Poll: Beta Testing

[GonzoGamer]

What I want to know is, when did gamers start beta testing for free? We used to get paid to beta test software and even hardware.

I recently got invited to a beta test for an upcoming game but if there's no reimbursement (payment or at least a discount when the game gets released) why am I going to go through all the frustrations. Sure I can see the idea that it's kind of like a free demo but there's a difference. Usually there are quite a few problems with the beta and you may end up spending a lot of time just trying to get the software to work.

For me, it's not worth it, I'd rather just wait for the demo or rent the game when the complete version hits. What about you?

 

[koichan]

Actually it's even worse than that, paid-beta is becoming the norm (such is in Aion) where you pay to play the beta

I don't see any problem with free betas though, though little things such as an in-game extra would be nice for beta testers when the game goes live

 

[Radeonx]

Screw beta's, they're hard as hell to get in. Plus there are probably game-breaking bugs still in them. I'll just take the Demo, thank you.

Most betas, at least in my experience, are buggy, yes, but aren't buggy to the point of unplayableness. Although, I'll take a demo for any non MMO game I'm looking into.

 

[Starnerf]

The whole point of a beta is to find the problems before release. They release it to users for free so that only people who want to play it will do so. Then they get feedback based on how people who are actually going to play the game experience the game at that stage of development and can modify the game experience to better suit them.

 

[Souplex]

Hey, it could be worse; they could release a buggy game and then patch it when players inform them of the bugs.

 

[stone0042]

I don't know about you guys, but there's actually a company near me where a couple friends work where they get paid to beta test

 

[cowbell40]

Well, seeing as it's a BETA, you can't really expect it to be perfect yet. Getting a sneak peek of the game sometimes months before its release is certainly worth dealing with some problems.

 

[Fraught]

I'd probably wait for the game and not go through the hassle, but it's nice that there are people who want to do this kind of things to help improve the final outcome.

 

[crooked_ferret]

I haven't beta'ed in a long time. The general reason is any progress made during beta is reset when it's over and rarely do they offer a discount on the game or anything. Despite the fact I have submitted many extensive reports and done my fair share to assist them in the trouble shooting / debugging department.

I am currently using the beta of win 7 , but I haven't made the effort to provide the increased level of error reporting that I would have in the past because there is absolutely nothing in it for me.

 

[veloper]

There's so many games out there I haven't played yet I got no time to beta test unfinished games in my spare time.

 

[ghalkhsdkssakgh]

Hey, it could be worse; they could release a buggy game and then patch it when players inform them of the bugs.

Or worse, release a buggy game, then completely ignore players when they inform them of pc bugs, while fixing tiny ps3 annoyances at light speed, alienating an entire demographic.
Yeah, I'm still pissed at Activision.

Anyway, beta testing. I'm fine with either free beta, or getting paid for them. I'd never actually part with my own cash to try and play what is essentially one stage down from a demo, though.

 

[Avaholic03]

I do think beta testers should get rewarded somehow, probably just with a discount to the release version. After all, the developers are saving tons of money by not paying an army of testers. It's the least they can do.

 

[TheNumber1Zero]

if it is free,more people get to do it.if it's payed,the amount of testers depends on what they can afford.

 

[esperandote]

hell yeah if its a game i like, if its not then pay me.

 

[FinalHeart95]

You get a chance to see what the game will be like before most other people. That's worth it in itself, although the bugs can be frustrating at times.

 

[roel23]

im hanging between yes please and no thanks because it depends to me what game it is that id get the chance of beta testing, and sure id like to get paid for it ^^ but if it's a game i think i might like ill try it even if its beta.

 

[Nevyrmoore]

Okay, I had to register to get this off my chest.

If you're trying to get into a beta with the thought, "Hell yeah, going to play this game before everyone else" going through your mind, then kindly stop trying and wait until the game is completed. Betas are not there as a see-this-game-first scheme, or as a demo. They are there for the people who plan on buying and supporting the game to help the developers in finding the bugs any pre-release game has.

Betas are NOT meant to be fun. You have to constantly be in the right frame of mind, thinking "How am I going to break this game today" every time you log in. You need to be in regular contact with the developers, telling them what's going wrong so they can fix it before its released to the general public. And for those who do this as their career? Well, I can't say I envy them. It's a largely thankless job, and by the end of it you're probably too sick of seeing the game to fully enjoy it.

So with this out of the way, no, I'm not interested in beta testing. I'd much rather leave it to the people who are more experienced or knowledgeable and wait until the game is fully released.

 

[GonzoGamer]

Hey, it could be worse; they could release a buggy game and then patch it when players inform them of the bugs.

Sometimes I get the feeling they already started doing that.

There's also the fact that a lot of these games that have wide open beta testing release all buggy anyway: Fat Princess anyone?

im hanging between yes please and no thanks because it depends to me what game it is that id get the chance of beta testing, and sure id like to get paid for it ^^ but if it's a game i think i might like ill try it even if its beta.

You're right, I should've added a "depends on the game" selection to the poll.

 

[adledog]

I love beta testing it gives me a chance to see what a game is all about while trying to help make it a better game. that way even if i dont like the game im still actually doing something useful=P

 

[GonzoGamer]

Okay, I had to register to get this off my chest....

Betas are NOT meant to be fun. You have to constantly be in the right frame of mind, thinking "How am I going to break this game today" every time you log in. ...

So with this out of the way, no, I'm not interested in beta testing. I'd much rather leave it to the people who are more experienced or knowledgeable and wait until the game is fully released.

That's why I'm thinking that the common gamer should get rewarded in some sort of way.

Then again, maybe they should be rewarded based on their input. As we can see (Fat Princess), public beta testing doesn't always work, probably because it's treated more like a demo by the recipient who probably doesn't send any feedback. And to tell you the truth, the beta tests that I've been invited to don't even provide any means of feedback.

Maybe the term "Beta Test" has become diluted like "News" and "Irony."

BTW Nevyrmoore- Welcome to the escapist.