-There Universe --Forum: There Discussion ---Topic: New BETA TESTING PROGRAM started by honeybunny

honeybunny Members 280 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:12 pm Attatched is am email I recieved this morning from There: Dear Member, We are very excited to offer you the opportunity to participate in the first phase of There's brand new Beta Testing Program! This is an exclusive opportunity to try the newest features in There before everyone else, and it's only being offered to experienced members of the community like you! Starting next month, we will be developing a new Beta environment (on separate servers) where we can periodically test new features before releasing them to the public. We are committed to continue improving the quality, usability, and FUN of There, and believe ongoing Beta testing is essential to making this possible. That's where you come in! Join the Beta program, and you get to test all the newest features and functions on a separate, limited-access development environment. Plus, your feedback and comments will help us make There even better! Please note: membership in this program is by invite only, so we will only be accepting applications from members we have contacted directly (as the program evolves next year, we hope to make application available to all subscribed members). Interested? Simply apply and you'll hear from us soon! We hope you are as thrilled with this opportunity as we are! There_Community Opinions are like arseholes we have all got em and they are all differnet! Back to top Chagall Members 251 Oct. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:23 pm Lucky duck!!! http://www.pinkbunnyslippers.net Back to top SilverFox Members 707 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:29 pm Nice. Enjoy ... but I being poor, have only my dreams.  I have spread my dreams under your feet.  Tread softly, becuase you tread on my dreams. Back to top Hush Members 107 April 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:34 pm Ooh I got that too.. Finally something to inject the excitement back into There Back to top Blaster Members 107 June 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:50 pm I got one, what exactly is this? As what we're playing now is beta are they asking us to trial alpha stuff for them? And what does Quote you must be able to commit to at least 50% of the playtests being held mean? We have to participate in some test related events or we don't get paid? And that's another thing, it mentions nothing about compensation. Back to top Shmoo Members 118 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:51 pm Yep, I got it too and promptly sent in my application thingy. Back to top Carpenter Members 69 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:54 pm Quote (Blaster @ Dec. 04 2003, 4:50 pm) I got one, what exactly is this? As what we're playing now is beta are they asking us to trial alpha stuff for them? And what does Quote you must be able to commit to at least 50% of the playtests being held mean? We have to participate in some test related events or we don't get paid? And that's another thing, it mentions nothing about compensation. Actually, we're officially out of Beta, and in limited public release.  They are looking for people to beta test features which they've already tested inhouse. As far as compensation goes, they didn't pay us to beta test before, so why would they pay us to betatest now? The compensation will probably be 1. Getting to see the new stuff first and 2. Being able to help knock out bugs by finding flaws better than any inhouse team can, and therefore making There a better place for us all. Back to top evankirk Members 1375 April 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:58 pm I got one too.  This is sorta like the Test Center city on TSO.   A way to test new things before release to see if it works or blows up.  This is a VERY good thing! There 4 All - Community Journal http://there4all.thereinperson.com "Old bagel hating, cranky southern old codger" - Lordpenquin ============================== Back to top Blaster Members 107 June 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 4:58 pm Heh, anyone who plays paintball regularly or has posted in the glitch pictures thread will back me up when I say There is still a beta no matter what There Inc says. .....although now that I think about it, releasing beta products and charging for updates works well enough for Microsoft..... Back to top Galilee Members 27 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:18 pm I wonder what the criteria for participating is.  After all my complaining in the forums, it would be nice to do this.  Congrats to everyone that does get picked.  That should be lots of fun. Back to top SilverFox Members 707 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:22 pm wee .. I got one .. 'happydance ... but I being poor, have only my dreams.  I have spread my dreams under your feet.  