Beta-Tester / Malfador e-mail

Q · #1 March 29th, 2001, 05:21 PM

The problem:

MM is probably drowing in its e-mail. Therefore a lot of interesting suggestions might get not to their attention. On the other hand some suggestions may be mailed 100x more or less the same, or they may be already on the list for future patches, which increases the congestion of their e-mail.

A idea how this might be improved:

If we post our suggestions in this forum in one or several special topics, that are read regularly by Beta-Testers. They could ask back and make comments and sort out the suggestions they find the most important. As far as I know, they have a much more direct connection to MM, so if they would suggest something it would hardly go unnoticed. They could give us also the feedback which ideas are under work and which have been rejected, so we don't post again and again the same things.

Of course the whole forum is full of suggestions, but until now we don't know if any Beta-Tester is reading a specific topic and will forward it to MM.

Do you think this might be useful and are there any Beta-Testers who would like to start and supervise such a topic in this forum??

Tsukku · #2 March 29th, 2001, 06:40 PM

Having sent two bug reports in to MM this week, I guess I am one of the ones overloading their system. I looked through the forum topics that might be related to the bugs, but did not find any mention of them, so I sent them in. If there was one central place/forum/database/web page that listed all the current bug reports, we could all check there before we send anything in. Is there a place I should be looking for this?

-Tsukku-

Tampa_Gamer · #3 March 29th, 2001, 08:08 PM

No, there is no central place other than on this board. We tried to create message specific threads a couple of times, but they get overwhelming. Plus, duplicate suggestions are how MM determines whether not a lot of people of concerned about a particular issue or want to see a specific feature added.

Seawolf · #4 March 30th, 2001, 09:18 PM

FYI,

We beta-testers read this board quite frequently.

------------------
Seawolf on the prowl

AJC · #5 March 31st, 2001, 05:25 AM

Indeed - often referencing the Posts that are good ideas and are able to be put into the game. Changes that dont force a rewrite of the code and completely changing the nature of the game.

raynor · #6 March 31st, 2001, 05:56 AM

Have any of the beta testers suggested to Aaron that he make ALL of his lists in the game remember the Last place you clicked?

For example, at the start of the game when I'm adding empires manually and going through them marking them for AI control. It would be a *huge* improvement to this screen if it would remember the race you clicked on when you press 'Edit Empire' so that when you come back, you can just click the next one. Instead, I typically go through the list from the top and then from the bottom to make sure I didn't miss anyone. In my Last game, I still missed one! I was actually hating Aaron about that time.

Q · #7 March 31st, 2001, 06:49 AM

quote:
Originally posted by Seawolf:
FYI,

We beta-testers read this board quite frequently.

I know that, but we still ignore if you read a specific suggestion and what you think of it. But now I am aware that you are a Beta-Tester and that's already a help. Was I right, that you have a more direct access to MM? And would you take the time to collect and forward suggestions to MM?

PsychoTechFreak · #8 April 19th, 2001, 05:56 PM

*bump*

Many open questions in this thread that I'm also interested in. I wonder how to get MM's attention to report confirmed bugs or urgent questions/issues for beta-testers.

I dream of a bug/question forum just for savegames with the same stern discipline as the mod forum...(just kidding) or at least : reading rights to the beta-test forum... *sigh*

AJC · #9 April 20th, 2001, 12:07 AM

I am pretty sure Aaron reads this forum.

It is rare that Aaron will respond to emails about bugs or suggestions- he is very busy with SE4 and he also has his day job, I often send reports to him and receive no reply, and I dont need a reply most of the time- I know he is reading them because of the changes to the game in each patch. Some of those changes are a direct result of Aaron reading this forum, receiving emails from the public or input from the testers.

the Beta test forum is not used much anymore - I rarely post there myself - I tend to send my reports straight to Aaron now.
We - the beta testers read this forum frequently and take forward the ideas that are not going to cause a rewrite of the game and make them known to MM, just incase he hasnt seen them.

Raynor - about the lists - I have personally mention it before the game went public and after - I will mention it again though.

[This message has been edited by AJC (edited 20 April 2001).]

PsychoTechFreak · #10 April 20th, 2001, 08:33 AM

I'm relieved to read that, thanx AJC. I can imagine that Aaron is pretty busy with the improvements of SE4, and I'm deeply grateful for his efforts. I try to exercise my patience meanwhile.