seems there will be testing this month
We wanted to take a few moments and tell you all a bit about the upcoming Focus Group Test, future Focus Group Tests, and our overall feedback process.
First, the important stuff you want to know:
- The Focus Group Test will run from Friday, April 16 through Monday, April 19. The server will only be available at the following times:
>> Friday: 12pm–10pm PDT (7pm–5am UTC)
>> Saturday: 7am–10pm PDT (2pm–5am UTC)
>> Sunday: 7am–10pm PDT (2pm–5am UTC)
>> Monday: 12pm–10pm PDT (7pm–5am UTC)
>> Tuesday: TDB based on player progress
- Invitations for FGT2 will go out Monday, April 12, with instructions on how to download and install the TERA client, as well as a list of PC requirements required to run the test. FGT participants will have from that time until the start of the test on Friday to download and install the client and any necessary updates.
- Check your spam filters and junk mail folders for emails about FGT2 if you don’t see one by Tuesday, April 13.
- FGT2 will cover approximately levels 1–25 of the game. FGT participants will be asked for both general and specific points of feedback about the game. They will be under an NDA (non-disclosure agreement), and will have access to a section of the TERA forum where they can post their notes and discuss the FGT with other users.
- We had an overwhelming response to FGT2, so not everyone who applied will be accepted. If you aren't accepted, don’t worry—there will be future FGTs on larger and smaller scales, as well as the beta testing cycles later in the year. We are in the process of implementing a registration system for all future testing, including Beta testing, so users don’t have to apply each time. This registration system will be activated by the time FGT2 starts. All users, even current FGT participants, should register in this system to ensure they can participate in future tests!
Feedback Matters
We’ve talked a lot about the Westernization process and how the Focus Group Tests fit into our work at En Masse, but we wanted to discuss a few specifics of exactly how this works. Focus Group Tests are not Beta tests, which are designed to look for bugs, hardware issues, and gameplay problems. Focus Group Tests are (like their name implies) more about testing audience reaction to specific things in the game—in our case, the lore, plot, and story we’ve worked on as part of our work at En Masse, and its overall effect on the world. There will be issues with the game, and things we know aren’t great or are in need improvement—that’s why we’re looking for feedback, after all!
For a point of reference, our first Focus Group Test asked players to specifically look for:
- The "new player experience" from levels 1–11. How did the game feel at the beginning as a "newbie?"
- The User Interface functionality and feel. Did it work? Did it get in the way? What needed to change? - The pacing and feel of combat. Did TERA feel like an Action MMO?
- Names of NPCs, items, and locations: were there any that just didn’t work, or didn’t match the feel of the game?
- The overall feel of the game: as MMO players, what did you like and not like?
In addition to numerous changes in the UI and tweaks to the lore and plot, feedback from the first Focus Group Test also resulted in the following specific changes to the game:
- General improvements to the movement, speed, controllability, and combat damage.
- Improvements to the player trading system, and the implementation of a brokerage system for selling items.
- Future implementation of controller support. You’ve seen the initial stages of this running on the version of TERA we had at GDC. The FGT2 build won’t support native controller use, but players will have the option to try controller support through third-party software such as Pinnacle Game Profiler. Future builds of TERA will support native controllers.
- Players can now purchase Stamina if they don’t want to hang out around campfires to restore Stamina.
- The ability to swim, jump, and climb was added to the game.
- Fall damage was significantly reduced.
This Focus Group Test will again look at several specific game mechanics, the overall lore and fiction, and additional questions on an ad-hoc basis.
Source:
http://www.tera-online.com/news/news_view.php?cpage=1&seq=178
Looks very good.
