Steam beta extended till Monday!

[Creaturemagic]

Hello good people of Darkspore!

It's been an awesome week. Thanks for all of the issues and feedback you've submitted.

I'm please to tell you that we're extending the Steam Beta through the weekend. Doors will now close Monday, April 4, at 10am (pacific time).
-MC

So the beta has been extended till monday. Hope everyone has fun, I'm downloading it as we type.

[l3reak]

Just wanna confirm that this is indeed true, and not some April Fools joke or anything. ;)

The beta sessions are usually extended several hours or even a day or two.

[Jaheebus]

Just wanna confirm that this is indeed true, and not some April Fools joke or anything. ;)

The beta sessions are usually extended several hours or even a day or two.

I was about to quote, saying is this some sort of April fools, hahaha. Glad to hear it is NOT. :D

[Truhls]

THat is pretty awesome, but ive done up to 3-4 and cant get XP to get past lvl 14 fro crog, so i cant really test anything anymore :(

[Teranasaurus]

THat is pretty awesome, but ive done up to 3-4 and cant get XP to get past lvl 14 fro crog, so i cant really test anything anymore :(

Co-op with three or four players should get you past 14... you might be able to solo it but you get exp way faster with 4. You can't go past map 3-4 though.

[Truhls]

Co-op with three or four players should get you past 14... you might be able to solo it but you get exp way faster with 4. You can't go past map 3-4 though.

i know but if you have done the map, you dont get xp anymore it seems, i have done 3-1 through 4, 1 -through 4- and 2 through 4, and have gotten no xp each time. is this a bug then?

[LOC]

Ugh I uninstalled the game from Steam. Now it's gone from my list and I can't get it back. Ah well.

[LieToMe]

So good that you all expended it after i uninstalled the Beta because of it was unable to play anymore.... -.-"

[CosmicD]

I think i'm going to buy this one it's kind of engaging with all these new items and level upgrades...

[Truhls]

Oh hey, with the update i can now gain XP again :D Hit 15 finally lol. so many runs with no xp :(

[megamadmax]

So you mean the beta is finishing tomorrow, and then there will be nothing till release at Aprils end?
This game is going very bad on its last steps, they delayed the release, eliminated advertised languages like SPANISH, and now they will end beta 3 weeks before release.
Hope this beta testing serves, as minimum, to ADD SOME SUBTITLES

[Trancua]

I just hope that the Beta isn't ending for good tomorrow. There is so much work to do with this game... As it is right now, it doesn't justify that hilarious price tag.

[l3reak]

Don't worry, there will be at least one more session, probably 2 or 3! We've only missed one week so far, and the whole point of the delay from March 29th to April 26th was to do more of this kind of stuff, so it'd be silly to not get as much testing & feedback as we can. ;)

[boozie]

Don't worry, there will be at least one more session, probably 2 or 3! We've only missed one week so far, and the whole point of the delay from March 29th to April 26th was to do more of this kind of stuff, so it'd be silly to not get as much testing & feedback as we can. ;)

Does a new session need a new Key and wiped stats or will the beta progress be kept?

[Truhls]

Does a new session need a new Key and wiped stats or will the beta progress be kept?

we will more then likely be keeping all progession until the last beta.

[provitiligo]

Just loaded Steam to see that Darkspore was removed from games list. Looks pretty weird to me. Why not let people test it until the release, like others usually do?

And yes, add subtitles, since it's hard to understand what "computerized voice" says. Storyline is stupid as hell, but hey, even this adds something to atmosphere!

[Warfyre]

Why not let people test it until the release, like others usually do?

EA has said there will be at least 1 more beta session before release, possibly even 2 or 3. Just have to close it down for a little while to (hopefully) get some stuff fixed before the next beta.

[michael042296]

we will more then likely be keeping all progession until the last beta.

And you do not need a new key.