Tread softly, becuase you tread on my dreams. Back to top Twist Members 425 Aug. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:25 pm I think only people that spend over 3 hours on There a day....Probably why I was invited :P "I think he is a thug, and a brat and he has odd hair." -EvanK Back to top honeybunny Members 280 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:25 pm congrats Silver! Opinions are like arseholes we have all got em and they are all differnet! Back to top ScottyIV Members 234 May 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:41 pm I got it too. Back to top Chagall Members 251 Oct. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:45 pm So, y'all have to promise to keep us posted with all the stuff you're testing! http://www.pinkbunnyslippers.net Back to top Hush Members 107 April 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:46 pm no can do :P You have to agree to stick to a non-disclosure thingy Back to top MissyZ Members 582 Aug. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:53 pm woo! I got one! Back to top honeybunny Members 280 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 5:54 pm Sorry, We have to sign a non-diclosure form! Opinions are like arseholes we have all got em and they are all differnet! Back to top Vanno Members 475 July 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 6:01 pm w00t    see you all in beta.....again http://vanno.thereinperson.com If I was to suffer, let it continue. One day a blessing will come. Back to top Cameron_Marie Members 62 Mar. 2003 Dec. 04 2003, 6:15 pm Ok Now I'm all sad ... I've been in There since early February and spend about 3 - 5 hours in game a night (if not more). And no invite *sigh* They no likie me lol ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                                 :::: CMD   ::::                         www.cmdthere.vze.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Back to top BOINCer Members 592 Aug. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 7:22 pm Quote (Cameron_Marie @ Dec. 04 2003, 5:15 pm) Ok Now I'm all sad ... I've been in There since early February and spend about 3 - 5 hours in game a night (if not more). And no invite *sigh* They no likie me lol I got it, so I'm sure you will!  Probably just slow delivery. BOINCer, but you may call me Bo Back to top Elliott_Beazley Members 379 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 8:08 pm Yes, I am interested in how they select, as well. I do not have an invite in my Inbox currently, but then again it could be slow-delivery, like Boincer said. And in this New Beta, is it a totally different game. Like new avatar, different places to log in..etc.? This reminds me a lot of Test Center. But, since I was in Jolly Pines, I never knew anybody in Test Center. I hope they aren't trying to split us up! Back to top Miah Members 31 Aug. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 8:11 pm Got mine!!! Back to top ScottyIV Members 234 May 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 8:31 pm Quote (Elliott_Beazley @ Dec. 04 2003, 5:08 pm) Yes, I am interested in how they select, as well. I do not have an invite in my Inbox currently, but then again it could be slow-delivery, like Boincer said. And in this New Beta, is it a totally different game. Like new avatar, different places to log in..etc.? This reminds me a lot of Test Center. But, since I was in Jolly Pines, I never knew anybody in Test Center. I hope they aren't trying to split us up! I really dont think they will try and split us up. My understanding of that letter is that the beta server will have VERY limited hours. It will probably be the same game, but more than likely we will get new avatars. And Im  sure we will be testing the new locations and goodies that will later be imported to the main server. This is pretty exciting! It MAY just draw me back to There again. But we'll see Back to top Rick_Slick Members 330 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 8:33 pm I just hope it doesn't split us up.    I'd hate to see half my friends get invited to head over there and then we never see them hardly ever in our world. ( So hopefully it's new avatars and very limited playing time, just for the sake of keeping us all one big family  But congrats to those who were selected!!   Rick Slick Check out the NEW LOW PRICES at Slick Threads, Inc. or visit the Silent Ambush Website "Life is tough, but it's tougher when you're stupid." - John Wayne Back to top animalcrossing52 Members 333 Mar. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 10:37 pm didn't get one You are an Intrepid-class Scout, Starfleet's frontline sentry.  You're a bit of an enigma. Your grace and intelligence may go unnoticed, but people rely on you for your insight and ability. Avatar name in There: Henry_Wu C program run.  C program crash.  C programmer quit. Back to top Sean_Anthony Members 104 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 10:41 pm I didn't get one either congrats you lucky bumb who did lol Back to top animalcrossing52 Members 333 Mar. