I had just finished my second panda in the starter zone when I decided I wasn't quite done with my beta testing for the evening. I still had some time before bed so I went to play around with the current iteration of level 85 warlock spells and found myself wandering around.
The reason I chose to limit my testing in the beta to the Panda starting zone is because I LOVE exploration. I especially love exploration on launch. This habit came from the first expansion launch for Burning Crusade. Where Hellfire Peninsula was so overcrowded and stupid you couldn't complete a quest without being an asshole to everyone else simply because everyone else was being an asshole. Not on purpose but out of close quarters and frustration. So I simply went off on an excursion those first few days. I was probably one of the first on my server to get to Shattrath and wander around, and I dragged along some of my guildies as well. Since then it has become a kind of ritual for me. I go off by myself, or with one or two people, and spend the first few days just wandering around zones trying not to die. It is always exciting, and I have found that those are my best, and some of my most memorable and treasured moments in WoW. There is something about the newness and the anticipation. Not knowing what is around the next corner. The thrill of discovery!
So this is what happened....
It all started innocently enough. "I'll just go see if the new warlock pets are better or worse when using the single more powerful pet or the multiple warlock pets talent". La-de-da and ho-hum off we go. I had rolled a level 85 pre-made warlock to take a look at the spells and talents a while ago, and she was still sitting there. I had taken her through the first quest from Varian to get to the Isle of Pandaria, and then I had just stood there looking over and picking talents. When I was done messing around I had just left her there. So back to her I went. I looked over the talents and skills and decided that I should really understand this burning embers mechanic. I went out into the field there by the landing area and just started killing things to see how these spells worked. Wow! I was quite affected by the new destro warlock spells. They are so much fun! Blowing up stuff and setting myself on fire and.... let's just say I was hooting, and giggling and then finally laughing maniacally. It was a lot of fun, and I have to say I cannot wait.
I was drunk with my new found power and so elated I got on my horse and started galloping down the road. I'm sure I was thinking I'd just find a few other things to kill where I'm not interfering with people questing.
Next thing I know I'm looking around and wondering whats around this corner...and that corner...and running from mobs...and seeing mountains and streams and houses and houses on top of mountains I can't get to and OH MY GOD WHAT AM I DOING!!
I had to make myself stop. I told myself all about how I'd ruin my first few days of launch. I forced myself to take her back to the starting field, and made myself log off. It's like a drug! I want to go back just thinking about it. I want to go back and PLAY! Run around and smack things with my new spells. Level up and explore!!
/facepalm
I hate beta. It is like chocolate cake in the house when there is no one else around. You have one piece, and know you shouldn't but you just HAVE to have another. Then you think...well there's no one around to know, I can have the whole thing!
I heard Matt Rossi from WoW Insider share that he always does beta testing in the opposite faction from what he intends to play in game. I have to say that's a good tip I will have to remember. Right now I'm better off abstaining, or sticking to little Panda's. Or maybe rolling an undead warlock? No. I think I'd rather wait and enjoy it when it gets here. Kinda like Christmas!
Showing posts with label Mists of Pandaria Beta. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Mists of Pandaria Beta. Show all posts
Thursday, July 5, 2012
Saturday, May 26, 2012
I am a Beta Tester?
So yes, I am a beta tester. I didn't really honestly think that I'd be a good beta tester. For the most part I lollygag around WoW as it is. I have always just, well, played WoW. I have never really looked for bugs, I don't generally complain and usually when the rules change I just follow along. In my mind I am not really good at ferreting out problems or issues. I don't believe I think outside the box when it comes to software or games. All those people who find loopholes in boss fights amaze me. I just never know where or how to look at those things.
Case in point, recently as mentioned before, my company changed to a new software program. I was part of the testing crew for it, but honestly I wasn't sure what I was trying to do. They told me I was supposed to try and break it, but I had spent so little time in the program I wasn't sure how to do that. Personally I thought the testing process for that sucked so perhaps it's not me. It's not me, it's you...ha ha.
When I received the beta invite I thought at least I have a chance to see and play which made me think twice. For the past 3 expansions I have not wanted to be involved in the beta. I really enjoy the initial ooo and ahhh from exploring the new zones on the first few days of release. It is one of my favorite times in WoW actually. While everyone is ninja'ing each other in the expansion starting areas I am usually 2 or 3 zones away running from monsters far above my level and enjoying the scenery. Usually with a few guildies in tow. It's like walking out into new fallen snow and putting down your footprints before anyone else gets up in the morning and messes it all up. Anyway I tangent....
