I don't see what the fuss is about, you complain about the state of affairs for beta testers but you seem to forget that a big majority of testers are in it more for a "freebie" type of deal than actual testing. All the testers that any company considers are good candidates to actually "test" are given access for free for their early betas and maybe even alphas. All the betas at this stage of development when the game is ready to be launched are just stress test. Sure there are other bugs in the game you can find during this time but it's not the main purpose of it. Therefore the "testers" that are invited are more of ppl along the lines of wanting a "freebie" and well that's what they get. What you're doing is paying for that "freebie" lol, you're not really getting paid to test much of anything. They want you to go in there and play as much as you want, not look for bugs.
Lets be honest here, Even if a beta tester is just there for a freebie trial they are still testing the game and will still report bugs, maybe not as well as someone that wants to beta test but you act like someone who joins an Open beta is not even helping at all which is totally stupied.
The more people playing the game, the more information that the Developers get and the better then can make the game. It is that simple.
Well Im not preordering, might buy the game in two to three months once I see how some objective reviews are treating it and not all the hype that that is out there now. I really hope Aoc is as good as everyone says it is, even half as good would be a major improvment over whats out there now.
I would just hate so to see the day when you see the following " XYZ the most advanced and inovated mmorpg to come along in years is now starting beta testing. and for the small fee of $15 a month you can be amoung the first to help us debug this great game before blah blah blah ....."
It is the fact that you think the 15 bucks is JUST for that...and it is not...
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As well...for fileplanet...
Beta priority, Download priority...
I mean...you get quite a bit actually...not just an AoC Open Beta
I have always been using my head.im not complaining about a lack of freebies , or not being in the closed beta. I think I am starting to see a trend to actually have to pay to test a product for a company. I for one have never had that kiss the holy ring mentality of DEV's that most peopel seem to have its a kin to some sort of weird slavery ....
Tarka, I have always been using my head.im not complaining about a lack of freebies , or not being in the closed beta. I think I am starting to see a trend to actually have to pay to test a product for a company. I for one have never had that kiss the holy ring mentality of DEV's that most peopel seem to have its a kin to some sort of weird slavery ....
Your poll is lopsided and missing many areas
Would you pay 15 dollars to get beta access if it also included....
(note previous post)
I would if I also got all the goodies noted above...
There is active beta testing (aka people reporting bugs and problems they find, being vocal about game balance issues or features they want to see implemented or improved) and passive beta testing (everything a tester does gets recorded and analysed for patterns, issues and problems).
By the way, I voted no on the above poll. I like AoC but I wouldn't pay for their beta testing.
Tarka, I have always been using my head.im not complaining about a lack of freebies , or not being in the closed beta. I think I am starting to see a trend to actually have to pay to test a product for a company. I for one have never had that kiss the holy ring mentality of DEV's that most peopel seem to have its a kin to some sort of weird slavery ....
Are you saying that you've only just noticed that Fileplanet offer their subscribers a chance to get into the "stress test" stage of a Beta? Thank you for stating an obvious and widely accepted fact. Like I said, this ain't nothing new for MMO developers to do this.. It's been going on for years....DDO, Vanguard and others.
Is it a trend? Yes you could call this a trend of sorts. A trend which shows that there are alternate ways to get into the "stress testing" phases of MMO Betas. So is that your point? Its perfectly obvious without the need for anyone pointing it out.
Is it wrong? Nope. Fileplanet subscribers are getting merits for subscribing. So what? Do I deserve the same for being a non-subscriber? Nope.
As a paying subscriber, you're paying fileplanet for certain entitlements, one of which is that you to have a chance at assisting in stress testing another MMO. You aren't paying Funcom, you're paying Fileplanet. It's that simple.
Fileplanet no doubt persuaded Funcom to give them some beta keys (by whatever means we don't know for sure). But, and this is the main issue here, this hasn't obstructed anyone from becoming a beta tester before this time and it's certainly not stopping anyone from being invited by Funcom themselves to join in without being Fileplanet subscribers.
In short, you don't have to buy a subscription to become a beta tester. Therefore, no harm done. It's not immoral and no one is being cheated out of anything.
It is the fact that you think the 15 bucks is JUST for that...and it is not...
