Beta testing used to be testing. Then beta testing became free trial. Then beta testing became paid early access.
Evolution :-)
oh wait, would that be innovation... or maybe invention? I get so confused.
Not innovation. The game companies have devalued the purpose of public testing to find those issues. Devolution is the word you are looking for. Gamers go into a Beta "Testing" thinking they will have a finished polished game that they can either tell their friends about or are sorely disappointed the game isn't finished and want to complain about it not being finished. The real value of Beta was originally that the game companies could get usability testing done on a large scale without paying a penny for it. Now, Beta is used instead of "Early Access" which is a completely different situation.
I played WoW up until WotLK, played RoM for 2 years and now Rift. I am F2P player. I support games when I feel they deserve my money and I want the items enough. I don't troll, and I don't take kindly to trolls.
Originally posted by Quirhid Nothing wrong with selling if someone's buying, right? You don't have to buy a beta access, you know. So its fair.
If people are willing to pay to get in, there's no reason a company shouldn't sell access.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein "Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
I think companies are getting smart. They know they are releasing a crappy game so they have 2 options.
1. Release the game, hope people spend some money and stick with it before they realize its crappy.
2. Offer expensive packs or early beta access and get a huge chunk of $$ up front before people realize its crappy.
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!
Comments
Soo true mate love it ! May I steal that quote ?
Current games;
Star treck online
Rift
Eve online
Firefall
paying to do the dirty work of testing an unfinished, buggy beta phase game?
NEVER
Secrets of Dragon?s Spine Trailer.. !
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fwT9cFVQCMw
Best MMOs ever played: Ultima, EvE, SW Galaxies, Age of Conan, The Secret World
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2X_SbZCHpc&t=21s
.
.
The Return of ELITE !
Not innovation. The game companies have devalued the purpose of public testing to find those issues. Devolution is the word you are looking for. Gamers go into a Beta "Testing" thinking they will have a finished polished game that they can either tell their friends about or are sorely disappointed the game isn't finished and want to complain about it not being finished. The real value of Beta was originally that the game companies could get usability testing done on a large scale without paying a penny for it. Now, Beta is used instead of "Early Access" which is a completely different situation.
I played WoW up until WotLK, played RoM for 2 years and now Rift.
I am F2P player. I support games when I feel they deserve my money and I want the items enough.
I don't troll, and I don't take kindly to trolls.
If people are willing to pay to get in, there's no reason a company shouldn't sell access.
There isn't a "right" or "wrong" way to play, if you want to use a screwdriver to put nails into wood, have at it, simply don't complain when the guy next to you with the hammer is doing it much better and easier. - Allein
"Graphics are often supplied by Engines that (some) MMORPG's are built in" - Spuffyre
I think companies are getting smart. They know they are releasing a crappy game so they have 2 options.
1. Release the game, hope people spend some money and stick with it before they realize its crappy.
2. Offer expensive packs or early beta access and get a huge chunk of $$ up front before people realize its crappy.
Don't be terrorized! You're more likely to die of a car accident, drowning, fire, or murder! More people die every year from prescription drugs than terrorism LOL!