Beta Testing

I was just wondering, how hard it to be a beta tester. Is it really complicated and only for programmers, or can anyone do it?
Not saying I want to be a beta tester or anything just wondering.

I've been a beta tester often for other (non-game) programs. It's not particularly hard, but you have to resign yourself to the fact that the program may not always run as expected and may sometimes crash. You don't have to be a programmer, but the ability to describe how problems arise fully is useful so that any reports are useful to the developers. From LDW's beta testing application:

"We especially like to have people with a good eye for bugs and typos, who are willing to devote time to carefully examining the game and providing detailed comments about their testing experiences."

I should add that we do maintain a waiting list for beta testers, but it's only fair to warn everyone that we already have far more people who want to test the games than we can possibly put into our beta tests. At this point, it's very unlikely that anyone who signs up now would be selected to test VV3, since there are people who have been waiting almost 2 years for a chance to test a game.

You must also be at least 18 years old, because you must sign a legal agreement with LDW in order to beta test.

Is the Beta Testing of VV3 already start? or will it soon begin or at 100% of the progress-bar?

It hasn't started yet.

Thanks! But do you know when it will start?

Ohhhh Laurence, you know LadyCFII well enough to know that she cannot say when it will be released or tested.

In fact, although I'm sure they have a general ideal, Arthur doesn’t even know what the exact date will be. I know we are all excited and can't wait for it to be released, but they really can't give out dates. Not that they don't want to, just they really don't know exactly when it will be completed.

We have learned our lesson well about giving out dates. There are too many factors that can cause delays. It's better to be vague!

I just asked if the beta test will start before or after the progress bar (in the preview page) will reach 100% ! I didn't ask any date!!
Sorry if some time I express myself badly.
and sorry if don't know how it works

Even if we say that the beta testing will start when the progress bar reaches a certain point, that really doesn't tell you a lot. The length of the beta testing phase depends upon how quickly the bugs are found and corrected. We won't release the game until it's ready.

Oh, well that has been answered by the LDW staff before. Beta testing typically takes place someplace between 90 and 99%. Hope that helps.

Ok! Thanks!

We've never started a beta before the progress bar reaches 95%, but when it reaches 100% you can be pretty sure that it's in beta.

LOL Barbara! It's just what I asked, nothing else!! simple curiosity!

Yes, and the game must be finished before it can be tested.

Well, close to finished, anyway. It's never a good idea to make large changes in betas, but sometimes suggestions made by beta testers can get included if the coding isn't too complex.

I'm new, what is beta testing?

Emily, its when a group of selected users play the game and test for bugs and any problems with the game before it is available for purchase.

okay i'm going to sound like I'm 2 here but.... I Signed up PICK ME PICK ME!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Hehehe sorry i couldn't resist

As I said in another thread, we have quite a waiting list already, and many people have been waiting almost 2 years for a chance to test a game. It's not likely that anyone who submits a beta test application now will be selected to test VV3, although everyone will be placed in the database for future consideration.

(Reading between the lines)
You might get a chance to beta test VV5 if you're lucky!

Oh, Arnie, you are a tormentor.

I would like to be a Beta tester of games but the problem is I don't have time untill I retire from my job. That will not be for a few years yet

i wish i could beta test but im only 13. but i cant wait to play vv3!!

Barbara has said earlier in the thread that many people have been waiting almost 2 years for a chance to test a game. I'd sign up now if I were you!

I've been waiting really long.Pleases peed up the progress a little bit?

does anyone know if beta testing has started yet? i'm just curious (and impatient! :D).

me too! im not sure if it has, but they say once it hits like 95% that they are beta testing. so i think so

by the way, heidirea, i really like your avatar!

thanks! i wasn't sure at first what i should use for an avatar, but hey, no one can go wrong with a smiley face.

how do you know if you are or will be a tester. Im one of those who has been waiting for 2 yrs ( i think).

A lot of factors go into tester selection, and not just how long ago the application was sent. We really can't say which people will be chosen - a lot depends on our needs for each particular beta.

I'm one of those ones that signed up to beta ages ago, and if I get picked I will be SO excited. But Lady, is there some way to update an application? I put down that I would be getting a PC with Vista at work and I've gotten it since then. Plus I put my PC (at home) with WindowsME in the basement, so I probably wouldn't use it for testing.
I imagine that other applicants have made changes in that long of a time. It'd be good if a person could update. Of course I know ya'll have enough on your plate as is right now, but something to add to the to-do list of the future?

Marcey

One easy way is to submit another application, and in the text field, say that you are updating your information. Alternatively, you can send an email to betatest@ldw.com with any updated information, but (of course) we don't accept new applications by any other means than the official beta test application. In either case, make sure that you include your forum name, so that it's easier to make sure I'm updating the right person! I do know all of the regulars here on the forums, but I don't memorize email addresses.

Thanks Lady! I thought about submitting another application, but didn't know there was an update field. I didn't want to submit again and end up back at the bottom of the waiting list!!

Marcey

There isn't an update field, Marcey. You'll have to explain that in the "tell us about yourself" field.

PLZ can some1 tell me if beta testing has started or not. If it has started how long ago? If not when does it start? at 100%???? Im confused!!!

Somewhere between 95% AND 100% usually, Sharli I think that beta testing has already started but by all means i could be wrong.

