Guild Wars 2

The comedy of errors that is this last patch has exposed the glaring need for a Public Test Server. Several balance changes flat don’t work, features of the new map were bugged at launch, and the patch notes are incomplete.

To the folks at Arenanet: please explain the rationale for why there is no Public Test Server.

For the uninitiated, this would be a server that is used to test patches before they are released. It would receive an advanced copy of the balance changes (and any other changes such as new maps, zones, etc.) pushed out first for testing. It would be segregated from the rest of the game, and folks who sign up to the PTS know that they are entering into a test server that may be full of bugs, unbalanced skills, etc.

The advantage is that patches come out more smoothly because they’ve been thoroughly tested and discussed. Players who enjoy the “beta testing” experience can go in there and identify bugs/balance issues all day.

How would a PTS improve things if the current patch is just as broken? It’s not like this this patch is worse than the last patch.

Plus, the sPvP community is so small I really doubt a PTS is viable. >.>

spirit watch breaking probably would not be solved with a pts im assuming since, they played others before they released it and did not have this issue.

I agree with you, Furbs.
All patches and Changes would be alot more smooth if there is a PTS, even would let everybody give oppinion about changes and everything.

Ill give u +1

Geewoody.2017:

How would a PTS improve things if the current patch is just as broken? It’s not like this this patch is worse than the last patch.

Plus, the sPvP community is so small I really doubt a PTS is viable. >.>

In many, many ways. And if Anet builds just a little trust with the remaining players, even a small community will contribute.

1)Image – If a patch completely fails on a public test server, nobody really cares. That’s the point of the test server. When patch after patch after patch after patch fails and breaks the server players play their characters on, it leaves a bad taste in players mouths, and a negative memory of Anet. If someone asks me about GW2, my first thought is how kittenty these patches are, time after time – that would be a less prominent memory if the patches were only disappointing, not disappointing AND buggy

2)Quicker content delivery – Shockingly, your more hardcore playtesters tend to be honest. They’ll be the first to come to the boards to explain why the new changes to their most favorite class are balls-to-the-wall ludicrous, and shouldn’t be included in the game. Armed with this info, Anet wont need to be so careful with these small, slow changes – they can be more adventurous on a test server, and let the players vet them. You can use trial and error on a test server, you can’t on a live server.

3)More playtesters – The community, finally having access to a test realm, feels a bit more confident after the dozens of mis-steps by Anet, and actively use the test server – this gives them confidence that balance changes and bug fixes will be delivered more rapidly.

Combined with better community interaction (this is a must, as well as a test server), this should result in faster content delivery, higher content quality, and less buggy patch drops – basically, everything the PvP community is clamoring for.

Look at RIFT by Trion Worlds as an example of how its done right – they were CONSTANTLY tweaking their classes, listening and interacting with their community, and kept a very well liked and constantly used test server in this exact manner. Nearly every single one of their patches were considered to have “Brought the game better balance”. Granted, they were a bit slow, but they were HUGE in comparison to what Anet has been delivering to us on a monthly basis, usually having given 2-3 souls a major, positive overhaul and examining under-performing and poorly thought out skills in all of a classes other souls.

A PTS is the most sensible thing for them to do.

Not only is it a industry standard, but it helps connect players to the development of patches while also refining them for developers.

It’s seriously a no brainer.

If they are having problems approving the costs to open a new server they should roll one of the smallest player servers into another, then use that new space to open the PTS.

This is a good idea. If not a test server, then something needs to be done.

ANet needs serious help with their patching process. They might have introduced more bugs than they fixed this time around. Comedy of errors really sums it up. Having to hotfix your patch FOUR times is just embarassing.

A PTS server will be very helpful, but I also wonder how their QA team would like the idea since they do get paid to test the patches for any noticable bugs. Also have other questions about this:

How would this work with the current server system? Will there be a separate server list kind of like an overflow that allows anyone to join while still keeping the players loyal to their world choice (ex: Tarnished Coast)?

Since there will obviously be a limited number of players that can join the server (subtracting the max number of players that the server can handle with how many Anet employees there are) there would probably need to be some sort of invitation system where you can sign up to test the patches and Anet will choose the players that will test the patches.

Other than that I would love for this to happen.

Honestly, I don’t care how their QA team would like the idea considering how much they seem to miss each patch.

A public testing server would likely require a completely seperate environment to be brought up. You’d have to login to it with a seperate client and your characters would exist completely seperate from the live game. Most companies allow you to clone your live characters into the public testing server, but nothing would carry over back from time spent playing on the PTS.