11 replies to this topic

[Molvanian]

So... it's open to the general public, as a freeware game, with microtransactions. This... isn't actually a Beta is it? It's buggy, sure, but what isn't now a days? (Perhaps its better to say most games are released while a beta, but here me out.)

How is this not fully released? It's going to remain free with microtransactions I assume... sure you'll add content and fix bugs, but that will continue until the product dies. LoL isn't a beta, and does the same thing.

I'm not complaining... Mainly because I already deleted my client due to balance complaints. But I'm just a bit confused by the title choice. Seems like it was just done to get the thing out the door, and pulling in money, faster and with less complaints.

[Ialti]

It's a beta because it's not finished yet. Nothing's finished yet.

The HUD is buggy.
The mechs aren't all out yet.
The maps haven't yet been made.
Weapon damage isn't stable yet--balanced, that is.
The microtransactions aren't all there yet.
The UI isn't finished yet.
Clans haven't been implemented yet.
Community warfare--whatever that is--isn't here yet.


It's. Not. Finished. Yet.

That. Means. "Beta."

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Molvanian, on 28 April 2013 - 08:24 AM, said:

So... it's open to the general public, as a freeware game, with microtransactions. This... isn't actually a Beta is it? It's buggy, sure, but what isn't now a days? (Perhaps its better to say most games are released while a beta, but here me out.)

How is this not fully released? It's going to remain free with microtransactions I assume... sure you'll add content and fix bugs, but that will continue until the product dies. LoL isn't a beta, and does the same thing.

I'm not complaining... Mainly because I already deleted my client due to balance complaints. But I'm just a bit confused by the title choice. Seems like it was just done to get the thing out the door, and pulling in money, faster and with less complaints.

I like the thing where we're getting a test server for our Beta

...betaception!

Ialti, on 28 April 2013 - 10:11 AM, said:

It's a beta because it's not finished yet. Nothing's finished yet.

The HUD is buggy.
The mechs aren't all out yet.
The maps haven't yet been made.
Weapon damage isn't stable yet--balanced, that is.
The microtransactions aren't all there yet.
The UI isn't finished yet.
Clans haven't been implemented yet.
Community warfare--whatever that is--isn't here yet.


It's. Not. Finished. Yet.

That. Means. "Beta."

Uh... its an MMO... AND a free to play at that. By your definition it will always be beta even when it goes into launch.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Niko Snow, on 28 April 2013 - 10:24 AM, said:

betaception?
Hey, what happened to your sig? Why doesnt it say "luddite liason"? I liked that one

[Opus]

Niko Snow, on 28 April 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:

It is in Open Beta.

The sad truth is that there is a number of companies out there who use the term Beta as a throwaway term and put little effort into bug fixing after the game is out. Instead they refocus on the next game which is mostly a re-skinned and upgraded version of the last.

We aren't in that business: We hope to keep MWO around for a long time. It would also be hard to re-skin a game designed for Mech Combat to serve any other purpose. (Mechs go Medieval? ) For reference of our efforts and progress, one need only point to our older patch notes of where we were a year ago.

Please I just got over those nightmares of closed beta; these "Ummm" under educated members never had to endure: 100m rubber-banding constant 3fps matches, Right angle turning Missiles, Dragon Bowling, Mech frames merging, falling though the base floor graphic into endless falls of death, Only 4 mechs, and of course who can forget Laser boating Hunches that would never over heat..........

Edited by Opus, 28 April 2013 - 10:51 AM.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Niko Snow, on 28 April 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

I miss my sidewinder LRMs...

Now, I'll grant that there are some experiencing issues who feel that development is going too slowly. We try to help them any way we can and any way they will allow us. Some problems take time to fix...Like with a fresh pizza, impatience over video game development tends to burn tongues.

well this makes everything make a hell of a lot more sense now

[Ialti]

Mechwarrior Buddah, on 28 April 2013 - 10:18 AM, said:

Uh... its an MMO... AND a free to play at that. By your definition it will always be beta even when it goes into launch.

Wrong. Remember that giant list of things? That's crucially linked to my 'definition' of 'not finished.'

"MMOs" have fully articulated features when they're released; because MWO doesn't have fully articulated features, therefore, it can be said to not be released.

QED

[Inertiamon]

Niko Snow, on 28 April 2013 - 10:52 AM, said:

.Like with a fresh pizza, impatience over video game development tends to burn tongues.

DX11 should be frigging easy to eat when it appears then.

[jakucha]

Mechwarrior Buddah, on 28 April 2013 - 10:18 AM, said:

I like the thing where we're getting a test server for our Beta

...betaception!



Uh... its an MMO... AND a free to play at that. By your definition it will always be beta even when it goes into launch.

Half a year makes a big difference in game development. Arguing semantics is just trying to make a distraction because you're wrong.

[Purplefluffybunny]

Niko Snow, on 28 April 2013 - 10:42 AM, said:

[...]The sad truth is that there is a number of companies out there who use the term Beta as a throwaway term [..]

*blinks*

You really said this, right?

Edited by Purplefluffybunny, 29 April 2013 - 02:14 PM.

[Mechwarrior Buddah]

Ialti, on 28 April 2013 - 05:39 PM, said:

Wrong. Remember that giant list of things? That's crucially linked to my 'definition' of 'not finished.'

"MMOs" have fully articulated features when they're released; because MWO doesn't have fully articulated features, therefore, it can be said to not be released.

QED

you do know I was agreeing here right? Try reading it again that may help -.-

[Ialti]

Bud, I can't remember what I had for breakfast. Lemme look at your post...

alright. Looks like your standard "It's not a beta!" "It is a beta" argument. My take on things:

-We have a general list of things that need to be implemented before the game can be said to be complete. After completion, there will be bits changed, here or there, but for the most part the game will be stable. Before completion is "beta," after completion is "not beta."

Your response:
-By that logic it will always be a beta, because they will always be changing things.

My (defensive) response:
-I disagree; because I feel that at a certain point they will have implemented and (to a certain extent) refined all of the major listed pieces of the game which were promised release.

Where we get into uncharted waters:
-Open beta: they did this thing where you can buy stuff, and the public can play for free, and you don't have to go through an application process. Also, they have a pretty widespread, stable looking game setup with a fairly complete selection of mechs and weapons. Sure, they're not entirely balanced, but the game looks as though it could be complete here (even though if it were we would probably feel unsatisfied). So a bunch of people are saying that this 'open beta' thing is really just an excuse to release a not-finished game. This is where the debate is.

Oddly enough the argument between you and me isn't about whether it is or isn't a beta, it's about whether it will be in the future. And frankly, at that point I'm not sure it's really worth continuing--I just got a little snarky when I said one thing and was misunderstood (maybe I was unclear? If so, oops.).

There! Read it again!

Edited by Ialti, 30 April 2013 - 09:29 PM.