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As well...for fileplanet... Beta priority, Download priority... I mean...you get quite a bit actually...not just an AoC Open Beta
Great, if fileplanet is such a great service then they shouldn't need to do beta scams to run up their membership. I don't mind waiting in line or taking longer for a download, but this is just fileplanet making money off someone elses product plain and simple. I don't really blame funcom. I'd probably do the same thing, but it's still a scam no matter how you look at it. The whole point of this is to get fileplanet subs using the beta. They could have just as easily made the beta keys first come first serve to anyone registered at fileplanet which still would have brought them alot of traffic and plenty of opportunity for people to join if they wanted. Don't get me wrong I'm not one of those people that think they have to let us in beta, but let's not pretend that this isn't a scam to get subs for fileplanet that most people otherwise wouldn't have signed up for.
Plus all of us that already had fileplanet accounts really got scammed too
No one was scammed you don't need to sub but when you do you get all of the benifits that come with it including exclusive betas including but not only AoC
Avoid the beta. Go for the real thing. (or ask a friend for buddy key trial for the real thing). Problem solved
Just avoid the game
Problem solved
It would be nice to post alternatives instead of just hate. Alternatives as in games already released or soon to be released. Games that have months or years to be released are not an option for people looking to play an MMO now.
What you have to understand is that SAM123 is a Darkfall fanboi, and is only here to troll, nothing more. For those of you that don't follow the Darkfall forums, you wouldn't have known that.
Head over to the Darkfall forums, and you can read his words of wisdom in all their glory.
Sam makes a living out of bashing AOC on every forum and site imaginable. And keep this in mind. he has NEVER played a minute of AOC. It's one thing to dislike a game that you've tried. It's another to endlessly bash a game you've NEVER even played.
Avoid the beta. Go for the real thing. (or ask a friend for buddy key trial for the real thing). Problem solved
Just avoid the game
Problem solved
It would be nice to post alternatives instead of just hate. Alternatives as in games already released or soon to be released. Games that have months or years to be released are not an option for people looking to play an MMO now.
What you have to understand is that SAM123 is a Darkfall fanboi, and is only here to troll, nothing more. For those of you that don't follow the Darkfall forums, you wouldn't have known that.
Head over to the Darkfall forums, and you can read his words of wisdom in all their glory.
Sam makes a living out of bashing AOC on every forum and site imaginable. And keep this in mind. he has NEVER played a minute of AOC. It's one thing to dislike a game that you've tried. It's another to endlessly bash a game you've NEVER even played.
Tells you all you need to know about Sam123.
Can't blame him. AoC is Gold and on target for release in less than one month. Darkfall is on target for more promises made, and nothing else.
It is the fact that you think the 15 bucks is JUST for that...and it is not...
You also get IGN Boards Subs only board and icons Insider Channel Cool hi-def video features Head-to-head reviews Exclusive contests
Video Tips and Insider chats
PDF and PSP guides
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No pop-ups, interstitials, others
As well...for fileplanet... Beta priority, Download priority... I mean...you get quite a bit actually...not just an AoC Open Beta
Great, if fileplanet is such a great service then they shouldn't need to do beta scams to run up their membership. I don't mind waiting in line or taking longer for a download, but this is just fileplanet making money off someone elses product plain and simple. I don't really blame funcom. I'd probably do the same thing, but it's still a scam no matter how you look at it. The whole point of this is to get fileplanet subs using the beta. They could have just as easily made the beta keys first come first serve to anyone registered at fileplanet which still would have brought them alot of traffic and plenty of opportunity for people to join if they wanted. Don't get me wrong I'm not one of those people that think they have to let us in beta, but let's not pretend that this isn't a scam to get subs for fileplanet that most people otherwise wouldn't have signed up for.
Shouldn't need? That's unrealistic. What business isn't going to grab more profits where it can? Desire to grow and greed are universal human condition. You'd do it if you were in their shoes. I remember when fileplanet was new and all the other big download sites got together to boycott game companies who went exclusively with fileplanet. They were right to do so and I agreed with them. But FP is established now and what can you do other than not supporting them by not subscribing?
What I find interesting is the amount of time people spend complaining about small amounts of money like a $15 subscription or the cost of a game you're not 100% sure you'll like - when you're over 18, that's peanuts, and we're all over 18 here, right? Right?
Tarka, I have always been using my head.im not complaining about a lack of freebies , or not being in the closed beta. I think I am starting to see a trend to actually have to pay to test a product for a company. I for one have never had that kiss the holy ring mentality of DEV's that most peopel seem to have its a kin to some sort of weird slavery ....
Couple things your missing here.
