SEV Betatest...

[Ragnarok]

Sign up now!
http://malfador.com/se5/se5main.html

Notice the new message?

Edit: It appears the link to the form is not working just yet. I am sure it will be shortly though.

Edit 2: The link to the form works in the News section, but not in the SEV section.

Link to beta form. (http://malfador.com/se5/betaform.txt)

[Zaamon]

Let i guess. Only US? No Euro?

[Ragnarok]

Zaamon said:
Let i guess. Only US? No Euro?



Where you are from doesn't matter. As long as you can devote time to test the game and you speak english is all that MM really needs.

[Zaamon]

So, if you get it, you load it from net with password? No CDs.

I mean, If you are selected to test.

[David E. Gervais]

I don't know if the beta will be a 'download version' or if MM will be sending out CD's. In the past Aaron has sent out a CD in the mail.

Not to worry, Aaron will let everyone 'in the beta' know what procedure to follow.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Ragnarok-X]

Any information on about how many slots can be "won" this way ?

[douglas]

Application sent! Just in case I don't manage to win one of the Race to SEV tournament prize slots http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif.

[Caduceus]

I'd say your odds are good Douglas http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[kerensky]

When i went to fill out the form i got a URL not found message http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[David E. Gervais]

kerensky said:
When i went to fill out the form i got a URL not found message http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif



Direct Link (http://malfador.com/se5/betaform.txt)

This link is also posted in the first message in this thread,.. you must have overlooked it in the excitement.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[TerranC]

Sent! I hope I get accepted this time...

[kerensky]

Thanks David!!!

[RudyHuxtable]

I would absolutely love to beta test SEV. I beta tested Ultima Online way back when, and had a ball. Made some chums I still talk to today, in fact.

PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE

PWETTY PuhWEEZ!

[Combat Wombat]

*Combat Wombat's head explodes with excitement

[RudyHuxtable]

Quick! Someone get CW a Beta Test Spot! His head exploded!

[David E. Gervais]

Actually if CW's head really did explode then that would in effect lessen his chances,.. we need beta testers in full control of their faculties. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif LOL Sorry I couldn't resist.

Now CW, pick up those pieces and duct-tape them back in place.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. Begging won't help, but I'm sure that previous beta experience is a 'Plus'. Just make sure to include that info on the form in the alotted space.

[douglas]

wildcard06 said:
I'd say your odds are good Douglas http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif


Of making it to the final round, certainly, but I'd still have to outlast two of the four players in that final game to be guaranteed a beta slot.

[Captain Kwok]

Very excited! I'm hopeful I'll get another chance to work on a beta with Aaron, Star Fury was a good experience and I can't imagine what SE:V will be like.

[Renegade 13]

I wonder what chances someone with no previous beta testing experience has of making it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

Oh well, we'll see I guess.

[RudyHuxtable]

What if I were to blow up the forums and took everyone with it? Would that increase my chances?

muuahahahahahahaha

[douglas]

Wait, it's a lottery... Does that mean my chances of winning are directly proportional to the number of times I enter?

/me wonders if there's a free program available that will use spare CPU time to repeatedly resend my beta application email endlessly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Thermodyne]

douglas said:
Wait, it's a lottery... Does that mean my chances of winning are directly proportional to the number of times I enter?

/me wonders if there's a free program available that will use spare CPU time to repeatedly resend my beta application email endlessly. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif



Strange form for a pure lottery http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

And yes, there is. The spammers best loved app, reworked a little by evil hackers so that it brings email servers to their knees. Actually, a little script would do the job. CPU usage could be controlled from the OS.

[Instar]

Submitted. I have experience testing more than just games... I've been testing a product for a nongaming related company (as well as lead developer on my own project even... darn BlackBerry...)
Anyhow, I hope to get in, now that I just today got my new Latitude D810... tis a sweeeeet laptop

[RudyHuxtable]

So wait...

I'm going to have to send my application a hundred times to make it worth while? Can't we all just play fair and let one app be good enough? I don't want to sit in front of my computer all afternoon and night.

[Instar]

RudyHuxtable said:
So wait...

I'm going to have to send my application a hundred times to make it worth while? Can't we all just play fair and let one app be good enough? I don't want to sit in front of my computer all afternoon and night.



If you submit multiple beta applications, at best they will be ignored, at worst, you'll be taken out of consideration.
Just submit the complete application with the best information possible.

[DeadZone]

My guess will be that Aaron will quickly look through them all to ensure no duplicate entries and to auto-accept anyone who meet certain criteria (if he has any)

[Instar]

DeadZoneMDx said:
My guess will be that Aaron will quickly look through them all to ensure no duplicate entries and to auto-accept anyone who meet certain criteria (if he has any)


Not "auto-accept" so much. Last time, SEIV had around 100 testers... after the first round of 50. I don't know if it will be the same this time, but I doubt there will be infinite places for testers.

[Renegade 13]

I wonder how many beta slots will go to specific people who have been pre-picked for previous experience with MM and Aaron?? I also wonder how many slots there'll be, and just what the odds of the average guy like me (with no previous beta-testing experience, no SE related websites, etc) getting in will be. Not good I suspect...

On a more cheerful note, can anyone remember when SEV is supposed to be complete and available to buy?

[Fyron]

The lottery is specifically for the people Aaron has no experience with... any random person could potentially be selected.

[Renegade 13]

In that case I guess it depends upon system specs mostly eh? To get the greatest variety of systems tested and the game stable on a wide variety of settings.

[Zaamon]

Damn. Could put my old computers too. But I didn´t.
Idont know hove good would it work with
120Mhz Pentium
or
AMD 700 Duron
or
386

[NullAshton]

I'm pretty sure he has room for all us fourm regulars...

[Zaamon]

And what mean forum regular. Those who have posts here, or those who have atleast 100 posts or something like that.

[NullAshton]

Those who post regually on the forum.

[Zaamon]

And that mean? If I post less than ten post per week, am I posting reually? But still over 5 post. I take myself as example cause i have reged in this year.

[NullAshton]

I dunno.

[Ragnarok]

NullAshton said:
Those who post regually on the forum.



I don't know but I just do not see MM choosing betatesters based on how many times they post in a day/week/month/year/ever.

[NullAshton]

But we're active!

[Zaamon]

Even that you are active doesn´t tell if you are good to beta test. I mean overall and specify anyone. That that I have only few post doesn´t mean i am not active. Again I am speaking about myself. This also make to others. And everybody starts somewhere.

[NullAshton]

I really hope I get beta...

[zircher]

Filling out your beta form is an interesting exercise in psychology. :-)

Based on that little snippet of data and random chance, you really have to be able to sell yourself to MM and present a solid pitch.

I gambled on the rant and included related data about my skills as a professional programmer, software tester, and hobby 3D modeller. I triple checked the form for spelling and grammer errors to show that I was an effective communicator. I even mentioned that I was going on vacation April 1st for a fortnight and that I was enough of a gamer geek that I could spend 40-60 hours beta testing a product. It's just fortunate that my wife is flying to Michigan for a visit at that time. Perhaps the fates are smiling on me?
--
TAZ

[David E. Gervais]

Post counts will have little or no bearing on the choice for beta slots. Everyone has prety much an equal chance of catching Aaron's eye.

FYI: Even the 'old regulars' need to send in an application before they can be considered for a beta slot. Also, wanting to be in the beta is never enough, it is where things begin though.

Things to note,..

How usefull will a beta tester be if he can only spend 5 hours a week testing?

