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Beta Test Poll
OK I want some peoples opinions here. Do you all think that Beta Testing is more of a job or is it more fun to do? Leave some opinions!
Comments
Beta is intended for users to find and report problems. If users are simply playing without reporting the problems, is it any wonder that some problems go undetected until release?
Beta is an unpaid job. The "payment", if you like, is playing it for free.
Click pic to go there!
Anyone who thinks a beta test is chiefly about playing a game for free has no idea what a beta test is, or is supposed to be. Unfortunately it has been my experience that increasingly more beta testers are those strictly looking for a free game and a chance to learn some game secrets prior to gold.
When you get a beta CD or download a beta client, you are getting incomplete code. It is your job to help make it better by playing the game and giving the developers feedback in the form of bug reports as well as general impressions. You also have to agree to a nondisclosure agreement (NDA), which means you are not allowed to talk about the game until it is released.
Anybody who has been in a major beta over the past 2 years knows that these goals are no longer being accomplished in public beta, at least not to the degree that they once were. Testers have a job, but more and more testers treat beta as if if were a golden ticket in a Wonka bar, granting them the right to play a fully functional game for free. Just look at the grumblings you hear when a player wipe occurs in beta. Pwipes are never fun, but they are part of the beta process - a part to which the tester agrees upon entering beta. Regardless, numerous players post on the beta boards whining about how much time they've invested and what a bad thing the wipe is and how inconsiderate the devs are. The prevalence of these types of players is why I rarely sign up for beta tests now.
Guys, don't get me wrong. Part of the appeal of testing is that you DO get to play the game for free and you DO get a sneak peek and that you can actually have a hand in writing the game. It's just that these things, particularly the first two, are lagniappe. The real purpose of beta testing is to help devs find the problems and make a better game through bug hunting, stress testing, and thoughtful opinions. If you go into a beta test expecting a fun, bug free, gratis MMOG, you will likely be disappointed. If so, please accept the test for what it truly is and try not to become one of the aforementioned whiny babies!
Lasciate ogne speranza, voi ch'intrate. (written on the SW:G CD)
A: 73% E: 73% S: 40% K: 13%
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Old timer.
The biggest bug you can find is not enjoying the game. BUT! If you are a person that takes part in a beta, and do not report any bugs, you are not doing your job. There are always bugs to be found, there is no perfect game. On average i report 20 serious bugs, and probably 5 not so serious bugs per game. So, please dont take part in a beta if you are just doing it so you can play for free. Because then the game comes out and it's full of bugs from those people.
Killer 93%
Achiever 60%
Socializer 26%
Explorer 20%
Basically i feel theres two type of people that beta test games.
1) Those out for free games.
2) Those that are interested in the game and are willing to help out finding bugs. These type of people are probably gonna p2p when the game goes retail.
For me.....im half of both.
(Meaning if i beta test a game, and it turns out to be a game im willing to pay for, i'll find bugs for them. If its not and im bored, i'll just play it to pass time. Yea i know im kinda selfish.
)
Ohh Im So Scary... BOO
Ohh Im So Scary... BOO