Which CivFanatics are involved with Civ V?

[Chalks]

It's not actually against an NDA to admit you are a tester, once the game has been announced, before it's been announced it is, as the fact that the game even exists at that point is IP.

CS

Actually this depends on the NDA in question. I have tested games where the NDA prevented the testers from revealing their identities well after the game was announced.

The idea is an attempt to remove the temptation to leak information - if nobody knows who to ask for leaks, the nobody will be nagging or pressuring others to break the NDA.

 

[LDiCesare]

In the case of Sirian, I doubt any NDA would work past the publishing of the game since I'd expect him to be on the credits page somewhere.

 

[nzk13]

Well, if anyone finds a link to apply for beta testing, please post it here.
EDIT: Or pm it to me.

 

[deanej]

Actually this depends on the NDA in question. I have tested games where the NDA prevented the testers from revealing their identities well after the game was announced.

The idea is an attempt to remove the temptation to leak information - if nobody knows who to ask for leaks, the nobody will be nagging or pressuring others to break the NDA.

Yeah, some NDAs can be strict, others not. I believe the Cities XL one prevents testers from revealing any information about the game forever, meaning that they still can't tell people what the features of the game are even though anyone can buy the game and find out for themselves.

 

[CanuckSoldier]

Yeah, some NDAs can be strict, others not. I believe the Cities XL one prevents testers from revealing any information about the game forever, meaning that they still can't tell people what the features of the game are even though anyone can buy the game and find out for themselves.

Yes I should have been more specific. Unless Firaxis/2K have changed their policy since BTS testing, their NDA doesn't preclude a tester from being identified after the game has gone public.

CS

 

[Solver]

The NDAs we had for Civ4 and Colonization indeed precluded us from even stating that we are testers until release, when the information became public through in-game credits. And of course mentioning that the game even exists until the announcement would be a severe breach of the NDA. However, it was possible to get permission to reveal one's involvement at later stages in the dev cycle - with Civ4, several testers (including Thunderfall, Sullla and yours truly) got the permission to publish some exclusive preview info.

 

[CanuckSoldier]

Well I can't speak for Civ4Col, but you much have signed a different Civ4 NDA than I did, because mine didn't say that. And I even asked Jesse Smith to make sure. After all it is rather had to recruit new testers without revealing that you are a tester :-/

CS

 

[Dale]

Also to note with the Civ4 and Col beta tests, the NDA specifically precludes discussion on how things worked and changed during the tests. So for instance I couldn't tell you that GDR's and Space Age were in Civ4, but were scrapped during beta tests for the familiar modern age end.







J/K.

 

[CanuckSoldier]

Double post on my blackberry...

CS

 

[Solver]

I know there were at least two and possibly three different Civ4 NDAs, so people signed different ones depending on when they joined. I think mine didn't explicitly state not to mention I'm a tester, but it probably fits in one of the more general provisions of not revealing information pertinent to the development process and such. I'm not that well versed in legalese

 

[Krill]

Yeah, my NDA didn't technically state I couldn't admit to being a tester, but not like I would have admitted it either way. Most testers aren't stupid.

 

[Solver]

Actually as far as legalese goes, I have to give their legal department the credit for writing a reasonably understandable NDA. At least it wasn't like many legal documents, of obscene length and full of phrasing only a lawyer can understand.

 

[2K Elizabeth]

If we just go by if someone's registered, I'm 99% positive these are involved:
-Sid Meier
-2K Elizabeth
-Jon Shafer
-alexman

I would say that's a fairly safe bet!

 

[robcheng]

Even if someone were NOT a beta tester, they wouldn't necessarily want to confirm that they were not a tester, because it would set a precedent that might make it hard for them in the future if they did end up testing something ("since you confirmed you weren't testing last time, and you won't comment this time, it must mean you are a tester!!!")

Therefore, I won't comment on any involvement with Civ V.

 

[CanuckSoldier]

Also to note with the Civ4 and Col beta tests, the NDA specifically precludes discussion on how things worked and changed during the tests. So for instance I couldn't tell you that GDR's and Space Age were in Civ4, but were scrapped during beta tests for the familiar modern age end.







J/K.

Yes agreed talking about the develpment process is definitely of limits, especially the the massively huge server that was planned, but got shut down because the power grid in Maryland couldn't handle it

CS

 

[Dale]

And don't forget that SMAC2 conversion that we tested. Shame they decided to use the Col2 conversion instead.

 

[GoodRevrnd]

You are all a bunch of sadists.

 

[Ztaesek]

Actually as far as legalese goes, I have to give their legal department the credit for writing a reasonably understandable NDA. At least it wasn't like many legal documents, of obscene length and full of phrasing only a lawyer can understand.

Agreed. The Col2 NDA was short and concise.

 

[Dale]

You are all a bunch of sadists.

I'm bored.

 

[nzk13]

CIV4/CoL beta testers, I have a question. How did you get the ability to be a civ beta tester? did they put out things asking for beta testers, or did you contact them, or what? Were the betas restricted or open to anyone who was willing to join? Please answer. (I want to be a beta tester).