Destiny Beta Coming in July

[Steven Bogos]

Destiny Beta Coming in July

You won't have to wait too long to try out Bungie's Destiny.

Bungie fans won't have to wait too much longer to give Destiny, its latest sci-fi shooter, a whirl. According to Activision Blizzard's most recent financial report, the Beta for the game will launch as early as July. The Beta will launch of PlayStation 3 and 4 first, and come to the Xbox 360 and Xbox One at a later date.

The July window for the Destiny beta was announced during Activision Blizzard's quarterly financial call, which stated that the beta was initially slated to launch in spring 2014, but was pushed back to this summer.

During the Milken conference in Los Angeles last week [http://www.escapistmagazine.com/news/view/134252-Activision-to-Spend-500-Million-to-Develop-and-Market-Destiny], Activision CEO Bobby Kotick has revealed that the publisher intends to spend $500 million in developing and marketing the game. "Bungie's very ambitious plan is designed to unfold over a 10-year period...The depth of creative content, scope and scale is unprecedented and is required to bring Bungie's vision to life," said an Activision spokesperson at the time.

Based on the budget, it's estimated that Activision has to sell about 15-16 million units just to break even (at $60 per game).

Destiny will be out this September 9 for the PS3, Xbox 360, PS4 and Xbox One.

Source: Polygon [http://www.polygon.com/2014/5/6/5688422/destiny-beta-date-july-bungie-activision]

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[RicoADF]

This game will clearly have microtransactions along with lots of DLC etc. Basically a f2p MMO where you cough up $60 to play.

 

[shirkbot]

I think the word you're looking for is "Demo". It likely going to be a demo, if Titanfall is any indication. I wonder how long it will be before everyone comes to this conclusion, and they have to relabel it again to make it sound special.

 

[Compatriot Block]

This game will clearly have microtransactions along with lots of DLC etc. Basically a f2p MMO where you cough up $60 to play.

Can I get a source on that? I've seen zero indication that this will be the case.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it'll be 7/7/14. Can't wait, here's to hoping that Bungie delivers another game I love.

I'm also choosing to ignore that required sales figure for now, because I assume that Activision will realize that those kind of numbers are absolutely insane and adjust its budget accordingly. I may disagree with a lot of their business practice, but I can also rely on them to care about profitability.

 

[Texas Joker 52]

Excellent. Now I have a specific time to look forward to! As it is, I've been itching to know more about Destiny lately, especially since Bungie has let out a few more tidbits recently. Despite whatever difficulties they may have had recently (Still wondering what's going on with Marty O'Donnell), I'm still excited for Destiny, even if it looks like another average shooter to most people.

I just wish that I didn't have to get less time with it thanks to being on 360. But, I suppose that's a small price to pay, especially since Sony DID get some degree of exclusivity with Destiny if I remember correctly.

 

[JET1971]

15-16 million sold and relying on just consoles for that? Good luck.

 

[josemlopes]

I think the word you're looking for is "Demo". It likely going to be a demo, if Titanfall is any indication. I wonder how long it will be before everyone comes to this conclusion, and they have to relabel it again to make it sound special.

Even though they basicly do function as a demo for the consumer (if anything changes its barely noticeable) it does serve as a beta at least for the servers, having them not work properly in the demo may let them fix it on time for release.

 

[Church185]

15-16 million sold and relying on just consoles for that? Good luck.

Grand Theft Auto V sold 30 million copies just on consoles...

OT: I'm pretty excited to finally see what this game is all about. I really enjoyed Bungies work on Halo, and that series just wasn't the same without them at the helm. Hopefully Activision has let them create a good game. It's the only way they'll be able to recoup that initial investment.

 

[RicoADF]

Can I get a source on that? I've seen zero indication that this will be the case.

I'm going to go out on a limb and guess it'll be 7/7/14. Can't wait, here's to hoping that Bungie delivers another game I love.

I'm also choosing to ignore that required sales figure for now, because I assume that Activision will realize that those kind of numbers are absolutely insane and adjust its budget accordingly. I may disagree with a lot of their business practice, but I can also rely on them to care about profitability.

I can't give sources as it's a theory I have based on what's been released sofar. Sorry didn't intend to imply it was a confirmed fact.
The theory is based on a few things:
1) The way the game has been described with players coming and going and able to run into each other is very mmo like and I believe it's confirmed that the game requires the net as it runs through Activision servers like a MMO.