That being said I set out on my beta experience anyway. Determined to find all the bugs I could and squash them. First I armed myself with information. What is Blizz looking for in beta testers? I listened closely to podcasts that talked about it and read a few articles. I found the best information to be at WoW Insider. Both the site and the podcast covered this topic. Then I thought about what I was interested in testing and what I was not. I settled on testing the Pandarian starting area. I had already seen at least half of it at Blizzcon so it would not be new, and I would not be seeing something that I didn't want to see. I have decided to stay away from the 85-90 areas and save that for my exploration once the game releases.
I grabbed a pad of paper and a pen and I set off. I rolled a female monk panda. The first few days were horrendous and I could hardly move. Even after I have gone through some computer upgrades I still haven't been able to get my frames to a reasonable place in heavily crowded areas. Albeit the server was EXTREMELY crowded. A few days and computer settings later...I set off. I explored areas, tried emotes, read all quest text, did all quests, ignored as much of the general chat as possible (rolling eyes), and wrote down everything I saw that I thought was a bug. I looked at what my character was doing from different camera angles while running, rolling, punching and kicking. I walked forwards and backwards and jumped around. :) And I took notes. I had minimal time and only played about an hour a week. Every week I took my notes and went to the forums and looked up the bugs I had found to see if they had already been reported. In all cases items I had found had already been submitted. I was a little bummed, but honestly I didn't expect that I would find a game breaker or anything.
After all that, the best thing I found is that I am a beta tester! I am excited to report that even me, the non-rule breaker-just play the game-player, can look and find and help in a beta environment. My plan now is to roll more pandas of different classes and models and go through the zone a few more times and see what has changed and what else I might find.
For those of you who feel like me and think they may not have the knowledge or the insight to contribute you're wrong. Pick something you're interested in and go. Take notes and pay attention and have fun. By doing that you are contributing, and that is what it's all about.
Case in point, recently as mentioned before, my company changed to a new software program. I was part of the testing crew for it, but honestly I wasn't sure what I was trying to do. They told me I was supposed to try and break it, but I had spent so little time in the program I wasn't sure how to do that. Personally I thought the testing process for that sucked so perhaps it's not me. It's not me, it's you...ha ha.
When I received the beta invite I thought at least I have a chance to see and play which made me think twice. For the past 3 expansions I have not wanted to be involved in the beta. I really enjoy the initial ooo and ahhh from exploring the new zones on the first few days of release. It is one of my favorite times in WoW actually. While everyone is ninja'ing each other in the expansion starting areas I am usually 2 or 3 zones away running from monsters far above my level and enjoying the scenery. Usually with a few guildies in tow. It's like walking out into new fallen snow and putting down your footprints before anyone else gets up in the morning and messes it all up. Anyway I tangent....
That being said I set out on my beta experience anyway. Determined to find all the bugs I could and squash them. First I armed myself with information. What is Blizz looking for in beta testers? I listened closely to podcasts that talked about it and read a few articles. I found the best information to be at WoW Insider. Both the site and the podcast covered this topic. Then I thought about what I was interested in testing and what I was not. I settled on testing the Pandarian starting area. I had already seen at least half of it at Blizzcon so it would not be new, and I would not be seeing something that I didn't want to see. I have decided to stay away from the 85-90 areas and save that for my exploration once the game releases.
I grabbed a pad of paper and a pen and I set off. I rolled a female monk panda. The first few days were horrendous and I could hardly move. Even after I have gone through some computer upgrades I still haven't been able to get my frames to a reasonable place in heavily crowded areas. Albeit the server was EXTREMELY crowded. A few days and computer settings later...I set off. I explored areas, tried emotes, read all quest text, did all quests, ignored as much of the general chat as possible (rolling eyes), and wrote down everything I saw that I thought was a bug. I looked at what my character was doing from different camera angles while running, rolling, punching and kicking. I walked forwards and backwards and jumped around. :) And I took notes. I had minimal time and only played about an hour a week. Every week I took my notes and went to the forums and looked up the bugs I had found to see if they had already been reported. In all cases items I had found had already been submitted. I was a little bummed, but honestly I didn't expect that I would find a game breaker or anything.
After all that, the best thing I found is that I am a beta tester! I am excited to report that even me, the non-rule breaker-just play the game-player, can look and find and help in a beta environment. My plan now is to roll more pandas of different classes and models and go through the zone a few more times and see what has changed and what else I might find.
For those of you who feel like me and think they may not have the knowledge or the insight to contribute you're wrong. Pick something you're interested in and go. Take notes and pay attention and have fun. By doing that you are contributing, and that is what it's all about.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
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