Your not paying Funcom anything to beta test, your paying Fileplanet who they gave the rights to. Funcom isnt getting anything but some nice advertising out of the deal and some damn good testing.
As for your original post being a small beta... you realize they had 20,000 testers for the open weekend, then 50,000 testers for open beta + however many in closed beta + technical betas.
Thats about 100,000 testers. Not to shabby of a beta test imo.
Avoid the beta. Go for the real thing. (or ask a friend for buddy key trial for the real thing). Problem solved
Support the game and buy it...if for only one reason...
The willingness to innovate and do something different than every other MMO out...
Show Blizzard, SOE, Turbine, Mythic that you want something new and different, and use your wallet to do it...otherwise we will have
WoW 2
Yo ... AoC is WoW 2
instances, lots... raids, battlegrounds / minigames a la Capture the Flag, levels, linear gameplay..
In many ways it is just WoW with a nice graphical skin...
Oh yea I forgot... they added button smashing in a way that require you to have three hands ... or use a console... weeeee how innovative... reaaaaal groundbreaking...
Well to its credit the $5 extra to play ahead gets you 10 days free of game time the last I heard so with 30 days or so in a month that ends up being about right in terms of how much you pay per 10 days. It will most likely of course come with your first month free so really your paying $5 for an extra 10 days this gets you in if you pre-ordered earlier and let's you play the game. So put it like this if you pre-order and others didn't they go buy the game on the 20th you wouldn't get yours that day unless you pay for overnight shipping which a good bit extra this way even the folks who pay for ground shipping will have there game in hand before there 10 days runs out. I have no complaints about this at all.
As for Fileplanet it seems enough folks who were subscribers or wanted into the beta enough are doing it because keys are going really quick. And I know quite a few folks in the closed beta that are in my guild. I played the PVP beta weekend and I got my open beta key already so I am happy and I sub to Fileplanet anyway it isn't that much and its worth it.
Avoid the beta. Go for the real thing. (or ask a friend for buddy key trial for the real thing). Problem solved
Support the game and buy it...if for only one reason...
The willingness to innovate and do something different than every other MMO out...
Show Blizzard, SOE, Turbine, Mythic that you want something new and different, and use your wallet to do it...otherwise we will have
WoW 2
Yo ... AoC is WoW 2
instances, lots... raids, battlegrounds / minigames a la Capture the Flag, levels, linear gameplay..
In many ways it is just WoW with a nice graphical skin...
Oh yea I forgot... they added button smashing in a way that require you to have three hands ... or use a console... weeeee how innovative... reaaaaal groundbreaking...
NOT
Button mashing eh? Sorry you cant figure out a nice hot key setup. I play with left hand on keyboard, right hand on mouse, and My guild and I seemed to have no issues at all.
The combat system is very innovative, sorry you disagree.
Fileplanet hate threads rock. Its a service, don't like it don't pay for it. Personally i like Fileplanet have been subscriber for years. but incidentally FC posted on why they went with Fileplanet, linkage
from that thread
"The way Fileplanet works means that you will have to eventually pay, yes. This is not something we control, but please be aware that distributing, organizing and preparing such an activity is something extremely few gaming sites can cope with. I am not sure how well versed you are in the cost of internet downloads or what it takes to set things like this up, but I assure you, the Conan beta has a definitive cost for Fileplanet as well. Not just for the Peta byte of data going out, but for setting this whole thing up. When we started to look for a partner for Open Beta we didn’t have to think even twice, as IGN / Fileplanet are the best ones in the world on that. Simple as that. Extremely few companies are able to host and arrange something like this on the scale they do it. For us, to know that our partner can be fully trusted on everything from customer service to download speeds, was of the essence. Why we didn’t do it all ourselves? We have up until this point, tens of thousands have been selected, and we for sure will to a greater degree some weeks from now. But…as we move into final push we need final push attention too. Simple as that.
I know you will continue to discuss this aspect of it as we move on, and some of you are / will even be angry about it. Please, don’t be, this is a BETA, it is for TESTING Age of Conan BEFORE the LAUNCH. You do not have to sign up for this, it is voluntary. There is no god given right that everyone who wants should get access to a beta, remember that we are only trying to make the best possible game for launch, and the best partner we could find for that part of the Beta was Fileplanet. Age of Conan doesn’t start 1st of May, it starts when we launch. I hope I don’t come across as harsh here, we do love you guys and girls (group hug everyone) but please also understand our choices."
