Forums » Suggestions

Testing Modes -- An Idea

Aug 21, 2003 Celkan link
Here's an idea that if implemented could alter the way players test the game. Separate the test into three different modes: Gameplay, Weapons, and Graphics/Interface. Each mode would have a different function with slightly different features, but you would be playing the same game.

Graphics and Interface Test -- A (GIT) tag would be added to your nation in the target statuis window. You would be invulnerable from all players except bots. You would be able to use weapons on bots, but your weapons would be ineffective on other players. The sections of the game you would be focusing on would be graphics glitches (we could include lag here) and anything having to do with an interface. (ie, the station screen, ingame options menu, buyback menu, etc.) You would be able to trade. It would cost the normal amount, but the amount of money you had in the beginning of the session as (GIT) would be what you had when you left.

Weapons Test -- A (WT) tag would be added to your nation on the target info screen. You are able to harm only players who have a (WT) tag, and are only vulnerable to them. You are focusing on weapons and ship balance within the game, and dueling is a wise idea. (In other words, if this were to be implemented, you should duel in this mode.) The money works the same as in the (GIT) mode.

Gameplay (Engine) Test -- No tag is displayed, you are able to harm and destroy bots and players (without a mode tag of course). This is the regular game. You are looking for just general bugs, which could be anything. No restriction on money. What you have when you go out is what you have when you come back in.

I know this would take a LOT of coding to put in, but I think that it would save a lot of the hassles in teaching new players to learn, too. They could learn to bot in a bus in the (GIT) mode and when they get better they can go up to the regular engine test. And if they want to practice against players, they can select the Weapons Test.

Comments? Questions? Suggestions?
Aug 21, 2003 Phoenix_I link
No offense, but I think the game is fine how it is, and it would take the devs away from developing new features to implement this. And the game would be very very very boring and most people wouldn't want to test if they only could do some of the features of the game. Also, theres a better chance of somebody stumbling upon a bug by mistake, like say a weapons bug, but if they were in the graphics test, they wouldn't have been able to come upon this bug and it might be gone unnoticed.