Dragonflight Alpha/Beta General Discussion

[Dracullus]

With the acquistion being finished by then, it makes a lot of sense.

Yeah, I said it few weeks ago.

1) It will be after Microsoft thing, maybe they'll even invite Phil Spencer.
2) Last release before Blizzcon will be Diablo IV, which is much bigger deal than any WoW expac (of course it also brings bigger risk if they screw it). 99% it will be time to reveal Palad.. I mean 6th class we don't know yet.
3) There is brand new adventure game (also new IP?) in production.
4) Something we didn't expected just 2 weeks ago - it will be time for 11.0 reveal.
5) For sure it will be time to reveal what are they plans for Classic. Just releasing expansions? Heavy changes that suit oldschool crowd? Maybe something else? (for example I would love expanding timewalking to actually using old client and old classes).

Two big reveals + usual smaller annoucement for Hearthstone/Overwatch. And finally people simply liked Blizzcon, if not restart it in 2023, then when?

[Bindanda]

This I have to agree with, esports is just not that interesting.

i totally agree with that statement, however it would be a bad business decision to make you pick what you are going to watch. im still hoping for a blog post but i just see them dropping dragonflight till after mdi/arena finals

[Marcellus1986]

i totally agree with that statement, however it would be a bad business decision to make you pick what you are going to watch. im still hoping for a blog post but i just see them dropping dragonflight till after mdi/arena finals

There’s absolutely zero way they drop alpha after July 24th.

[Bindanda]

There’s absolutely zero way they drop alpha after July 24th.

I'm guessing next week. I saw Marla said that he was thinking next week as well

[Valysar]

Well, there is nothing really, REALLY new to test, except the new dragon flight thing. The rest is pretty basic testing.

[Catastrophy349]

Could be next week, sure. We also have two days left in the week. Personally, as much as I would love the Alpha to drop this week, I would also be fine with a blue post regarding Dragonflight. Just talk to us, please! Or just drop the Alpha…that works, too!

[Xilurm]

Well, there is nothing really, REALLY new to test, except the new dragon flight thing. The rest is pretty basic testing.

It was never just about the features.

Tons of content dump like this is bound to have thousands of bugs.

[Catastrophy349]

I think something a lot of us are forgetting (possibly the reason behind the panic) is that Blizzard wants to do Dragonflight differently than previous expansions (in terms of what gets tested/leaked). It’s quite possible they want to keep a lot of stuff hidden/unplayed so that it’s “fresh/new” on release (perhaps a much larger internal test by Blizzard).

[Ferlion]

It was never just about the features.

Tons of content dump like this is bound to have thousands of bugs.

It might not really have all that many bugs, outside of Dragon Riding.

Dragonflight itself is just a fairly straight forward expansion. Dungeon and raids might, if they introduce new mechanics.

I really don't expect to see all of Dragon Flight tested before launch.

[Xilurm]

It might not really have all that many bugs, outside of Dragon Riding.

Dragonflight itself is just a fairly straight forward expansion. Dungeon and raids might, if they introduce new mechanics.

I really don't expect to see all of Dragon Flight tested before launch.

Everytime new stuff is added to the game, or any game, it creates bugs. That's how game developement works.

[Valysar]

Everytime new stuff is added to the game, or any game, it creates bugs. That's how game developement works.

Yes but since there are not a ton of borrowed powers, there is less to test, so less bugs, less iterations, etc etc

[Aeluron Lightsong]

I think something a lot of us are forgetting (possibly the reason behind the panic) is that Blizzard wants to do Dragonflight differently than previous expansions (in terms of what gets tested/leaked). It’s quite possible they want to keep a lot of stuff hidden/unplayed so that it’s “fresh/new” on release (perhaps a much larger internal test by Blizzard).

I'm aware, I just think there will be something to chew on.

[Catastrophy349]

A lot of content creators seem to think Alpha can literally drop at any time, even without a blue post. Mostly waiting for any new builds/movement on that end. Of course, this could mean this week or next, who knows. The build up is addicting!

[Ferlion]

Everytime new stuff is added to the game, or any game, it creates bugs. That's how game developement works.

Sure, but those are the type of bugs internal teams exist to fix. There isn't likely to be any bugs interacting with systems that only pop up when you throw a thousand people all doing different things at it, because it's not system related.

[Xilurm]

Yes but since there are not a ton of borrowed powers, there is less to test, so less bugs, less iterations, etc etc

Might not have tons of borrowed powers but they're redoing the talent system completely, adding an entire new system of nagivation throughout the game (why do you think they're only keeping it for DF zones?)

Massive new zones that are apparently bigger than any previous zones in the game. Each mob in those zones has to be taken care of and made sure that it won't clip through a tree or the ground. What about all the dungeons and the raid, and every trash mob in them? And the bosses?

The programmers ain't gonna be sitting at their desk all day looking at the ceiling. They're working 8 hours a day for months on end staring at code and trying to make sure the game doesn't fall apart.

[allomgie]

Sure, but those are the type of bugs internal teams exist to fix. There isn't likely to be any bugs interacting with systems that only pop up when you throw a thousand people all doing different things at it, because it's not system related.

Have you ever quested on alpha/beta servers? Where are always progress breaking bugs and unforeseeable bottlenecks, there are reasons we get each zone after another. Also, they tend to experiment with new Quest types, World-Quest did evolve over time.

[Ferlion]

Have you ever quested on alpha/beta servers? Where are always progress breaking bugs and unforeseeable bottlenecks, there are reasons we get each zone after another. Also, they tend to experiment with new Quest types, World-Quest did evolve over time.

I've been in every alpha/beta since Wrath of the Lich King.

None of that is something that needs to be tested by players. Even with progress bottlenecks. Not only is it not something that needs to be tested by players, if Blizzard is going to continue with the "We are going to be more secretive with the PTR" approach, they are going to have to test that themselves.

[Veluren]

I'm just thinking, and I KNOW this is apple to oranges and likely to piss some people off, but FFXIV has never needed to do external testing, and there's only ever been maybe three-four times in the game's now 8-9 year lifespan it's resulted in a bug so bad it had to be fixed ASAP.

I really feel like Blizzard, with the money and manpower available to them, could probably do a bulk or all of their testing internally and still manage to release the game in a state that doesn't need too too much bug fixing, part of me (that might be a bit copium) wonders if that might not be a reason we've gone so long without alpha after saying the expansion was far along.

[Catastrophy349]

https://twitter.com/Zorbrix/status/1...P64f8vuKRe438w

[Ferlion]

I'm just thinking, and I KNOW this is apple to oranges and likely to piss some people off, but FFXIV has never needed to do external testing, and there's only ever been maybe three-four times in the game's now 8-9 year lifespan it's resulted in a bug so bad it had to be fixed ASAP.

I really feel like Blizzard, with the money and manpower available to them, could probably do a bulk or all of their testing internally and still manage to release the game in a state that doesn't need too too much bug fixing, part of me (that might be a bit copium) wonders if that might not be a reason we've gone so long without alpha after saying the expansion was far along.

They can, but Blizzard alpha/beta is generally huge press for them.

It's why they don't. OR didn't