Starscape mod enters public beta!

[Fyron]

If only a select group is allowed to beta test it, then it is a Private Beta. Public Beta means all of the Public is the beta testing team (see Civilization 3 for an example ).

[Shadowstar]

No, that's not it either. We're not doing internal testing anymore. That's the point of this announcement, that it's no longer a limited group.

Basically, now the game is going to be tested from the same player base as with the final release.

[Fyron]

So why don't you just post a link to the download? Then it would truly be a public beta.

[mlmbd]

Shadowstar, I don't mean to be a stick in the mud. But, do you really want to play test this mod? If the play testers are going to be by invite or first come, then it is not public. It is just being play tested as a 'Beta'. Arguing about what it is seems pretty foolish. You want Play Testers, Great! You will need to agree that it is a 'Beta' that needs further testing. Unless you release the mod for all to D/L. Then you will have your 'Public Beta', available for testing.

mlmbd

[Shadowstar]

Remember that this is a GM-driven PBEM game, so releasing the client as a general download wouldn't really help as any bugs that could be found that way have already been found and fixed (I've done this already). Aside from that, the actual game that could be played without a host would be lacking many of the features I need to test, and would just look and play weird.

Maybe I should have mentioned that Starscape is being designed as a strictly multiplayer mod. I only used a few small single-player games on the host module to work out initial bugs.

I'm surprised, I had figured other people had done this sort of thing before, but I get the feeling that the mod I'm creating is more radical than anything anyone else has tried before...

I guess that's a good thing?

[mlmbd]

OK, have it your way!

mlmbd