Alpha Squad Nail in the Coffin

[SQLOwns]

I just thought I would share my thoughts about the Alpha Squad package.

INB4 flame war.
This isn't going to be good, so fanboys should just save their time and stop reading here.

13 weeks ago I signed up for the PS2 beta. I was excited. I just started watching footage from TB and thought the game looked awesome. I never played PS1, I'm completely against subscription based games. Never played one, and never will. I was thrilled when I heard that PS2 was going F2P. I have reservations about F2P and how well it works with FPS games, but at least this will give me a chance to play. Well, I've been waiting for my beta invite, that appears will never come. I thought Sony said that they were close to beta release months ago and were planning for release by the end of the year. Sorry but 13 weeks with no response is not "close to open beta". It could still be weeks or months before my invite, and that is if I ever even get one. I know some of you have been waiting for beta for a lot longer but that is not really the point. To top it all off, now I can get into beta if I pay Sony $40. Really? What happen to F2P? So the game itself is free at launch, but the unfinished version is $40? Hi-Rez did this same shit with the failure known as Tribes:Asscend. I'm extremely disappointed with Sony at this point. INB4 they have to make money. I know they have to make money, and I'm fine with that....Then sell the game....Don't charge certain people money and give it to others for free. Sure you have a right since it's your product, but to me that is just a little bit unethical. Game companies seem to be going backwards. Betas use to be free and the released product cost money. These days a company will stick the "F2P" label on a game just so they can feel good about charging for the beta. Again, I don't care if they make money. Just be fair about it. If it costs one person $40 to play the game, it should cost everyone $40 (at that specific point in time).

I would just like to add none of my feelings are directed towards this site or the administrators. I think you guys are doing a great job of promoting this game and supporting the community. My disappointment and disapproval belongs specifically to SOE. I would have posted on the official forums if I had access.

tl;dr.

This game is not F2P for everyone. Apparently SOE feels the need to charge some people $40 for it, and it is not even finished. Extremely disappointed.

-SQLOwns

[Rat]

They have not said that people that signed up for beta will not get in unless they pay the 40 bucks...if they rely on that they will not have enough testers....especially when they open another continent....they will need atleast twice the number of testers that they have now..(unless they close Indar to test Essimer)
Alpha squad is just another way to get in.

[Rbstr]

MW Online did a similar thing. Buy the founders' pack, get in beta...I still got a beta invite sometime later.

$40 of something + extras for $40 and that's some kind of injustice?
That's what you get. You get $40 of station cash and some extra things, including beta access. Nobody has to buy this. There are thousands of beta players doing so for free.
You didn't get picked? Cry about it, buy the pack or grow up and realize being in the beta isn't some kind of magical experience.

[Bittermen]

I loved Tribes Ascend.

And MWO did it as well as Firefall.

You understand that you aren't just BUYING beta access although many people will purchase it just to get into beta. Your buying $40 of in-game currency as well as exclusive content, an xp boost, and 12 weapon unlocks.

It's a good fucking deal. So please quit your bitching.

[berzerkerking]

Lol i'm already in the beta without paying a dime. Stop hating

[BoDyBaG]

Sort of a slap in the face though, to lie about IGN having infinite beta keys and then releasing this the same day. I can understand OP being upset.

[CrystalViolet]

Doesn't seem like as a big a deal as you make it out to be. :idk:

[SQLOwns]

Ask the fanboys to not read and they still reply. /sadface

[TheDAWinz]

Ask the fanboys to not read and they still reply. /sadface

Ask the dumbass to make a troll thread.

[Syphus]

I would have posted on the official forums if I had access.

You can, the General Discussion forum is open to everyone. I would say your ignorance about that fact pretty well sums up your ignorance about the Alpha Squad package as well.

[SQLOwns]

You can, the General Discussion forum is open to everyone. I would say your ignorance about that fact pretty well sums up your ignorance about the Alpha Squad package as well.

Wow, I can tell you are taking this personally. Please relax. How long has that been the case? I haven't checked in a few days. Still I don't see how that means my opinions are any less valid. Please grow up or don't post.

[maradine]

I'm confused - will PS2 not be F2P at launch now?

[DownloadFailed]

Ask the fanboys to not read and they still reply. /sadface

Apparently anyone who disagrees with you is a fanboy.
Take that stick outta your ass. If you ever planned on buying station cash to help support the devs of this amazing game (like you should) then this deal is a freakin' steal because you get the same amount of SC as you would if you purchased $40 worth of it AND you get beta access (if you aren't in already) AND weapon unlocks AND free camo etc. etc.

Alpha squad is a good deal and helps the devs by getting even MORE beta testers into the game while also making some much deserved cash on the side. Everyone literally wins. Except for you, apparently.

[Goku]

I'm confused - will PS2 not be F2P at launch now?