Comments
The more people playing the game, the more information that the Developers get and the better then can make the game. It is that simple.
Sooner or Later
You also get
IGN Boards
Subs only board and icons
Insider Channel
Cool hi-def video features
Head-to-head reviews
Exclusive contests
Video Tips and Insider chats
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No pop-ups, interstitials, others
As well...for fileplanet...
Beta priority, Download priority...
I mean...you get quite a bit actually...not just an AoC Open Beta
Tarka,
I have always been using my head.im not complaining about a lack of freebies , or not being in the closed beta. I think I am starting to see a trend to actually have to pay to test a product for a company. I for one have never had that kiss the holy ring mentality of DEV's that most peopel seem to have its a kin to some sort of weird slavery ....
Would you pay 15 dollars to get beta access if it also included....
(note previous post)
I would if I also got all the goodies noted above...
To TdogSkal:
I agree to that.
There is active beta testing (aka people reporting bugs and problems they find, being vocal about game balance issues or features they want to see implemented or improved) and passive beta testing (everything a tester does gets recorded and analysed for patterns, issues and problems).
By the way, I voted no on the above poll. I like AoC but I wouldn't pay for their beta testing.
Are you saying that you've only just noticed that Fileplanet offer their subscribers a chance to get into the "stress test" stage of a Beta? Thank you for stating an obvious and widely accepted fact. Like I said, this ain't nothing new for MMO developers to do this.. It's been going on for years....DDO, Vanguard and others.
Is it a trend? Yes you could call this a trend of sorts. A trend which shows that there are alternate ways to get into the "stress testing" phases of MMO Betas. So is that your point? Its perfectly obvious without the need for anyone pointing it out.
Is it wrong? Nope. Fileplanet subscribers are getting merits for subscribing. So what? Do I deserve the same for being a non-subscriber? Nope.
As a paying subscriber, you're paying fileplanet for certain entitlements, one of which is that you to have a chance at assisting in stress testing another MMO. You aren't paying Funcom, you're paying Fileplanet. It's that simple.
Fileplanet no doubt persuaded Funcom to give them some beta keys (by whatever means we don't know for sure). But, and this is the main issue here, this hasn't obstructed anyone from becoming a beta tester before this time and it's certainly not stopping anyone from being invited by Funcom themselves to join in without being Fileplanet subscribers.
In short, you don't have to buy a subscription to become a beta tester. Therefore, no harm done. It's not immoral and no one is being cheated out of anything.
Top 10 Most Misused Words in MMO's
Great, if fileplanet is such a great service then they shouldn't need to do beta scams to run up their membership. I don't mind waiting in line or taking longer for a download, but this is just fileplanet making money off someone elses product plain and simple. I don't really blame funcom. I'd probably do the same thing, but it's still a scam no matter how you look at it. The whole point of this is to get fileplanet subs using the beta. They could have just as easily made the beta keys first come first serve to anyone registered at fileplanet which still would have brought them alot of traffic and plenty of opportunity for people to join if they wanted. Don't get me wrong I'm not one of those people that think they have to let us in beta, but let's not pretend that this isn't a scam to get subs for fileplanet that most people otherwise wouldn't have signed up for.
Plus all of us that already had fileplanet accounts really got scammed too
No one was scammed you don't need to sub but when you do you get all of the benifits that come with it including exclusive betas including but not only AoC
Just avoid the game
Problem solved
It would be nice to post alternatives instead of just hate. Alternatives as in games already released or soon to be released. Games that have months or years to be released are not an option for people looking to play an MMO now.
What you have to understand is that SAM123 is a Darkfall fanboi, and is only here to troll, nothing more. For those of you that don't follow the Darkfall forums, you wouldn't have known that.
Head over to the Darkfall forums, and you can read his words of wisdom in all their glory.
Sam makes a living out of bashing AOC on every forum and site imaginable. And keep this in mind. he has NEVER played a minute of AOC. It's one thing to dislike a game that you've tried. It's another to endlessly bash a game you've NEVER even played.
Tells you all you need to know about Sam123.
Just avoid the game
Problem solved
It would be nice to post alternatives instead of just hate. Alternatives as in games already released or soon to be released. Games that have months or years to be released are not an option for people looking to play an MMO now.
What you have to understand is that SAM123 is a Darkfall fanboi, and is only here to troll, nothing more. For those of you that don't follow the Darkfall forums, you wouldn't have known that.