While high end 'Bleeding-edge' super systems are good, the beta needs a large variety of systems. In fact having 10 identical systems will make the choice harder for Aaron. The form asks for System specs, but if you have more than one system, please feel free to list them both (just add the required lines to the form.)

Having a Fan site is a definate 'plus' but I'll remind you that there are many fan sites out there that are still 'online' but have not been updated in months or years.

Previous Beta testing is also considered a 'plus' and this experience is not limited to having beta tested any of MM's other games. (Have you played 10000 PBW games over the years? that might be worth mentionning on your beta application.

'Mod' experience is another 'Plus', having modded SE4 or SF will definately add to your 'beta value'.

Bottom line is Aaron will need a variety of systems, a variety of players Both verteran and novice, and probably most important,.. people with the time to dedicate to the beta process. The more time the testers can apply to the beta the faster development will go.

But all this means nothing if you don't take the time to fill out the beta application form and send it in. So, hop to it people, get your forms in.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

When will the lottery end? And where/how will the beta testers be notified?

[Slick]

... I triple checked the form for spelling and grammer errors ...



LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[NullAshton]

Must be in beta...

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Must..... have..... beta..... testing..... position..... otherwise..... will..... go..... mad..... and..... with..... combined..... might..... multiple..... universes..... Hiigaran..... fleet..... not..... good..... if..... go..... mad.....

[NullAshton]

If I don't get beta, I'll take my P-Blaster's and vape Malfador.

[David E. Gervais]

Yo! Joint, go to the MM website, all the info is there, Applications will be taken up to the end of march.

You will be notified by e-mail, that's why one of the questions is "What's your e-mail address" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[NullAshton]

YOU WILL GIVE ME BETA!

[Instar]

zircher said:
Filling out your beta form is an interesting exercise in psychology. :-)

Based on that little snippet of data and random chance, you really have to be able to sell yourself to MM and present a solid pitch.

I gambled on the rant and included related data about my skills as a professional programmer, software tester, and hobby 3D modeller. I triple checked the form for spelling and grammer errors to show that I was an effective communicator. I even mentioned that I was going on vacation April 1st for a fortnight and that I was enough of a gamer geek that I could spend 40-60 hours beta testing a product. It's just fortunate that my wife is flying to Michigan for a visit at that time. Perhaps the fates are smiling on me?
--
TAZ


What kind of errors? Spelling errors you say? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif
Yeah, Aaron is looking for a variety of systems, and people with a variety of experience too.
Hey David, do you think we should have included nongame related testing on the application? Like I said, I'm a professional software developer and I make my own test plans and test my own software, as well as other testing roles.

[NullAshton]

I have an average system, so that will work in my favor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[David E. Gervais]

About previous beta experience.. The form looks like this..

Do you have experience in beta testing? Y/N ____
Games Tested: ____________________________
____________________________
____________________________

If you can answer Yes to the question then it would seem to me that in the 'Games Tested:' section you can list programs 'other' than games. I think Aaron just put 'Games' because that is what this beta is for.

People, you should not hold back info, and don't take the application form 'litteraly' it's not a precice science.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. Although there is no section for "About You!" it is always a good idea to let Aaron know more about who you are. Personally, I'd compose a nice e-mail saying why you want to be in the beta and who you are, and at the bottom, paste in the beta form with the required info filled out. Does this make sense? I hope this helps, Good luck everyone.

[NullAshton]

I participated in a few open betas, would those count?

[David E. Gervais]

NullAshton, that could be placed in the 'About Me' section.

Common sense should prevail, but any guidance I can give I do so gladly.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Edit: BTW I hope you are all using your 'real' name on these apps, because I'm sure you will be overlooked if you don't. You can of course say you are known as "ForumNick" on the forums. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif I know this is probably obvious, but I thought other things were too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[NullAshton]

Why do you always say cheers?

[David E. Gervais]

NullAshton said:
Why do you always say cheers?



It's called an exit wound, and basically sums up "Have a nice day, be well, and enjoy!"

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

(See what I mean?) http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[NullAshton]

You do it every time... Why don't you just put it in your signature?

[David E. Gervais]

I tried that, but kept forgetting it was in my sig so I ended up with a double exit wound, it was too painfull.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. Now stop hijacking this thread. I'll be on #spaceempires later.

[NullAshton]

Hacking threads is fun http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

The beta isn't an april fools joke, is it?

[Thermodyne]

David E. Gervais said:
Things to note,..

How usefull will a beta tester be if he can only spend 5 hours a week testing?

While high end 'Bleeding-edge' super systems are good, the beta needs a large variety of systems. In fact having 10 identical systems will make the choice harder for Aaron. The form asks for System specs, but if you have more than one system, please feel free to list them both (just add the required lines to the form.)

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Both?? How about the top and the bottom. I really didn't feel like posting specs on 20+ systems.

[sachmo]

I learned with HOI 2 that I just don't have the time to beta test. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/frown.gif

[tesco samoa]

i applied... did not make it in the last two times... so no worries... if i don't make it this time then i will await the game and play it then and complain that the beta testers where on crack... await gold release to fix problems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[zircher]

Slick said:

...grammer...



LOL! Sorry, I couldn't resist. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



Ah! Now you see why I needed to triple check the form. I'm terrible at this English stuff.
--
TAZ

[boran_blok]

I hope everyone here knows what it is to beta test, it's not "play the game before it get released"-stuff eh, it's mainly an exercise in frustration, but maybe i'm biased because I always have to beta-test and debug at the same time. maybe the debugging is the more agrevating point, maybe not.

[NullAshton]

Beta-testing is where you get to participate in making the game. Your ideas usually get placed in the game http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Atrocities]

Also a beta test is not suppose to be a nit pick free for all. The developer is looking for feed back yes, but not out right negative critisim of their products. The most likely need and want all feed back that a beta test has, but that does not mean that they want to a steady diet of "This sucks" "That sucks," etc. If something sucks, be detailed and explain why it sucks and be specific about what it is you would like to see done to improve it.

Bug reports are the most helpful thing to a developer, or so I would think. So reporting those, along with detailed information about how you came acrossed it would be the most advantagious thing to do. (Or so it is my opinion.)

I have seen so many beta tests go south because people post about how bad the beta is when they fail to understand that it is a BETA and not the finished product.

Case in point Tribes Vengence. Although the big issue there was the cheating on the MP games, ignored by VUG, the beta degenerated into a negative posting fest of epic proportions. It got so bad they closed the forum. The game was not bad, it just was not good.

Space Empires players are far more decidely professional than the twitch monekies that participated in the T:V beta so my confidence is high that Aaron will be getting the best beta testers in the world.

[Instar]

The trick is GOOD bug reports. Details people, details!
Debugging is fun, if you ask me... then again, I'm insane.

[RudyHuxtable]

I beta'd on Ultima Online. Now THAT was a headache. There were so many awesome features that I thought would make it into the final edit, like Necromancy and the like, but I guess they just couldn't work out the kinks at the time, and EA said hurry up. So come launch day I play the game and was annoyed because I was such an advocate for so many of the features that got tossed.

Reporting the bugs was insane. Simple insane. Like, put me in a rubber room I don't want to talk about walking through walls or Corp Por backlashing ever again... oh my GOD!

[Renegade 13]

David, do you think I could re-send my revised application, including the features you mentioned above (info about me, why I have so much time to test, details of modding & shipset experience, etc.) ??? Would that get me disqualified, or would it simply replace my old application

[Tampa_Gamer]

Fantastic! I was getting tired of modding Rome:TW and MOO3 mobs...(yes, I was desperate enough for a 4x space strategy "hit" that I tried that p..o..s.. again - I even played a few games of Ascendancy and IG2 just for kicks)

[DeadZone]

I've beta'ed so many things Ive forgotten the names of most of them lol

[Aiken]

For those people who will try betatesting for the first time:
How to Report Bugs Effectively (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html)

Good luck, guys.

