Beta Hype

[Axle_Bullitt_19]

I personaly think its awesome to get invited to a Beta. But some people I know could careless or think that its just free labor thanks to the extended networks that have been established be XBL and PSN. So what is you opinion of Betas.

 

[Neonbob]

I usually enjoy them.
Even with bugs, getting a new game to try out is really never a bad thing.

 

[Space Spoons]

I've always thought they were a great way to test the waters on new games. Never thought of them as anything other than exclusive demos, really.

 

[WillSimplyBe]

I love Betas, I've been involved in Closed and Open beta testing of more than just a few MMOs in the past, even to the point of actually helping something get alterred ingame. (The system works!!)

So yeah, I enjoy betas, free play and getting to have a sneak peak before things come out.

 

[Proteus214]

I have been through the development process a few times already and I can easily say that betas are amazing from a developer perspective, so I always think it's a great thing to be invited.

 

[megapenguinx]

I like Betas, kind of like getting a free game. Plus, I always like assisting in the game making process anyway I can.

 

[Nurb]

The only reason people care so much about MMO betas is because it's the only chance to try the games before they're released since companies don't offer trials for 6-12 months afterwards, forcing people to make blind purchases. It's the reason I try to get into closed/open betas anyway.

I don't know why they think they're above post-release trials considering the market is already crowded, and going to be even more competitive by the end of the year. The customers have a lot of choices and the companies think they're the ones with all the power.

seriously, what other products are out there that won't let you try them before you buy one, being forced to take the sales persons's word for it, and if you do buy it, but don't like it, you can't return it to the store. You risk wasting 50-60 bucks on these things.

 

[WillSimplyBe]

The only reason people care so much about MMO betas is because it's the only chance to try the games before they're released since companies don't offer trials for 6-12 months afterwards, forcing people to make blind purchases. It's the reason I try to get into closed/open betas anyway.

I don't know why they think they're above post-release trials considering the market is already crowded, and going to be even more competitive by the end of the year. The customers have a lot of choices and the companies think they're the ones with all the power.

seriously, what other products are out there that won't let you try them before you buy one, being forced to take the sales persons's word for it, and if you do buy it, but don't like it, you can't return it to the store. You risk wasting 50-60 bucks on these things.

Yeah, it seems like the 10 day trial(or so many hours before said amount of days is up *evil smirk*) is the new normal, which is unfortunate, compared to how things used to be.

HOWEVER, as a big MMO fan, i'll give you a bit of insight into why they do this, The trials are the most exploited things MMOs offer. Most Botters, scammers, spammers, gold-sellers, account sellers, and the like only register for trial accounts, and are able to seriously affect things like a game's economy and the spawn rates of enemies in different areas, just to name a few examples. This is why trials have been getting shorter and more limited. Its all about trying to keep the 3rd Party programs and companies at bay.

 

[Nurb]

The only reason people care so much about MMO betas is because it's the only chance to try the games before they're released since companies don't offer trials for 6-12 months afterwards, forcing people to make blind purchases. It's the reason I try to get into closed/open betas anyway.

I don't know why they think they're above post-release trials considering the market is already crowded, and going to be even more competitive by the end of the year. The customers have a lot of choices and the companies think they're the ones with all the power.

seriously, what other products are out there that won't let you try them before you buy one, being forced to take the sales persons's word for it, and if you do buy it, but don't like it, you can't return it to the store. You risk wasting 50-60 bucks on these things.

Yeah, it seems like the 10 day trial(or so many hours before said amount of days is up *evil smirk*) is the new normal, which is unfortunate, compared to how things used to be.

HOWEVER, as a big MMO fan, i'll give you a bit of insight into why they do this, The trials are the most exploited things MMOs offer. Most Botters, scammers, spammers, gold-sellers, account sellers, and the like only register for trial accounts, and are able to seriously affect things like a game's economy and the spawn rates of enemies in different areas, just to name a few examples. This is why trials have been getting shorter and more limited. Its all about trying to keep the 3rd Party programs and companies at bay.