Its F2P. This is only a bonus package if you are interested.

[duomaxwl]

$40 of something + extras for $40 and that's some kind of injustice?
That's what you get. You get $40 of station cash and some extra things, including beta access. Nobody has to buy this. There are thousands of beta players doing so for free.
You didn't get picked? Cry about it, buy the pack or grow up and realize being in the beta isn't some kind of magical experience.

My reply mirrors his.

Once the performance gets a little better, I'll prolly end up picking this up. It's not a bad deal.

[Bags]

You coulda gotten into beta a few weeks ago if you bought Ps1 through gamefly for $10 so you'd be an "Active" vet. You coulda gotten in the beta a few weeks ago if you bought an $8 magazine months ago.

The GAME is free to everyone. The beta requires a beta key you can get in a multiple of ways

>Magazines
>Being a veteran
>Being an active veteran
>Attending an SOE event
>Using twitter
>Using facebook
>Watching various interviews
>Various site beta key give aways
>Spending $40 for skins, decals, 12 unlocked guns, and $40 of stationcash

It doesn't cost "$40" for one person to play the game and $0 for another. The game upon release is completely free for EVERYONE. The game is F2P. The beta mostly isn't.

[FOG SMoss]

I can understand the OP's frustration. I'm in the beta after 4 days of trying on twitter but originally all you had to do was sign up to the PS2 website and you would get a beta key. Now this may still happen but then they started doing promo's like PC Gamer etc which changed things completely.

The best game I have ever experienced of letting people in on a beta was iRacing. Sure its not as well known but the only way you could get in was to sign up for the beta and wait for an invitation. Then once ready they invited a few thousand people every week so population gradually went up not causing excessive stress on the site and servers.

I had hoped the PS2 beta was going to be similar way of inviting people in to test. Instead you have to resort to being a 10 year old constantly nagging for a beta key on twitter.

[maradine]

Its F2P. This is only a bonus package if you are interested.

I wasn't confused. :) Sorry, I'll lay off illustrating fallacy via **** ignorance. Doctor said I should cut down anyway.

It sucks that not everyone is getting in when they want to. It sucks that some undeserving pukes with $40 bills* falling out of their pantlegs will get in first. It sucks that people with no life can haunt twitter for a key. In no way does that make the game not F2P, or make Sony evil, or give puppies cancer.

*Hey, I can dream. Its a useful number.

**Apparently "****" is a bad word. Someone might wanna look at that.

[JawsOfLife]

Dude. Hound their Twitter feeds for a couple days and you'll get a key. It just takes some determination.

[TheDAWinz]

I wasn't confused. :) Sorry, I'll lay off illustrating fallacy via **** ignorance. Doctor said I should cut down anyway.

It sucks that not everyone is getting in when they want to. It sucks that some undeserving pukes with $40 bills* falling out of their pantlegs will get in first. It sucks that people with no life can haunt twitter for a key. In no way does that make the game not F2P, or make Sony evil, or give puppies cancer.

*Hey, I can dream. Its a useful number.

**Apparently "****" is a bad word. Someone might wanna look at that.

Pfft $40? thats pocket lint! I'm wearing pants made out of $100 bills!

[Baneblade]

I was in Beta from day 1... I just bought Alpha Squad. They could easily have charged twice as much or more for what they put in it.

[CrystalViolet]

I love the gamer stereotype of the kid with his parent's credit card. It's wonderful how we live in an age where game companies do everything they can to make their products accessible to everyone, yet if you can afford to spen money on a game, you're an undeserving asshole. Welcome to the internet where self entitlement runs rampant.

[Syphus]

I wasn't confused. :) Sorry, I'll lay off illustrating fallacy via **** ignorance. Doctor said I should cut down anyway.

It sucks that not everyone is getting in when they want to. It sucks that some undeserving pukes with $40 bills* falling out of their pantlegs will get in first. It sucks that people with no life can haunt twitter for a key. In no way does that make the game not F2P, or make Sony evil, or give puppies cancer.

*Hey, I can dream. Its a useful number.

**Apparently "****" is a bad word. Someone might wanna look at that.

It's true, life does suck.

I also hate people who can afford vacations I can't.
People who can afford cars I can't
And in general anyone with more money than me.

I hate a lot of people.

[TheDAWinz]

It's true, life does suck.

I also hate people who can afford vacations I can't.
People who can afford cars I can't
And in general anyone with more money than me.

I hate a lot of people.

i hate my pants because it has more money than me.

[Han Solegit]

You seem to be one of those people who wants something, but does nothing to get it.


It's not costing X person $40 to play while Y person plays for free, it's costing X person $40 because they want $40 worth of station cash + some cool extras.

