I do agree it can be a excellent marketing tool but at that same time if those masses who have no real intention of playing are in there ruining a genuine potetnial players experience by A: taking a server slot B: Behaving like a asshat then it puts of that potential customer, at least this way you weed out the chaff and make that potential players experience all the better.
1 other thing many other site's are going to have keys with the gamershell client yet to go live and I'm sure they will be giving out a ton of key's. Fileplanet will not be the only method to get a key hell use my account if you want to take a look that badly I'm set and gtg for launch and have no desire to partake in OB.
But this is what I don't necessarily agree with
I see where you are coming from. Many people jump from beta to beta, giving nothing in return. Really, I understand. But at the same time it hinders people who just need that little bit of confirmation before they decide whether they will buy or not. This might just be me now, but I'm more concerned over my computer specs than if Aion is actually a good game. I don't want to be stuck with a game that lags hard at low settings, so I was hoping to see how well my PC does in the open beta. Admittedly, I might have had a chance to grab some CB key while I was in Japan for nine months, but at that time I didn't get to spend much time on the internet either way.
My point is that I think it'd only help increase sales in the end. Sure, you get people pre-ordering now because their decision is already set in stone, but I refuse to believe that I'm the only one who wants to "get some freebie time" in a MMO they're very likely to buy. English is not my mother tongue so I might have difficulties expressing my thoughts exactly, just to make that clear =P
Beta is not try before you buy. Thats what trials are for. When they feel their game is as good as they want it for western audiences they will offer a trial. Its like asking to try the first cake that a pastry chef ever made before it was fully baked. The chef would much rather make a few cakes first before they have you evaluate their baking skills.
The perorders get to beta test because they have invested in the chef/game those that need convincing will get what they feel is their best product.
This is the first time ever for me that I've seen this happen. An open beta that is not open. I've played tons of mmo's before, from lineage, swg, WoW, EQ2, Daoc, to CoH/CoV, to the recent Fallen Earth and Champions Online Beta. Either way I'm - like many others - very very curious about Aion. Given that I had no chance to ever try and grab a closed beta key in the past due to me having been on a long travel, my only hope of seeing if this game is worth my money and time is if I can get a view for myself in the open beta. But with what I'm reading so far, it doesn't look too good. Fileplanet is giving out keys for subscribers only. Doesn't NCSoft realize that most mmo players want to see if the game is to their liking before they buy it? Not just that, I also want to see if my PC can run it well at med settings. I'm at a loss as to what to do.
They did it with CO, Open Earth, burning crusade, WotLK... hell they've been doing it ever since COD4 "open beta multiplayer" on the 360.
They are all marketing ploys, which is why the Open Beta if you're lucky lasts from 1-2 weeks. end off. Picking on one game when many many are exactly the same is dumb.
This should be in the Pub section not bitching about one game, when it's become so widespread. Although to be honest i preordered CO and Aion, for nothing, been in the beta's, cancelled CO still have my headstart cost me nothing. I've decided to buy Aion.
I see no actual issue, unless you're a yank who'll lets face it, sue mcdonalds because they weren't bright enough to realise hot tea is in fact HOT or call free healcare for 46 million people "evil" and actually fight against it. "When lets face it the average health of an american is pretty low compared to the UK... well unless we're on joint military maneuvers" - Frankie Boyle, mock the week.
"nothing actually matters, we're just slightly evolved monkeys clinging to a dying piece of rock hurtling through space waiting for our eventual death." - Frankie Boyle, Mock The Week
This is the first time ever for me that I've seen this happen. An open beta that is not open. I've played tons of mmo's before, from lineage, swg, WoW, EQ2, Daoc, to CoH/CoV, to the recent Fallen Earth and Champions Online Beta. Either way I'm - like many others - very very curious about Aion. Given that I had no chance to ever try and grab a closed beta key in the past due to me having been on a long travel, my only hope of seeing if this game is worth my money and time is if I can get a view for myself in the open beta. But with what I'm reading so far, it doesn't look too good. Fileplanet is giving out keys for subscribers only. Doesn't NCSoft realize that most mmo players want to see if the game is to their liking before they buy it? Not just that, I also want to see if my PC can run it well at med settings. I'm at a loss as to what to do.
The funny part is you'll have to hit cap level to find out if it is worth your money :P.
I guess it depends on what kind of gamer you are, but if you're the average type I wouldn't worry playing the beta too much. Imagine if you love the beta but find out the end of the game is a complete disaster.
I'd say just play the game when it is out and see what is up. If you're really concerned about liking the game maybe you have a friend that plays and you can see what it is like before you buy. It's not like the world is going to end if you don't play at launch. The game will still be around.
Oh and for the record I see your point here, just trying to add some feed back. Do you have any friends that have access to beta?
