Question of the Day, May 14, 2010
- Thread starter The Escapist Staff
- Start date
On online beta wouldn't ruin the game for me, but a beta that focusus of the career story would annoy my cause every one would be like "did you see the so and so" and i'll be like "No I don't want to play the beta it would ruin the story for me"
Yup it sort of does, I took part in Regnum Online Beta (a MMORPG developed in my country), and by the time it went live, I already knew the world and quests available, I tried to start again on the final version but I was bored, and missed my lvl 56 Dark Elf Knigth.
I personally love betas, but if you do them, by the time the game comes out, you are so sick of it you can never play it again. I beta tested Champions Online, a game I loved, but now I can't touch the thing because I am reminded of all the crazy, buggy, grindy irritation I had to go through.
For me, it's a case of if I'm interested enough in the game to want to play the beta, then unless the beta experience is miserable, I'd still want to play the game.
WoW's beta bored me so hard I never bought it.
WoW's beta bored me so hard I never bought it.
Yes, it does spoiler the game, as the game tends to play about the same. Honestly, does anyone give a shit about "gameplay spoilers", though?
One factor to add here, I was in the Closed, then Open Beta for Star Trek Online, which was my first closed beta. Normally when I play MMO's, I strongly dislike grouping with people I don't know already. That said, you will never find a greater, easier to play with group of people than the people you group with in closed beta. 9/10 times they were great. No griefing, no WoW bitching, they were just there to check out a new game.
The only time I ever feel safe pugging.
The only time I ever feel safe pugging.
Played a few betas and the only thing that "ruins" the game when it goes gold is when the games were rushed out of beta (IE: Warhammer and Tabula Rasa). I think Ragnarok was the best beta-to-gold experience I had, minus the sudden and inexplicable shutdown between closed beta 1 and closed beta 2 that is...
Starcraft 2 has been fun so far (despite a lack of players at my available time), that's the only game I'm testing atm, tho.
Starcraft 2 has been fun so far (despite a lack of players at my available time), that's the only game I'm testing atm, tho.
I voted no on this one, and the reason stems from (surprise surprise) World of Warcraft.
As one of the first wave of people invited into the Wrath of the Lich King beta, I was surprised to find it didn't live up to anything like my expectations... a problem that thankfully was rectified in time for live launch
As one of the first wave of people invited into the Wrath of the Lich King beta, I was surprised to find it didn't live up to anything like my expectations... a problem that thankfully was rectified in time for live launch
I'd read about the surprises on data leak sites anyways.
When it comes to MMOs, being in beta is almost like playing it for free, in a less streamlined unfinished world. Which is a lot more awesome then the actual gameplay most of the time, if you ask me. Uncertainties rock.
When it comes to MMOs, being in beta is almost like playing it for free, in a less streamlined unfinished world. Which is a lot more awesome then the actual gameplay most of the time, if you ask me. Uncertainties rock.
For me it depends on how complete the "Beta" really is. I have played betas where the only difference between the gold version and the beta is the beta tag by the name.
Why should they? You're going to get the same experience in a few months' time if you don't enter the beta, so why not have it spoiled 3 months earlier?
Anyway, you're more likely to get spoilers from people who can't use spoiler tags if you wait for the official release.
Anyway, you're more likely to get spoilers from people who can't use spoiler tags if you wait for the official release.
A beta is just like a demo, a way of exposure that gives people the chance to form an opinion on the initial release so the company can make changes by the time the full game is set to be released.
What I don't understand is how they've become prizes.
Beta testing used to be a good way for a student to make some extra cash.
Soon they're going to be selling Beta Tests I bet. What's sad is that I bet gamers will buy them.
Beta testing used to be a good way for a student to make some extra cash.
Soon they're going to be selling Beta Tests I bet. What's sad is that I bet gamers will buy them.
Beta testing feels cheap. Most of the time, nothing changes between the time of beta testing and game release, unless the testing lasts for months, which usually only happens for games that are works in progress. Beta testing is the illusion of giving you exclusive rights to play the game before its out just so you'll wanna buy it, like a demo. Theres nothing special about them anymore.