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 10:47 pm yeah... congrats, lucky peoples.. You are an Intrepid-class Scout, Starfleet's frontline sentry.  You're a bit of an enigma. Your grace and intelligence may go unnoticed, but people rely on you for your insight and ability. Avatar name in There: Henry_Wu C program run.  C program crash.  C programmer quit. Back to top Elliott_Beazley Members 379 Sep. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 10:49 pm I was on the phone with a Helper this evening regarding some problems with logging in. I asked her about the New Beta, and she said it's not really a "beta". It's going to be a one-by-one feature introduction, in which only selected avatars will participate in. The hours will be limited, but basically you go in, try the feature out, and give your feedback. Something like that is what I infered. The features are ones that will be included in the next release in early 2004--they have already tested it "in-house" but as she said it, the reason they wanted to have members try it out is because "they tend to break things."   I also asked her about the criterions for being selected and she said that is many things that they base it on, such as how long you have been a member, the time you spend in-world, whether you have been moderated or not, skills, and if you are a contributing part of the community. I didn't get one. 'doh Back to top animalcrossing52 Members 333 Mar. 2003     Dec. 04 2003, 11:04 pm ok, i don't need to keep checking my mail, then . oh well. You are an Intrepid-class Scout, Starfleet's frontline sentry.  You're a bit of an enigma. Your grace and intelligence may go unnoticed, but people rely on you for your insight and ability. Avatar name in There: Henry_Wu C program run.  C program crash.  C programmer quit. Back to top Cameron_Marie Members 62 Mar. 2003     Dec. 05 2003, 12:09 am Quote (Elliott_Beazley @ Dec. 04 2003, 10:49 pm) ... they base it on, such as how long you have been a member, the time you spend in-world, whether you have been moderated or not, skills, and if you are a contributing part of the community... *sigh* ok I have all of the above but wth ?!?!? LOL. Renowned in some skills, Expert in most... and been a member since early February and STILL no invite. Friend of mine got invited today though. Started after I did but has WAY more skills but hasn't really contributed to There as much... I don't get it. Oh well... They no likie me ROFL   ::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::                                 :::: CMD   ::::                         www.cmdthere.vze.com :::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::: Back to top Karille Members 17 Feb. 2003     Dec. 05 2003, 1:28 am Member Since Feb 15. Did not recieve invite so.... Sent THERE email saying I dont understand the way they are choosing testers... Karille, Only a small percentage of There's current population was chosen to participate in this first phase of the beta staging ground. You should not feel singled out for not being chosen, and this is not the only time we will be selecting some of our members to help us beta test upcoming versions of the client and server software. We invited people that were paid members, who were over 18, and who had characteristics that would in different ways be more likely to tax the system and uncover unusual bugs. -We used the following criteria, and those selected must: * Be part of a member program, either lifetime or charter * Have a clean Moderation history * Be an active member in the last 60 days * Be representative of our existing demographic (age, gender, connection speed) * Possess one or several of these attributes:    Large Inventory    Beta tester from early Beta (old user data)    Funzone or Frontierzone Operator    House Owner    Event Host    Club Owner    Developer    Prolific Tester from Earlier Betas (someone that sent us a lot of great bug reports) As said before, this is not the only time we will be selecting members to from the current population to help with testing future versions of There, this is only the first phase. We intend to have an open application to the Beta program in the future, though of course not everyone will be accepted. If you really feel you can be a great tester and a benefit to the beta test program, please send an email request to BetaSupport@there.com so that you can be considered for one of the other upcoming beta phases. See you There! There Customer Service help@there.com 866-4U-THERE (866-488-4373) BAH!   Back to top Blaster Members 107 June 2003     Dec. 05 2003, 1:35 am Quote (Karille @ Dec. 05 2003, 1:28 am) clip Well, I'm even more confused about why I was picked now. I'm none of those things. I've barely been on There as I've been behind an oppressive firewall for the last few months. (DOWN WITH THE FIREWALL NAZIS!) I think maybe they wanted a range of users, not just avid, addicted socialites.