More Links

Flamehead · 08-29-2012, 08:38 AM

I've noticed over the last several years that in the months leading up to release in the midst of the marketing hype and new features, etc., the one thing barely mentioned (and never discussed) is Quality Assurance.

Now I get it--when people are excited about what's to come, discussing QA, or making one's wishes known about QA, isn't sexy. But yet after every release (and seemingly more so this year), the forums are littered with fairly large issues. NOW the community is up in arms about QA (whether directly or indirectly).

Before someone jumps in and says "every game has bugs", I'm not talking about the little niggles...I repeat, I'm not talking about the little niggles.

I'm talking about the substantial and near gamebreaking bugs that are evident from simply playing a few games or navigating a few menus and trying a few things. Issues you discover from an hour or two, i.e., not items that are only found with hundreds of thousands of gamers hitting it at once.

So are those that are hot or frustrated right now going to remember this in March or May? Is the community going to emphasize this to the devs going forward? Are those with direct contact with the devs or in community days going to ask about it? Do they mention it?

Because if there's not a constant emphasis on this by the community as a whole year-round (like other issues), at what point do we (as a community) give up our complaining rights to some extent because we make it easy for EA to treat QA lightly?

Features may come and go, but a title that works correctly is not an unreasonable expectation. Do we give EA a pass except for the few weeks following release?

prey2god · 08-29-2012, 08:45 AM

Their QA Dept needs to do damage control now. Fix the mess everyone higher than them left. Just because this is the "stepping stone" for future Maddens to come doesn't mean it's a brilliant strategy. It could backfire at EA once the NFL License is up in 2014.

Then it's fair game. And a lot of fans will remember this day.

RumbleCard · 08-29-2012, 08:47 AM

Unfortunately we have this same conversation every year. Its been this way as long as I can remember. I sincerely doubt it will ever change.

There's no reason EA can't bring on 20 or so OS members a year, two weeks before release, to work through the game. I'm certain there are hundreds of members on this forum that would donate their time for free. That's right free QA testing. This would cost EA nothing.

But the tight lid these guys like to keep on games will most likely prevent this kind of positive pre-release testing.

JayInSaratoga · 08-29-2012, 08:50 AM

There was extensive QA on this game, unfortunately though you cant count on the snuffler...

prey2god · 08-29-2012, 08:50 AM

I don't see what's there to be tight lid about. Madden literally hasn't had any competition since 06.

They should embrace stuff getting leaked out

CarryTheWeight · 08-29-2012, 09:01 AM

Oh, QA is down across the board in the gaming industry itself (it seems). Notice how publishers and developers hardly delay their games anymore --- it's because they'd like to make their original release date by any means necessary. That's why so many games usually ship in such a bug-riddled state.

Last game I can remember that received a notable delay from its original release date was Mass Effect 2 (an EA title no less) and it ended up being one of the better titles of this console generation. That could very well be for thematic reasons, of course, but the bugs in that game were few and far between compared to other titles on the market. Makes you wonder...

In an era where most developers assume that their user base uses the internet, patching has replaced dedicated quality assurance. It's a shame, but why pay a team of testers when you can gauge community reaction for free?

Soprano00 · 08-29-2012, 09:02 AM

what I really don't understand are bugs like the AI making the wrong choice in the last seconds.

A) the same (wrong) behaviour is not observable in Madden 12 or Madden for Vita. Why did they introduce this change for the worse on something not engine or graphics related like that ? They could have left the one of last year as is and would be OK.

B) even in the case, how could this ever pass the QA tests ? I mean, they didn't even play 4-5 games to realize it ? Or they just knew that but somehow decided to not fix it ?

roadman · 08-29-2012, 09:40 AM

Carry the Weight nailed it.

There are usually release day patches because of the yearly cycle.

