66 replies to this topic

[Gorith]

I think this is both a good and bad idea depending on the duration of the closed beta. If it's going to be a long closed beta choose those you want to get imput from generaly those with similar mentalities to the dev team and those who you think you can trust to actually do what a beta tester is supposed to do (Write feedback reports on mechanics and bugs). then half way through closed beta allow others to donate and give them perks like forum tags, supporter mech emblems, etc along with closed beta availability. Just makesure they are also bounds by NDA. If the closed beta is short then it's likely a bad idea.

[MaddMaxx]

The Project Budget is already handled. Although a noble idea, if the Dev had a cash flow issue, the Forum goers would not be able to fix that problem.

I would like to think that a select few (bunch) might get invites down the road to have a go at a pre-public beta test build a couple three weeks prior to the full Public Beta going live. Who decides that would probably have to be untied from thier desk chair though and I cannot, in good conscience, condone such actions at this time.

[Omigir]

NO BEAR FOR THE DEV TEAM!

than we end up with drunken mechs that cant walk straight!

instead buy them: POWERTHURST™ , made with real lightning.

That way the game will get done! super *FAST*

Edited by Omigir, 12 January 2012 - 06:15 PM.

[Dihm]

First of all, I think it's a horrible idea.

Second, people need to remember what being a beta tester actually means. It isn't early access or a game demo, it is work.

[Thorn Hallis]

Dihm, on 13 January 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

First of all, I think it's a horrible idea.

Second, people need to remember what being a beta tester actually means. It isn't early access or a game demo, it is work.

So true, so true.

[Mason Grimm]

Dihm is right folks.

As any of you guys know, who are sincere and experienced testers, this is like a second job; you have to work different aspects of an unfinished product, submit bug reports, recreate bugs, try new things that aren't necessarily "inside the box" of normal gameplay and try and break software.

Many different factors apply to selection process; age of tester, experience of tester, software platform of tester, hardware platform of tester etc.Handing out keys for people who want to pay would be counter productive to the process.

[Mechteric]

The concept of Beta has been muddled by the likes of GMail and World of Tanks, among many other products and games where their betas are really just Release Candidates but they think slapping Beta on it makes it more marketable somehow. I don't really know what I'm getting at, but yeah, thats the deal.

[Paul Inouye]

My PayPal account is <REDACTED>

DAMMIT GARTH!

[CoffiNail]

damnit, can we have more likes then the what, maybe 6 we can do a day... i ran out and have more likes to give out.

[Kaemon]

I believe the closed Beta peeps in BSGO got their name added to the list of BETA testers (or maybe they were lumped under QA, forget atm) which ran in the credits on the site, that was pretty cool and went a long way with the crowd for all the hard work.

Of course, they should've NOT opened the cash shop in beta and then should've wiped the servers before Go-Live (level 70 line ships were unfun to face when you were a level 5, especially when there were like 5 of them).

It serves no advantage to pay for Closed Beta (call it Alpha or Special Preview if you need to) so go ahead, just wipe after and make sure they adhere to the NDA.

If the devs think it'll cause too much nerd rage about 'it's going P2W already' then don't bother, it'd be a weekend's beer money either way.

***edits***
Coffi, you gotta stop squandering your 'Likes' man....

Edited by Kaemon, 13 January 2012 - 11:25 AM.

[Vulpesveritas]

TAKE MAH MONIEZ SO I CAN TESTZ.


No really, I'm willing to pay a bit of money to be a bug tester on a lower end graphics system via my craptop. No issue doing that whatsoever.

[OnLashoc]

Dihm, on 13 January 2012 - 07:06 AM, said:

First of all, I think it's a horrible idea. Second, people need to remember what being a beta tester actually means. It isn't early access or a game demo, it is work.

Mason Grimm, on 13 January 2012 - 07:18 AM, said:

Dihm is right folks. As any of you guys know, who are sincere and experienced testers, this is like a second job; you have to work different aspects of an unfinished product, submit bug reports, recreate bugs, try new things that aren't necessarily "inside the box" of normal gameplay and try and break software. Many different factors apply to selection process; age of tester, experience of tester, software platform of tester, hardware platform of tester etc.Handing out keys for people who want to pay would be counter productive to the process.

I think the intelligence of other posters are some what under estimated. Just because someone volunteers for what they feel is a just and honorable cause, does not mean they do not understand what being a part of a Beta is like and or entails.

There is a level of excitement because we have been starved of a new MechWarrior comparable to ones brain with a lack of oxygen, and with that, rationale and moral compass goes out the window.