[tesco samoa]

i use cmm for bug reporting... I test all the time at work and apply the same level to beta testing. You can beta test a game you hate... You just have to become a pure tester... Start on page 1 and test every aspect of the game. Do the links work etc... spelling... test combat...

[Timstone]

Hi all,

This is just great. The beta test of SE V is announced and immediately you see some 'old' faces appear. Really cool.

*Does a little worshippy to pay Zircher respect for his work in the B5 Mod of old*
*Doe slittle worshippy to pay hommage to Tampa_Gamer for his work to numerous AI's and of course the beloved soundpack*
*Doe slittle worshippy to everyone else who's shown his/her muscles for the further development of our fine community*

Hope I didn't overdone it... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/redface.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif


Edit:
Oh yeah, I had a question too. What did everyone filled in in the spot about the time you have for beta testing? I filled in 12 hours. Seemed enough, I could make more time but that wouldn't give me enough time to do my real job... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Filled in 10+ hrs I believe. That's less than it actually is, I could possibly get up to 20 hours per week or more on beta testing.

[Iron Giant]

I put down 20 hours. If the beta is even just barely PLAYABLE, I'll be lucky if I can LIMIT myself to playing it for less than that....

[Puke]

tesco samoa said:
i applied... did not make it in the last two times... so no worries... if i don't make it this time then i will await the game and play it then and complain that the beta testers where on crack... await gold release to fix problems http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif



totally. if you dont make it in, take solace in the realization that all the problems are someone ELSE's fault. Personally, I plan on blaming Fyron. Wither hes in the Beta or not.

[AMF]

Sigh. What I wouldn't give to NOT be massively busy for the next two months.

bummer.

[Azselendor]

I figured out how to ensure that atleast 19 of us will make it to the beta. See, if I can incapacite all but 19 people on this forum, and all various applicants that don't post here, then there will be a 100% chance that those 19 individuals will get on the beta.

[Will]

Hey, don't have to worry about me. I'm not applying. April just happens to be the month where I'll need to finish up all my projects and get ready for -- and take -- my final exams. I don't think putting a negative number of hours availible for testing will get me anywhere http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

Now, in May, once all that pesky stuff is out of the way, I'll be bugging all the testers (heh, bugging... get it? get it???) to hurry up and make sure everything is good. So I can buy it.

Or maybe I can work with tesco and some of the testers on the SEV version of PBW. Are you still planning on doing that tesco?

[tesco samoa]

hey will beta testing takes longer than a month you know... and it does carry on after the release... Each Service pack has to be tested as well..

Mention that in your application... Down at the bottom.

[boran_blok]

aiken said:
For those people who will try betatesting for the first time:
How to Report Bugs Effectively (http://www.chiark.greenend.org.uk/~sgtatham/bugs.html)

Good luck, guys.


Quoted to stress importance, to everyone getting into the beta: this is a must read.
I'm a programmer myself and every single point he states in that paper is 100% correct, follow it like if it were the bible.

[Instar]

I put down 30 hours a week for testing... I figured 4 to 5 hours a day, 5 days a week, even more on weekends.

[Nex_Empire]

Renegade 13 said:
David, do you think I could re-send my revised application, including the features you mentioned above (info about me, why I have so much time to test, details of modding & shipset experience, etc.) ??? Would that get me disqualified, or would it simply replace my old application



I also did not put that "about me" info in my application will that affect our chances?

[DarkAnt]

At first I think I put something like 14-18 hours, but then I realized that if I started having trouble in school or if something else more important came up I would not be able to spend that much time beta testing. So I put a weak 4-8 hours in as my time. This is something I know I can do pretty much no matter what goes wrong.
Now I see everyone putting in these large amounts of hours for beta testing and all I can say is that if you can dedicate 30 or so hours a week beta testing someone's software for free then you'd be a much more useful beta tester than I. Maybe I should have multiplied my numbers by ten just to keep up with the competition http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Edit: Woohooo! I'm a Corporal now. *does a little dance* http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Penguin.gif

[Instar]

Well, my job as a software developer takes up a fair bit of time, but mostly, I spend a lot of time doing nothing, like watching TV, and I've already my books that I have. (I'm saving the Salmon of Doubt for the flight back anyhow)
Living in a hotel for a few months kinda sucks...

[Renegade 13]

Nex_Empire said:

Renegade 13 said:
David, do you think I could re-send my revised application, including the features you mentioned above (info about me, why I have so much time to test, details of modding & shipset experience, etc.) ??? Would that get me disqualified, or would it simply replace my old application



I also did not put that "about me" info in my application will that affect our chances?



Probably not, it really shouldn't matter. But what do I know?

[ZeroAdunn]

I applied. Don't think I'll get in, but I applied. I have minimal programing experience (does basic count?) and no beta testing experience. But, I figure, its always worth a shot.

[Makinus]

just sent my aplication.... i´m pretty sure i will not be selected since i live in Brasil, but it does not cost anything to apply....

I´m a lawyer but i have a very good programming background, as i was a database systems programmer before i become a lawyer and still tinker a little with programing...

Other good point i have is the number of machines ( and system configurations) i have... i have 6 computers with various configurations and systems, being 5 desktops and 1 notebook, with processors rangind from 550Mhz up to 2.4Ghz, from 4mb sis video cards up to geforce 64mb video cards (and an old Voodoo 3 16mb video card)... in Operating systems i have from Win98 up to WinXP some in single and others in dual-boot, and even a linux machine...

I send all my machines specs and my experinece in program debbuging but i´m pretty sure i will not be selected because i live in Brasil...

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

And what is it about living in Brazil that would eliminate you from the selection? Sounds to me like you make a VERY good chance of making it, as you have all those systems.....

[Makinus]

the problem is if Aaron would send the betas by CDs instead of downloading it (i have a DSL conection, so dowloading would not be a problem), since to mail the game to Brasil would take too much time and bother...

[Puke]

look, all you international folks who think you dont have a chance at the beta: quit your pissing.

Im pretty certain that Mephisto was a member of the previous beta test (maybe even as far back as SE2 and 3), and he's in Germany. The thing is open to everyone.

calm down.

[Suicide Junkie]

CDs are almost a certainty.

Beta CDs were send out for the previous game betas (SF, DO), and SE5 will be bigger than they were.

[David E. Gervais]

Another point, SE5 is fully intended for international release so it would seem to me that having a variety of 'nationalities' on the beta team will be of great benefit. (how else will aaron know if the game runs properly on a foreign keyboard/system?)

IMHO, everyone has as good a chance as the person next to them.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[NullAshton]

Could you tell us the chances of getting a beta testing slot?

[Ragnarok]

David E. Gervais said:
IMHO, everyone has as good a chance as the person next to them.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



*Looks next to him* Hmmm...I don't see anyone next to me. So does that mean I have an even better chance of getting in? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

I wish I could sign up this time around but I just do not have the time to dedicate to a betatest. I would only be able to spend less than 5 hours a week to testing so that is not worth it in my opinion.

[RudyHuxtable]

Beta testing is fun if you know what you're doing. If you don't know how to be desriptive relating to problems, you'd be surprised how quickly it can devolve into a mess.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Puke I am "international" (I live in the Netherlands) and I'm not panicking. I just sent in my beta form, done. Air mail, anyone?

