Test Server

[Kanachi]

Hiya,

I have noticed that there are a lot of potentially interesting changes listed upon this forum but without the chance to test them under fire a lot of our discussion here is largely pointless.

Anyway, I would like to propose a Test Server with scheduled trials of proposed ideas which have been vetted by the devs. These test servers (1 in Europe and 1 in the US) would run a set idea for a period of a day or so and gather responses here on the forums by the players participating. All scores on these games would be void (so would not alter the leaderboards) this would be a purely experimental process.

Obviously the focus of the Test Server would be to examine quick and relatively easy to implement ideas that have been proposed here on the forums without altering the core game upon the existing servers. In time good ideas would be drawn together and then shipped out to the rest of the servers becoming the new core game.

Its a simple concept found within many games and would offer us a way of evolving the ruleset and principles behind the survival games without ripping up the script every time a new version is released.

 

[HalfSquirrel]

Making 2 new servers costs a lot of money. I don't quite think a test server would be worth it's cost.

 

[Kanachi]

Making 2 new servers costs a lot of money. I don't quite think a test server would be worth it's cost.

People may disagree on this... but i was actually thinking we should not get a new server but repurpose an old one.

Ultimately the game would be largely the same just with whatever modification would be running at the time and without the whole leaderboard connection some people may even be attracted to the servers (you can play/practice without the risk of loosing/gaining points)

So yer I was talking more about swapping a server than getting a new one. Sorry for not making that clear.

 

[bart]

This is a Beta so that means all these servers are already testservers.

 

[HalfSquirrel]

That's not a bad idea like that, but all the servers they have now for EU should be kept. I know they are getting a couple more, but I don't know how many. With the US servers, I'm sure 1 server can be spared for testing. I also don't think that there should be 1 for each region, because it really isn't necessary. Maybe one day there should be one for both regions, but for now you don't need more than 1 test server.
Also this wouldn't be very high priority, as it's not quite necessary. It would be a nice addition though for when they are making big updates as MineCraft is when the plugin is out of beta. No minor additions, just a really big one, or many minor ones.

 

[Kanachi]

That's not a bad idea like that, but all the servers they have now for EU should be kept. I know they are getting a couple more, but I don't know how many. With the US servers, I'm sure 1 server can be spared for testing. I also don't think that there should be 1 for each region, because it really isn't necessary. Maybe one day there should be one for both regions, but for now you don't need more than 1 test server.
Also this wouldn't be very high priority, as it's not quite necessary. It would be a nice addition though for when they are making big updates as MineCraft is when the plugin is out of beta. No minor additions, just a really big one, or many minor ones.

Good point, 1 server would be fine.

I would encourage them to use this server to test new maps as well. That way you don't risk an unbalanced or utterly flawed map impacting the leaderboards. Testing compatibility with new updates, allowing space for practice without impact upon your points total and examining potential updates would all be part of its functionality.

It may not be vital but I think it could prove invaluable.

 

[RansomHD]

actually a really good suggestion