I think you can become a beta tester even if you are not a programmer. You can find _bugs_ eg. at some point children can walk on water, food amt don't go up if female were fishing, _bug_ about sharks...

I think beta testing has started, because LDW still saids it will be out in Spring 2008 (according to the video released a couple days ago) and beta testing can take quite a bit of time.

Please feel free to correct me if I'm wrong.

SnakesRock, i think thats correct. if they released the video, then it seems logical that most of the bugs would be fixed, which means that beta testing has started. but i could be wrong.

or could mean Beta Testing has ended. But I could be wrong also.

I agree with $@m

no, $@m, you're probably right. and if the beta testing is done, that means VV3 will be released any day now!

I sorta think beta testing has already started...but I'm also thinking it hadn't yet....

Beta testing is gotta be started. At least beta testing will be 20% or higher. But I could be wrong

But definately not finished! Did anyone notice that the chief "warped" from where he was put in the amphitheatre to just outside it after the message saying what he was lecturing about appeared? Perhaps it's not *quite* finished..

I think it's important that the beta testing run until everyone's SURE it's perfect, as I've found that bugs can hide and the program can seem to run fine for ages, and then one day, out of the blue...

I just want to say keep up the good work to all at LDW, and that it really will be the last day of work for me when vv3 comes out. Who needs to revise for exams when there are PUZZLES to solve!!!

Hi whoever can answer this

I am not asking for a release date.

Curious as to what is involved with Beta testing, How many people test the game. After errors are fixed then how many play it to make sure it is playing with out errors, how many times or how long. (50 people need to play it without an error before it is released or is it hundreds or do the same people replay it trying to do things differently to see how it reacts.

Thanks

I can't answer about LDW in particular, but I've taken part in several beta (and some alpha) tests for several types of software in the past.

Basically the testers will download the beta version and play it, reporting any bugs, problems, and suggestions to the software makers. They will look at the reports, fix the bugs, add possible new features, and make another version available for testing. The testers will go through the same process, checking that previous bugs have been fixed properly, and that no new bugs have crept in. The developers will again make a new build available, receive more feedback, and so on until the game is as _bug_-free and playable as possible. That can involve only one or two builds or perhaps several. Some software I've tested is in an almost permanaent stage of beta testing.

Once they are sure the game is as good as it can be, then, and only then, it is released.

There will be several beta testers to get as wide a variety of types of machine and player as possible. I don't know how many, though.

Thanks for your help, I just like to understand what people are talking about

Much appreciated

I think that LDW is not quite finished with beta testing yet (or at the time they released the video it wasn't), because I think I saw a glitch in the VV3 video. Is the area around the mouse a little bit blurry in the video? or is it just my imagionation?

i think it could be finished, but then again there is the problem with fixing the things spotted by beta testers. so i guess itll be a while more.

Sorry to say, but LadyCFII just said a couple minutes ago that beta wasn't done in page 60 of "When can we expect VV3 to be released?"

i am posting here as i am unsure where to post. if there is going to be beta testing for vv4 pleas think of me. i have all of the vv and fish, plant tycoon. it may not show here but i am good at finding bugs. and willing to deal with the crashings and mispells and help in that matter. not asking for a date but any particular vagunes on when it will show?

We don't usually announce our beta tests, and only people who are at least 18 years old, have applied to be testers, and meet our needs for a particular test are invited to participate. You might want to read the first few posts in this thread, including this post by me, for more information.

We have also moved our beta tests to a private server, so that the beta tests can be isolated from the forum activity here.

I was looking over the Beta Tester Application, and saw that you ask the applicant to tell you something about themselves. I'm curious about what kind of information LDW wants to know about them.

We leave that up to the person who fills out the application.

I would love to be a beta tester.I am 18.how do I sign up if you need me.I am in front of my computer unless im sleeping so I have plenty of time to spend on game.

I would start HERE. Read the little paragraph at the bottom and then click the link in that paragraph.

cool! i just signed up!

ooh! im not 18 yet but i beta'd some games, ive made a couple of games. i beta'd a couple of my friends games. how do you choose?

I wish I could beta test, but I'm not 18...

I'd like to be able to become a beta tester, but I am unsure of what I'd put in some of the fields at all. I've tried looking at the information in my computer, but I'm not good at figuring it out. Also, there's the fact that I'm willing to test on both my desktop and laptop, but my desktop is running on windows vista and my laptop on windows 7 and I wouldn't be sure how to put the information for both of them in.

The easiest way to find system specification information is to use the DirectX Diagnostic Tool. Click Start, then Run, then type dxdiag in the window and press OK. The DirectX Diagnostic tool will open. You may be asked if you want to allow checking for digital signatures, which is safe to allow. The tool contains various tabs for information, such as System, Display,and DirectX.

If there's not enough space for both computers, I suggest that you enter the computer that you expect to use most for testing, and mention that you also have a laptop. I expect you'll be able to give more details if accepted for beta testing.

I tried that and even using both that and the system properties I'm not sure what to put in the "main memory installed" and the "video memory(VRAM)" fields, because I cannot find anything labelled with either of those.

You'll need to look on two different tabs of the DirectX Diagnostic Tool for that information. The System tab shows the main (or system) memory in the entry called "Memory" (e.g. 1536MB RAM), and the Display tab shows the VRAM (or video memory) in the entry called "Approx. Total Memory" (e.g. 128 MB).

Thank you, I found them now.

Edit: I sent it in now.