoW on Linux.
Aigarius Jul 7th 2008 1:19PM
@Kyrra - even under an NDA I can look at specific bugs and report them back for clean-room debugging. I might not be able to say to Wine developers that Arthas blade glow causes artifacts on walls, for example, I might be able to say that pixel-shaders on textured vexel objects cause video memory corruption in the memory region that's address is half of the address of the base texture (tehnogibberish :)). Or for a simpler case that WotLK WoW tries to detect availability of DX10 features via _this_ function call with _these_ parameters and expects _this_ result on a positive outcome.
From PTR testing experience, there are sometimes things that break on Linux that would also be important for either Mac or Windows platform users (Linux is almost a hybrid platform in this case - using Windows executables in OpenGL mode, just like Mac).
Thorall Jul 7th 2008 8:31AM
Well I was in WoW beta and BC beta so it's only right I should be im Wrath Beta too!
dpoyesac Jul 7th 2008 8:41AM
Stand aside. Let someone else have a turn!
Simon Jul 7th 2008 8:33AM
I was a games tester. I have the experience!
Ryanix-Arthas Jul 7th 2008 8:33AM
haha
Using wowinsider as your platform to pitch for a beta key. Nice. :p
magicswordking Jul 7th 2008 8:35AM
Because I was right about the impending destruction of Orgrimmar long before there was any evidence, and am the Prophet of Blizzard. My power is to guess major aspects of what they do as a company with total accuracy.
Izbay Jul 7th 2008 8:35AM
I'll quote my forum sig.
"I deserve to be in BETA because I'm a cute bubbly blonde rogue teehee! *Miss America Wave* If you nominate me for BETA, I'll help the undead children and end Frostmourne's Hunger."
Ikarus Jul 7th 2008 2:26PM
A completely random lottery seems like a bad idea. So someone started an account 2 months ago and decided to opt in for the beta and makes it? They're still figuring out the game, what could they possibly add? they need to at least have a /played requirement.
sephirah Jul 7th 2008 8:41AM
As a warlock, I could verify if rolling my face across the keyboard is still a viable way of playing!
Yosh Jul 7th 2008 8:43AM
Got 2 70's at the moment, found 3 bugs that weren't reported yet (yeah, it's something to mention:P), and am the servers most famous jewelcrafter/Premade leader... If that ain't enough =/
Percinho Jul 7th 2008 8:47AM
How about that I'm a qualified professional software tester? Reckon that should count for something. :-)
But as I spend all day being paid to test software, I have no interest in doing it for free in the evening as well.
sephirah Jul 7th 2008 8:54AM
Or you could simply quit your work and only test for free! ;)
Well, back to checking the bug reports MY tester just submitted... :(