[provitiligo]

EA has said there will be at least 1 more beta session before release, possibly even 2 or 3. Just have to close it down for a little while to (hopefully) get some stuff fixed before the next beta.
Great then, yay! Guess, I'll buy it anyway, but not sure yet. The game's great, but a bit too simple for me. It's Evolva/Spore mixed with Pokemon without any new ideas. And lack of decent storyline backs me off as well. So more beta time could at least make me an addict :-)

[amcdermo]

But if you play the beta more will you be bummed at playing the retail game with all your progress wiped?;)

[Mysteryem]

Does a new session need a new Key and wiped stats or will the beta progress be kept?

You will not need a new key, it's 1 key for all of the sessions.
Beta progress will be wiped on the release of the game, and may be wiped for some of the betas sessions, especially if larger changes occur.

[provitiligo]

But if you play the beta more will you be bummed at playing the retail game with all your progress wiped?;)
They say, progress will be saved.

[Warfyre]

Progress will likely be saved from one phase of beta to the next beta. It will be wiped for the final retail release of the game though.

[l3reak]

Progress will likely be saved from one phase of beta to the next beta. It will be wiped for the final retail release of the game though.

This is correct. All Beta progress will be wiped before the final retail release goes live.

One reason for this is that progress may change between Beta and the final release. For instance, in early Betas it was very easy to get Purified items from the rolls after the end of levels, even early in the game. It would be very unfair to let players have those items that player would not normally be able to get.

It could happen the opposite way, too. There might be a change made that lets players get something early on that the Beta players never got, and it could even be something they need to play the game properly. For instance, there could be an upgrade that all players were automatically given at level 5 that allowed them to sell items. If this upgrade wasn't given out to players in the Beta, then their accounts would be messed up and they'd never be able to sell items.

So, it's best to just let everyone start out fresh. It's a really bad idea to let players use save data from an older version of the game.

[provitiligo]

So, it's best to just let everyone start out fresh. It's a really bad idea to let players use save data from an older version of the game.
Definitely not the best solution. In many betas of MMORPGs you can continue developing your hero after release and nobody looses everything. Taking out some items or skills - that's OK, but delete all progress - bad, bad, bad.

Not sure I gonna buy it then even I've only reached level 10 in Darkspawn beta. Game's too repetitive to play again on same maps without any noticeable changes.

[Truhls]

Definitely not the best solution. In many betas of MMORPGs you can continue developing your hero after release and nobody looses everything. Taking out some items or skills - that's OK, but delete all progress - bad, bad, bad.

Not sure I gonna buy it then even I've only reached level 10 in Darkspawn beta. Game's too repetitive to play again on same maps without any noticeable changes.

for one, level 10 is all of 4 hours of game play, if that. Two i have participated in well over 500 betas, and i have had several jobs as a QA, and not once have i seen a beta keep progress from a closed beta, to release.

[Dubz]

and not once have i seen a beta keep progress from a closed beta, to release.

This. It's really simply not something that will ever occur. There might be a headstart, occasionally (very popular these days), but I've never seen BETA account data being transferred to Live.

[boozie]

Definitely not the best solution. In many betas of MMORPGs you can continue developing your hero after release and nobody looses everything. Taking out some items or skills - that's OK, but delete all progress - bad, bad, bad.

Not sure I gonna buy it then even I've only reached level 10 in Darkspawn beta. Game's too repetitive to play again on same maps without any noticeable changes.

Read the thread man. Deleting all progress is standard. Posting your fit isn't going to change that.

[Warfyre]

Definitely not the best solution. In many betas of MMORPGs you can continue developing your hero after release and nobody looses everything.


Not entirely true. MMOs typically start with a closed beta testing phase and progress is wiped after the closed beta. After closed beta they go into an open beta. Progress is normally kept after open beta, when the game goes to its final "live" release.

[amcdermo]

Not entirely true. MMOs typically start with a closed beta testing phase and progress is wiped after the closed beta. After closed beta they go into an open beta. Progress is normally kept after open beta, when the game goes to its final "live" release.

Closed beta and open beta is just whether or not your need to be invited. Data is always deleted in every beta I've been in and it's usually only the open beta I experience since anyone can sign up.

However, a game may have a headstart which seems like a beta but isn't and then the information is kept. If you entered the so-called beta a few days before release by buying the game that was a headstart.

