Although I don't know offhand what the historical cycle time is between beta shutdown and go-live, doesn't the 5/1 close announcement seem to provide a larger gap between beta and release than normal? I could have sworn past data indicated more like a 2-4 day gap between beta close and go-live.
I would think they've already sorted out the physical logistics (i.e., box, printing, create media, pack media, etc all done now) so it would just be a matter of ensuring enough physical product volume and shipping to stores. I'd assume it doesn't really matter when they create the media/DVDs, since they'll just have a slightly larger patch upon go-live for those who elect physical product delivery so all that stuff is probably already done and sitting in a warehouse. I'd also think they are burning down most all critical bug/PTRs in parallel with beta ramp-down such that the pre-release patch would have most 'must fixes' in shortly after the beta goes off.
They probably want to focous their attention to the actual release BUILD and the release SERVER, from what I understand, the beta client and the beta servers are still very different in code.
They probably want to focous their attention to the actual release BUILD and the release SERVER, from what I understand, the beta client and the beta servers are still very different in code.
Yes. Software companies typically keep environments completely different, and the beta production and retail production are going to be entirely different builds. They most likely have multiple test environments... and only when the test environments are accepted by QA will they pass it to production.
Most likely they are going to recycle the beta servers and push the retail production server build onto them.
To the OP - Most companies will close beta at least 2 weeks prior to release. This gives them time to finalize the release build, test the final release build, adequately setup and test release hardware... and ensure all blades are functioning properly. Think about how NASA rigorously tests (tested) the shuttles prior to launch.
My times will be a little off on this but I think the sc2 beta ran for about 1.5-2 SC2 being the most unusual of the blizzard betas.
Shutting down 2 weeks before release isn't that uncommon. I cant recall which game it was but here was ablizzard release where they decided to keep extending the beta till a few days before launch to gather as much data as they could. I want to say this was most likely the intial WoW release.
getting beta servers integrated into the live server network mostly. That and they just won't need the beta open anymore as there is probably little to no feedback that can really be given in that period that is beneficial to them.
Also, this is expected and incredibly common, for both blizzard and other companies as well.
Im going to be a little sad when the beta servers go down, and Im not even a participant.
Turn that frown upside down because May 15th is just going to be an absolutely amazing day for us all. The sooner the beta servers shut down, the sooner our new addiction begins!
Depends on the beta really. At this point they have just about all the feedback they can get from the beta. It's not much more than stress testing (if that was all it ever was) The beta was so limited I'm almost worried that most of the skills have mostly been not mass tested because of the level cap.
Blizzards betas have varied WoW's (Vanilla) for example ran till a matter of days before release. SC2 If i remember ran till about a week before.
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I would think they've already sorted out the physical logistics (i.e., box, printing, create media, pack media, etc all done now) so it would just be a matter of ensuring enough physical product volume and shipping to stores. I'd assume it doesn't really matter when they create the media/DVDs, since they'll just have a slightly larger patch upon go-live for those who elect physical product delivery so all that stuff is probably already done and sitting in a warehouse. I'd also think they are burning down most all critical bug/PTRs in parallel with beta ramp-down such that the pre-release patch would have most 'must fixes' in shortly after the beta goes off.
What am I missing here driving the 2 week void?
Yes. Software companies typically keep environments completely different, and the beta production and retail production are going to be entirely different builds. They most likely have multiple test environments... and only when the test environments are accepted by QA will they pass it to production.
Most likely they are going to recycle the beta servers and push the retail production server build onto them.
To the OP - Most companies will close beta at least 2 weeks prior to release. This gives them time to finalize the release build, test the final release build, adequately setup and test release hardware... and ensure all blades are functioning properly. Think about how NASA rigorously tests (tested) the shuttles prior to launch.
Shutting down 2 weeks before release isn't that uncommon. I cant recall which game it was but here was ablizzard release where they decided to keep extending the beta till a few days before launch to gather as much data as they could. I want to say this was most likely the intial WoW release.
Also, this is expected and incredibly common, for both blizzard and other companies as well.
Turn that frown upside down because May 15th is just going to be an absolutely amazing day for us all. The sooner the beta servers shut down, the sooner our new addiction begins!
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Blizzards betas have varied WoW's (Vanilla) for example ran till a matter of days before release. SC2 If i remember ran till about a week before.