Just get the game at full retail I guess... if people can fish out money for Wii Fit you'll be ok buying this.
My what a unique thread. No similar threads on this subject on the first page of this board, and definitely none using quotes around "open" either. No siree - first time anyone has ever brought this subject up.
My what a unique thread. No similar threads on this subject on the first page of this board, and definitely none using quotes around "open" either. No siree - first time anyone has ever brought this subject up.
Probably not the first time that you replied to such a thread, either, eh?
...but I'm more concerned over my computer specs than if Aion is actually a good game. I don't want to be stuck with a game that lags hard at low settings, so I was hoping to see how well my PC does in the open beta.
If you can run a game like WoW, you can run Aion. Despite Aion's nice graphics, the engine runs very well on older machines. Here are some links for you:
As for the "open" beta issue, NCSoft is doing the smart (and common) thing in making it key-driven.
They can adjust a game all day, but they can't help the issue between the keyboard and the chair. Played: UO, DAoC, AC, WoW, EVE, TR, WAR, Aion, Rift, SWTOR, GW2, TSW, ESO, Elite:D Play EVE for free for 21 days
My what a unique thread. No similar threads on this subject on the first page of this board, and definitely none using quotes around "open" either. No siree - first time anyone has ever brought this subject up.
Probably not the first time that you replied to such a thread, either, eh?
Yes because my post above was obviously a major contribution to the debate. You know the one - the debate that can be found in the very similarly titled earlier threads on the page you looked at before this one.
...but I'm more concerned over my computer specs than if Aion is actually a good game. I don't want to be stuck with a game that lags hard at low settings, so I was hoping to see how well my PC does in the open beta.
If you can run a game like WoW, you can run Aion. Despite Aion's nice graphics, the engine runs very well on older machines. Here are some links for you:
Well, I barely got pass on recommended^on all points. Hope "recommended" means on medium settings
I'm pretty sure the settings have an Auto Detect feature. Either way, if you want ensure smooth gameplay: turn off the AA, shadows, other special lighting effects and reflections.
This way you can boost up the resolution and sight distances... The settings that matter in PvP.
LineageII | LoTRO | RFO | 9Dragons | Aion | Perfect World | Ether Saga | Dungeon Runners | GuildWars 1 and 2 | Hellgate London | tCoS | Warhammer | AoC | Tabula Rasa | SWTOR youtube.com/gcidogmeat
I may be wrong....but I think the Lineage 2 OB was handled in a similar way. I remember pre-ordering L2 to play Open Beta.
Nah, I signed up the first day of open beta, downloaded the game and didn't pay a dime. Age of Conan is the first game I remember doing a beta like this and I think fileplanet is starting to gain a monopoly on open beta.
That being said, this game is worth the $5 preorder to play it. If you are that stingy, download the China version and play 5 hours for free.
I originally used the Chinese client to check out the game, then pre-ordered. I do agree that Open Beta should be Open, though. However, I expect Open Betas to not be Open anymore. It's been like that for a while now.
Comments
But this is what I don't necessarily agree with
I see where you are coming from. Many people jump from beta to beta, giving nothing in return. Really, I understand. But at the same time it hinders people who just need that little bit of confirmation before they decide whether they will buy or not. This might just be me now, but I'm more concerned over my computer specs than if Aion is actually a good game. I don't want to be stuck with a game that lags hard at low settings, so I was hoping to see how well my PC does in the open beta. Admittedly, I might have had a chance to grab some CB key while I was in Japan for nine months, but at that time I didn't get to spend much time on the internet either way.
My point is that I think it'd only help increase sales in the end. Sure, you get people pre-ordering now because their decision is already set in stone, but I refuse to believe that I'm the only one who wants to "get some freebie time"
in a MMO they're very likely to buy. English is not my mother tongue so I might have difficulties expressing my thoughts exactly, just to make that clear =P
Beta is not try before you buy. Thats what trials are for. When they feel their game is as good as they want it for western audiences they will offer a trial. Its like asking to try the first cake that a pastry chef ever made before it was fully baked. The chef would much rather make a few cakes first before they have you evaluate their baking skills.
The perorders get to beta test because they have invested in the chef/game those that need convincing will get what they feel is their best product.
They did it with CO, Open Earth, burning crusade, WotLK... hell they've been doing it ever since COD4 "open beta multiplayer" on the 360.
They are all marketing ploys, which is why the Open Beta if you're lucky lasts from 1-2 weeks. end off. Picking on one game when many many are exactly the same is dumb.
This should be in the Pub section not bitching about one game, when it's become so widespread. Although to be honest i preordered CO and Aion, for nothing, been in the beta's, cancelled CO still have my headstart cost me nothing. I've decided to buy Aion.
