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So, no open beta, what do you think?
Kyleran
Member LegendaryPosts: 44,078
Well, bucking recent trends by most publishers, Funcom appears to have decided not to hold an open beta prior to launch.
www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/gameId/191/setView/features/loadFeature/1682
How do you feel about that? In my own case it doesn't matter, I was going to buy it regardless; chalk it up to my desperation to play a new game I suppose.
But I know some folks say they won't play a game without some sort of free trial/open beta, and I was wondering if they were still going to stick to their guns?
edit: (added link per request of another poster, thanks andyjd for looking it up)
edit 1-14: Whelp, things change quickly, now Funcom has confirmed that there will, in fact, be an open beta. Good thing too, because the poll results showed a lot of folks prefer to try before they buy.
Doesn't change much for me, I'm buying it regardless unless things look real bad once the NDA comes down.
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Comments
It's a great way for FC to stress the game and servers and drum up some hype for the game...and hype = sales. Sales = Money and money is why they are making the game in the first place,
Good, they sound like small minded freeloaders. I can't say I'd want to group with them anyhow...
I will buy it, but playing something before release is always a nice bonus.
I have one hard rule when it comes to new games: no open beta or at least a trial of some sort, no money from me.
Having said that, Funcom is the only developer I'll break that rule for if need be.
No Open Beta? Hey, at least they are being consistent with lies. I just wonder what is the next one.
If I don't get into beta...I have a feeling I'll wait a few months post release to get real info on how the game is before deciding to buy...
No open beta, yes no freeloading naysayers woot... however it does come into question why? Is the game not 'complete' as they say it would be on release? Yes I'm wearing my foil hat on this one, but due to the complete frack ups with releases resently is Funcom worried it's going to be AO's 'standard' of release and hoping that the hype we'll run blining into buying the game not knowning if it's actally a p2p beta like the rest?
This is a very good time to look at the unjayed (or 'unpayed') reviews on release, after the past releases with unfinished core gameplay and promisted stuff 'due in the next few quarters', until i get the ok from actal players that give a balanced review or a free trail, I'm not parting with my money anymore, even if betas these days are full of freeloaders at least we know if those betas are actally worth parting with our money, with not even a week before release OB stress test it's kinda odd not to have one...
Bring on the WARRRRGGHH!
I agree with their decision to hold no open beta, as I do not think it really does achieve much in terms of game quality; however, it does worry me and bring up doubts.
A lot of developers use open beta purely as a marketing tool; hell, all of them do. They do not expect to really solve any issues in the last few weeks, especially when most of the players do not care about submitting bug reports. Open beta is simply a stress test and an advertisement.
So, is Funcom worried that an open beta would reduce interest and sales? Are they not confident in their product?
Or, do they simply not want to have one for other reasons?
Fact is, I do not know. I just want to see the NDA dropped so some information from real players starts to come out at this point.
What are they afraid of? A very positive OB would turn into tremendous sales, unless of course this will be another pos game.
Just gives me a feeling of doubt for the game.
Edit: And for those of you who are saying "Freeloaders" Its not that at all, how long would open beta be? Not long enough i would imagine to be a freeloader. Its about them being comfortable with their game, and us being able to test what we buy.
Really not sure if an open beta would hurt or not. It could always back fire, and you end up with the person named on the box blaming the beta for a less than satisfactory launch like another unnamed game. On the the other hand it could indeed slip possible costumers who like to try game before launch. I think the smart thing for them to do, is have a trial starting from launch day. I dunno, but I'm sure it will work out.
I'll be going by game stop later to drop the money for the collectors edition anyway personally, because I just need something new to play.
Edit: Or wait and do the trial after a month if the rumors in another forum of memory bugs and things is true so that the trial people see a more polished game for their first try.
Interesting why they wouldn't have an open beta.. hmmm
Don't think I have ever bought a game that didn't have this. That I can remember anyway..
So.. will buy the game, but probably not until a month or so has gone by.. and some of the bugs have been squashed then.
"Huntress"
I will get it, but first i want to hear from somepeople that have tryed it alredy (when its released). After trying so many promising MMOs i need to hear if its playable or have potentcial.
SOE and Vanguard/Sigil perfected this technique - better to get at least $50, than nothing, because customer saw the product already. Kind of like going to a store to buy something, but only you cannot see the product until you get home and you cannot return it either. I wouldn't buy even bread like this.
SOE and Vanguard/Sigil perfected this technique - better to get at least $50, than nothing, because customer saw the product already. Kind of like going to a store to buy something, but only you cannot see the product until you get home and you cannot return it either. I wouldn't buy even bread like this.
Apart from the fact that Vanguard had an open beta....
indeedthey did, but that was their mistake - I canceled my pre-order after I tried pre-launch (release client) gameplay. Funcom learned from Sigil's mistakes and they will try to get that first $50 w/o giving me a chance.
SOE and Vanguard/Sigil perfected this technique - better to get at least $50, than nothing, because customer saw the product already. Kind of like going to a store to buy something, but only you cannot see the product until you get home and you cannot return it either. I wouldn't buy even bread like this.
Apart from the fact that Vanguard had an open beta....
LOL!
And to those saying that the "no open beta" is a lie or untrue, it is. Read the latest article here at MMORPG for confirmation.
Personally I don't mind. When you have open beta it seems to invite the masses that don't really care and have no business trying to get a game off the ground. Beta is there for testing and they need people who will actually test to do so.
That being said, I would hope they'd offer a 3 day trial early on after launch. That will at least give people a shot at the game. Even if the trial is only the single player portion of the game, at least you could get a feel for the game mechanics and UI.
That's a bad sign. They think less people will buy the game if there is an open beta. Bad bad.
Unlike what you've been told, Open Beta is not to test anything - game is already stamped to CD and distributed to stores at that time. Open Beta is for marketing, a free trial with a character reset if you will.
Shaiya is in open beta, no char wipe are comming they announced.
I think even a limited open beta would be good for the game, say maybe a weekend to show off the game to the public, get some stress testing done, and adjust servers as needed. Maybe give a weekend once a month up until release would be good in that regard, but to not hold open beta at all? It just seems like launch will be rough... I certainly won't pre-order the game and don't expect to buy it for a few months to a year fully knowing that there will be issues at launch.
I do hope the game has a successful launch regardless, but I won't be apart of the festivities.
Try before buy I say. That said, could the OP link us to where this news comes from ? It is av very bad sign if indeed this news is correct.
---
And when we got more women on the team, it was like No, no, no. We need puppies and horses in there.
John Smedley, SOE
This very site:
http://www.mmorpg.com/gamelist.cfm/gameId/191/setView/features/loadFeature/1682
After the release of the past 2 yrs of MMORPG's, I refuse to play a game without trying it first. I could really careless about open beta and I am not so sure beta's to the open public is a good idea in the first place.
MMORPG's w/ Max level characters: DAoC, SWG, & WoW
Currently Playing: WAR
Preferred Playstyle: Roleplay/adventurous, in a sandbox game.