08-29-2012, 08:38 AM	#1
Flamehead Banned OVR: 11 Join Date: Dec 2002	So NOW is QA Important? I've noticed over the last several years that in the months leading up to release in the midst of the marketing hype and new features, etc., the one thing barely mentioned (and never discussed) is Quality Assurance. Now I get it--when people are excited about what's to come, discussing QA, or making one's wishes known about QA, isn't sexy. But yet after every release (and seemingly more so this year), the forums are littered with fairly large issues. NOW the community is up in arms about QA (whether directly or indirectly). Before someone jumps in and says "every game has bugs", I'm not talking about the little niggles...I repeat, I'm not talking about the little niggles. I'm talking about the substantial and near gamebreaking bugs that are evident from simply playing a few games or navigating a few menus and trying a few things. Issues you discover from an hour or two, i.e., not items that are only found with hundreds of thousands of gamers hitting it at once. So are those that are hot or frustrated right now going to remember this in March or May? Is the community going to emphasize this to the devs going forward? Are those with direct contact with the devs or in community days going to ask about it? Do they mention it? Because if there's not a constant emphasis on this by the community as a whole year-round (like other issues), at what point do we (as a community) give up our complaining rights to some extent because we make it easy for EA to treat QA lightly? Features may come and go, but a title that works correctly is not an unreasonable expectation. Do we give EA a pass except for the few weeks following release? Thinger, baumy300 and wheelman990 like this. Last edited by Flamehead; 08-29-2012 at 09:21 AM.

08-29-2012, 08:45 AM	#2
prey2god MVP OVR: 0 Join Date: Oct 2011	Re: So NOW is QA Important? Their QA Dept needs to do damage control now. Fix the mess everyone higher than them left. Just because this is the "stepping stone" for future Maddens to come doesn't mean it's a brilliant strategy. It could backfire at EA once the NFL License is up in 2014. Then it's fair game. And a lot of fans will remember this day. jdefreitas and baumy300 like this.

08-29-2012, 08:47 AM	#3
RumbleCard MVP OVR: 8 Join Date: Aug 2007	Re: So NOW is QA Important? Unfortunately we have this same conversation every year. Its been this way as long as I can remember. I sincerely doubt it will ever change. There's no reason EA can't bring on 20 or so OS members a year, two weeks before release, to work through the game. I'm certain there are hundreds of members on this forum that would donate their time for free. That's right free QA testing. This would cost EA nothing. But the tight lid these guys like to keep on games will most likely prevent this kind of positive pre-release testing. baumy300 likes this.

08-29-2012, 08:50 AM	#4
JayInSaratoga Rookie OVR: 5 Join Date: Aug 2009	Re: So NOW is QA Important? There was extensive QA on this game, unfortunately though you cant count on the snuffler... The GIGGAS and MoleDude like this.

08-29-2012, 08:50 AM	#5
prey2god MVP OVR: 0 Join Date: Oct 2011	Re: So NOW is QA Important? I don't see what's there to be tight lid about. Madden literally hasn't had any competition since 06. They should embrace stuff getting leaked out

	MLB The Show 24 Review: Another Solid Hit for the Series
	New Star GP Review: Old-School Arcade Fun
	Where Are Our College Basketball Video Game Rumors?

08-29-2012, 09:01 AM	#6
CarryTheWeight MVP OVR: 30 Join Date: Jul 2002 Location: Orchard Park, NY Blog Entries: 13	Re: So NOW is QA Important? Oh, QA is down across the board in the gaming industry itself (it seems). Notice how publishers and developers hardly delay their games anymore --- it's because they'd like to make their original release date by any means necessary. That's why so many games usually ship in such a bug-riddled state. Last game I can remember that received a notable delay from its original release date was Mass Effect 2 (an EA title no less) and it ended up being one of the better titles of this console generation. That could very well be for thematic reasons, of course, but the bugs in that game were few and far between compared to other titles on the market. Makes you wonder... In an era where most developers assume that their user base uses the internet, patching has replaced dedicated quality assurance. It's a shame, but why pay a team of testers when you can gauge community reaction for free? Lionsfan7887, btemp, jdefreitas and 6 others like this. __________________ Owner of URWL CAW WRESTLING: http://www.rantboard.net/

08-29-2012, 09:02 AM	#7
Soprano00 Rookie OVR: 1 Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Vienna, Austria	Re: So NOW is QA Important? what I really don't understand are bugs like the AI making the wrong choice in the last seconds. A) the same (wrong) behaviour is not observable in Madden 12 or Madden for Vita. Why did they introduce this change for the worse on something not engine or graphics related like that ? They could have left the one of last year as is and would be OK. B) even in the case, how could this ever pass the QA tests ? I mean, they didn't even play 4-5 games to realize it ? Or they just knew that but somehow decided to not fix it ?

08-29-2012, 09:40 AM	#8
roadman ll Str OVR: 34 Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: Midwest Posts: 26,170	Re: So NOW is QA Important? Carry the Weight nailed it. There are usually release day patches because of the yearly cycle.

More Links

So NOW is QA Important?