Head over to the Darkfall forums, and you can read his words of wisdom in all their glory.
Sam makes a living out of bashing AOC on every forum and site imaginable. And keep this in mind. he has NEVER played a minute of AOC. It's one thing to dislike a game that you've tried. It's another to endlessly bash a game you've NEVER even played.
Tells you all you need to know about Sam123.
Can't blame him. AoC is Gold and on target for release in less than one month. Darkfall is on target for more promises made, and nothing else.
Great, if fileplanet is such a great service then they shouldn't need to do beta scams to run up their membership. I don't mind waiting in line or taking longer for a download, but this is just fileplanet making money off someone elses product plain and simple. I don't really blame funcom. I'd probably do the same thing, but it's still a scam no matter how you look at it. The whole point of this is to get fileplanet subs using the beta. They could have just as easily made the beta keys first come first serve to anyone registered at fileplanet which still would have brought them alot of traffic and plenty of opportunity for people to join if they wanted. Don't get me wrong I'm not one of those people that think they have to let us in beta, but let's not pretend that this isn't a scam to get subs for fileplanet that most people otherwise wouldn't have signed up for.
Shouldn't need? That's unrealistic. What business isn't going to grab more profits where it can? Desire to grow and greed are universal human condition. You'd do it if you were in their shoes. I remember when fileplanet was new and all the other big download sites got together to boycott game companies who went exclusively with fileplanet. They were right to do so and I agreed with them. But FP is established now and what can you do other than not supporting them by not subscribing?
What I find interesting is the amount of time people spend complaining about small amounts of money like a $15 subscription or the cost of a game you're not 100% sure you'll like - when you're over 18, that's peanuts, and we're all over 18 here, right? Right?
Your not paying Funcom anything to beta test, your paying Fileplanet who they gave the rights to. Funcom isnt getting anything but some nice advertising out of the deal and some damn good testing.
As for your original post being a small beta... you realize they had 20,000 testers for the open weekend, then 50,000 testers for open beta + however many in closed beta + technical betas.
Thats about 100,000 testers. Not to shabby of a beta test imo.
The willingness to innovate and do something different than every other MMO out...
Show Blizzard, SOE, Turbine, Mythic that you want something new and different, and use your wallet to do it...otherwise we will have
WoW 2
Yo ... AoC is WoW 2
instances, lots... raids, battlegrounds / minigames a la Capture the Flag, levels, linear gameplay..
In many ways it is just WoW with a nice graphical skin...
Oh yea I forgot... they added button smashing in a way that require you to have three hands ... or use a console... weeeee how innovative... reaaaaal groundbreaking...
NOT
____________________________
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____________________________
Well to its credit the $5 extra to play ahead gets you 10 days free of game time the last I heard so with 30 days or so in a month that ends up being about right in terms of how much you pay per 10 days. It will most likely of course come with your first month free so really your paying $5 for an extra 10 days this gets you in if you pre-ordered earlier and let's you play the game. So put it like this if you pre-order and others didn't they go buy the game on the 20th you wouldn't get yours that day unless you pay for overnight shipping which a good bit extra this way even the folks who pay for ground shipping will have there game in hand before there 10 days runs out. I have no complaints about this at all.
As for Fileplanet it seems enough folks who were subscribers or wanted into the beta enough are doing it because keys are going really quick. And I know quite a few folks in the closed beta that are in my guild. I played the PVP beta weekend and I got my open beta key already so I am happy and I sub to Fileplanet anyway it isn't that much and its worth it.
The willingness to innovate and do something different than every other MMO out...
Show Blizzard, SOE, Turbine, Mythic that you want something new and different, and use your wallet to do it...otherwise we will have
WoW 2
Yo ... AoC is WoW 2
instances, lots... raids, battlegrounds / minigames a la Capture the Flag, levels, linear gameplay..
In many ways it is just WoW with a nice graphical skin...
Oh yea I forgot... they added button smashing in a way that require you to have three hands ... or use a console... weeeee how innovative... reaaaaal groundbreaking...
NOT
Button mashing eh? Sorry you cant figure out a nice hot key setup. I play with left hand on keyboard, right hand on mouse, and My guild and I seemed to have no issues at all.The combat system is very innovative, sorry you disagree.
Have fun.
Fileplanet hate threads rock. Its a service, don't like it don't pay for it. Personally i like Fileplanet have been subscriber for years. but incidentally FC posted on why they went with Fileplanet, linkage
from that thread