Guild Wars 2

I just not received the email inviting me to Beta and where as my husband and I were convinced that it wasn’t likely I would be picked… I find myself just a little jittery off this invitation.

So!

Um, never did a Beta before, a friend who has told me all I have to do is go in there and play but… Okay, is this true? All I have to do is…play?

And, um… are we allowed to take screenshots as keepsakes? lol

I just want to make sure of all of this, I don’t wanna end up doing something I shouldn’t be doing?

You’re free to take screenshots and share them around (confirmed in email)

You’re expected to play as you like and report any bugs you find so go wild.

Betas are great fun so enjoy it, I know I will!

You’re not alone. I got an invite and this will be my first beta testing of a game. My plan is to just go play and explore and note anything weird. I’m not sure what a stress test beta is for. Are they stressing the server or the mechanics? Also does it matter if I can’t participate in both time slots? I’m really busy at work so I can make the 5-7 PST slot but not the 12-2 PST slot.

ozmaniandevil.6805:

. I’m not sure what a stress test beta is for. Are they stressing the server or the mechanics? Also does it matter if I can’t participate in both time slots? I’m really busy at work so I can make the 5-7 PST slot but not the 12-2 PST slot.

Stressing the test server usually, we’ll be logging in to see if the servers can handle a large load of players. It doesn’t matter if you can’t make both, it would be beneficial to have as many players on at both time frames, but isn’t mandatory!

That said, feel free to send them bug reports if you find issues!

They said that there is no Non-Disclosure Agreement, so you are free to do whatever you want with what you see. https://www.guildwars2.com/en/news/upcoming-heart-of-thorns-closed-beta-tests/

Feel free to take screenshots, report bugs, and explore as you wish.

The “stress tests” before GW2 release were for testing how the servers and underlying code reacts to load. It’s also a good way of finding timing or lag dependent bugs and race conditions; along with having way more people looking at “breaking things” than just the QA people.

Hey hey Does some of you know how to get into the beta account if you have an invitation?

Do we get an extra email with the account data? or just logging in with our normal data and stuff and its the beta ?

I’m confused

Did they mention video or streaming? I kinda wanted to show some of my guildies who were not able to get in to this one.

Did it not explain the method in your email? The copied text from others posted here in the forums seemed to do so.

Laetitia.9576:

Hey hey Does some of you know how to get into the beta account if you have an invitation?

Do we get an extra email with the account data? or just logging in with our normal data and stuff and its the beta ?

I’m confused

Says in the email:
> Log into your normal account
> There will be a new character slot specifically for the beta, use this to create a human character
> Log into your new character and you’ll be taken to the test server
> ? ? ? ? ?
> Profit.

That’s pretty much it

Ghostrunner.4728:

Did they mention video or streaming? I kinda wanted to show some of my guildies who were not able to get in to this one.

No NDA, sounds like video and streaming is fine.

Yes, the email encourages sharing, and Izzy Cartwright said in an interview they don’t want to keep it a secret, they want people sharing/tweeting/streaming everything.

As you are new to beta, and to stress tests, be advised that crashes to desktop are expected. The whole point is to overload things. So while you should report any issues you find (and try to do foolish things in game to see if you can glitch things out), please don’t get frustrated if you find game-killing things. The more you find, the more they can fix for future iterations!

For those who don’t know, stress tests are there to test server loads. Stress tests can be unpredictable because they try to overload the server intentionally. So you might get disconnects or you might get extreme lag. It’s happened in every stress test I’ve been part of.

Jaymee.1560:

I just not received the email inviting me to Beta and where as my husband and I were convinced that it wasn’t likely I would be picked… I find myself just a little jittery off this invitation.

So!

Um, never did a Beta before, a friend who has told me all I have to do is go in there and play but… Okay, is this true? All I have to do is…play?

And, um… are we allowed to take screenshots as keepsakes? lol

I just want to make sure of all of this, I don’t wanna end up doing something I shouldn’t be doing?

For the most part yes you play. As you play though just take note of any bugs or glitches you come across and submit bug reports when you find them. Like if you have to talk to an npc and you can’t speak to the npc or you go to play an adventure but it glitches out and you can’t complete it. The beta test are there to get player feedback on on the game so anet can make changes if need be

Most beta testers simply have to give the game a shake by playing it as normal. To be an efficient beta tester, you’d just have to take note of a few things that needs Arenanet’s attention so it could be fixed in the future.

