ETA on next Test Update? [Archive] - EQ2 Forum Archive @ EQ2Wire

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Selioth

08-10-2009, 09:44 AM

So when is the next LU being put on Test? Because if it is suposed to go live in early September then it should be on test now.

ashen1973

08-10-2009, 10:13 AM

I'm hoping it hits test soon.I was under the impression that the longer gap between updates was to allow more development time and longer testing time for the additions.IF a September release for the next GU is still the plan, then a months testing doesnt seem like particulary long.

psisto

08-10-2009, 01:33 PM

im likewise hoping it hits test soon, it seems like GU 53 will introduce a lot of treats for us, so im eager to hear how itll go

chainsaw

08-10-2009, 01:48 PM

REALLY? I want to see the new content. We have smashed everything but one mob and frankly im getting bored. So i hope to see it soon, what ever it is. And please put some three second weapons in with this next patch. TYTYTY

Kiara

08-10-2009, 02:13 PM

The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.

Kahling

08-10-2009, 02:17 PM

Thanks for the reply Kiara, I'm really looking forward to shader 3 and TSO x4 pattern smartloot.

Valdaglerion

08-13-2009, 12:47 PM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.</blockquote>So probably closer to the end of August and subsequently more realistically closer the the end of September for LU53 to go live? Is that more likely the realistic timeline?

Barx

08-13-2009, 12:51 PM

<cite>Artemiz@The Bazaar wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.</blockquote>So probably closer to the end of August and subsequently more realistically closer the the end of September for LU53 to go live? Is that more likely the realistic timeline?</blockquote>They've said the updates will remain on test for roughly a month, but the actual amount of time it spends on there will depend on how many and what kind of bugs are found. But end of september still wouldn't be too bad, given how large these updates are now; after all, 3 months from GU53 would be September 16th, they seem pretty well on track.

Gaige

08-13-2009, 01:30 PM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.</blockquote>So, end of August. Which puts it on test for a couple weeks to a month at most (and a month would likely delay the GU even more than the 3 months its already been).So, the longer development cycle doesn't equate to longer time on test, like its supposed to?

Barx

08-13-2009, 02:32 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.</blockquote>So, end of August. Which puts it on test for a couple weeks to a month at most (and a month would likely delay the GU even more than the 3 months its already been).So, the longer development cycle doesn't equate to longer time on test, like its supposed to?</blockquote>If it sits on Test for 3 weeks, then the longer Dev cycle certainly equated to longer time on Test. Some content when they did monthly GUs was luckly to be there a week. And that's also not counting the time it's spent on their internal test / QA process.

ke'la

08-13-2009, 03:21 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>The next update is planned to be on test in the next couple of weeks. We don't have a hard date yet, when we do, we'll let you know.</blockquote>So, end of August. Which puts it on test for a couple weeks to a month at most (and a month would likely delay the GU even more than the 3 months its already been).So, the longer development cycle doesn't equate to longer time on test, like its supposed to?</blockquote>Correct me if I am wrong but hasn't the big mechanics addtion for this LU, selectable difficulty Raids, already been on test for atleast a few weeks? Granted there are lots of other things being added that need testing too, and some of it may not get enough burn in time, like the Shadder 3.0 update, but really to my knowage that is the only other thing that needs a large amount of testing, cause really how much time do you really need to test quests and such?

Gaige

08-13-2009, 03:27 PM

<cite>Barx@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>If it sits on Test for 3 weeks, then the longer Dev cycle certainly equated to longer time on Test. Some content when they did monthly GUs was luckly to be there a week. And that's also not counting the time it's spent on their internal test / QA process.</blockquote>If it goes to test in a few weeks that'd be first week of September, if it goes live 3 weeks later that would be October, thus making this GU delayed.

Barx

08-13-2009, 03:52 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Barx@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>If it sits on Test for 3 weeks, then the longer Dev cycle certainly equated to longer time on Test. Some content when they did monthly GUs was luckly to be there a week. And that's also not counting the time it's spent on their internal test / QA process.</blockquote>If it goes to test in a few weeks that'd be first week of September, if it goes live 3 weeks later that would be October, thus making this GU delayed.</blockquote>She didn't say it would go in 'in a few weeks' but in the next few weeks. 14 days from now is still august, so if it gets an entire month of testing it would still be in September.Besides, we all know things get delayed, it slipping to early October wouldn't be Norrath-shattering <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Gaige

08-13-2009, 07:17 PM

<cite>Barx@Antonia Bayle wrote:</cite><blockquote>Besides, we all know things get delayed, it slipping to early October wouldn't be Norrath-shattering <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>No, it'd just be a joke because it'd be almost an entire calender year of them never being able to get anything done on time, in a year that also saw the expansion delayed by 3 months.

