Playtesting?

[Konig-Wolf]

Hello,

I wanted to ask when playtesting would begin for the new edition, and what is the process for becoming a playtester for the new edition. As a fan of HG since the beginning, I really want to do my part to help the new edition be as good as it possibly can be. Please let me know if there is any way I can contribute to this. Thanks.

[Mark Skarr]

Check out the Pyramid article here. All the playtesting information is there. And, more than likley, you will have to have a Pyramid subscription to be involved in a playtest.

[lordmalachdrim]

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

Check out the Pyramid article here. All the playtesting information is there. And, more than likley, you will have to have a Pyramid subscription to be involved in a playtest.

So standard set up for play testing then. You have to pay for the privilege to donate time and effort to make the game better, thus improving their sales.

That's something about SJG that I've never liked.

[Mark Skarr]

Wow.

I look at it more that they’re interested in people who are willing to help support the company instead of just some Joe-random off the street. Seriously, it’s $20 a year for a Pyramid subscription. And it’s not that you’re donating time and effort: they do compensate you for your time with a comp copy of the book.

I think (and this is just speculation) that the reason they limit it to Pyramid subscribers is to limit the number of people who are just looking for a “free” copy of the book.

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by Mark Skarr

And it’s not that you’re donating time and effort: they do compensate you for your time with a comp copy of the book.

To be very clear: not every playtester is guaranteed a comp copy. There are usually many more playtesters than comps available, and some combination of the author, editor, lead playtester, and Kromm often end up having to make hard decisions about which playtesters get comps and which don't.

As for the other criticism: if you want to consider the cost of a Pyramid subscription as an entry fee for playtesting, that's your privilege, but SJG has always thought of access to playtesting as an added benefit of the Pyramid subscription, not the main attraction. People who subscribe to Pyramid solely for the playtests are cheating themselves out of a great weekly webzine.

[Mark Skarr]

Originally Posted by Andrew Hackard

To be very clear: not every playtester is guaranteed a comp copy.

I actually knew that, I just didn't think to include it. My apologies.

Originally Posted by Andrew Hackard

As for the other criticism: if you want to consider the cost of a Pyramid subscription as an entry fee for playtesting, that's your privilege, but SJG has always thought of access to playtesting as an added benefit of the Pyramid subscription, not the main attraction. People who subscribe to Pyramid solely for the playtests are cheating themselves out of a great weekly webzine.

Quoted for truth.
I have a Pyramid subscription for a lot of reasons. Only one of them is the possiblity that I could be involved in another play-test. However, with the Heavy Gear playtest potentially coming up soon, I made sure to re-up with time to spare.

[sir_pudding]

Originally Posted by lordmalachdrim

So standard set up for play testing then. You have to pay for the privilege to donate time and effort to make the game better, thus improving their sales.

You could, I don't know, actually read the webzine?

[Konig-Wolf]

Originally Posted by lordmalachdrim

So standard set up for play testing then. You have to pay for the privilege to donate time and effort to make the game better, thus improving their sales.

Originally Posted by sir_pudding

You could, I don't know, actually read the webzine?

Well, for me, I'm willing to pay for Pyramid to be part of the playtest, but that's mainly because I love Heavy Gear, and have been waiting for the story to continue...however, I can understand lordmalachdrim's point...in particular, because I'd be getting Pyramid solely for this purpose...I don't play any other Steve Jackson games, so the additional content of the webzine sadly goes to waste for me. I'm sure it's good stuff, and for people who play lots of Steve Jackson games a good value...just for me, I'm only getting it for one purpose.

I signed up for Pyramid though, so hopefully I'll be able to get into the playtest when it's announced. ^_^

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by Konig-Wolf

Well, for me, I'm willing to pay for Pyramid to be part of the playtest, but that's mainly because I love Heavy Gear, and have been waiting for the story to continue...however, I can understand lordmalachdrim's point...in particular, because I'd be getting Pyramid solely for this purpose...I don't play any other Steve Jackson games, so the additional content of the webzine sadly goes to waste for me. I'm sure it's good stuff, and for people who play lots of Steve Jackson games a good value...just for me, I'm only getting it for one purpose.

There are articles for non-SJG games pretty often, and your subscription gives you access to the complete Pyramid archives, so it's not quite as bad a deal as you seem to think.

[Andrew Hackard]

Originally Posted by Konig-Wolf

I wanted to ask when playtesting would begin for the new edition, and what is the process for becoming a playtester for the new edition. As a fan of HG since the beginning, I really want to do my part to help the new edition be as good as it possibly can be. Please let me know if there is any way I can contribute to this. Thanks.

The playtesting procedure hasn't yet been announced, but I would be surprised if it were very different from a standard Pyramid playtest as described above.