[Pansa]

Not entirely true. MMOs typically start with a closed beta testing phase and progress is wiped after the closed beta. After closed beta they go into an open beta. Progress is normally kept after open beta, when the game goes to its final "live" release.

really? I don't know one that did, and at least 3 that didn't.

Specifically games that have different servers (like wow) just put up new official servers, and all progress from the betaservers is deleted with said servers.

I can't remember a game where they allowed servertransitions from the betarealm to liveservers. (although I am not TOO versed in the mmo market in general, but neither of the ones I played did this. But this is anecdotal at best, so..)

[Dubz]

Not entirely true. MMOs typically start with a closed beta testing phase and progress is wiped after the closed beta. After closed beta they go into an open beta. Progress is normally kept after open beta, when the game goes to its final "live" release.

Sorry for the language, but Bull♥♥♥♥. That's all folks.

[l3reak]

Sorry for the language, but Bull♥♥♥♥. That's all folks.

You know, if you've thought about your post enough to realize that it's something you have to apologize for, then maybe that's telling you that you're doing something wrong. Instead of making a mistake and then apologize, just don't make the mistake in the first place.

[Dubz]

You know, if you've thought about your post enough to realize that it's something you have to apologize for, then maybe that's telling you that you're doing something wrong. Instead of making a mistake and then apologize, just don't make the mistake in the first place.

I don't work that way :) Freedom of speech applies everywhere, even on the boards, as long as it's not insulting, flaming, or racism, which it isn't. I apologize for hurt feelings in advance, but I'll still voice that which is the truth, to me, subjectively. Even, if it isn't supported by any arguments.

[l3reak]

I don't work that way :) Freedom of speech applies everywhere, even on the boards, as long as it's not insulting, flaming, or racism, which it isn't. I apologize for hurt feelings in advance, but I'll still voice that which is the truth, to me, subjectively. Even, if it isn't supported by any arguments.

You're right, freedom of speech does apply everywhere. And that even means that people have the freedom to set up their own board with their own rules. So, feel free to say whatever you want if you just don't care about offending other people, but you're gonna have to accept that since this is a private board run & set up by Valve, they also have the freedom to choose who they want to participate, and who they don't.

In other words, if you choose to not follow the rules, we're going to choose to ban you. Hope you like that bargain. :)

[Dubz]

You're right, freedom of speech does apply everywhere. And that even means that people have the freedom to set up their own board with their own rules. So, feel free to say whatever you want if you just don't care about offending other people, but you're gonna have to accept that since this is a private board run & set up by Valve, they also have the freedom to choose who they want to participate, and who they don't.

In other words, if you choose to not follow the rules, we're going to choose to ban you. Hope you like that bargain. :)

Absolutely, but there would have to be a reason for it right? Bull♥♥♥♥, also translated as; "this is simply not true", is not offensive in any way or form, it's simply a stronger expression. The fact that it contains "♥♥♥♥" is not by my choosing, it's in the word.

Once more, I clearly stated that I'm not flaming, I'm not being offensive, but the statement that Beta data can and has been transferred to live in other BETA's, and I'm only counting "professional" releases, is utter nonsense. Why should I not respond that way?

If you ban me I won't take offense, I'm Dutch and therefore used to it. Hurting feelings I mean. We're what you call, too straightforward. (And as you noticed, I'm absolutely fine with it, I prefer English humor above American anyways).

[l3reak]

@dubz

It doesn't matter whether or not you're offended by a given word. Some people are. It makes their experience less pleasant. Even if it doesn't offend people, it makes you seem like you're speaking in an aggressive tone, which is more likely to cause fights. This is something we want to avoid. And even if you say "I'm not being offensive" it doesn't somehow change the content of what you say.

For instance, if I go up to someone in a store and say "Now, I'm not being offensive, but you're really fat and ugly", it doesn't matter whether I meant to be offensive or not, they're probably going to get upset. And just by saying "I'm not being offensive", it proves that I knew they were going to get upset and said it anyway. That... doesn't make any sense.

