Relic

Hi everyone,

As you know, for the past little while we’ve been working the idea of involving the community in our testing process. It looks like we have many of the pieces in motion to make this work. What I’m asking for you is to give me an honest answer as to whether or not you would like to actually participate in this program for Company of Heroes.

Benefits:

- Help make Relic games and patches better
- Help shorten the amount of time needed for QA/testing
- Join an exclusive beta testing community privy to what’s going to be in the next patch or some insight into new initiatives at Relic

You must be willing to:

- Sign an NDA (Non-Disclosure Agreement) to participate
- Provide Relic and THQ with your full contact details
- Complete a detailed profile
- Download large patches from our servers
- Play in a beta-only environment, separate from the general populace for at least 1-2 weeks at a time
- Participate in some scheduled playtest sessions
- Provide feedback in the form of bug reports or discussion comments
- Recognize that patches or installers may irreparably break your game

Please vote honestly and take the time to read your obligations.

Thank you for your time!

strategery

I did it before the game came out when you guys invited me to do it the first time around(for both DoW and CoH). And I'd willingly do it again.

I personally love being involved in some part of the development process, as the gaming industry is where'd I'd like to eventually end up one day(can't live in the IT tree forever, it's kind of easy and dull ). I've participated in more Beta Tests over the years than I care to count

AntiCommie

I'd be willing to do it as long as feed back was provided. In other words, if I recommend Shermans be nerfed against infantry, your team provides some sort of feedback as to why this wont be done (Game balance, historical, etc). I hate trying to help out and all, only to feel ignored, especially when so many others feel the way I do. I'm also saying this in a forum context, I dont expect an email from you personally on every change I'd recommend, but more of a reply to the beta thread where the testers were discussing changes. I dont always feel that was done in the open beta or post-release.

Relic

Yes there would likely be a forum with feedback and discussion.

FalseMyrmidon

I'd participate, hopefully it would help things like the no unit voices bug from a beta patch and the axis tank trap bug from cropping up.

Partizan

I'd love to do it.
Thx

ceejayoz

That would be pretty spiffy.

Note, folks, that the NDA would almost certainly exclude those not 18 years of age or older, due to the fact that minors cannot be held under binding contracts.

grisix

I would be interested to participate.

I have experience testing applications (This is my job, though not on game apps), and I have participated in other games tests (namely Battle for Middle Earth for Patch 1.05). There have been some issues on their patching and testing process that I hope will not happen here.

Partizan

Oh btw, when would this happen and what would be the selection process for who can and who cannot join?

Timeless

I've beta tested and signed NDAs with Relic before, but what's this about "may irreparably break your game"? I was about to click yes, then this jumped out at me.

ceejayoz

Timeless, I'm fairly certain they mean "you may need to uninstall and reinstall the game if something fucks up".

Dread Moose

i would glady participate, What kind of time commitment would you like weekly?

Noble

So, would I be able to have a seperate installation of CoH for beta testing, and then have another to play online normally? Or would I be barred from all standard online play as long as I was testing.

Malachai

Sounds like fun to me, I would indeed do it. Only thing is ofcourse, how?

y_Y

yes, i like this idea and im ready to spend 2 weeks with beta testing.
but the beta shouldnt destroy my hole harddrive, if possible (it took forever to install)

...damn i think from now on im a real stupid relic fanboy :S

-Rogue- Jedi

Whatever helps making the games better is always good.

blah238

sign me up, I would love to help, especially if it got me access to the latest in house modding/mapping tools :O)

simmo

count me in

Plan6

I would love to beta test, I had some of the best times durring the orgional beta. I like the reinstall button and have no problem using it.

I think community testing is the best idea and I hope people understand that the NDA means that we couldnt talk about the changes in the patch until they were released. But being able to directly interact with the patch making process would be a blast.

MadCatChiken

I'd love to, but do you have to be over 18?

FalseMyrmidon

I believe that's just a catch-all that has to be there to cover there ass in case something goes horribly wrong.

PopFreak

Count me in. I've tested before as well. Close Combat 2,3, & 4 and also Battlefronts Combat Mission.
Thanks,
PopFreak

Rambocop

Would love to participate! You can also sign me up for beta testing the Super Secret Relic 2007 project .