Vayne.8563:

For those who don’t know, stress tests are there to test server loads. Stress tests can be unpredictable because they try to overload the server intentionally. So you might get disconnects or you might get extreme lag. It’s happened in every stress test I’ve been part of.

Understandable, man. Though from the looks of the time, I’d have to get up really early just to enjoy the beta assuming I am able to get in.

I’m curious about the gear we get. The Beta char we use will be a level 80. I wonder what quality gear and the stats on it that will go with it. I assume we won’t have any traits.

If we are playing a level 80 in a level 80 area, I hope it’s exotics with knights stats.

I haven’t got an invite. I played since GW1. ArenaNet wtf?

If you are new to a Beta do not fret! As they pointed out we are the friendliest community around! We can all blunder around together trying out all the new AWESOME stuff they have in store for us! if you see me in the beta feel free to party up and explore with me! See you guys in beta land!! <3 (my hubby didn’t get in either… hee hee hee)

Jaymee.1560:

Um, never did a Beta before, a friend who has told me all I have to do is go in there and play but… Okay, is this true? All I have to do is…play?

All you have to do is play, but there are things you can do to be one of the testers they specifically flag for inclusion in later events. I encourage you to read this.

Congratulations .

Nike.2631:

Jaymee.1560:

Um, never did a Beta before, a friend who has told me all I have to do is go in there and play but… Okay, is this true? All I have to do is…play?

All you have to do is play, but there are things you can do to be one of the testers they specifically flag for inclusion in later events. I encourage you to read this.

Congratulations .

Whilst I agree that’s all good advice I’m not sure it’s accurate to say they will be judging how people approach this test to choose who is selected for future ones.

It might be like the pre-release betas where it was simply that once you’re in one you’re in all the future tests as well.

Oh, I’m sure lots of people will get repeat invites regardless of distinction. But I also like to think that if a QA staffer hits a report that stands out as allowing them to trace the problem they can raise their hand and say “Boss – can we get this player back for the next round? Please? Pretty please with an ‘OMG that report was good’ on top?”

The universe is not always just, but you can still improve your odds .

It is not really a beta, it is more an advertising for their dlc. Don’t forget that it’s a ls season + feature pack, there is not many things to test. And don’t also forget that arenanet don’t have a qa team, it is outsourced.

Simzani.4318:

It is not really a beta, it is more an advertising for their dlc. Don’t forget that it’s a ls season + feature pack, there is not many things to test. And don’t also forget that arenanet don’t have a qa team, it is outsourced.

It’s outsourced? Can you give me a source on that, because I believe it’s completely incorrect.

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-ArenaNet-RVW4234884.htm

Some other reviews mention it too. Reviews mention that arenanet rarely hire and rely quasi-exclusively on contractors. I now wait for my posts to be moderated and my account banned, as usual when I mention those things.

Simzani.4318:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-ArenaNet-RVW4234884.htm

Some other reviews mention it too. Reviews mention that arenanet rarely hire and rely quasi-exclusively on contractors. I now wait for my posts to be moderated and my account banned, as usual when I mention those things.

If Arenanet rarely hire, how do they have 300 plus people working there?

Can’t argue about the QA but I’m pretty sure we’ve seen QA people on live streams. They may well hire addition QA outsourced but I’m sure they have their own people as well.

Simzani.4318:

It is not really a beta, it is more an advertising for their dlc. Don’t forget that it’s a ls season + feature pack, there is not many things to test. And don’t also forget that arenanet don’t have a qa team, it is outsourced.

You confused “<Insert AAA game title here> Pre order 90$ beta access for FREE” with an actual stress test.

Vayne.8563:

Simzani.4318:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-ArenaNet-RVW4234884.htm

Some other reviews mention it too. Reviews mention that arenanet rarely hire and rely quasi-exclusively on contractors. I now wait for my posts to be moderated and my account banned, as usual when I mention those things.

If Arenanet rarely hire, how do they have 300 plus people working there?

Can’t argue about the QA but I’m pretty sure we’ve seen QA people on live streams. They may well hire addition QA outsourced but I’m sure they have their own people as well.

They outsource their QA to a company named Mobius Industries. From what I can tell, Anet has very little in house QA.

Try to break the game, find as many bugs as you can and let Anet know about them. Other than that, enjoy. ^^

the safest way to make sure u have a real beta invite is just go to account management and click on the download client section. if your account is fleged for beta you can download the beta client (same thing happened with beta weekend for gw2)

anyone streaming atm?

Livestream your playthroughs! Or record them if you can’t livestream, that’s cool too.

