Introducing the New Testing Incentives Program

Starr_avatar[From a Forum post by Starr “Darkstarr” Long]
Program updated September 20, 2017

Greetings Avatars,

Thank you everyone for the amazing work you all do reporting issues in the game. It is only through your bug reports that we can find and fix issues with the game.

The volume of reported issues from the Live Server has remained steady, but now that we have reached persistence, it is understandably challenging to convince players to divide their time between the “real” world of Novia and the fleeting world of the QA Server. We still have a critical need for testing on the QA Server right before a monthly Release goes live.

That is why we are launching the Testing Incentives Program.

We want to reward testing efforts on the QA server because we understand that time spent there is time lost on advancing your character on live. At the same time we do not want to repeat the mistakes of past incentive programs, so instead of rewarding quantity we have created a lottery.

For each release we will randomly reward 4 of each of the following rewards (one prize per player):
 

  • 5 Gold Crowns
  • Ant Farm
  • Antennae
  • Bug Cloak
  • Set of Bug Paintings


In order to qualify you must meet the following requirements:

  • Install the QA version of the game
  • Login and play on QA for at least 4 hours per release
  • Report at least 1 bug in the QA section of the forums

Note that players will only be submitted for the lottery once per QA cycle. Continued bug reporting will not count toward additional submissions into the lottery.

Thank you everyone for the incredible work so far and we look forward to more of it in the future!



15 Comments




  3. BryweyhBryweyh

    Great idea! I am honored to participate, will it be available when release 34 hits or is it operational now?


    1. ElfenwahnElfenwahn

      I have the same question.
      So far I never had access to the QA Server, but I understand that testing is mostly required at QA level.
      Is there any way I can support you there?

      1. KoldarKoldar

        QA access is for dev+ pledges as well as some bundles. Since pledges can no longer be upgraded, the only way to currently get on QA is to purchase one of the bundles that have it listed as a feature.

        2. XirenXiren

          This is what I though, but just wanted to check before making any claims. Feels very silly to me that they have “critical need” for testing but still require hundreds of dollars worth pledge/bundle for the pleasure of helping them with testing.

        3. TechnowitchTechnowitch

          So basically, even if one already is into SOTA for hundreds of dollars, including someone like myself with an Ancestor-level pledge and quite a few add-on purchases, I have to spend a minimum of another $450 for the least expensive Dev+ bundle that currently exists in order to help with the QA effort.

          Rather disappointing, really. It’s like hearing about a party, only there’s no way to get an invitation.

          1. Acaelus FireharpAcaelus Fireharp

            Maybe a vote among Dev+ players to decide if to open up to any pledge level?
            I would be happy for this to happen, the more QA testers we have, the better the final product will be.

          2. Acaelus FireharpAcaelus Fireharp

            Maybe a vote among Dev+ players to decide if to open up to any pledge level?
            I would be happy for this to happen, the more QA testers we have, the better the final product will be.

            Alternatively, create a new Bug test server for non Dev+ and allow access to each release a few days after Dev+ get access.


  5. Acaelus FireharpAcaelus Fireharp

    Hi Berek, please could you clarify the QA participation requirements for:

    Ant Farm
    Corpion Chair
    Set of Bug Paintings
    Insect Leg Table
    Butterfly Chair

    Thanks.


Comments are closed.