I see no actual issue, unless you're a yank who'll lets face it, sue mcdonalds because they weren't bright enough to realise hot tea is in fact HOT or call free healcare for 46 million people "evil" and actually fight against it. "When lets face it the average health of an american is pretty low compared to the UK... well unless we're on joint military maneuvers" - Frankie Boyle, mock the week.
"nothing actually matters, we're just slightly evolved monkeys clinging to a dying piece of rock hurtling through space waiting for our eventual death." - Frankie Boyle, Mock The Week
The funny part is you'll have to hit cap level to find out if it is worth your money :P.
I guess it depends on what kind of gamer you are, but if you're the average type I wouldn't worry playing the beta too much. Imagine if you love the beta but find out the end of the game is a complete disaster.
I'd say just play the game when it is out and see what is up. If you're really concerned about liking the game maybe you have a friend that plays and you can see what it is like before you buy. It's not like the world is going to end if you don't play at launch. The game will still be around.
Oh and for the record I see your point here, just trying to add some feed back. Do you have any friends that have access to beta?
Just get the game at full retail I guess... if people can fish out money for Wii Fit you'll be ok buying this.
Pledge your support to creating a PvP Community on Aion. Join our server on release.
http://aionfactions.homelinux.com
My what a unique thread. No similar threads on this subject on the first page of this board, and definitely none using quotes around "open" either. No siree - first time anyone has ever brought this subject up.
Probably not the first time that you replied to such a thread, either, eh?
If you can run a game like WoW, you can run Aion. Despite Aion's nice graphics, the engine runs very well on older machines. Here are some links for you:
Can I run it?
System requirements discussion
As for the "open" beta issue, NCSoft is doing the smart (and common) thing in making it key-driven.
They can adjust a game all day, but they can't help the issue between the keyboard and the chair.
Played: UO, DAoC, AC, WoW, EVE, TR, WAR, Aion, Rift, SWTOR, GW2, TSW, ESO, Elite:D
Play EVE for free for 21 days
Probably not the first time that you replied to such a thread, either, eh?
Yes because my post above was obviously a major contribution to the debate. You know the one - the debate that can be found in the very similarly titled earlier threads on the page you looked at before this one.
If you can run a game like WoW, you can run Aion. Despite Aion's nice graphics, the engine runs very well on older machines. Here are some links for you:
Can I run it?
System requirements discussion
As for the "open" beta issue, NCSoft is doing the smart (and common) thing in making it key-driven.
Well, I barely got pass on recommended^on all points. Hope "recommended" means on medium settings
I'm pretty sure the settings have an Auto Detect feature. Either way, if you want ensure smooth gameplay: turn off the AA, shadows, other special lighting effects and reflections.
This way you can boost up the resolution and sight distances... The settings that matter in PvP.
youtube.com/gcidogmeat
Has Fileplanet released any keys yet?
http://twitter.com/FilePlanet
doesn't seem like it so far.
Ok thanks
Keys have come and gone.
www.fileplanet.com/promotions/aion/beta/closed.aspx
"THE FILEPLANET EXCLUSIVE AION OPEN BETA SIGNUPS ARE CLOSED
The Aion Open Beta keys are now gone! Keep an eye on FilePlanet for other exciting programs in the future.
Get instant notification of when betas launch on FilePlanet!"
I may be wrong....but I think the Lineage 2 OB was handled in a similar way. I remember pre-ordering L2 to play Open Beta.
Nah, I signed up the first day of open beta, downloaded the game and didn't pay a dime. Age of Conan is the first game I remember doing a beta like this and I think fileplanet is starting to gain a monopoly on open beta.
That being said, this game is worth the $5 preorder to play it. If you are that stingy, download the China version and play 5 hours for free.
http://gamers.eurogamer.net/giveaways.php?id=86949 <-- free keys
[FONT="Verdana"][SIZE="1"][COLOR="SandyBrown"]Lotro:[/COLOR][/SIZE] [SIZE="1"][COLOR="Wheat"]Rolhad[/COLOR] - [COLOR="Wheat"]The Nine[/COLOR] - [COLOR="Wheat"]Evernight[/COLOR][/FONT][/SIZE]
Keys have come and gone.
www.fileplanet.com/promotions/aion/beta/closed.aspx
"THE FILEPLANET EXCLUSIVE AION OPEN BETA SIGNUPS ARE CLOSED
The Aion Open Beta keys are now gone! Keep an eye on FilePlanet for other exciting programs in the future.
Get instant notification of when betas launch on FilePlanet!"
So they still have the promotion up to get new subscribers but once you pay them you can't get a key?
I originally used the Chinese client to check out the game, then pre-ordered. I do agree that Open Beta should be Open, though. However, I expect Open Betas to not be Open anymore. It's been like that for a while now.
It took me like 10mins to find out a site they were giving beta keys and 5 minutes to register and get the client download going.
Eurogamer and their keys was the lamest scam ever.