2) Purely MP games that only have a one time purchase usually have a short shelf life due to costs of maintaining said servers, 5 years is probably the standard. Bungi keeps saying it'll be a 10+ year game, you couldn't keep the servers running and games patched with just the sales of the game so some form of DLC and probably micro transaction would be required to cover costs + make some profit (because Activision is a business not a charity).
3) with games like dead space and PvZ 2 starting to introduce micro transactions in $60 games I seriously doubt Activision won't jump onboard, it's right up their ally.

 

[sc1arr1]

This game will clearly have microtransactions along with lots of DLC etc. Basically a f2p MMO where you cough up $60 to play.

I'm choosing to believe that if you're at all correct about that (which I'm still hoping you aren't) then it will just be cosmetic items that don't give players with more money the edge. I'd be totally okay with that. (Like the GW2 gem store)

 

[El Luck]

I would love to know why they're throwing this level of money at it. Is it because there is something genuinely interesting and unique about this game that they know people will be interested in? or is it the recent trend of saying:
"this game will sell x amount of units because we want it to"

I would also like to know what payment method they're gonna go with for this mmo, will it be a f2p model? will it be a buy it once and thats it model like with GW2? will it be a buy and sub model? if its a sub model will they be able to convince people who have to pay to use their consoles online, that it'll be worth them subbing to a game per month?

and the big one that I'd love an answer to, why are you making an mmo and not having a PC release at launch, or (if the case may be) at all?

but despite all of these questions, I'm rooting for them. I like crazy, and this is just plain nucking futs.

 

[Vigormortis]

And yet, with no PC build, there's zero chance of me wanting to try this "demo"[footnote]Yes, I'm being facetious. I know the purpose of these types of betas.[/footnote].

Besides, Bungie can fuck right off. We've already learned they've got a budget of at least $500,000,000. The fact that they had the gall to say, "A PC build is too much work." is just a colossal cock-slap across the faces of PC gamers everywhere.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

And yet, with no PC build, there's zero chance of me wanting to try this "demo"[footnote]Yes, I'm being facetious. I know the purpose of these types of betas.[/footnote].

Besides, Bungie can fuck right off. We've already learned they've got a budget of at least $500,000,000. The fact that they had the gall to say, "A PC build is too much work." is just a colossal cock-slap across the faces of PC gamers everywhere.

Yep it was such a slap at the time just like it was when Wii U owners found out they weren't even a priority to the guys behind Hover: Revolt of Gamers, in fact they have to back and pay more just to have their platform even being considered.

But then again this is Activision, when were they ever good to any platform?, no I'm being genuinely serious here, my favourite Transformers games have had their multiplayers reduced to mere dust because they couldn't give a rats ass about the online security of those games, probably others too.

I don't see it as much of an "offensive" slap though, I see it as a bit of a poor decision but at the same time letting them have it and seeing how it turns out for them but for the love of all that is holy FUCKING MAKE SURE YOUR MULTIPLAYER IS MOSTLY HACK FREE...

GTA V so far has done and sold well despite not being on PC, the same could very well possibly happen with Destiny in given time.

I still wonder though when the PC side on here is going to stop going on about it though because that really doesn't tell Activision let alone the devs much when you're copy and pasting it onto a forum like this.

 

[Vigormortis]

snip

Not copy-pasting anything. I'm stating my most recent view on the matter.

I was disappointed by the announcement that Destiny likely wasn't ever coming to PC. I was initially interested in playing it, but considering I've no use for a One or a PS4 (and don't use my 360 anymore online), that news meant I was unlikely to ever get it.

Later, when I found out that the reason for the lack of a PC build was because "it's too much work", I just laughed, seeing as it was a ridiculous (if only mildly plausible) excuse. What rubbed me the wrong way about it was that Bungie felt like placating PC gamers by adding, "But we're avid PC gamers too! We swear! We love you guys! We would totally build a PC port if we could afford to!" to their press release. Their "too much work" excuse was only worthy of an eye roll or a shrug.

But now, after hearing that the game's budget is half a billion dollars, I've seen Bungie's true colors. There is no excuse for the game not coming to PC platforms; beyond laziness, ignorance, or Activision's irrational fear of the PC community rubbing off on them. (it's likely the latter)

So the idea that I'm supposed to be "excited" that the "beta" is coming so soon is as stupid as it is pointless.

They gave PC gamers the middle finger. We're just giving it back.

 

[Shadow-Phoenix]

They gave PC gamers the middle finger. We're just giving it back.

I'm sure that will do some batman style justice served cold style.


Honestly would you bat an eye if it was the other way around, I like asking people that question because that reveals the other kind of colours.

 

[Vigormortis]

I'm sure that will do some batman style justice served cold style.

Never implied it would convince them to change their minds. Just as I never said it was some kind of "karmic justice". I never even assumed that it would.

It's simply responding in kind. They gave us the finger, we gave it back. Seems fair to me.

