Those of you who participated in the Starhawk beta have really helped developer Lightbox Interactive.
And we always like to hear from the designers how they felt the beta test went. According to a recent Respawn Action interview with Lightbox senior producer Harvard Bonin, most really seemed to enjoy their Starhawk beta experience.
"From our team standpoint, it had a ton of highs mixed with a few lows. I'm happy to say we were more successful than not when it came to proving out the game. Overall, the fun factor seems to be there and players are responding positively. I can say from a personal experience that I had a few late, great nights playing with the fans. We collected a gigantic amount of data and with that we were able to make frequent (often daily) updates to the beta. It was really done the way betas should be done, and we're proud of that."
He added that players can continue to provide feedback by filling out a private survey . He also said they came across the standard problems – "freezes, crashes, balance issues, etc." – but it wasn't anything they weren't expecting. The public beta starts "soon" and the upcoming 1.2 update will stabilize everything further.
You know, betas are a lot more important than some gamers realize. It's not just about you getting a chance to play a game early. In fact, it has absolutely nothing to do with that at all; it's a test and your feedback is extremely valuable to the developers. Hell, I think movies should have this option for fans.
Oh, and be sure to check out our beta impressions if you haven't already. We were pretty satisfied, too.
Related Game(s): Starhawk
Playing the beta, I put in a few hours. A HUGE improvement over an already good game, Warhawk. The negative with Warhawk, for me, was getting into the game too late. Everyone else was so experienced when I had it, so it was extremely difficult for me to get a rhythm going. Starhawk seems to be easily accessible, with it's hardcore base still intact, which is important. I'll have my eyes out on this one, seeing as how the fan base is large enough to ensure long nights of entertaining online play.
Also, I like how the devs were also apart of the beta as well. Not sure if they always are, but I like it when the devs take time off their busy schedules to entertain themselves with the very people who support them. I don't know if I had a run in with them at all when I had my time with the game, but it's cool to know that perhaps I did. Even if I did suck!
I have the code, but since these aren't my thing I haven't used it yet.
ya same here. I keep planing on trying it and then playing something else.
Gimme!
Gimme!
settle down, I might give it away at velocitygamer
What a pity to here that! I haven't had a chance to play the Beta yet, but then again, I don't think I got a code for it… eventhough I do own the original Warhawk…
Q!
"play.experience.enjoy"
Really?! I own Warhawk and absolutely love Starhawk.
Times change, some people will like the change others will not, you just have to ignore it and move on.
When is soon?
Good article, John. Your comment on what a beta really is is incredibly important to spread amongst the "non-technical" gamers out there. Far too many don't realize the difference between a demo and a beta.
But man, you write *exactly* like Ben! Are you a relative or something? 😀
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/9/2012 3:51:32 AM
Beam, are you only now coming to that realisation? ;D
It's been long believed (and often joked) that "John" is merely an alt account that Ben sometimes uses. Ben seems to refuse to answer that question directly. I kind of hope he never does, especially if there really is a "John Shepard". The running gag is too fun.
Last edited by Fane1024 on 1/9/2012 6:26:26 AM
Hehe – well no, but now I just *had* to ask. I've always been surprised when I came to the signature – they are all written in a very, very Ben'ish way indeed. But it *could* have been an apprentice who has Ben has his big hero or something. 😀
Last edited by Beamboom on 1/9/2012 12:52:46 PM
I am looking forward to coop and single player more so than the competitive multiplayer. There are many things that they need to fix like the 10 feet kill radius for the 10 inch knife and the run over massacres that jeep can do. Make a rock paper scissor system for ground vehicles jeeps beat atvs, tanks beat jeeps and atvs beat tanks, I have no idea how an ATV will beat a tank though…. I really want tanks. Also an buff damage for the assault rifle would be nice and a nerf for the shotgun for god sake. I get kill with a shotgun 50 yards away… please tell me that is not how you want your game to work.