Kiara

08-13-2009, 07:35 PM

Gage, hon. Yer makin' me twitchy. * bonk * Cudditout!Shards of Destiny will be on time. The expac wasn't delayed. It was moved for a reason.Yes, some things have been delayed this year, but we're currently back on schedule.Folks really really need to stop trying to decode my posts, cause I don't speak in code and it's making my head hurt trying to figure out where some of this can be found in what I say :p

Paperninja

08-13-2009, 07:37 PM

Is that the same Cage that used to play a monk back at release and was pioneering the monk theorycrafting?

Gaige

08-13-2009, 08:09 PM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>Gage, hon. Yer makin' me twitchy. * bonk * Cudditout!Shards of Destiny will be on time. The expac wasn't delayed. It was moved for a reason.Yes, some things have been delayed this year, but we're currently back on schedule.Folks really really need to stop trying to decode my posts, cause I don't speak in code and it's making my head hurt trying to figure out where some of this can be found in what I say :p</blockquote>Sorry, woke up on the wrong side of the bed today or something.

Gaige

08-13-2009, 08:10 PM

<cite>Paperninja wrote:</cite><blockquote>Is that the same Gage that used to play a monk back at release and was pioneering the monk theorycrafting? </blockquote>That is the rumor.

Kiara

08-13-2009, 08:41 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>Sorry, woke up on the wrong side of the bed today or something.</blockquote>Wait... you sleep? <img src="/smilies/8a80c6485cd926be453217d59a84a888.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />And no worries. All good. Cranky happens.

Haliken

08-13-2009, 10:04 PM

<cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>Gage, hon. Yer makin' me twitchy. * bonk * Cudditout!Shards of Destiny will be on time. The expac wasn't delayed. It was moved for a reason.Yes, some things have been delayed this year, but we're currently back on schedule.Folks really really need to stop trying to decode my posts, cause I don't speak in code and it's making my head hurt trying to figure out where some of this can be found in what I say :p</blockquote>Now, now, the fine art of schedule "movement" should include pushing the release date back too far, then moving it back forward and making everyone think something amazing and great happened!

guillero

08-14-2009, 07:47 AM

<cite>Haliken wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Kiara wrote:</cite><blockquote>Gage, hon. Yer makin' me twitchy. * bonk * Cudditout!Shards of Destiny will be on time. The expac wasn't delayed. It was moved for a reason.Yes, some things have been delayed this year, but we're currently back on schedule.Folks really really need to stop trying to decode my posts, cause I don't speak in code and it's making my head hurt trying to figure out where some of this can be found in what I say :p</blockquote>Now, now, the fine art of schedule "movement" should include pushing the release date back too far, then moving it back forward and making everyone think something amazing and great happened!</blockquote>Public Relations 1 0 1 Dictionary:*Release Schedule Movement - delaying the release of a product for <insert excuse here> reason(s).<img src="/eq2/images/smilies/ed515dbff23a0ee3241dcc0a601c9ed6.gif" border="0" />

Banditman

08-14-2009, 01:23 PM

I don't know how many folks remember it, but the last couple times Expansions were released in November, there have been major issues with them. Not so much in that there were "showstopper" bugs, so much as the November release made it very difficult to get much fixed.Consider: The Devs generally get really slammed right around these releases, and tend to take some time off immediately after. With a November release, and a subsequent vacation, it pushes fixes into December - right around Christmas - another prime vacation time.In short, November is just a terrible time to release something like an Expansion, at least from a Development point of view. Oh, sure, the Marketing folks love to get those holiday sales, but for a title like Everquest 2, that is pretty overrated.I submit for your consideration that one of the better received expansions for Everquest 2, Kingdom of Sky, was in fact a February release.

Gaige

08-14-2009, 01:27 PM

They're only delaying it because of high profile game releases this November that they don't want to compete against.Also if you think the delay to February means the expansion will launch less buggy well...