Honestly would you bat an eye if it was the other way around, I like asking people that question because that reveals the other kind of colours.

If this had panned out in the exact same way but with, say, the PS4 getting shafted? Yes, actually. I would feel the same.

Bungie, for months, stringed PC gamers along with promises of, "We can't say anything yet, but there's a pretty good chance this game is coming to PC! ;D So start up the hype train!" Only to do an immediate 180 and say that a PC version would be "too much work" and would cost too much.

The half-a-billion dollar budget just emphasized the bullshit.

If the same thing had been done to the PS4 gamers instead of the PC gamers I would have been just as disgusted.

 

[Elijin]

I'm sure that will do some batman style justice served cold style.

Never implied it would convince them to change their minds. Just as I never said it was some kind of "karmic justice". I never even assumed that it would.

It's simply responding in kind. They gave us the finger, we gave it back. Seems fair to me.

Honestly would you bat an eye if it was the other way around, I like asking people that question because that reveals the other kind of colours.

If this had panned out in the exact same way but with, say, the PS4 getting shafted? Yes, actually. I would feel the same.

Bungie, for months, stringed PC gamers along with promises of, "We can't say anything yet, but there's a pretty good chance this game is coming to PC! ;D So start up the hype train!" Only to do an immediate 180 and say that a PC version would be "too much work" and would cost too much.

The half-a-billion dollar budget just emphasized the bullshit.

If the same thing had been done to the PS4 gamers instead of the PC gamers I would have been just as disgusted.

Last time I checked, they have only said they wont be hitting PC on launch. Thats pretty different from 'They said there would be a PC version and they lied!'

Also last time I checked, having a bigger budget doesnt magically mean there are more people to do the same work. And hiring more people isnt always an option. Sometimes things work because a team works. Throwing more people at that team can break it.

All in all, its the same thing as every time this comes up. They are unprepared to take on the extra risk and workload of PC on launch day, with its many varied hardware combinations opening up a much wider issue with bug testing. And the PC community is shitting its pants over it. Even though they will inevitably be insufferable dicks about how they got a finished version down the line, after the console scrubs beta tested it for them.

 

[prpshrt]

snip

Excuse my ignorance but I thought that since the xbox one and PS4 are pretty much mid-range PCs, having games released for PC and consoles shouldn't be a problem (well given some changes). Or am I completely incorrect ?

 

[Vigormortis]

Last time I checked, they have only said they wont be hitting PC on launch. Thats pretty different from 'They said there would be a PC version and they lied!'

That's their latest comment. Not the one they've been stating for months. (I've been watching this game's progress for some time. I'm a fan of Bungie so I was at least intrigued by the game. So I can tell you that they've essentially been stringing PC players along with vague "promises" that it "might" come to PC; but stating so almost with a wink.)

And given the nature of this kind of MMO; and Activision's general dismissal of any PC platform; if we're not seeing the game on PC at launch, we're unlikely to see it on PC at all.

That may not be the case, but it's certainly more probable than not.

Also last time I checked, having a bigger budget doesnt magically mean there are more people to do the same work. And hiring more people isnt always an option. Sometimes things work because a team works. Throwing more people at that team can break it.

Who said they'd have to increase the size of the core design team? Most devs create separate teams with the sole goal of porting the core game to a given platform. In fact, many big devs outsource that task to another dev entirely.

And with a budget of half a billion dollars, you can't honestly tell me they couldn't afford to do that.

All in all, its the same thing as every time this comes up. They are unprepared to take on the extra risk and workload of PC on launch day, with its many varied hardware combinations opening up a much wider issue with bug testing.

This is still the biggest load of bullshit in gaming today. Especially in light of the design tools at any respective devs disposal.

It has nothing to do with "work load" or "difficulty". It's all business and content control.

That and Activision's irrational fear of any PC platform.

And the PC community is shitting its pants over it.

And if your console/platform of choice, presuming it's not PC, had suffered the same kind of dismissal, the same kind of "stringing along", can you honestly say you wouldn't be just as annoyed?

Even though they will inevitably be insufferable dicks about how they got a finished version down the line, after the console scrubs beta tested it for them.

Ah good. At least we're not resorting to stereotyping, generalizations, and insults.

 

[Elijin]

snip

Excuse my ignorance but I thought that since the xbox one and PS4 are pretty much mid-range PCs, having games released for PC and consoles shouldn't be a problem (well given some changes). Or am I completely incorrect ?

For building the game? Sure.

For bug testing? No. It enters the realm of component a interacts with widget b to cause a totally unintended bug.

As a general rule for anything ever, each time you add a new variable, things get more complicated.