Help wanted - game testing

[mirrorshard]

I know a fair few of you are experienced gamers, professional software testers, Pratchett readers, or just incurably nosy and like breaking things.

If that describes you - and if you aren't a Discworld MUD player already - then I'd like to ask for your help.

We're developing a new starting area, designed for people who are absolutely new to the game, to online games in general, or to text-based games. This isn't my work, but done by friends. The problem is that everyone involved in developing or testing the area is an experienced mud gamer, so we don't have the perspective a completely new player would have.

Wandering around it fairly intensively took me about an hour, but basically all we want people to do is start playing the game and see whether it works as a newbie experience. The existing players don't know about the new area, so you'd have to keep relatively quiet about it, but it's unlikely they'll ask you.

In order to do this, telnet discworld.atuin.net 4242 (it doesn't support ssh, this is not a secure application, &c., &c.) or go here which is the standard Getting Started advice. Then follow the instructions on the login screen and let me know by any of the usual means when you're in. (I'm on there as Touchstone. If I'm not, tell a playtester or creator "Hello, Touchstone sent me - can I go to Pumpkin Town please?" and they'll help.)

Your help will be rewarded with alcohol or the equivalent, if at all possible. I've left comments screened on this post for feedback, to avoid spoiling the testing experience, or just email me.

Comments

[chizzer.livejournal.com]

Game Dev student at Algonquin College reporting in. I'll check it out when I have some spare time in the next few days.

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Cheers muchly!

[webcowgirl.livejournal.com]

Me, mud dork. Also don't really know what telnet is about.

I can't really devote any time to this until after I get back from my trip. Would that be helpful?

Wow, I don't even understand half of the instructions on the "how to get started" page, even though I only read three paragraphs ....

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

I think it would - nobody's given a timescale for taking it live yet.

[hellison.livejournal.com]

You want me to pimp this on my lj too? There's a couple of people might try it out! who knows, they might even stay ;)

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Can't hurt!

[arkady.livejournal.com]

I've created a character and I'm currently going through the usual newbie rigmarole (combat training etc). The Discworld syntax is just similar enough and yet different to that used in Terris to trip me up wonderfully....

Anyway, character name is Karyna - I'll send you a tell ingame when I've finished beating up training dummies. :-)

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

Whoops, my bad I think - the current newbie area is being replaced entirely. You need the Special Password to get transported to the new one from the foyer, and it's best if you don't get the skills first.

[arkady.livejournal.com]

Ah, right. Well, the only skills I've acquired thus far are combat skills. Is that a problem? I can start over with a new character if you prefer?

[mirrorshard.livejournal.com]

If you 'refresh totally' then that will zero them quickly.