ProBoards v6: Closed Beta Testing

[Doc Ock]

I just donated to rewards but I don't see the access beta reward?

[tommytdl]

So... Maybe this has been addressed elsewhere and if so please link me and I apologize.

I'm an active $15/month subscriber to Proboards+ (150k page views ad free level) for many years but yet I don't qualify for, or get invited to the closed beta? If this is accurate, I think ad-free subscribers are getting stiffly penalized - not intentionally I'm sure.

What is to stop someone in my position from canceling their ad-free subscription and becoming a $5/mo contributor and not only get access to the closed beta but start getting their ad-free with no page view limit?

It's a rhetorical question - I don't plan on doing this because I like contributing to the cause. I do think that Proboards+ subscribers should get automatic inclusion in the closed beta though.

[Retread]

Hi Doc Ock and tommytdl

Since the Proboards Admins won't be in their office until Monday , please don't think they're ignoring you if you don't get a reply to your questions until then.

[tommytdl]

Jan 2, 2021 12:32:48 GMT -8 Retread said:

Hi Doc Ock and tommytdl

Since the Proboards Admins won't be in their office until Monday , please don't think they're ignoring you if you don't get a reply to your questions until then.

It's all good thanks. I was (am) just a bit disappointed not to find my way into the magical land of v6 test forums to play around with it this weekend.

After digging deeper - I see that the Contributions Manage Rewards page says that my Proboards+ subscription is "not active" ... which is not true. It's very much active, however I see January's payment is "pending" on my credit card and will post on Monday. Maybe I'm just in a glitch period and on Monday the situation will fix itself and I'll see v6 access pop up ... crossing fingers and toes.

[Kami]

tommytdl

Not PB staff disclaimer.

But for what it's worth, generally speaking closed beta phases are intentionally smaller than open beta.

During a closed beta phase, larger amounts of testers means a more difficult time parsing through feedback and a slower roll out of the software simply due to the larger amount of information coming through. It's also important to remember that while the software is in a beta phase, this is also the first time external testers have been able to access the admin panel which does make it an alpha stage for these features of a sort.

I know it's disappointing to be gatekept, especially if you've loyally contributed financially for a long time, but if this is what happened it's less a statement on people who gave money and more about an easier way of having a limited pool without navigating signups and invites.

[tommytdl]

Jan 2, 2021 12:54:11 GMT -8 Kami said:

But for what it's worth, generally speaking closed beta phases are intentionally smaller — there are probably a much larger amount of people paying for ad free in some capacity as opposed to those paying for a "contributed" status for PB as a whole, hence it being the user pool selected for the closed beta.

Thanks - This does make perfect sense, except for the fact that joining the closed beta is open to anyone and everyone who wants to join (all contributors) by contributing $5 or more.

Anyway, I don't want to beat it to death anymore and will patiently wait to see what is said by staff.

[Kami]

Jan 2, 2021 13:06:46 GMT -8 tommytdl said:

Jan 2, 2021 12:54:11 GMT -8 Kami said:

But for what it's worth, generally speaking closed beta phases are intentionally smaller — there are probably a much larger amount of people paying for ad free in some capacity as opposed to those paying for a "contributed" status for PB as a whole, hence it being the user pool selected for the closed beta.

Thanks - This does make perfect sense, except for the fact that joining the closed beta is open to anyone and everyone who wants to join (all contributors) by contributing $5 or more.

Anyway, I don't want to beat it to death anymore and will patiently wait to see what is said by staff.

Of course, it was a generality and I am not staff so I can only offer my personal experience as a web/software developer as reference (though making games vs web based software is different to certain degrees) rather than as definitive proof.

If I had to hazard a guess, it's still probably the more attractive option because the *current* pool is smaller since they only recently rolled out this option + closed phases of testing are generally short lived in comparison to open phases so the increase in contributors even in light of close beta likely will not reach the same level as general adfree subscribers over the whole service before open beta is upon us.

But again, only an educated conjecture as opposed to fact. Quite interested in the official reply as well (:

[Retread]

tommytdl I'm not a ProBoards employee so I won't offer an opinion on your situation. But I can give you some information ...

Jan 2, 2021 12:21:47 GMT -8 tommytdl said:

What is to stop someone in my position from canceling their ad-free subscription and becoming a $5/mo contributor and not only get access to the closed beta but start getting their ad-free with no page view limit?

1 - Ad-free and ProBoards+ are two different services.

Ad-free pertains to a specific forum and is purchased in 50k pageview blocks. This includes all members and optionally includes guests as well.

ProBoards+ pertains to an individual's Global ID. When logged-in, that one person won't see ads on any forum on the ProBoards service (proboards.com, freeforums.net, or boards.net). There is no pageview limit for this service.

2 - a $5/mo contribution would qualify for 1 month of no ads with ProBoards+ (not to be confused with the Ad-free service). But it would not qualify for Early access to the ProBoards v6 Beta. The minimum contribution level for that access is $25 (Gold Contributor).