Dasein

08-14-2009, 01:44 PM

<cite>Gage wrote:</cite><blockquote>They're only delaying it because of high profile game releases this November that they don't want to compete against.Also if you think the delay to February means the expansion will launch less buggy well...</blockquote>There was no delay to February - that would imply that there was a previously announced intent to launch in November, which we know is not the case. Rather, people assumed that since the previous two expansions were released in November, this next one would be too.

feldon30

08-14-2009, 02:04 PM

<cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't know how many folks remember it, but the last couple times Expansions were released in November, there have been major issues with them. Not so much in that there were "showstopper" bugs, so much as the November release made it very difficult to get much fixed.Consider: The Devs generally get really slammed right around these releases, and tend to take some time off immediately after. With a November release, and a subsequent vacation, it pushes fixes into December - right around Christmas - another prime vacation time.In short, November is just a terrible time to release something like an Expansion, at least from a Development point of view. Oh, sure, the Marketing folks love to get those holiday sales, but for a title like Everquest 2, that is pretty overrated.I submit for your consideration that one of the better received expansions for Everquest 2, Kingdom of Sky, was in fact a February release.</blockquote>QFEI'm gonna go out on a limb and say ok, normally in November they try to increase the level cap AND aa cap AND guild level cap AND solo/group/raid content AND armor appearances AND new mob types AND try to fix all the game mechanics that were too monumental to fix in a GU. I think its too much stuff to do all at one time. And they try to do that all the week before Thanksgiving!We've heard all these mechanics things they want to do (Fighter Revamp -- what is it 3.0 now?) to fix Monks and Bruisers and maybe get Guardians not quite so [Removed for Content] without making them the obvious #1 choice tank again. We've seen in the past that trying to change mechanics on the same day that people want to login and play new content and have it all "work" has been problematic.So far, we haven't been given a date for just when we might expect the mechanics changes. Everyone is assuming it will coincide with the expac.

Calthine

08-14-2009, 02:44 PM

IMO, trying to get two expansions (EQ and EQII) out at the same time, right before the holiday season, is masocistic. Poor QA!This should be better. The devs can have a nice holiday season without coming into it utterly exhausted from an expansion, and QA should be able to focus on each xpak individualy.

einar4

08-14-2009, 02:56 PM

<cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't know how many folks remember it, but the last couple times Expansions were released in November, there have been major issues with them. Not so much in that there were "showstopper" bugs, so much as the November release made it very difficult to get much fixed.Consider: The Devs generally get really slammed right around these releases, and tend to take some time off immediately after. With a November release, and a subsequent vacation, it pushes fixes into December - right around Christmas - another prime vacation time.In short, November is just a terrible time to release something like an Expansion, at least from a Development point of view. Oh, sure, the Marketing folks love to get those holiday sales, but for a title like Everquest 2, that is pretty overrated.I submit for your consideration that one of the better received expansions for Everquest 2, Kingdom of Sky, was in fact a February release.</blockquote> I am not really thinking that release dates mean alot to the quality of an expansion. IMO Echoes of Faydwer did more to revitalize the EQ2 franchise more than any expansion before or after. It effectively brought a disillusioned core player base back to the game. I have my own hypotheses as to the reasons for this, but this isn't the place to describe it or talk about it, as SOE seems to have completely dropped the paradigm used for EOF in favor of something else. Expansions can happen or be released anytime. The arbitrary date of release says nothing about the process and lifecycle that went into it, from design doc to rtw.

guillero

08-14-2009, 03:22 PM

<cite>Jhervais@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't know how many folks remember it, but the last couple times Expansions were released in November, there have been major issues with them. Not so much in that there were "showstopper" bugs, so much as the November release made it very difficult to get much fixed.Consider: The Devs generally get really slammed right around these releases, and tend to take some time off immediately after. With a November release, and a subsequent vacation, it pushes fixes into December - right around Christmas - another prime vacation time.In short, November is just a terrible time to release something like an Expansion, at least from a Development point of view. Oh, sure, the Marketing folks love to get those holiday sales, but for a title like Everquest 2, that is pretty overrated.I submit for your consideration that one of the better received expansions for Everquest 2, Kingdom of Sky, was in fact a February release.</blockquote> I am not really thinking that release dates mean alot to the quality of an expansion. IMO Echoes of Faydwer did more to revitalize the EQ2 franchise more than any expansion before or after. It effectively brought a disillusioned core player base back to the game. I have my own hypotheses as to the reasons for this, but this isn't the place to describe it or talk about it, as SOE seems to have completely dropped the paradigm used for EOF in favor of something else. Expansions can happen or be released anytime. The arbitrary date of release says nothing about the process and lifecycle that went into it, from design doc to rtw.</blockquote>Exactly, there is pretty much one reason why they suddenly deviated form one expansion per year and set it to February 2010 instead.There are always excuses why not to release. And if you think that february is that much better then november. Well think again.1. Lots of people go on holiday during end december / early january (christmas - new year). Lots of wasted development / QA time.2. In february it's the winter holidays and people go on holiday then too. End january till april, but especially february is wintersport primetime (skiing !! ). Even more wasted development / QA time.And if it's some other major MMO releases ? Ehmm what's gonna release in November that's so major?Blizzard hasn't announced anything around WoW for the end of this year. Nor has Turbine anything announced at all around LOTRO.Aion releases in September. Meaning in November lots people are looking for something else again.So I don't see any reason why they suddenly had to deviate from the yearly expansion releases and push it february next year.Other then the reason people just don't want to hear.I don't mind tho. I rerolled on a new server a short while back. Means I got plenty of time, together with my gf, to get to 80, build up decent AA and get some nice gear, before the expac hits. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />Jer

