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Firefall: Red 5 CEO Compares Launch Process to G-Mail, Beta After PAX

MikeBMikeB Community ManagerAdministrator RarePosts: 6,555

In an open letter published on the official Firefall website, Red 5 CEO Mark Kern offers some clarification regarding the reports coming out of the ChinaJoy convention that Firefall will launch in December.

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You see, Firefall has already launched, sort of:

"To explain our launch process further. We already consider ourselves 'launched.' We will not have a traditional beta, open beta, launch process. We no longer feel this makes sense in a modern, online, service oriented business, especially a free2play game. Instead, we have modeled our launch after G-mail’s invite system.

The way this works is that we bring testers and content up in layers. As each layer proves itself out, we give our testers invite slots, which they are free to send to their fellow gamers. We use different criteria to decide when and to whom we release more invite slots. This process never stops, as it didn’t stop for G-mail for a very long time. It’s a great way to grow the game through people’s social networks, which is what we want for our team and clan oriented game."

Speaking of those invites, Red 5 plans to expand the pool significantly following PAX later this month, so be sure to sign up for your chance to play.

Comments

  • EladiEladi Member UncommonPosts: 1,145

    Ofc one might argue that it brings in a sertain range of players who have a sertain view point and thus give a false feedback on the real possible community, once the game takes its frst feedback into development whitout having a very wide range of views beforehand but a limeted narrow viewpoint from a selected group/type of players.

    one can also argue that a launch like the way discribed would serve to exclude a large group of players in the benefit of tight cluster group of friends whit the above point into account.

    in other words, I doubt it be agood idea to leave a game into the feedback hands of a single group if your aim is to have a wide as possible audience.  if you wish to be a niche whit limeted growth potention then this type of launch would serve well.

  • OnumaOnuma Member Posts: 6

    On the contrary.  Red5 will use various criteria to determine the initially selected beta testers, including perhaps community participation, hardware/OS configurations, etc.  This range of testers will eventually be able to invite their friends & clanmates to play alongside them.

    Considering that Firefall is foremost a team-based shooter, one would expect that many teams & clans already in existence are planning to move into this game as a community.  How better to test out functions such as Army-vs-Army, ladder rankings, and other features?  Inviting solely randomly selected persons would limit this phase of testing dramatically, and considering FF is bound to be an online competitive title, would make that entire phase of testing moot.

    I'd like to hear your idea for a solution; I'm sure you're far more experienced than guys like Mark Kern and Scott Youngblood.

  • redpinsredpins Member Posts: 147

    I like this idea, since it reduces the number of randoms to a minimum. See how this will work out for future events as well.

    I struggle not with life, money, emotions, and world, but against old mindsets and selves to be proven obsolete in a age and time of rapid changes. Go create fun, so you can have fun.

  • haratuharatu Member UncommonPosts: 409
    It is an interesting way of releasing an mmo because it controls the server load, maintains good customer service, and allows the game to grow at the rate the developers ,an handle. for the player it also provides a range of players at various stages instead of one large group at one stage.
  • DraakanDraakan Member Posts: 20

    Hmm I wonder how much one of those "friend" codes will go for. Quick way to make some beer money. Although probly a pretty fast way to get banned also, if they found out.

  • MumboJumboMumboJumbo Member UncommonPosts: 3,219

    Surprised this is not picking up more interest: http://www.firefallthegame.com/2011/08/firefall-beta-process/

    Certainly gives the whole "entry" into the game some sort of exclusivity, like tickets to the party... surely as much a part of marketing it as well as beta-testing the features. But efficient for the devs to use this feedback well before a mass launch, too.

     

     


    Getting into the Beta

    There are multiple ways to get into the Firefall beta. The first is to sign up on www.firefallthegame.com and wait for an invite from Red 5 Studios directly. This is what many of you have already done. By registering for the beta, you are also already creating your Firefall account, joining the Firefall community, and participating in conversations directly with the development team giving direction and feedback on Firefall.

    Over the next few months, we will be selecting users from the community to participate in the Firefall beta. To start with, these numbers will be small, but will grow more and more as we seek additional feedback, different computer configurations, and increased load on our game servers.

    Another way you might receive an invite is by participating in giveaways or contests on the Firefall website or partner websites over the coming months. More specifics and detailed information on these events will be revealed as they come up, but expect to see Firefall on your favorite gaming websites soon.

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