Jan 2, 2021 12:21:47 GMT -8 tommytdl said:

I do think that Proboards+ subscribers should get automatic inclusion in the closed beta though.

tommytdl, it sounds like you subscribe to three 50k pageview blocks per month of Ad-free for your forum?

I won't offer an opinion as to whether Ad-free subscribers should be included in early access to v6 Beta, but it doesn't hurt to ask!

[tommytdl]

Jan 2, 2021 13:24:26 GMT -8 Retread said:

tommytdl I'm not a ProBoards employee so I won't offer an opinion on your situation. But I can give you some information ...

Thank you for the information, I appreciate it.

[deleted the rest - I get the difference between personal ad-free and forum ad-free now]
.

[Matej]

The beta is currently available to Contributors in the Gold Tier or higher. We appreciate absolutely everyone who is a part of our forums and we plan to invite more users over time, with the pace accelerating until a completely open beta stage.
It's important that we iron out some of the early issues to give everyone a better experience and help us manage the bugs and feedback. We are still adjusting how we are going to continue with the beta based on experience and current results.

We do have an open beta of sorts available on this very forum - the v6 Beta theme that you can choose from your profile will allow anyone with a membership of this forum to browse the forum fully in v6.

[Gator]

Can you at leasted give us a time so we no how long to we can get to work on our forums, i miss building thats why i have a lot of forums just to give me something to build and rebuild but i been at a stead still for a long time now, i want to come back into my forums in full and get to redo them based on v6, this closed beta testing in all honest is depressing to ones who cant afford to pay real money, believe me if i could i would just to get to see whats to come, Anyways can u tell us when this will take plan your saying its in the plans but when? I would risk losing things on even my man forums, just to get to work on them now. I got pasion and could help in this beta testing but i going to wait i not wanting invited to someones thing i want to get to work on my forums.

[Liam]

You aren't missing much right now in terms of customising the design, unless you know your way around HTML & CSS in the advanced editor. There's also an issue that prevents changes from being visible even when you do modify things.

You can still help in the beta by using the support forum with the v6 theme. I'm sure the admins are eager to hear feedback from a range of people!

[Michael Stone]

Jan 4, 2021 14:21:39 GMT -8 Gator said:

Can you at leasted give us a time so we no how long to we can get to work on our forums, i miss building thats why i have a lot of forums just to give me something to build and rebuild but i been at a stead still for a long time now, i want to come back into my forums in full and get to redo them based on v6, this closed beta testing in all honest is depressing to ones who cant afford to pay real money, believe me if i could i would just to get to see whats to come, Anyways can u tell us when this will take plan your saying its in the plans but when? I would risk losing things on even my man forums, just to get to work on them now. I got pasion and could help in this beta testing but i going to wait i not wanting invited to someones thing i want to get to work on my forums.

Hi,

Closed Beta is only for a limited time. We will eventually be moving to an open beta.

While I understand some are anxious to try out v6 we specifically wanted to provide early access to those who were willing to generously extend above and beyond to contribute personally to ProBoards during a difficult time. I promise that everyone who wants to try v6 will have the ability to do so well before the full release (on top of the 18 month transition).

Thank you for your interest in v6 and I hope you'll enjoy it all the same when we move into an open beta.

[henny4315]

Jan 4, 2021 14:38:41 GMT -8 Michael Stone said:

Jan 4, 2021 14:21:39 GMT -8 Gator said:

Can you at leasted give us a time so we no how long to we can get to work on our forums, i miss building thats why i have a lot of forums just to give me something to build and rebuild but i been at a stead still for a long time now, i want to come back into my forums in full and get to redo them based on v6, this closed beta testing in all honest is depressing to ones who cant afford to pay real money, believe me if i could i would just to get to see whats to come, Anyways can u tell us when this will take plan your saying its in the plans but when? I would risk losing things on even my man forums, just to get to work on them now. I got pasion and could help in this beta testing but i going to wait i not wanting invited to someones thing i want to get to work on my forums.

Hi,

Closed Beta is only for a limited time. We will eventually be moving to an open beta.

While I understand some are anxious to try out v6 we specifically wanted to provide early access to those who were willing to generously extend above and beyond to contribute personally to ProBoards during a difficult time. I promise that everyone who wants to try v6 will have the ability to do so well before the full release (on top of the 18 month transition).

Thank you for your interest in v6 and I hope you'll enjoy it all the same when we move into an open beta.

Is there any estimated or approximate release date for open beta?

[Michael Stone]

Jan 4, 2021 15:36:26 GMT -8 henny4315 said:

Jan 4, 2021 14:38:41 GMT -8 Michael Stone said:

Hi,

Closed Beta is only for a limited time. We will eventually be moving to an open beta.

While I understand some are anxious to try out v6 we specifically wanted to provide early access to those who were willing to generously extend above and beyond to contribute personally to ProBoards during a difficult time. I promise that everyone who wants to try v6 will have the ability to do so well before the full release (on top of the 18 month transition).

Thank you for your interest in v6 and I hope you'll enjoy it all the same when we move into an open beta.

Is there any estimated or approximate release date for open beta?

I don't have a date right now but keep an eye on the Development Blog board.