MadCatChiken

Oh this should be stickied.

strategery

Yes. As someone said earlier minors cannot be held up to contractual obligations. So the NDA would inevitably exclude anyone under 18.

MadCatChiken

Damn, i hate being 15. Oh well.

* MadCatChiken cries....

sugaki

I'm confused--since the game is already out, how could we be beta testing for CoH? Or is this for a yet-unannounced game? CoH has long passed beta and is now release.

imeron

Count me in!

Bentguru

Question:

"- Play in a beta-only environment, separate from the general populace for at least 1-2 weeks at a time "

Does this mean we would only be allowed to play the beta, or that we would be expected to play the beta regularly but still able to play regular CoH.

The reason I ask is because I'd definitely want to sign up, but also want to participate in CAL and such.

Gratuk

im like put me on that list

vman456

How much will I be paid?
Just kidding of course...

I haven't been playing this game enough lately to be a good tester so I can't join in on this one.

0mar

yes.

Warnstaff

Count me in!

I'll have to juggle it with the AI mod, real life, Dark Crusade and a few other thing, but yea, count me in!

SGMRock

Like most others have said this would great but I hope that I can have a normally patched version of the game also so I can play it when i'm not beta testing the latest patch.

-sugaki
They mean for patches to the already released game. They want a larger group of testers to make sure all bugs are put under their shoes before release to the general public.

I find this a very good idea as it will save the dev team time in the long run getting patches our right the first time and also give a larger playing base for them to have opinions or game balance tweaks. I'm sure most of the people that read this forum are also the ones that play the game online so again this will allow them better testing of the Relic lobby system and ladder system.

Having beta tested many games before I didn't even like that much I would surely like to help make COH a better game as its currently my favorite RTS.

tuffy!

This is a great idea. Hopefully this will make sure they don't recreate all the silly bugs that occured in 1.3.

Me personally as a college student however, don't have the time to devote to beta testing, so I'll have to rely on the rest of you eager folks!

Admin, shouldn't you make this a sticky so more ppl know about the opportunity?

Timeless

I'll do it, but still await answers to some of these questions.

Shaitan

I might be interested, how many people are needed?

midnightforever

Aw man! I voted yes, but I'm under 18... Well I did the open beta and even if I can't get in I think this is an awesome idea for those of us hardcore enough to try it.

Secondly, I was wondering the same question as Bent, can we still play normal CoH for tournaments, etc?

lostmongoose

Hmm....this could be very interesting...I am most definitely intrigued...

Skyward

It only means that the beta it self will be played in separate server, like the open beta server. That's all there is to it. You can wait for official note, but mark my words.

Trizzdog

I would defiantly be interested, mostly because I'd love to help and be a part of the patching process. The obligations are kinda steep, but don't bother me one bit personally and are to be expected.

[]inveigle[]

What a fantastic idea. I would very much enjoy assisting in the beta program as I don't play online often, there would be no drawback for me to be away from the general public.

Saunders

I would love to participate in helping test future patches.

Relic

Timeless, this is correct.

Also MadCat, as far as I'm aware there is no age or country restriction.

sugaki, it would be testing for patches and new features.

Bentguru, it means that you will probably have to have two versions of CoH running, or you'd have to uninstall the patch to be able to play regular COH.

Demon_Eyes

Beta Tested for both CoH and DoW, would love the chance to help test again.

Buggo:
Not sure about other countries but in the USA under 18 an NDA is not legally binding as CeeJayOz pointed out earlier, so are you sure there would not be an age limit?

Edub

I would definately volunteer to beta test for coh. I already test for Insurgeny Mod and I really enjoy giving feedback and suggestions. I voted yes!

Brat_Boy

The idea of joining a Beta Test appeals to me, but the obligations don't. I don't want to give out personal information and be closed off from casual play, as well as have to play in scheduled sessions. I hope you guys find some good testers, though.

EverBorn

Yeah, that would be awesome if we could do this. How will you choose the candidates Buggo?

Moe

Docking thread.