Beta Testing

=Beta Testing=

Beta testing is very important aspect of software developement where those that create the product put it into the hands of a selection of the public user base for testing and feedback. This is usually the final step before a full release and can be either "closed" or "open", with the "closed" Beta being given only to a carefully selected few, while the "open" is for anyone who cares to sign up and is interested in the product. YoYo Games believe wholeheartedly in this system and conduct regular Beta tests on all new their products... but what does that really mean for them and for you, the user? Here is a brief overview of what it means, why it's done and what you have to do if you participate in the program.

What is a beta version?
The beta version of a software product is an officially released version which includes most of the product's functionality, but not necessarily all of it, and those parts it does contain may be subject to change before the actual finished product reaches the market. The beta version is intended for external testing of the software in order to identify configurations that cause problems, unforeseen errors within the product itself, as well as to collect requirements and suggestions from users which will improve the final, definitive release.

Before its official release, a beta version always undergoes a full cycle of rigorous internal testing, after which the application is deemed sufficiently stable in the majority of computing environments for it to be released to a limited public for further testing. When you receive a beta version of any software it is usually accompanied by release notes which provide some or all of the following information:  the current version number system and technical requirements for the equipment used for testing the list of changes since the previous version descriptions of known problems (if any) and other relevant information 

Please note that a beta version is NOT the final version of the product and therefore the developer does not guarantee an absence of errors that may disrupt the computer's operation and/or result in data loss. Consequently, beta testers use the beta version at their own risk and YoYo Games bears no responsibility for any consequences arising out of the use of any beta versions of their software.

Participating in beta testing
So what do you get from participating in the beta testing? Well there are a list of benefits :  be among the first to gain access to the latest versions of YoYo Games Software help YoYo Games improve the quality of the product being tested have your say and provide your suggestions on possible ways of improving the product</li> collaborate directly with developers and other beta testers using dedicated sections of our forums</li> </ul>

Now, to participate in a beta testing program, there are also a number of things that are expected of you, the user, apart from just downloading and installing the product! It is expected that you spend a certain amount of time on familiarizing yourself with the product and testing it thoroughly. This means that if (when!) you find any errors or bugs, no matter how small, you must prepare and send out bug reports through the YoYo Games Bug Tracker service. You can, and should, also provide suggestions on ways to improve the product being tested and report on any compatibility issues that you have (specifically related to your configuration). This can be done either through the forums, or again, through the Bug Tracker.

Reporting problems
All errors should be reported through the GM: YoYo Games Bug Tracker with as much information as possible being supplied and, if possible, a simple, demonstrative example file (not your whole game!) in the *.gmz format attached. A *.gmz is a compressed format file and can created through File>Ex;port Project menu. Please provide as detailed a description as possible of the ways in which the error manifests itself on your system, as well as the steps which lead up to the error and all characteristics of the hardware used for testing. You can also report minor problems with things like the UI or design through our forums, and there you can also get support for any questions that you may have about the product being tested. You can also use the forums to provide your suggestions on improving the product, or even post a bug on the GM: Bug Tracker, marking it as a "Wish" so we can see that this is a suggestion rather than an error.