Ah, but turbine solved that problem by not letting trial accounts use the Auction houses, trade with other players, or use the mail system, stopping botters and farmers for the most part. These companies really have no excuse to withold a trial when we have so many options (well other than forcing people to buy it from the hype), and gaming sites and magazines are no help in giving hype-free info about a game. I tried the Section 8 open beta because PC gamer was raving about it, but only played one match before uninstalling the tribes-with-armor-and-tanks ripoff.

 

[New Troll]

If it's for a game I like, then I'm all for it. Otherwise, could care less.

I beta-tested Diablo 2, Diablo 2:LoD, WarCraft 3: FT, and WoW and absolutely loved all of them! I also got invites to beta-test patches and WoW expansions, but I was never interested. The way I figured it, I would rather spend that time continuesly advancing one of my real characters, knowing I'd end up seeing all the new content anyways with them.

I have not been invited into any closed betas in awhile, but if I was to get a shot with Diablo 3, I'd be all over it! Anything else... meh.

 

[Simalacrum]

well, I do remember the MGS Online Beta... I didn't know if that was available to everyone or not (it was on the PSN store), but I still quite enjoyed it. I guess it would be cool to be invited to something like that, would make me feel priveliged and special [small]even though I'm not...[/small]

 

[WillSimplyBe]

The only reason people care so much about MMO betas is because it's the only chance to try the games before they're released since companies don't offer trials for 6-12 months afterwards, forcing people to make blind purchases. It's the reason I try to get into closed/open betas anyway.

I don't know why they think they're above post-release trials considering the market is already crowded, and going to be even more competitive by the end of the year. The customers have a lot of choices and the companies think they're the ones with all the power.

seriously, what other products are out there that won't let you try them before you buy one, being forced to take the sales persons's word for it, and if you do buy it, but don't like it, you can't return it to the store. You risk wasting 50-60 bucks on these things.

Yeah, it seems like the 10 day trial(or so many hours before said amount of days is up *evil smirk*) is the new normal, which is unfortunate, compared to how things used to be.

HOWEVER, as a big MMO fan, i'll give you a bit of insight into why they do this, The trials are the most exploited things MMOs offer. Most Botters, scammers, spammers, gold-sellers, account sellers, and the like only register for trial accounts, and are able to seriously affect things like a game's economy and the spawn rates of enemies in different areas, just to name a few examples. This is why trials have been getting shorter and more limited. Its all about trying to keep the 3rd Party programs and companies at bay.

Ah, but turbine solved that problem by not letting trial accounts use the Auction houses, trade with other players, or use the mail system, stopping botters and farmers for the most part. These companies really have no excuse to withold a trial when we have so many options (well other than forcing people to buy it from the hype), and gaming sites and magazines are no help in giving hype-free info about a game. I tried the Section 8 open beta because PC gamer was raving about it, but only played one match before uninstalling the tribes-with-armor-and-tanks ripoff.

Hmm, Tou'che. I forgot Turbine did that, but as I said to you before, I believe, the MMO genre is a melting pot of ideas and MANY great systems and ideas havent been implemented in any way in any other MMOs. Turbine's Anti-botting strategy is one such system that no one seems to want to learn from.

 

[tsolless]

Ah, but turbine solved that problem by not letting trial accounts use the Auction houses, trade with other players, or use the mail system, stopping botters and farmers for the most part. These companies really have no excuse to withold a trial when we have so many options (well other than forcing people to buy it from the hype), and gaming sites and magazines are no help in giving hype-free info about a game. I tried the Section 8 open beta because PC gamer was raving about it, but only played one match before uninstalling the tribes-with-armor-and-tanks ripoff.

True, but trial accounts are often used as advertisers for gold selling sites. This happens often in LOTRO and EVE as well.

 

[Halfbreed13]

I usually enjoy them.
Even with bugs, getting a new game to try out is really never a bad thing.

This.
It is like a demo
kinda.