Hey Johnny,
My reply was initially aimed towards an individual who called out a player for playing the game.
I'm aware of the definition of a beta. The semi-open betas aim is purely related to testing, however users are not restricted nor bound by an NDA to do nothing but test the game. I am aware of the teams priority, as it is the whole communitys priority as well.
As the term testing is loosely defined when it comes to an open or "semi-open" beta (remember that people play for different reasons), playing the game in any way you'd like should not be prohibited. Whether that way is through organizing guild events, levelling up weapons or purely socializing.
You shouldn't overuse the 'testing' point since most people aren't actually testing the game and the critical testing usually occurs during the alpha stage. Sure, playing and sending feedback might be considered as testing - but the primary reason that people dedicate so much time into this game is to just play it.
Since we aren't taking notes with pen and paper, playing the questline from start to end multiple times in different ways and undertaking a plethora of boring and procedural tasks to ensure that the game works as expected under extreme and normal conditions - I do not consider this as proper testing. Casual testing, maybe.
So yeah, people are playing the beta test.
Hey there Darkslinger!
however users are not restricted nor bound by an NDA to do nothing but test the game.
Just a note, but an NDA would not apply to a semi-open beta, nor would it mean you only test. An NDA is something that says you will not reveal what you test to anyone, and keep everything you see behind closed doors. For more reading on what an NDA is:
https://www.rocketlawyer.com/form/non-disclosure-agreement.rl#/
As the term testing is loosely defined when it comes to an open or "semi-open" beta (remember that people play for different reasons), playing the game in any way you'd like should not be prohibited.
It is not loosely defined, we have defined it pretty clearly through the timeline of the game. Testing means that, while you can play the game, you should expect crashes, rollbacks, loss of inventory, or any other kind of bug - as the purpose of a beta is to stabilize and finish a game.
We do not prohibit you from playing how you want, unless how you play violates our Terms of Service. I am saying that if the way you play is temporarily interrupted while we test something, it should not be unexpected, as we've made may disclaimers about the nature of beta and will attempt to fix anything that breaks as quickly as we can.
You shouldn't overuse the 'testing' point since most people aren't actually testing the game and the critical testing usually occurs during the alpha stage. Sure, playing and sending feedback might be considered as testing - but the primary reason that people dedicate so much time into this game is to just play it.
We are not overusing it. The game is literally in a semi-open beta, a testing stage, that is the whole point of it and that will not change. If you wish to only play the game and not submit feedback whatsoever, then you should be aware this delays us fixing it in a timely manner. We can't fix what we don't know about.
The same can be said of just insulting a new system instead of providing helpful feedback. It does not help.
Since we aren't taking notes with pen and paper, playing the questline from start to end multiple times in different ways and undertaking a plethora of boring and procedural tasks to ensure that the game works as expected under extreme and normal conditions - I do not consider this as proper testing. Casual testing, maybe.
That is not how betas generally function, you're thinking of the job of a QA Tester in software/hardware development. If you play the betas for most any other game, they are similar to this, but players are made very aware that the purpose is to test... just as they are here. We did not say don't play the game, we are saying play to test it so it can be finished quicker.
Guild events are not a feature we develop, it's not something we can receive a bug report about and fix nor does it really help test the game. So, while you're certainly able to do guild events, they will take a back seat in favour of fixing the game.
The queue system allows more people online, which means more chances for a bug report. I only see this as a useful and extremely useful thing.
So yeah, people are playing the beta test.
Yes, you are playing a beta to test it.