And again, how many slots are there for the beta test?

[NullAshton]

I think there's 50...

[Timstone]

Strategia_In_Ultima said:
Puke I am "international" (I live in the Netherlands) and I'm not panicking. I just sent in my beta form, done. Air mail, anyone?

And again, how many slots are there for the beta test?



Ah crap! Another Dutchman. Het wordt steeds voller met die lui. Het is net als op vakantie, je komt OVERAL wel een Hollander tegen, het is bijna een plaag...
I'm not feeling any special anymore. There was a time there were only two of us, now we are with many. Slowely taking over this joint. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/shock.gif

[Fyron]

You've got a long way to go before you catch up to the Canadians! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/stupid.gif

[Thermodyne]

Makinus said:
just sent my aplication.... i´m pretty sure i will not be selected since i live in Brasil, but it does not cost anything to apply....

I´m a lawyer but i have a very good programming background, as i was a database systems programmer before i become a lawyer and still tinker a little with programing...

Other good point i have is the number of machines ( and system configurations) i have... i have 6 computers with various configurations and systems, being 5 desktops and 1 notebook, with processors rangind from 550Mhz up to 2.4Ghz, from 4mb sis video cards up to geforce 64mb video cards (and an old Voodoo 3 16mb video card)... in Operating systems i have from Win98 up to WinXP some in single and others in dual-boot, and even a linux machine...

I send all my machines specs and my experinece in program debbuging but i´m pretty sure i will not be selected because i live in Brasil...



Well if hardware gets you in. this baby should be a lock for a slot.
Stack (http://groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/nemesis.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=29)

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Heb je wel eens (was een jaar of twee terug) enn (Jeugd)Journaalfilmpje gezien over een bepaald vakantiedorpje in Spanje? Komen bijna alleen maar Nederlanders, end dan nog van die "typische" "doorsnee" stereotiepe Nederlanders. Een van de meest verkochte artikelen van de lokale supermarkt (gerund door een Nederlander) was..... pindakaas. Zelfs de lokale bevolking sprak vloeiend Nederlands. Er waren meer kaaskoppen dan Spanjolen in dat gebied.

You think we're not capable of catching up on Canadians? You should see the Costa del Sol in Spain during summer.....

[tesco samoa]

tesco looks under the forums for canadians... Damn they are there as well...

[NullAshton]

Peanut cheese?

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Peanut BUTTER, strangely translated..... It's supposed to be "popular" amongst people for use on a slice of bread. We (as being non-stereotypical Dutch people) most often use it to make..... how do you call "pindasaus" in English?

[Thermodyne]

What is pindasaus? In the US most peanut butter is used for sandwich making and in candy/cookies. Probably a lot gets eaten right from the jar too.

Sandwich of choice is usually peanut butter and jelly. But peanut butter and cheese is good. Also peanut butter on a stalk of celery is quite good

[Instar]

Thermodyne said:

Makinus said:
just sent my aplication.... i´m pretty sure i will not be selected since i live in Brasil, but it does not cost anything to apply....

I´m a lawyer but i have a very good programming background, as i was a database systems programmer before i become a lawyer and still tinker a little with programing...

Other good point i have is the number of machines ( and system configurations) i have... i have 6 computers with various configurations and systems, being 5 desktops and 1 notebook, with processors rangind from 550Mhz up to 2.4Ghz, from 4mb sis video cards up to geforce 64mb video cards (and an old Voodoo 3 16mb video card)... in Operating systems i have from Win98 up to WinXP some in single and others in dual-boot, and even a linux machine...

I send all my machines specs and my experinece in program debbuging but i´m pretty sure i will not be selected because i live in Brasil...



Well if hardware gets you in. this baby should be a lock for a slot.
Stack (http://groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/nemesis.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=29)


OMG! Very nice... but you need to build an enclosure for it... if only to shield the EM radiation from it

[David E. Gervais]

NullAshton said:
Could you tell us the chances of getting a beta testing slot?



That's a question that I can't answer for two reasons..

1) It depends on how many people apply to be in the beta. (and since Aaron allready said he's accepting applications til the end of the month, that number is not available yet.)

2) I have no idea how many slots Aaron will be making available. (and no, I'm not going to ask him, he's currently very busy getting the AI ready for beta.)

That said, your chances are better than playing the New York State Lottery.

Nuf said, Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Thermodyne]

Instar said:

Thermodyne said:

Makinus said:
just sent my aplication.... i´m pretty sure i will not be selected since i live in Brasil, but it does not cost anything to apply....

I´m a lawyer but i have a very good programming background, as i was a database systems programmer before i become a lawyer and still tinker a little with programing...

Other good point i have is the number of machines ( and system configurations) i have... i have 6 computers with various configurations and systems, being 5 desktops and 1 notebook, with processors rangind from 550Mhz up to 2.4Ghz, from 4mb sis video cards up to geforce 64mb video cards (and an old Voodoo 3 16mb video card)... in Operating systems i have from Win98 up to WinXP some in single and others in dual-boot, and even a linux machine...

I send all my machines specs and my experinece in program debbuging but i´m pretty sure i will not be selected because i live in Brasil...



Well if hardware gets you in. this baby should be a lock for a slot.
Stack (http://groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/nemesis.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=29)


OMG! Very nice... but you need to build an enclosure for it... if only to shield the EM radiation from it



And full speed of 13Ghz, it put out as much heat as a blow torch, could hardly keep it cool sitting in the open. In the old alfa case I was using, CPU temps would hit throttle stops in less than an hour at full load.

[Instar]

!
That's astounding Thermodyne... how did you build it and how much does it cost? I want one...
How is it set up, is it a Beowolf cluster or something? It looks like some kind of supercomputer array.

[Thermodyne]

It's a....well a it's.....a...Damn if I really know.
Its a $1000 quad processor I guess. 1st board is the master, and the other four are slaved to it. As programmed, it took folding@home work units apart and split the work between the four slaves. When it was synced, it returned results at a rate of more than 4 times the speed of the master working alone. Slaves are ram drive systems with 512mrg drives and 64megs of system memory. Master has 128 megs of ram and a 100gig raid 5 ide array. All cpu's are XP3000-266's. Main boards are VIA 400 chipset biostar's ($32 each) with hacked bios flashes. All ran nix. Never could get it to stay in sync for more than about 18 hours. Ended up running it as 5 2K blade servers in a cluster with good results. But it cost about $10 a day to run, so I lost interest at about 40K worth of units.

[Instar]

If you could tell me how you built that, I would like totally buy you a burrito next time I see you in person.
I've heard of RAM disks, but never actually ever used them. It is RAM that is mounted as a hard drive, right?
Also, I assume they're communicating over the network to do work, right? or did you hook them up in some other way?

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Thermodyne said:
What is pindasaus? In the US most peanut butter is used for sandwich making and in candy/cookies. Probably a lot gets eaten right from the jar too.

Sandwich of choice is usually peanut butter and jelly. But peanut butter and cheese is good. Also peanut butter on a stalk of celery is quite good



Ok, I know it's totally OT, but still.....

Pindasaus is, directly translated, "peanut sauce". I believe it's Indonesian by origin but I don't know, we most often make it when we eat rice for dinner. It tastes really good with blocks of tofu in it.

[NullAshton]

What I used to translate what you said translated most of it, and 'peanut cheese' popped out...

[Thermodyne]

NullAshton said:
What I used to translate what you said translated most of it, and 'peanut cheese' popped out...



That would be the green fuzzy peanut butter?

