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Charging for Beta
mrputts
Member UncommonPosts: 283
This is a statement that I have seen thrown around by people when a game releases and is in piss poor shape.
But it got me wondering. If a company (lets go indie or non AAA.) was developing an MMO, and due to whatever reason they needed cash (for this topic lets assume they did not want to sell out to a big gaming company, or Kickstarter was truely not enough to get it done.)
It was a game that you enjoyed playing but could clearly see that it needed work. So they decided to start a paid beta. Fully disclosing the reasons why they were trying to do this, and to what the money would actually be going for.
Would you pay to beta?
Personally I think for the right reasons I could see myself paying.
Ea is like a poo fingered midas ~ShakyMo
Comments
If a game was in trouble in beta and needed cash and therefore was selling beta, I don't believe it will be able to turn it around so I am not going to waste my money on it. Too many games are getting to release and still not worth paying for. I have been burnt on a few games lately and not going to spend cash on any new games until AFTER release and after a reading a few reviews.
Too many players are falling for the hype of a game and paying hard cash long before the game is released and the game never getting to a 'worth it' state.
Oderint, dum metuant.
Ea is like a poo fingered midas ~ShakyMo
They call them soft launches now and firefall is probably the most well known example of a company doing it. They're pretty open about it. It's free to play but you can buy founders packs and they have a cash shop. The game is going to stay in " beta " till they think it's ready to call it launched. There's no real date in mind.
I wouldn't pay a sub for a " paid beta " but Ihave no issues with a f2p doing it and selling founder cash shop items. At least ppl can try it and see what they're buying into and also have the freedom to come and go as they please without being " locked in " with a sub fee.
More than likely not. If my perception is that they are doing the paid beta to obtain funds to keep progressing, that's a big red flag for me.
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 had to pay Fileplanet $10.00 to beta WOW before the open beta
it was a promotion between Blizzard and Fileplanet
-- the company may have the funds
EQ2 fan sites
No. I think the idea of paying to do someone else's job to be ridiculous.
And they should buy you a pony !
Sandbox means open world, non-linear gaming PERIOD!
Subscription Gaming, especially MMO gaming is a Cash grab bigger then the most P2W cash shop!
Bring Back Exploration and lengthy progression times. RPG's have always been about the Journey not the destination!!!
Other.
If I know the game is going f2p at release, no since the majority of the items will be obtainable eventually through gameplay or item mall.
If I know the game is going subscription, maybe since I trust games with subs a little more than f2p to deliver decent content at release.
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!
I was burned by Aion, Rift, etc. Thanks to Rift's beta, I'm staying far away from them, even if they're free.
If the game is fully fleshed out, with the amount of content Age of Wushu has, then heck yeah charge for it.
Even Planetside 2 was charge worthy, to a lesser extent, but they charged too much.
"there's a sucker born every minute".....P.T. Barnum
No. I won't pay for beta.
However, if someone else wants to do it, who am i to stop him/her?
I dunno why this is such an issue. Most games do not charge for beta and even the ones that have a founders pack go thru the time honored trend of randomly picking a max number of people to have at least two beta weekends for free prior to launch and make it so that once chosen they won't be unchosen for the next beta weekend.
I'm sure this is secretly directed at Neverwinter because I continue to see over-reactions concerning this game in the forums over and over again (nothing new there that's for sure.)
If people want to prepay for the benefits of getting some extra coin to start off with some extras that will benefit them all the way up into the last bit of the leveling process, who cares it only helps the players by inserting a burst of cash into the the process of ongoing developement with devs who are actually using that model, ie. Cryptic is continuing working on new classes to be released shortly after launch according to the Developer Zeke. Couldn't hurt to have that money there so that if they did forget something essential, like a better chat window or a LFG system then they'd have the cash to put it in there ASAP after launch.
from my experience "paid betas" are code for "our game sucks."
but of course it ultimately depends on the player.
so no.
So basically, they're just selling a really crappy game and calling it a "beta."
No.
You make me like charity
Yeah euh...my principle is very simple.
Simply put, I need to be seduiced and convinced to buy a game. Not the other way around.
I know it would be a beautiful and touching story if devs are able to raise the funds and create a succesfull game with very loyal customers. But I don't really see myself part in that story.
Honestly, if you financially help the game grow, you have the right on a small part of the profits. It's an investment in a profit organisation.