[Scummvm-devel] Bring testers to the team?

[Henry Bush]

On Mon, Jul 13, 2009 at 17:13, Eugene Sandulenko<sev at scummvm.org> wrote:
> There was a quite sound idea mentioned recently, that is bring "full
> time" testers to the team.
>
> What do you think guys?
Absolutely, yes. Sounds like a great idea. Play testing the games
takes substantial amounts of time, so they should get recognition for
it.

> And these need to be discussed:
>  - Access to our donations for purchasing games. (perhaps some max
>    amount per year? I don't really know, I don't want to abuse it, and
>    would rather save for the developers)
Possibly. I think so long as it is monitored. For example, it's quite
cheap now to pick up space quest 1-6, so that would be fine, but using
it to pick up monkey island madness is not on! But so long as those
that make the decisions (you and Max, presumably) agree, then it
shouldn't be a problem. A max amount a year seems like something that
is easily abused: if a playtester knows they can request X amount per
year, they may (and I think most wouldn't, but even so) feel like they
*ought* to request it.

>  - Moderator status on the forums. (They will be part of the team, so
>    why not?)
Yeah, I don't see any reason not to.

>  - +o on IRC. (Will they really need it? IMHO +v is enough)
I'll abstain on this one. I don't use my "powers" on irc anyway,
whenever someone needs kicking there's always someone with a more
itchy trigger finger than mine ;-).

> The requirements to these positions would be:
>  - Own more than 5 games. (There will be more mentoring that benefits
>    if they will have less. May be even increase the required amount?).
Yes, at least five. I don't know if more is asking too much. Probably
not, especially once SCI ones are included ;-)

A few more questions: Does everyone who fulfills the requirements get
to do it? Or do we have a specific number of posts, and when someone
chooses to leave we search for another? Or do we "interview" for them,
and the actual number taken will be a subjective decision?

And do we kick em out if they don't test their games when we actually
need them to do it (without having a good reason)?


Cheers,


Henry