Senior Community Coordinator David Bass took some time during PAX to answer some questions about Beta Testing Weekends. Read on after the jump to find out when you can expect them to start and what you can expect to experience during the month of September as BioWare ramps up in preparation for launch. In addition, Mr. Bass has a few positive comments about the lucky fans who got to play the game on stage at the BioWare panel on Sunday.
We're here at PAX 2011 with the main man, David Bass.
David Bass: I don't think I'm the main man.
You're one of the men.
I'm one of many men.
You're one of a squad -- maybe an Operation team?
We are men in tights. Manly men.
So we just got out of the panel about ten minutes ago...
I don't know what time it is anymore.
You guys talked a lot about Game Testing Weekends in the panel. Can you give us some details about what to expect? When is it going to start ramping up?
Well, like we said at the panel, we're starting the first one this coming weekend -- September 2nd. We are going to invite a huge batch of brand new players who have never been in testing before. We're going to bring them all in on a brand new server for one weekend and we'll see what happens. Who knows? It could catch on fire!
They will be like a load balance test?
It is partially load balancing, but we're already doing that. We are to the point where we're comfortable and don't think that everything is going to fall apart by loading all these people in. We think it is going to be a very smooth and solid experience. It is also very good practice for launch day to see what happens when you toss a giant bunch of people all in the game all at the same time.
Are we talking like a quality experience for the Game Testing Weekends, or is it just stress testing by trying to see how many people are in there and how it works out?
No, we're definitely hoping for a quality weekend. We aim for high quality in everything we do. We wouldn't be pushing it out this weekend if we weren't ready for it. Originally we just said September, which left it up in the air. That way we could wait and if we weren't ready we could say, "Okay, maybe we'll do it at the end of September." I think it was just last week they were talking about it and said, "No, we're ready for it. Let's do it!"
There are different series of tests each weekend obviously. Once people are invited, are they going to be in for the entire thing, or is this different sets of people every single week?
I believe that it is going to be an entirely new group of people every time. The goal of that is to get as many of the 1.5 million people who have signed up for testing in as possible. We really want to get people's hands on the game because we talk all the time about the game, but the thing about it is you're never going to fully believe us until you get your hands on it. That is what convinces people that this is the BioWare game they've been looking for.
Awesome. Thank you very much. PAX is going well for you guys?
PAX was awesome. I had an amazing time. This is everyone's favorite show.
That is great. We are so happy to see all the fans here. People are having such a great time in the game; seeing how polished it has become, and how you guys are getting closer and closer to release. The game is really looking better every time we see it.
You can see that light at the end of the tunnel. Pre-orders were the beginning of the end of the beginning. We're getting there. You can tell every time you play the game that it's getting better and better. Almost each time you do it's a step closer to being ready for launch
How would you grade the people that you invited up to play the Eternity Vault during the panel?
Oh man! Well, first I want to point out the fact that Gabe and Blaine picked out six people from the crowd and somehow we ended up with 12 people by the time they made their way to the edge of the room. So I had to quickly decide which six were going to get to play, so we made them fight it out over Rock, Paper, Scissors. The ones who got to play on stage were jumping up to level 50 characters in a game they probably never played before. Plus, they were in an Operation, which is one of the hardest pieces of content in the game. I was very impressed with how well they did. Obviously we were coaching them along through it, but they lasted a very long time and I think the entire crowd thought they won at the very end, when it turned out they actually wiped.
They reset the boss.
Yeah. It was a very, very sad moment, but I was so happy. It couldn't have gone any better for us.
Coaching is the word that you used for the BioWare staff. I don't know if I'd call what Cory did (guiding the rocket into groups) coaching.
No, no, no. Cory wasn't coaching. Cory was too busy sucking! Everyone else was standing next to their player and trying to coach them along. I don't even know if Cory knew where he was.
He was sabotaging the raid.
Yeah. Clearly we were just intentionally trying to kill everybody.
What are you going roll at launch?
Jedi Knight! Obviously.
So you're going to play as Solid Snake.
Yes, yes I am actually. That is right.
Thanks for hosting us and thanks for coming out to the Community Cantina that we had.
I was so glad we were able to make it this time. It was so awesome. We had a really great time. I can't wait to do it again next time.
Thank you very much for your time and the interview.
Anytime!
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Posted 8/31/2011 5:17:06 AMMaybe I'm a bit jaded since I work every weekend and so will not get much hands-on time when my time comes. Not to mention the time I'll lose downloading the enormous client.
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Posted 9/1/2011 4:43:52 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 8/31/2011 2:45:46 PM- View User Profile
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Posted 8/31/2011 7:31:00 PMMy youtube channel - SW:TOR content
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Posted 8/31/2011 2:01:25 PMSo you are right it is more of a trial then a test. But that doesn't mean that they still won't have options to report bugs and offer feedback etc.
Wound in the Force::GoHann (lvl 35 Maurader)
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Posted 8/31/2011 4:24:14 PMFor more of my opinions and insights about SWTOR and video games in general, check me out on Twitter and Facebook!
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Posted 8/31/2011 4:44:54 PMWound in the Force::GoHann (lvl 35 Maurader)
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Posted 8/31/2011 1:25:33 AMOn a side note what days do they consider weekends? I mean mine is friday an sat an sunday.. Some peoples are sat sun monday so i wonder did anyone a pax consider on asking what the days that BW even considers weekends?
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Posted 9/1/2011 4:50:28 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 8/31/2011 1:45:45 AMWound in the Force::GoHann (lvl 35 Maurader)
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Posted 8/31/2011 1:48:41 AMBecause who wouldn't be excited and enthused/excited/pumped/etc if they where working on ToR as their "JOB". Shit I bet the janitor is excited!
Wound in the Force::GoHann (lvl 35 Maurader)
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Posted 8/31/2011 6:57:58 AM- View User Profile
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Posted 8/30/2011 11:46:36 PMThis is like christmas morning.
Except mom and dad will be taking all the toys back on Monday. But I can live with that.
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Posted 8/31/2011 11:26:15 AMHope you enjoy your very brief stay in the galaxy far, far away.
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Posted 8/30/2011 11:59:30 PM