Aneova

08-14-2009, 04:14 PM

whoah.... what a derailed train wreck this has become. All folks wanted to know was about the next GU, the expansion is way far off for once relax, breathe deep, and wait for the day they start signing folks up for beta./fixes the TrainSo a week or 2? I feel it was kinda left out... and I REALLY like the word so...SOON(tm)p.s. I can you ascii commands just like the next geek, but sometimes it's just fun putting stuff in ()/wanders off into the fog that is the EQ2 forums....

Raveen

08-16-2009, 01:57 AM

I hear that all or Kiara's posts can be linked to Keven Bacon <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

hellfire

08-16-2009, 02:13 PM

ke'la

08-16-2009, 03:21 PM

<cite>Bigron@Unrest wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>Banditman wrote:</cite><blockquote>I don't know how many folks remember it, but the last couple times Expansions were released in November, there have been major issues with them. Not so much in that there were "showstopper" bugs, so much as the November release made it very difficult to get much fixed.</blockquote>You dont actually believe there will be less bugs if it is realeased in feb do you? Actually reading others posts in this thread shows that your not the only one that believes this...lol.After all these years people still havent caught on it seems <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /></blockquote>I think he is not saying there will be fewer bugs with a Feb release. I think what he is saying is by moving it to after the Hollidays the bug fixes MIGHT come faster, as they don't have those three weeks of holidays where little gets done.

Jesdyr

08-17-2009, 11:28 AM

But by pushing it back it gives them time to add in more bugs. So you end up with even more bugs and because of the timing they might get resolved quicker <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

Qandor

08-17-2009, 03:11 PM

<cite>Jhervais@Lucan DLere wrote:</cite><blockquote> I am not really thinking that release dates mean alot to the quality of an expansion. IMO Echoes of Faydwer did more to revitalize the EQ2 franchise more than any expansion before or after. It effectively brought a disillusioned core player base back to the game. I have my own hypotheses as to the reasons for this, but this isn't the place to describe it or talk about it, as SOE seems to have completely dropped the paradigm used for EOF in favor of something else. Expansions can happen or be released anytime. The arbitrary date of release says nothing about the process and lifecycle that went into it, from design doc to rtw.</blockquote>EoF did revitalize the playerbase for a number of reasons. EoF was very nostalgia driven. It was very well done in terms of artwork, zone design and even the music was great. It also added a very popular new race with a 1-70 leveling path. If the entire game had EoF's quality EQ2 would be in much better shape today. It was the only expansion that really brought home that this was indeed Everquest as folks remembered and wanted it. It is a shame that they tossed this revitilization away with the rather uninspired expansions that followed. The void storyline was aptly named. This game as aa whole did go into the void along with much of its playerbase.

Selioth

08-19-2009, 06:38 PM

So its looking like we will only get a week, maybe two of testing this LU before it goes live... guess we are gona have LOT of bugs to live through for a while...

Kiara

08-19-2009, 07:03 PM

<cite>Selioth@Nagafen wrote:</cite><blockquote>So its looking like we will only get a week, maybe two of testing this LU before it goes live... guess we are gona have LOT of bugs to live through for a while...</blockquote>Wow, I didn't know you'd become the new producer! Welcome aboard!Your assumption is incorrect. There should be almost a full month (give or take a couple of days) for this update to be on test.Please try not to spread bad information on the forums, when a simple question with a simple answer will provide accurate information <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" /> Thanks!And with that, I'm going to go ahead and lock this thread down. It seems we have a lot of people who are just looking for reasons to be rude and throw poo at us <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" />When I have a hard date for the update to go to test... which should happen within the next week or so, I'll be sure to post it.UPDATE: There will be a brief update to the Test server tonight, that should bring it in sync with the Live servers (yay!).I still don't have a hard date for Shards of Destiny to hit test, but the current favourite date is the week of the first, which will put the content on Test for at least three full weeks before the content goes to the Live servers.