When SWTOR was giving away BETA access (not the mass invites of the Legions of Zod we seen a couple weeks before release), when I finally got in my enjoyment consumed me. However periodically through out the testing you had to report your experience and any issues you found. It became so normal to see something and report it, that once the game went live I continued sending bug reports though no longer required.

Anyone above the age of 15 can recognize in my opinion the duties bestowed upon them, fulfill them, AND enjoy the content in whiched they've been granted access to.

I do not dispute, the point is right on point that it is a job and responsibility with which comes enjoyment as well, however I dispute the level of intelligence you do not credit your fellow community members with. Yes there are idiots, and those with less common sense than some others.

However, I think you should have a little more faith

[verybad]

Vahz, on 01 November 2011 - 05:34 PM, said:

It's been done before, and yes it would separate those who just want to demo the game from those who care enough for testing and helping out Piranha, sure.

That's not all that logical you know. People that wish to pay for a F2P game's beta JUST MIGHT want to play it more than they're interested in testing it...you think?

Beta is a features locked form of prerelease game, and yet I think most of those willing to pay for it would likely be suggesting new stuff and or changes left and right. Not necessarilly seeking and reporting bugs.

I'm sure they'll have a system for determining who they want in their beta. Charging for a beta of a F2P game would be extraordinarilly poor marketing for them however, and would surely be ripped apart on all the major game sites.

Edited by verybad, 13 January 2012 - 12:55 PM.

[Volume]

Normally buying your way into a beta bothers me, but...

I'll admit I bought the VIP pack for Tribes:Ascend which included early beta access ._.

Forgive me!

I'd drop $100 on a collector's edition of MWO...xD

[Rabbit Blacksun]

To be honest i been alpha and beta tester for a bunch of games ... and like some one pointed out it is work, and it is often frustrating, specially when you run into alot of bugs/glitches/crashes/server fixes. So I can see it putting alot of people off the game but those of us who have done beta's and alpha's would not only enjoy it but would help fix issues.

So as much as i hate to say this ... yeah i would pay lol ...

My wife is one of the few women who puts up with my mechwarrior fandom >.<

[Mason Grimm]

OnLashoc, on 13 January 2012 - 11:54 AM, said:

I do not dispute, the point is right on point that it is a job and responsibility with which comes enjoyment as well, however I dispute the level of intelligence you do not credit your fellow community members with. Yes there are idiots, and those with less common sense than some others.

I never called in to question anyone's common sense nor their intelligence. In fact, I accredited people with knowing and understanding what beta responsibilities are with my statement of "As any of you guys know, who are sincere and experienced testers, this is like a second job".

In the future please desist from attempting to translate any perceived context of my posts as you will find I am a very "what you see is what you get". If I want to call in to question something I will do so, out-right, without couching implied insults or using subtlety.

[Fluffy Kitten]

i have beta tested before, and been involved in early development as well.
and to those of you who truely are fanatical about the game, i would advise patients.
being an early player will leave you frusterated with the potential of it all.
the whol epoint of being a tester is to iron out all the kinks, and the kinks can leave you with a bad taste in your mouth if you dont look at things objectively.

[OnLashoc]

Mason Grimm, on 13 January 2012 - 02:44 PM, said:

I never called in to question anyone's common sense nor their intelligence. In fact, I accredited people with knowing and understanding what beta responsibilities are with my statement of "As any of you guys know, who are sincere and experienced testers, this is like a second job". In the future please desist from attempting to translate any perceived context of my posts as you will find I am a very "what you see is what you get". If I want to call in to question something I will do so, out-right, without couching implied insults or using subtlety.

After reading both of your post and the poster whom I also quoted, you (as in both of you) I feel are implying that most do not know these things, thus the reason for your postings. Follow me?

If I have to explain to people why running a red light is bad, then it can be taken that I am not trying to really educate, but rather insinuate others are of less intelligence than myself. Though I would be correct, yes running red lights are bad, however it is unnecessary for me to do so because it is common sense.

I agree with you, it is like a 2nd job to be a tester of new products.

In the future, don't be so sensitive for criticism of what you post. I have no qualms with you, I don't even know you and I am sure you don't know me.

[UncleKulikov]

ChargerIIC, on 01 November 2011 - 05:58 PM, said:

Are they hurting for cash?

Would more money hurt? No.

They could make the lowest level of donation $1 or $0.25 or something like that too.

[Exo Terminus]

I don't believe that the beta tests should be exclusive to those who pay. Maybe they get access to it first, and just get a fancy title or mech skin too. nothing too much, just enough to raise some cash.