For those who aren't up to speed on the project: together with some talented people from inside and outside the AoC-Community I'm creating a new expansion for Age of Empires II. No half-assed mod that will be downloaded by 10 guys, no mish-mash of random ideas and untested crap, but a real expansion that must be equal the quality of the Conquerors Expansion. For a quick overview, check this thread. Or you can watch the trailer:
[youtube=640,360]cpsVOMnF9e8[/youtube]
Since we're taking this seriously, things must go well planned. And while graphics and sounds are being created by very creative people all across the world, the first steps on beta testing can already take place. But allow me to explain what the first steps in beta testing are.
First Stage
Will consist of 2 parts
The Team
The first stage of beta testing will be for a very small team. You will be selected on game knowledge and your ability to look at things with an open mind. If you have a good rate on top of those, your chances to be in are about 100%. But please keep in mind, I'm not just looking for high rated players!
EDIT:
Okay everyone, PMs have been sent out and the following team will be the professional core testing team
SlipKn0T_FeAge
BuzZ_Badtrip
whack
BuzZ_SteamPoint
_Ra_
Funito
VN_DarK_KnighT_
DyT_Rodrigus_
Nola
VN_MoOniTe_
TheViper
If you're not in the list, do not worry. Hopefully, this team can figure out the current imbalances in AoC and make sure the new civs will be competitive with the good old AoC civs. But after this very crucial balancing is done, a second beta testing team will be selected. Much bigger than the current one. They will mostly be responsible for bug reports and generally playtesting the game to see if it is fun for players of all levels. You don't need to re-apply for this 2nd team, as I will keep this topic for selecting. You can still apply for beta testing in this topic and maybe you can still make it into the core team too! :P
Sign up
Personal info
Nickname:
Country:
Age:
Voobly Profile (link):(not required, I just want to have an idea about your rate)
Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? :
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? :
Are you able to play through GameRanger? :
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team?
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?:
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? :
Personal motivation
Tell us why you should be on the first beta team!
Selection
I'll keep working on the Italians in the next weeks and after that I'll select who to get on the first beta team. But don't worry, if you're not selected the first time, you'll probably be in the team for the second stage. Which will still be a private beta, but we'll need more people for that.
Long post, sorry, but now it's your turn! :D
[youtube=640,360]cpsVOMnF9e8[/youtube]
Since we're taking this seriously, things must go well planned. And while graphics and sounds are being created by very creative people all across the world, the first steps on beta testing can already take place. But allow me to explain what the first steps in beta testing are.
First Stage
Will consist of 2 parts
- The 100+ page topic is a milestone, and I made a good summary of the usable ideas too. But now it's time to come to concrete matters and make some decisions. Decisions that will be put to the test on existing civs. Like, how will Arabia stray away from Hun CA whoring? How can we narrow Aztecs on that very same map? How to make other civs have a fighting chance against Vikings on water? Aren't Mangudai a little bit too strong? So we will test changes on existing civs and see how they work out.
- The first civ to be officially tested will be the Italians. We have to check how they stand on a wide variety on maps, against a wide variety of civs in a wide variety of situations.
The Team
The first stage of beta testing will be for a very small team. You will be selected on game knowledge and your ability to look at things with an open mind. If you have a good rate on top of those, your chances to be in are about 100%. But please keep in mind, I'm not just looking for high rated players!
EDIT:
Okay everyone, PMs have been sent out and the following team will be the professional core testing team
SlipKn0T_FeAge
BuzZ_Badtrip
whack
BuzZ_SteamPoint
_Ra_
Funito
VN_DarK_KnighT_
DyT_Rodrigus_
Nola
VN_MoOniTe_
TheViper
If you're not in the list, do not worry. Hopefully, this team can figure out the current imbalances in AoC and make sure the new civs will be competitive with the good old AoC civs. But after this very crucial balancing is done, a second beta testing team will be selected. Much bigger than the current one. They will mostly be responsible for bug reports and generally playtesting the game to see if it is fun for players of all levels. You don't need to re-apply for this 2nd team, as I will keep this topic for selecting. You can still apply for beta testing in this topic and maybe you can still make it into the core team too! :P
Sign up
Personal info
Nickname:
Country:
Age:
Voobly Profile (link):(not required, I just want to have an idea about your rate)
Yes/No questions
Do you think AoC has room for improvement? :
Are you capable of having a polite argument without taking things personal or without making personal offences? :
Are you able to play through GameRanger? :
Will you keep all info about the new expansion within the beta team?
Do you have some basic computer skills? E.g. you know how to move files around, copy+paste and the basic feats of Windows Explorer?:
Is there a link between the Viking dock bonus and the fact that Vikings slinged a lot in last WCL? :
Personal motivation
Tell us why you should be on the first beta team!
Selection
I'll keep working on the Italians in the next weeks and after that I'll select who to get on the first beta team. But don't worry, if you're not selected the first time, you'll probably be in the team for the second stage. Which will still be a private beta, but we'll need more people for that.
Long post, sorry, but now it's your turn! :D