[Thermodyne]

Instar said:
If you could tell me how you built that, I would like totally buy you a burrito next time I see you in person.
I've heard of RAM disks, but never actually ever used them. It is RAM that is mounted as a hard drive, right?
Also, I assume they're communicating over the network to do work, right? or did you hook them up in some other way?



Ram disks can be software and use set aside blocks of system ram, or they can be hardware based. The ones I used were just little plastic things that plugged into the IDE cables. Originally they had Disk images on them used for testing new PC’s that were being shipped without software. Not sure what kind of ram is actually in them, but they work like a small very fast hard drive.

The connection between the boards is gigabit ethernet. Windows used just plain old tcp/ip, with nix it used UDP. Master board has a quad port LAN card in addition to the onboard connection.

To get started, I just searched Linux clusters and dl’d the directions for building it. But like I said, it was never fully reliable as a Nix cluster. As a windows cluster, it just ran like five systems that shared one raid array. I had to cut everything out of the OS install that was not needed in order to make it fit on the ram drive, then I just ghost cast the end product to the ram drives.

For the bios hacking, I will have to try and find the guys email addy for you. I just looked in some OCing forums where they talked about custom bios files and then started asking if anyone could set a file up to do what I wanted. After some wasted time, I got pointed to this guy who had built some seti stacks and then he knew another person that had a custom file for a biostar board. And so forth and so on. Then one thing led to another and with about $1000 bucks worth of chips and boards and some ram plus an arm full of stuff I had sitting around, and a few parts begged and barrowed, I put it together. Then I bounced between bliss and pulling my hair out for a couple of months. The problem seemed to be that the system clock generators hertz changed with temp. The hotter boards in the center seemed to fall behind and then. I kept messing with it until I had to give the quad network card back to it rightful owner. After that I just ran windows

[se5a]

d000d that is soooo sweet.
I might try that some day (yea right, like I will ever get around to it)
so water cooling might be a good idea then? or maybe build it in a mini frezer http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Makinus]

Thermodyne, your comp is dream of any computer tinkerer...

I had a long time ago a monster computer that i build using several old boards and processors, if i remember well it was 3 486-66mhz and 2 Pentium 133 with every board networked with the others and a stripped down version of Win95 in every HD (they ranged from 500mb up to 2gb in one of the pentiums)... my idea was to create a gaming network to play DukeNuken3D and other games, and i plugged monitors and keyboards in every ne of them.... i and me fried gave it the name of "Frankie" because it was a whole mess of cables, boards and eletrical discharges... i lost it to an eletrical surge that fried the majority of the boards...

Your machine looks like a big brother of my old "Frankie", minus the monitors and keyboards...

hummm, lets see what bits and pieces i have around here to see if i can build something.....

[Timstone]

Carefull my friend MAkinus, don't frie yourself. That would be... less desirable. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/cool.gif

btw, don't forget to send me a message when SE V comes available.


Oh no! Makinus and Thermodyne made a horrible monster! It's alive! Run for your live! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif

[Instar]

Thermodyne, I totally owe you a burrito now. I wonder if its possible to find RAM disks these days, since normal HDs are so cheap. I would like to find a RAM disk that uses SATA, that would be sweet. I'm sure if I was an electronics whiz, I get a controller and rig it up.

[Puke]

Ram disks can be software and use set aside blocks of system ram, or they can be hardware based. The ones I used were just little plastic things that plugged into the IDE cables.



Ram disks are portions of your RAM that are set aside as virtual HDD space. what you are describing sounds like a FLASH disk, which would be non-volotile and orders of magnitude slower.

RAM disks are more or less obsolete due to modern memory management practices. it used to be that you could make things run uber-fast by putting the program on a RAM disk instead of your hard drive, and taking advantage of the higher speed of the memory and of the faster bus that the SIMM / DIMM banks were on.

These days, computers have such stupidly large quantities of memory, and OS memory management routines are so advanced, you will generally be slowing yourself down by second-guessing your system and trying to force software to run on a ram disk.

There are, however, solid state FLASH based hard disks with no moving parts in them. these are crazy fast, and models exist for both SCSI-3, Fibrechannel, and IDE. now if you just had a massive SAN filled with them...

[Thermodyne]

Flash is not the same thing. It works the same but is built on a newer technology. The first ram drives actually had sticks of sdram ram, and 1/2 a gig was huge. today they use ddram and go up into the tarabite range.



Entry-level Solid State Disk
For the RamSan-120, the key word is small- small in size, small in price, and ideal for accelerating the small capacity database, database log or email queue. But while the 1U RamSan-120 is small, it is also powerful. The RamSan-120 provides two 2Gbit Fibre Channel ports capable of over 70,000 random I/Os per second and 400MB/second of bandwidth. Because the system uses DDR RAM for storage, the latency for data requests from servers is under 20 microseconds.



The little drives I have predate flash, sodimm I would think based on age and IDE 33 standards marked on them.

[Puke]

so what your talking about is volitile storage? it could be fast, but the overhead required to populate it would be anoying.

[Thermodyne]

Yep, every time you power down it needs to be reloaded. But ghost casting makes it quick.

[David E. Gervais]

Maybe the next gen of OS will see a return to having the the OS on ROM. I always thought that made a big difference in speed. And now days the technology is getting to where having several Gig of ROM is very doable.

The biggest benefit would be that the systems themselves would need to be designed with some sort of conformity. That would in return stabalize the PC market that is just progressing too fast for the general public. (Why do you think consoles are popular? two reasons, Price and the fact they they remain a stable platform for several years instead of becomming obsolete as soo as you make the purchase.

Oh well, my vote is to go the OS on ROM rute.

Nuf said, Cheers!

P.S. But what does all this have to do with the SE5 beta? Nothing So might I suggest we start a new thread about "The future of PC's and Super Rigs."

[Lisif Deoral]

maybe not ROM, but repackaging an OS as some sort of flashable bios extension might be nice (you need to be able to easily patch it)... what about a name like aios (advanced i/o system), or maybe aiospabocus for win-like OSes (advanced i/o system, plus a bunch of completely useless stuff). http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

Uhm... I like "aiospabocus" http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[DeadZone]

David E. Gervais said:P.S. But what does all this have to do with the SE5 beta? Nothing So might I suggest we start a new thread about "The future of PC's and Super Rigs."



Cmon DEG, we are talking about here, Im surprised we kept it on-topic as long as we did http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[David E. Gervais]

Actually, this discussion could be loosly related to the se5 beta, we are discussing sys specs after all, my bad, sorry.

..Speaking of sys specs, I just bought myself a new comfy high-back chair for my computer station. Now I'll be really comfortable for the beta and beyond!!

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Thermodyne]

David E. Gervais said:
Actually, this discussion could be loosly related to the se5 beta, we are discussing sys specs after all, my bad, sorry.

..Speaking of sys specs, I just bought myself a new comfy high-back chair for my computer station. Now I'll be really comfortable for the beta and beyond!!

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Hmmm........does it have a cup holder? Or do you use the CD reader for that http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Instar]

Oh shoot, I forgot the other laptop I have. I also have a Dell C610 (1ghz P3, 512mb RAM, 16mb video card) laptop I could've put into the application...
I really got to get my act together.

[Jake Monroe]

I wonder how many people here have 64 bit processors.

[Instar]

They haven't been out in the consumer marketplace long enough for too many people to have them.

[Aiken]

Jake Monroe said:
I wonder how many people here have 64 bit processors.

Do you mean some true 64-bit cpus, like alphas/itaniums or mixed 32/64 AMDs?
Well, I have amd64 3000+ on a workplace. They're [amd64] pretty widespread now.

