looking for beta testers

[Lord_Valarian]

I'v been inactive for a while. I have more time to work on it now, but getting testers is critical. Can someone also cross post this anywhere else where people might help. Mine is phaser mod/easy mode. Without testers, I can't go any further. We'll figure out a way to get the download to you.

I was going to do a update to wiki page when get some more time. I have something interesting to add.

[Mularac]

Uhm... I've got an idea.
You're not the only one out there needing beta testers, pretty much any of us is.
Arparso, could you a add a password protected topic?
We could call it "Beta testing" where we could upload the files needed for beta testing in threads from all of our mods and let the modding community and a few chosen have the password and basically help each other.

[Lord_Valarian]

How about the latest download at the top of the page?  Protected so only you in the topic can upload your mod. Then comments after that. I'v had trouble with not having enough space to upload files on here. I need to be able to upload the whole universe folder, plus more data folders. Also, I need help with clear instructions on how to install a mod.

I'v played it through myself. I have to review everything else to learn how it works again.

[Mularac]

Well, I said password protected in the way that only a few would have access to the beta files... But I guess that can easily be fixed by adding a password constraint to the corresponding .rar file...

And what do you mean instructions on to how to install a mod? a regular one, or a campaign-based one?

[Arparso]

No need for a password: I could set up a board where only a select few members have access to (and everybody else won't even see the board). You can protect the archived mod with a passwort as well, of course - that's up to you.

Don't know about uploads. I could raise the file size limits for these privileged members and I've got a few gigs of webspace available... if there aren't too many, too big uploads, this could work. If you've got your own webspace, it'd be better to upload there, though. The forum software isn't really built for this kind of file hosting.

[Mularac]

Of course, that could be great. I recommend using Dropbox as a "hosting" service of sorts, it has a simple drag and drop mechanich

[Lord_Valarian]

>And what do you mean instructions on to how to install a mod? a regular one, or a campaign-based one?

I need someone to help me write good instructions. I believe the mod all fits into the universe folder. A standard set for installing a universe folder will be helpful.

To make mods, you need extract the nexus files. Usually it's modifying the files in the universe folder. Separating the files you change to make it small enough to fit into the forums is a big hassle. Simpler to just zip/rar the whole universe folder.

[Lt.Brandon]

You could always use an SVN like I do, but of course you'd likely want one on assembla or some other place that lets only certain people download it. Speaking of SVNs, I guess I need to make a new one because google won't give me a password reset  .

[Mularac]

I need someone to help me write good instructions. I believe the mod all fits into the universe folder. A standard set for installing a universe folder will be helpful.

To make mods, you need extract the nexus files. Usually it's modifying the files in the universe folder. Separating the files you change to make it small enough to fit into the forums is a big hassle. Simpler to just zip/rar the whole universe folder.

I take it you're talking about campaign-based mods? in that case, yeah, it's easier (and cleaner) to just replace the universe folder.

[Lord_Valarian]

You could always use an SVN like I do, but of course you'd likely want one on assembla or some other place that lets only certain people download it. Speaking of SVNs, I guess I need to make a new one because google won't give me a password reset  .

I dread keeping track of yet another password. I'v heard of SVN. I'd like it, if it was part of the forums, no new passwords to create.  Rubber stamping is passwords is out, i'v lost two email accounts. I suspect they've been broken into.  I can't remember the password clues. Both were much older accounts and simpler passwords.

[Mularac]

Do you have a gmail account? google let's you have 2 gb as part of an SVN project using only your google account.

[Lord_Valarian]

Do you have a gmail account? google let's you have 2 gb as part of an SVN project using only your google account.

No, I don't.  No more passwords and usernames please!  Ugh.   Once we get a modders only forum, we could test among ourselves.

[Arparso]

Ok, before I set up a dedicated modders-only board, a few questions for the interested parties:

Who gets access?
Only active modders? What about "veterans" not currently participating in any project? What are the specific requirements for membership - does any mod, no matter its size, qualify?

What exactly is planned for that board?
Obviously you're looking for trustworthy beta testers - this is fine with me, although of course there is no guarantee that any beta version doesn't get leaked by some participant turning out to not be as trustworthy as previously thought. Also EVERY authorized member of this privileged group will have access to ALL threads and uploaded mod versions in that board - keep that in mind. I will NOT create specific boards for each individual mod and handle access permissions separately.

I also don't want this being used as sorts of a hidden VIP-club with public visitors locked out. So scripting questions still belong in the public scripting board, for example - the Beta board should be strictly for stuff that you don't want the public to see yet and not for general modding advice. The community is as small as it is - I don't want to segregate it any further.

[Mularac]

How about this?
An initial membership to all active and/or senior modders, and if we want to let a beta tester in, we should all post a "bugged" mission for them to test. If they find all the bugs, we let them in.
Or we can just handle the trials separetely. But I do believe that we should keep the membership low at start, to see how this go.
And about each mod handling passwords separetely, if we truly have sensitive material that we don't want to share with all the beta testers or other modders, we can always password protect the file so that won't be a problem.

[Lord_Valarian]

Here's how I see it. A place where you can post your files and modders can report bugs for beta versions of other mods. We still use the forums for getting help with our mods. We need modders who know the tricks to testing for mod bugs to get the bugs that we miss. Give us the pattern that causes a crash. Also, we'll have to trust that the others on the modders only forum will keep it to ourselves. Anyone who breaks that rule gets kicked out(that's unlikely).

As to who gains access, any experienced modder who's willing to test your stuff and knows what their doing. Finding a repeatable pattern for a crash, every experienced modder knows is a pain in the ass. Having the help at finding the pattern would great.

I'v done modding in the past. It's usually "gimmie the next version" then silence. I rather keep the beta to a small group.

[Mularac]

I agree. Initially, we should grant access to the ones with the most experience in the field, and by that I mean modders with at least 2 or 3 years of experience, plus anybody else who wishes, in this thread, to be part of the beta testing group.
It sounds elitist, I know, but we'll be posting unreleased material here. I think a little paranoia is justified.

[Mularac]

So... how are we standing on this beta testing thing?

[Arparso]

Sorry, didn't really have much time the last few days. I'll look into it and see how best to set this up with this board software.

[Lord_Valarian]

I have some of the missions done. I'll like to release the beta. I'm having to learn again how the mod works. So, it will take a while to get to modding it again. First, I need to get the weapon damage calibrated. Based on more of sci-fi tech base. Ratios of shield/hull damage. Damage level between weapons and energy usage.