[Dubz]

@dubz

It doesn't matter whether or not you're offended by a given word. Some people are. It makes their experience less pleasant. Even if it doesn't offend people, it makes you seem like you're speaking in an aggressive tone, which is more likely to cause fights. This is something we want to avoid. And even if you say "I'm not being offensive" it doesn't somehow change the content of what you say.

For instance, if I go up to someone in a store and say "Now, I'm not being offensive, but you're really fat and ugly", it doesn't matter whether I meant to be offensive or not, they're probably going to get upset. And just by saying "I'm not being offensive", it proves that I knew they were going to get upset and said it anyway. That... doesn't make any sense.

Yeah, but the fact that you had to prove your point with an entirely different and obviously offensive situation proves that, in this case, I'm right.

I didn't call anyone fat. In fact, I hate people that call other people fat, because you'd be focusing on the person instead of the content. There's a distinct difference. If the words of a person are nonsense, you don't go screaming "but you're fat, so I'm right". I also think it's terrible that you are taking this thread into such a silly direction. No one called anyone fat, no one got offended, I simply apologized for feeling that bull♥♥♥♥ is and was the only correct way to summarize the posters content. And yes, I'm still going to call it what it is.

If a person that's fat, goes around trying to prove that he's skinny, I'm going to tell him, "I'm sorry, you're not skinny, you're fat". But in that case, I'd be focusing on the argument and not on the person.And, in that fact, I'd probably say it like; "You're not exactly skinny".

Discrimination should not be used to prove a point. I'm sorry, but this makes you double wrong.

[l3reak]

Sorry to everyone for going off topic, I'll move this conversation with dubz to PM. Please continue your regularly scheduled thread. ;)

[Pansa]

Sorry to everyone for going off topic, I'll move this conversation with dubz to PM. Please continue your regularly scheduled thread. ;)

Actually, since I tend to use a harsh word here and there aswell, I actually enjoyed that little back and fore.
And I am with Dubz on this one.

Flamming and harrassing is obviously not ok, but language has a range of emotions for a reason. And the occasional strong emphasis, like a wellplaced rare "swearword", is an important accentuation to sometimes express a higher verocity of a position, compared to more tame ones.
The range from "I think you are wrong" "you ARE wrong" to "that is BS" is important.

And I think that single words don't make the difference between constructive forum posts and destructive ones, since being dissmissive or unfair isn't really conditional on swearwords, but can be achieved in other ways aswell.

I personally try to differenciate between an attack on a PERSON, and an attack on a persons position. I believe it is entirely possible to have passionate exchanges about positions, without assuming attacks on the people holding them.

[l3reak]

@Pansa

It's funny, that's similar to the PM I just sent dubz.

Like you said, it's not really the word that is the problem, but the contents of what you're saying. Like, saying "that is some cool ****" or "Need for Speed is a game about cars and other **** like that" isn't as much of a problem.

But I'll go a little further than you. I don't think it's good to attack anything on a board, really, whether it's a person, an argument, or a game. Now, you can definitely criticize things, but just saying negative things without making any attempt to back up your argument is a good way to start a fight. ;) And, the more intensely you make your attack, the more likely you are to start a fight like that, even if you didn't mean to. Like, even if you say "your argument is trash" instead of "BS", it's still rude.

Here's some examples of what I mean. I'm not even going to use curse words here, just to show how they're not the real problem. Here are some things you should avoid saying:
"You are trash" - personal attack
"Your argument/opinion/idea is trash" - attack on opinion
"This game is trash" - attack on a game

It's one of those things where it's hard to draw a line on. Usually I'll let you guys go pretty far. In fact, I think I'll let you guys show me what you can handle. Even if I'm worried a post might be offensive, so long as everyone here is mature enough not to get into a fight about it, I'll probably let it go. If, however, I see a lot of posts that are starting fights, I'll probably get a bit stricter.

Does that sound fair to everyone? :)

[Dubz]

Thank you Pansa, but as has been said, this will continue and has already ended through PM. I think we're all somewhat on the same level concerning the issue, but L3reak was making sure I wouldn't attempt to go too far. We can now close this issue :)

[amcdermo]

So...how about that Beta?