[DeadZone]

Got an AMD64 3200 on my main machine

[Atrocities]

NEWS FLASH - Imagine If Bill Gates got involved...... *highlight to read*

<font color="#B7AE9F">
Do to overwhelming demand for open beta slots the game developer was bought out by Microsoft and will from this day forward be known as MicroFador.

The beta will now be a buy in beta with the low price of $1,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000,000 per slot. (Ya as if)

Currently all 32 slots are open.

"We here at MicroFador, by we I mean the pencil neck geeks that our parent company has send down to look over MY neck, want to express our deepest apprecaition to the MS for allowing us to continue using BIANARY, a registared TD of Microsoft, in our programing process. At this rate our latest game, Space Monopoly, formerly SE V, will be ready for X-box sometime in the coming century." Former CEO - Malfador, Now Arron Boy at MicroFador.


"We sincerely hope that all of you fans will still be alive and able to fork over your retirement money to buy this title when it eventually comes out. In the mean time we highly recommend the game MOO3 as we have just aquired the rights for it." - CEO / Head Pencil Neck MS Geek - MicroFador</font>


"Humor, I love it!" - Data stoned on new humor chip.

DISCLAIMER:
This was just for fun and in no way is meant to be taken literally or in any way to mean that I have nothing but the deepest respect for MicroFa--- ooops, I mean Malfador. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif Sorry, I just couldn't resist being weird.

[Thermodyne]

Jake Monroe said:
I wonder how many people here have 64 bit processors.




I've been running AMD64 since the FX came out of the foundry. Here my first experiance with the FX51.
First boot of FX51 (http://groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/athlon64fx51.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&amp;PhotoID=15)

Here are the numbers it put up in November of 03
Bench marks (http://groups.msn.com/ThermodynesPlace/fx51244ghz.msnw)

[Jake Monroe]

Of course, any of use AMD athlon 64 users who use windows are only running it in 32 mode. But then Microsoft will release XP 64 bit edition.

If anyone of us 64 bit CPU people get in the beta, maybe we should try to get XP 64 bit to test the game with.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Forum Announcements

We'd like to welcome the new beta testers to the forum!




Is this in ANY WAY related to the SEV beta? Don't think so, but just want to know what it's about.

[Captain Kwok]

Joint_Chief_SI_Ultima said:
Is this in ANY WAY related to the SEV beta? Don't think so, but just want to know what it's about.

No, not at all. Shrapnel has formed a new beta testers pool for various upcoming games that will be published by Shrapnel.

[Thermodyne]

Jake Monroe said:
Of course, any of use AMD athlon 64 users who use windows are only running it in 32 mode. But then Microsoft will release XP 64 bit edition.

If anyone of us 64 bit CPU people get in the beta, maybe we should try to get XP 64 bit to test the game with.



So what you are saying is that this copy of Windows XP64 is really 32 bit? amd64 bit windows has been beta for over a year now.

[NullAshton]

Just sent my application!

[Aiken]

Aaron should consider inviting several linux junkies to beta, so they could do some testing under wine or cedega. I definitely would like to see se5 running on my debian.

[Tampa_Gamer]

I was over at the Strategy First website and saw no indication that SE5 is on the "announced games" list - has there been a press release?

It is a "no-brainer" that one of the key things in any beta is constant 2-way communication between the dev team and the testers to exchange ideas, file interpretation theories, save games, updates and report bugs of course. Nowadays, this is accomplished quite easily via dedicated forums (like the ones here at Shrapnel). During the SE4 Gold beta, Shrapnel did a 10/10 job in hosting chats, MP test times and keeping those lines of communication open. Has anyone had experience on Strategy First beta's? Do they have dedicated forums for beta testing? How involved in the testing are they?

Just Curious

http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif

[NullAshton]

I hope I get into beta...

[Intimidator]

As I understand it we will be able to sign up until 31-3-2005.
So the people who will be selected will be informed on:


APRIL 1st


Hhhmmmmmmm..........;)

[NullAshton]

"We're sorry to inform you of this, but you all filled out your forms wrong. We will not be having beta slots this year."

[Alneyan]

Of course not NullAhston! We are all seasoned in the ways of bureaucracy, and have been honing our form-filling skills since the age of six! Therefore, some of the applicants (at the very least) will successfully fill in their forms. The others shall be totemised at once, thanks to the wondrous technology offered by Frobozz Electric.

And on a completely unrelated matter: I offer courses on form-filling for anyone not feeling quite up to the task. Afforable prices, and no strings attached. No FBW need apply... assuming I make my Will roll to eschew such a blatant ploy.

[NullAshton]

Totomised?

[Alneyan]

Totemised! Or totemized, if working under the nefarious spell of "confusing grammar": why have some verbs ending in -ise and others ending in -ize? Truly, it only seems to be a marketing device to increase the sales of aspirin and... Why are you speaking of a wild tangent?

Totemisation is the process transforming someone into a small totem, as introduced in the Zork series. It really is faster than torture, cleaner than execution, and it takes very little place. Besides, the creatures contained in the totems are still alive, so the tormenting value remains quite high. Because of all the merits of the process, totemisation has become the highest punishment in Zork, and virtually the only one too. Lenience is only the kind of things used by writers to create plot twists, allowing the heroes to merely remain imprisoned, thereby allowing them to save the world; if there was no laxness, heroes would stay dead when their time is due.

[Puke]

Alneyan said:
Of course not NullAhston! We are all seasoned in the ways of bureaucracy, and have been honing our form-filling skills since the age of six!



Once thing's certain: return, I will,
To.. Old.. Brazil..

[Jake Monroe]

Thermodyne said:

Jake Monroe said:
Of course, any of use AMD athlon 64 users who use windows are only running it in 32 mode. But then Microsoft will release XP 64 bit edition.

If anyone of us 64 bit CPU people get in the beta, maybe we should try to get XP 64 bit to test the game with.



So what you are saying is that this copy of Windows XP64 is really 32 bit? amd64 bit windows has been beta for over a year now.



Have you made it into the SEV beta then?

And It's nice that you have XP 64 bit, because I sure as hell don't see it available anywhere for me to buy it.

[Alneyan]

Me no gets why Puke speaks of Frank Sinatra. Me silly. Me eat rocks, and throw them too! Me no likes brains, except when them brains are roasted.

(The answer to the question is indeed yes, I feel sillier tonight than on most days. It isn't full moon though; odd that.)

[zircher]

Frank is fun to quote in one form or another...

Descartes: To do is to be.
Voltaire: To be is to do.
Frank Sinatra: Do be do be do.
--
TAZ

[Puke]

Franks song was used as the theme for a Terry Gillian film of the same title. about oppressive bueauracracy and form-filling.

but im not actually authorized to tell you that, unless you fill out a 27b-6.

[NullAshton]

Phooey on those forms... Fourms are much better.

[Thermodyne]

With all of the code slinging ability around here, I thought it would have been an online form. Collect the info into a data base and go from there.

[NullAshton]

t? What the heck is that?

[Thermodyne]

Jake Monroe said:

Thermodyne said:

Jake Monroe said:
Of course, any of use AMD athlon 64 users who use windows are only running it in 32 mode. But then Microsoft will release XP 64 bit edition.

If anyone of us 64 bit CPU people get in the beta, maybe we should try to get XP 64 bit to test the game with.



So what you are saying is that this copy of Windows XP64 is really 32 bit? amd64 bit windows has been beta for over a year now.



Have you made it into the SEV beta then?

