V12 - Test Strategy
by Tim Emmerich · in General Discussion · 03/14/2001 (4:45 am) · 1 replies
Another V12 question! :)
For the games submitted to GarageGames made with the V12, is it expected that they be "fully" tested? Once GG assigns them to the "pay bin", does GG commit to futher test them across multiple OS, System, Network connection, configurations, etc.? I'm assuming if it is "retail box" worthy then the mainstream publisher will provide additional testing. Correct me if that assumption is wrong.
Or should I set up a test garage funded by GG and the rest of the independent gamemakers here? I've always wanted to get paid to play games! :) (Still haven't found anyone to pay me to sleep yet either!) If it helps, I'm just down the road in Corvallis so the "test garage" could get personal inspection!
For ex-Dynamix folks, whatever happened to David Steele?
-Tim
For the games submitted to GarageGames made with the V12, is it expected that they be "fully" tested? Once GG assigns them to the "pay bin", does GG commit to futher test them across multiple OS, System, Network connection, configurations, etc.? I'm assuming if it is "retail box" worthy then the mainstream publisher will provide additional testing. Correct me if that assumption is wrong.
Or should I set up a test garage funded by GG and the rest of the independent gamemakers here? I've always wanted to get paid to play games! :) (Still haven't found anyone to pay me to sleep yet either!) If it helps, I'm just down the road in Corvallis so the "test garage" could get personal inspection!
For ex-Dynamix folks, whatever happened to David Steele?
-Tim
About the author
Game developer, publisher and distributor.
Torque Owner Jeff Tunnell
GarageGames will develop a bug tracking database that is attached to every product. Only your team can cross bugs off this list, but anybody that is playing the games can submit bugs. We will also set up a "Beta" bin where games that need to be tested can be placed. Products placed in this bin are the equivalent of the Alpha Test Release of Starsiege that we did several years ago at Dynamix, i.e. they are ready to be pounded on by real people.
Once the product meets certain quality goals, then it can go into the pay bin. The bug information of a product will always be displayed when a product is viewed by a player (potential buyer), so they can make an upfront decision as to whether or not to buy the game. Developers will have a lot of incentive to keep their products clean, so they will sell more.
Products that get too many bugs, or too many critical bugs will be removed from the pay bin until they are cleaned up.
We have some other ideas about providing "tester pools" that can be placed under NDA as well as ideas about how these people can be compensated. However, that is ouot there a little, so it is best not to talk about it yet.
I hope this helps. We are open to suggestions.
Jeff Tunnell GG