What if the Dawnguard beta destroys our game? : V

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:40 am

Has anyone considered this?

For all we know this beta could be absolutely packed with game-braking glitches to the point where it makes the game unplayable.

Would you be bothered if this was the case?

(Edit: There's obviously going to be lot's of glitches, but I'm talking about about glitches that completely screw up your game. From the game not even loading, to all your save files being corrupted. Maybe even glitches that affect not only Skyrim, but other things on the Xbox as well)

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:55 am

If you are entering a beta test you should back up your saves, and expect the worst in terms of bugs, since finding bugs is the point of a beta test.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:49 am

That's why we're having a beta.

To see if it does mess up our game.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:54 am

Thats what a beta is, if something goes haywire then report it.

Remember, this is a beta, not some free head start preview.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:53 am

It could. That's why with betas you back up your saves first, they're labelling it beta for a reason. As Saulot said, the whole point of a beta test is to find bugs, not to play the DLC early. :wink:

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:54 am

If you are entering a beta test you should back up your saves, and expect the worst in terms of bugs, since finding bugs is the point of a beta test.

But what if messes up all your saves?

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:58 am

But what if messes up all your saves?

Tough luck. That's the risk you take when you take part in the development process. As I said, you should back up your saves to minimize the possible harm, but if something happens and all your saves are damaged, then you fill out a bug report in as much detail as possible so that someone at Bethesda can reproduce the bug and fix it before release.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:44 am

Tough luck. That's the risk you take when you take part in the development process. As I said, you should back up your saves to minimize the possible harm, but if something happens and all your saves are damaged, then you fill out a bug report in as much detail as possible so that someone at Bethesda can reproduce the bug and fix it before release.

But what if the glitches affect other games and not only Skyrim?

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:14 am

if it stos other peoples game getting messed up its a risk im willing to take

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 6:55 am

But what if the glitches affect other games and not only Skyrim?

That seems unlikely to me, though admittedly, I don't know very much about the consoles. But if you are that worried about using beta software, then perhaps you don't really want to be beta testing. Beta testing will always involve some risk since it is not a finished product and you are providing Bethesda with a service.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 8:28 am

if it stos other peoples game getting messed up its a risk im willing to take

But what if the glitches affect your personal health and not only your games?

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:09 pm

I don't see how they would, and absolute worst case i'd just back up your favorite saves into your cloud so it has no contact with your hard drive after the beta gets to it. Thats the risk you take with a beta.... it's a beta test not an E3 display.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:32 pm

That seems unlikely to me, though admittedly, I don't know very much about the consoles. But if you are that worried about using beta software, then perhaps you don't really want to be beta testing. Beta testing will always involve some risk since it is not a finished product and you are providing Bethesda with a service.

I'm not worrying, I'm just curious to see what other people would think/do if the beta does destroy the game/console.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:11 am

I'm not worrying, I'm just curious to see what other people would think/do if the beta does destroy the game/console.

Well, whatever else you do, please make sure to submit a bug report. :cool:

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 11:24 am

But what if the glitches affect other games and not only Skyrim?

Extremely unlikely, since this is just new content. Only bugs will propably be game mechanics and quest related.

Though i've learned the hard way that when it comes to computers, even locked hardware ones like consoles, nothing is impossible. Thus the quote "Never trust a computer you can't throw trough a window"

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:29 pm

But what if the glitches affect your personal health and not only your games?

its skyrim, once i start playing my health is constantly going to go downhill.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 5:07 pm

Bethesda would have to make an epic leap forward in the field of bad code design if Dawnguard were to break your console; something like accidentally shipping a computer virus.

Personally, I wouldn't be too worried. Backup your saves, of course; if your character doesn't get messed up in some way by the beta itself, then updating to the release version might still cause problems.

edit: But what if the glitches affect the fabric of spacetime and not only your personal health?

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 1:58 am

But what if messes up all your saves?

Saves that were made before the Dawnguard beta was added should remain unaffected. The DLC has no reason to do stuff to old saves.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:12 am

Saves that were made before the Dawnguard beta was added should remain unaffected. The DLC has no reason to do stuff to old saves.

You never know.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 3:01 pm

Has anyone considered this?

For all we know this beta could be absolutely packed with game-braking glitches to the point where it makes the game unplayable.

Would you be bothered if this was the case?

This is what I've been saying from the start. I'm not one to look a gift horse in the mouth usually, but I'm more wary of this one. There is a chance that it may break your game or save files. It is a risk beta testers have to be willing to take. On the plus side I don't know any beta patch testers who ruined their game so I don't think it will be too bad. However, there is always the possibility.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 2:22 pm

If Dawnguard does something to your old saves, I think it would've been mentioned. It's not something that in-game scripting can do.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 4:47 pm

Which is why I don't want any part of it. Other people can play / break it for a while until it is ready for me. Hah.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 10:28 am

I'm all about it the sooner the beta happens, the sooner issues are adressed, the sooner the actual dlc comes out.....I'll take one for the team.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 7:50 am

I'm all about it the sooner the beta happens, the sooner issues are adressed, the sooner the actual dlc comes out.....I'll take one for the team.

"Well, I'm off to play DLC early and for free! No need to thank me."

It's only fair, though. I'm having a ton of fun with mounted combat.

» Fri Jun 22, 2012 12:21 pm

You never know.

Are you that far behind the technology trend?