And It's nice that you have XP 64 bit, because I sure as hell don't see it available anywhere for me to buy it.



On or about April 1 it should be rolled out. Rummor is that you will be allowed to trade a copy of 32 bit XP in on a 64 bit copy.

Personally, I'll wait untill I get it in one of the subscriptions, I don't actually own a copy of XP that I could trade in.


And no I have not. Well at least not to my knowledge.

Edit: Might have been talking out of school, so scratch last part.

[Thermodyne]

NullAshton said:
t? What the heck is that?

That's what comes of trying to use a pda as a computer. Way too many buttons in such a small area.

[Caduceus]

/me prepares for disappointment on April 1st... but holds out for possible ecstatic glee...

[NullAshton]

Tomorrow we shall know! Yay!

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Errw00t..... no, the day after tomorrow you mean.

That is, IF the Malfador offices are by then not gone due to successive tidal waves and ice ages.....

[Renegade 13]

wildcard06 said:
/me prepares for disappointment on April 1st... but holds out for possible ecstatic glee...



/me does the same!

Remember that screen shots are coming out April 1st as well...finally we will see what is coming!

[Thermodyne]

I guess it will be a long couple a days while we wait on the news.

I was just reflecting on what I was doing when SE4 was about to go bata. My how things change. I was starting MCSE classes and basically had time to burn. Now I work in IT doing nothing that was covered in the classes. Almost everything I do now is learned on the fly as I get a new project.

[Instar]

Yeah, a lot of the time material covered in school is stuff you won't be needing all that often, but often enough it comes in handy. For me, I haven't learned all that much in CS courses that I haven't learned on my own. Some of the profs don't even have a clue how the real world works (or about CS in general...)

[Will]

&lt;ot thread hijack&gt;

It's been my experience that university CS professors are people who couldn't make the cut in the Math department. Really, there are very few people that actually do "Computer Science" in the real world. The only point of a degree is to prove that you can learn things, and really, the only difference between a university CS degree and a trade school degree is the breadth of education and a little bit of theory.

&lt;/ot thread hijack&gt;

Looking forward to some screenies finally. DEG and Aaron get to show of their work.

[Instar]

Oh, in CS, you're supposed to learn some very important bits of theory, and how to actually do software development. Any monkey can code, but coding well to a good design, well, that is the trick. Theory is quite important.
I think the lack of capable CS professors is due to the lack of CS professionals in general. The competent ones with the upper level degrees are making real money, not teaching. Most of my profs have no industry experience, and a few are quite clueless.
http://www.tomshardware.com/hardnews/20050330_223149.html
WinXP64 is almost ready. It will be here next month.

[Renegade 13]

Malfador
At the end of the month we'll have a lottery for the slots and announce them here on our website.



I wonder if that means we're going to find out if we've made it tomorrow...

[Atrocities]

Winners of the Malfador Beta Test Lottory Are:

1. Atrocities
2. Atrocities
3. Atrocities
4. Atrocities
5. Atrocities

[Renegade 13]

Hey, can I bum one of those spots off you AT?? http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[RudyHuxtable]

That doesn't seem fair, somehow.

I'll give you a pat on the back for slot #4.

[Instar]

In exchange for one of those, I'll let you live... bwhaha
or something
pants

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

CS professors? You actually get professors with up to 65% extra to-hit rating? I wonder how much of their income is gained at firing tournaments.....

[NullAshton]

Okay, NEXT day we'll know who won...

[Atrocities]

I will be auctioning the spots on ebay. The opening bid is set at $1,000.00.

[NullAshton]

Haha...

[Ron_Lugge]

You know what would *really* suck?

If Aaron played a little april fools on us all when he anounced the BT list, *on* april fools day.

[Caduceus]

I think that thought has crossed everyone's mind http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[Thermodyne]

Atrocities said:
I will be auctioning the spots on ebay. The opening bid is set at $1,000.00.




Well I bid this: For one bata slot; I will NOT come to your house and bother you about it.

Hmmmm.......I would prolly have to wait in line when I got there. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Does anyone else feel a knot in his/her stomach right now?

[RudyHuxtable]

Maybe a little. But are we going to find out today or tomorrow?

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Tomorrow.....

I wonder, will there be a list of participants in the beta or will they save the poor non-betaists that agony?

[NullAshton]

I really hope I make it...

[RudyHuxtable]

I hope you don't if it means that I don't. If we both get in, then Yay!

[NullAshton]

If we all get in, WOOT!

[RudyHuxtable]

I want to do it because it will keep me from spending $30 on a new game. I'll be too busy to play something else http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Zaamon]

On US everything is too cheap. I must pay 50€ to buy new PC game. 70€ Xbox game. damn
Yes, I play Xbox. So I hope I get it, that I dont have to spent 50-70€ for new game.

[NullAshton]

AUUUUUUUUUUUGH! THE SUSPENSE!!!

[Renegade 13]

Does anyone know how many slots are available? Mr Gervais shoud know, if he could tell...but now that I think about it, I haven't seen him around for a couple weeks... http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/eek.gif

[Puke]

THREE! theres only 3, and they're all reserved for people that were on the LAST BETA. oh, and since there were more than 3 people on the last beta, not even all of THEM will get slots!

god, people. relax. take a deep breath. exhale.

Aaron may not even decide how many slots there are, untill he starts reading the applications. if he sees alot of good people, he might take more. if we're all a bunch of losers, he might take less.

its not a big deal.

[David E. Gervais]

I've been lurking, but these past few weeks have been busy getting ready for the beta.

I don't know how many slots there are so I can't give that info away.

You won't have long to wait, and patience is a virtue for a beta tester. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DeadZone]

In the UK a PC game is usually £30, which is over $50 and €40
Wow, theres a place more expensive than the UK, Im shocked

[Randallw]

In Australia a new game is usually $A89.99, which is about 36 pounds, or $US70.

Edit: forum doesn't like the pound symbol (even though someone else has it http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/confused.gif)

[Instar]

Randallw, how did you enter it? HTML code for it, the ASCII value... or even Unicode?
&amp;pound;
&amp;#169;
HTML doesn't work...
£
This should work
Click Start-&gt;Run. type "charmap" and press enter. in the font drop down box, make sure something like "Arial" is selected. the british pound sign is there, double click it and click copy

[Randallw]

£

Previously I inserted the pound symbol into a word document and then pasted it to my reply. It was showing the symbol in my reply but when posted it reverted to ascii.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

AAAAAGH THE SUSPENSE IS KILLING ME.....

[RudyHuxtable]

If that were true, wouldn't you need to be rushed to the hospital?

[Randallw]

If I've told you once, I've told you a million times don't use hyperbole. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

Ok, so the suspense is hard to deal with, OK?

[Zaamon]

I hate waiting, I hate waiting, I hate waiting, I hate waiting.
I think i get heartattack if I get it.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

EarEWAgwrSVfdggsss..... waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting really sucks.

I'll blow up with happiness if I get it, and get into a homicidal genocidal rage if I don't.....

[Timstone]

Strategia_In_Ultima said:
EarEWAgwrSVfdggsss..... waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting is terrible waiting really sucks.

I'll blow up with happiness if I get it, and get into a homicidal genocidal rage if I don't.....



*Raises eyebrow*
Like Frankie said: "Relax..."

[Thermodyne]

All I have to say is this:

Be very, very careful about what you wish for!

[Atrocities]

Well today should be the day if all things go well. Fingers crossed and double crossed.

[NullAshton]

I hope I get beta...