Jaymee.1560:

I just not received the email inviting me to Beta and where as my husband and I were convinced that it wasn’t likely I would be picked… I find myself just a little jittery off this invitation.

So!

Um, never did a Beta before, a friend who has told me all I have to do is go in there and play but… Okay, is this true? All I have to do is…play?

And, um… are we allowed to take screenshots as keepsakes? lol

I just want to make sure of all of this, I don’t wanna end up doing something I shouldn’t be doing?

This is not a beta in the sense Anet is looking for players who have tested games before and can report bugs. The open application and lack of a questionnaire means it’s a marketing tool for Anet to gain more exposure.

So what does that mean for you? Have fun!

Simzani.4318:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-ArenaNet-RVW4234884.htm

Some other reviews mention it too. Reviews mention that arenanet rarely hire and rely quasi-exclusively on contractors. I now wait for my posts to be moderated and my account banned, as usual when I mention those things.

Those reviews were spot on. I will purposely leave out where I work, but we have a satellite office in Seattle, and a co-worker of mine held a temp job there for six months. His team had to pull six day work weeks. Great for him since he was hourly, bad for the salary devs. A few openly discussed opportunities elsewhere. Casual conversation, mind you, but one did leave during his stay.

Prophet.6257:

anyone streaming atm?

If you mean streaming the beta, that would be difficult since it doesn’t start until Tuesday

Um…
What are they stress testing for?

There’s already a tested and working infrastructure in place running the game…
New infrastructure? Why? Why not replicate/appended the one that’s working now… And I don’t remember them doing a stress test beta when they switched Mega Servers.

I think it’s more to find bugs and to get a bit of hype(since there’s no NDA).

so if testing a revenant…will the character be level 80 with all traits etc unlocked or how does this work? never done this before -.- also for name picking…can I pick the name I realy want for it..or should I use another name and wait for official release?

I believe it will be 80 and start in the Verdant Brink, just as in the demos we’ve seen streamed.

Name? I’d strongly suggest not using your desired live release name. All the stuff from beta will be erased and you’ll have to start fresh at release, at least it worked that way in original launch. If you use a name you like now, someone could easily say “cool name bro” and snag it at launch.

Hint for getting names at launch: Create a random character. Don’t even take time to pick race/gender/profession. Skip to End the moment you can, put the name in, create.

Then whenever you want to really make the alt, delete the random one. The name will be yours for 24 hours, giving you plenty of time to set sliders and tweak appearance choices at your leisure. I did this at launch with my 5 slots, got every name I wanted, and I still have amusing screenshots of the random characters I had before they became real.

If you truly want a particular name for a character, create it now. Delete at launch, create the new character (Revenant) that you want, and use the name that has been reserved for your use for 24 hours.

Win/Win =)

True, you can certainly save a name right now by dedicating a character slot to it. Then you just can’t use that slot for however long it is until launch, because why level up something that was born to die?

thanks for the info, have a name reserved didn’t know about the 24hour “deadline” tho, good stuff XD

You don’t even have to get the “name saving” char out of the starting instance. As soon as it loads in the starting instance you can leave it parked there, go to character select and do whatever else you like. It can sit there till you want to delete it.

Or use it over and over for key runs! =P

Vix.6730:

Simzani.4318:

http://www.glassdoor.com/Reviews/Employee-Review-ArenaNet-RVW4234884.htm

Some other reviews mention it too. Reviews mention that arenanet rarely hire and rely quasi-exclusively on contractors. I now wait for my posts to be moderated and my account banned, as usual when I mention those things.

Those reviews were spot on. I will purposely leave out where I work, but we have a satellite office in Seattle, and a co-worker of mine held a temp job there for six months. His team had to pull six day work weeks. Great for him since he was hourly, bad for the salary devs. A few openly discussed opportunities elsewhere. Casual conversation, mind you, but one did leave during his stay.

Is that unusual in the games industry?

I’m in a completely different field, but my experience is that anyone looking for a serious career is likely to switch jobs every 2-3 years (approximately) in order to either move up to a more high-level position (not necessarily better paid, although that’s likely, but mainly more responsibility and more independence) or move into a slightly different area of work. Unless you happen to get into a rapidly growing organisation early on consistent internal promotions are going to be rare.

As I said it’s a completely different industry, but I had assumed it was pretty much the same everywhere.

They always test everything only with humans. That’s why asura and charr accumulate so many bugs! (Insert sulky expression and sounds here).

FYI it’s not going to be very interesting or exciting. For the stress test, you’re pretty much going to just go somewhere and fool around until they tell you to leave.