(repeats that a thousand times)

[NullAshton]

I just got a message saying that they've decided to scrap the beta, and use Microsoft as their publisher...

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOO!

[Atrocities]

ROFLMAO - Good one. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Zaamon]

Damn, I don´t have to wait email to get hearth attack. NullAshton allmost give it to me whit his last post. Too long No.

[zircher]

So, where is Malfador physically located and what time zone do they operate out of?
--
TAZ, trying to stay calm

[Thermodyne]

Message for Bata testers:

Hi,
My name is Roger, and I'm a student from Nigeria. I have the opportunity to make a lot of money beta testing SE5. But I need to purchase a computer to complete the tests. Here in Nigeria, we are limited as to what kind of computer technology we may buy. And I will need a good fast machine. I need someone to purchase a nice Dell laptop for me in the States, and then ship it to Nigeria. Upon receipt, I will forward back to you 120% of your costs plus two SE5 beta slots. As a show of good faith, I have contracted with the firm of Dewy, Screwem, and Howw of Washington DC, to post $5000 US in escrow. This may be confirmed by calling 968.778.8743. They are authorized to make payment from these funds as soon as I conform that the new Dell Laptop has arrived. I am sure that many people will want to take advantage of this offer, so I will accept the first laptop to arrive and make payment accordingly.

[Atrocities]

They are located in CA, PST.... specifically I do not know the exact adress... oh wait I do...
Malfador Machinations
PO Box 2942
Santa Rosa, CA 95405-2942

[zircher]

Feh, a few more added hours of waiting then. Today, I'm sending the wife to Michigan for a fortnight. I hope that's a good omen. :-P
--
TAZ

[Zaamon]

That interest me too. I have 1.4.2005 16.31
If I understood, they looked those places yesterday.

Damn i am slow, http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Caduceus]

Atrocities said:
PO Box 2942




It is a *really* tiny office
http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[DeadZone]

Anyone know what time people start getting told

[Atrocities]

Yes, it really is a 4 inch by 4 inch tiny little office.

Any one willing to make odds on whether the beta trial starts today? (Fingers crossed)

[Caduceus]

I would think it would be notification today with commencement Monday.

[Atrocities]

OMG! I just found out that the combat system for SE V will be handled by DICE! WTF!

[El_Phil]

And they've replaced the ship design window with one button marked "Do you feel lucky?"

[Caduceus]

You have to rotate the board around for the AI to take its turn?!?

[Atrocities]

I don't know guys, this One Armed Bandet - pull the lever and pray for the best out come, approach to combat scares me. I have never been lucky.

[Strategia_In_Ultima]

I wasn't using a hyperbole when I sadi the suspense was killing me.


If that were true, wouldn't you need to be rushed to the hospital?



Where else do you think I'm online now?!?

(note: just kidding http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/biggrin.gif )

[David E. Gervais]

Notice: All those who have leaked trade secrets regarding MM and SE5 (such as MS publishing deals, 3D Dice controlled Combat and Game Board rotation to activate AI) shall be considered in violation of NDA and exempt from the beta.

Also, Due to these secrets being leaked Aaron and I will have to rebuild the game from scratch 'Again' and this will push the Beta and release to Q3 2009. (or Q2 9002 I get those dates mixed up all the time)

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

P.S. And people say I have no sense of humor http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif Muahahahahaha

[Caduceus]

It was designed as a part of the new research plan - Table Turning Technology... Alright, *now* my lips are sealed.

[tesco samoa]

hey if your going to rebuild from scratch may i suggest you base it off this game... I do have some pdp1's kicking around at the plant...

http://www3.sympatico.ca/maury/games/space/spacewar/spacewar-on-pdp1.jpg

[Instar]

Everyone needs to chill... its just 9:00 am out here in California... a mighty fine beautiful day too!
If I was Aaron, I wouldn't be out of bed yet... then again, I'm more of a night person. If so, then why am I getting up at 7:30 to come here?!

[Perrin]

Rats missed it by a hair. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/Injured.gif

[xevioso]

Looks like the site is being updated even as I write this. Holy smokes. It's happening people.

[Caduceus]

Malfador under construction.

[tesco samoa]

your in for a surprize http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[xevioso]

What, the Beta Testers are all from Pakistan and India?

[Renegade 13]

Wow...I'm off the forums for 12 hours and there's almost 40 new posts in this thread!?!? Calm down people! Either you make it or you don't...though I confess, I'm excited too. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/wink.gif

[NullAshton]

Everyone expects to get into the beta. Otherwise, we wouldn't have sent off the forms...

[Atrocities]

tesco samoa said:
your in for a surprize http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Indeed they are. http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[Renegade 13]

tesco samoa said:
your in for a surprize http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif



Sure Tesco, be cryptic http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Atrocities]

Ok I have just seen the combat model.... Think ASTEROIDS!

[David E. Gervais]

Stage One, put up the 'Under Construction' page.. Done

Stage Two, Leave the Page up for 2 months... In progress (We know how patient you fans are, and know you won't mind)

Stage Four, Don't forget Stage Three.

... rotflmao..

You guys are making my day, Thanks.

Cheers! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/happy.gif

[xevioso]

Yeah, Malfador could use a new FTP transfer program it seems. Or maybe I could host the site on my server. :-)

[NullAshton]

No longer under construction. It's now an upgrade in progress.

[Caduceus]

David E. Gervais said:
You guys are making my day, Thanks.




Well, turn about is fair play, David.

Any time now.

[taps foot]

[Instar]

My wild *** guess: MM page will be some kind of April Fool's thing (poisson d'avril)
WAG2: A really slick new page, with shinies.

[tesco samoa]

At... how about you ship flies about and then gets stuck in a pit.... And dudes show up and toss flower pots or barrels down on your ship...

[Puke]

I couldn't get through to MM, so im posting my first beta report here. The SE5 DVD came by courrier, but the USB enabled organic brain that the note says was for the AI was "damaged in shipping."

The glass is broken, and the postman has sealed it in a plastic bag. I think part of it may be damaged, and the electrodes seem to be bent. Please send a new one?

[Atrocities]

tesco samoa said:
At... how about you ship flies about and then gets stuck in a pit.... And dudes show up and toss flower pots or barrels down on your ship...



I don't know how to take this? - I am at a loss - BTW go process the turn! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/laugh.gif

[Aiken]

Instar said:
My wild *** guess: MM page will be some kind of April Fool's thing (poisson d'avril)



I don't think so. My guess is that MM decided to look creatively for origins and create brand new trend in CG - 3D ASCII graphics! That's why after site upgrade you will be able to access it via telnet only (to sync it with new se5 interface).

Proof:
1) DG mentioned several times that he designed game graphics in retro style. ASCII is a maxim of retro.
2) Have you seen computer specs for se5? No! In fact se5 won't work with you athlons, p4, geforces and radeons. Anything better than i386 and trident 512k will cause an error "Please downgrade your computer and reinstall the game".
3) There was an anxiety that modern CG will ruin great gameplay of se series. It seems Aaron decided to listen to this opinion and to not bother with fancy effects. 256 colors are more than enough.
4) Such approach allows to minimize expenses for development.

[Renegade 13]

Rebuttal for proof 1.

DG mentioned he created reto-style graphics for Dungeon Odyssey, not SEV! http://forum.shrapnelgames.com/images/smilies/tongue.gif

[Ragnarok]

Site update in progress...I can't wait to see what they did with the site. Hopefully it is better than previously.

[xevioso]

MAybe they needed to Beta Test the site before they put it up.

[Caduceus]

David said something about taking forms for beta-testing the website...