[Crator]

So I guess the regular beta signup folks haven't gotten in yet. Suppose they haven't told anyone yet when they are letting you guys in eh?

[PoisonTaco]

I spent $60 on Battlefield 3 and that was a huge letdown. Considering the amount of fun I've had in PS2 so far I'd say it's worth $40. Just think of it as buying PS2 as a standard $40 title.

If you think PS2 is worth $40 then get the Alpha Squad package. If not, then download it and play it for free. The choice is yours.

[MaxDamage]

No one is forcing you to pay.

You have freedom of choice.

[Salad Snake]

I'm not a big fan of gameplay that fast-paced, but to call Tribes: Ascend a failure is laughable. Unless you meant as a game and not as a business, then your opinion is subjective (and probably still laughable, like I said I'm not really into the super-arena FPS subgenre).

What you're seeing with Alpha Squad is a founder's pack, which seems to be an upcoming trend with F2P games. Firefall is going to have it, MW online has had it, a couple of other games have had it. Founder's packs do NOT mean a game isn't F2P. They just mean that you can CHOOSE to "buy" them like a retail game, netting you exclusive swag goodies. But these goodies are not necessary to play, playing is free.

[MaxDamage]

Speaking of coffins, remember when Planetside 1 had coffins in beta for dead players?

Then they got rid of them before release.

I guess that was the nail in the coffin for coffins.

[NewSith]

Not like I'm trying to say something, but even the name of the thread sounds like a yellow press article.

Why am I ready to bet a significant sum on the thread being a troll?

[OnexBigxHebrew]

OP doesn not understand the following concepts:

A)The concept of speaking positively and not starting a rant by insulting people as a means to get readers to listen - even when being critical. The flame war and fanboy comments are a surefire way to start a fight. Your point could be expressed in a more grown-up fashion.

B) The idea that more PS2 revenue = more PS2 for everyone (barring P2W). Could you imagine people trying to get those who aren't in betato buy alpha squad without letting them in? Fat chance. Letting them in the beta was a surefire way to have everyone interested in paying money in PS2 get a crack at it.

C) Somehow it is the OP's belief that the game will "Cost $40 dollars for some, and be free for others". The idea in this initial business model is that you're basically pledging to get station cash, and then geting a bunch of cool stuff for it. The game is free for everyone - and that same 'everyone' has the choice to basically agree to buy station cash with perks.

No matter how you cut it, this is a good, non-pay2win revenue getter. You should be happy the announcement wasn't "Pay 40 dollas up front and get this EXCLUSIVE 5-way homing laser cannon with an ultra-mag and nano-second reflex optix that NO ONE ELSE CAN BUY!!!!!".

Get it?

And before you accuse me of being a fanboy, I think you should know that I really don't like PS2 'as is' all that much - still testing and watching it progress.

[Tatwi]

It should be noted that the $40 you're spending grants $40 worth of Station Cash, which can be used in many SOE games, not just PS2. Honestly, you're getting more than $40 worth of stuff for the $40, because of that.

[Diehard]

Sad OP is sad. Ignorant OP is ignorant. Anyone who disagree with him is a fanboy, so he claimed without even giving share of justice to read the reasoning.

[MaxDamage]

Speaking as someone who has no interest in a single title by SOE outside of Planetside 1/2, I bought this for the camo. HAVE YOU SEEN DAT SHIT?

Also some of the terminology is revealing; suggesting that when you *buy* camo from the store, it expires after a duration. Ho ho.

FOUNDER CAMO IS ETERNAL CAMO.
Get it while it's hot.

[Electrofreak]

Ask the fanboys to not read and they still reply. /sadface

You're on a fan forum. What do you expect?! Do you think people come here because they don't like PS2? :doh:

I'm already in the beta (have been since Tech Test) and I'll probably buy the Alpha Squad package. Here's my reasons:

1) I can support the development of this awesome game. Game developers gotta eat too!
2) $40 worth of Stationcash for $40. That's fair.
3) XP boost - I have a family and can't play every day. Having a little more XP will keep me falling too far behind.
4) Weapon unlocks and other stuff. Playing the Beta for a game means doing a grind twice or more. Having some unlocks will mean I can skip the grind to unlock some of the stuff I'll have already unlocked in Beta.
5) I've been a pretty dedicated fan, through PS and now PS2. I don't mind showing it in game.

[PhoenixDog]

Your thought process completely confuses me, OP. I don't understand how a Founders Package...An optional $40 package that you can buy if you'd like...Is a forceful must buy for people?

Yeah..It gets you into beta. However, it's merely an optional package for fans to not only support SoE, but to get some cool shit with it. I really don't get your position. You're either a complete and utter moron, or you're a really good troll.

I'm already in beta and I'll be picking it up down the line. I think you're just an idiot.

[SUBARU]

I just thought I would share my thoughts about the Alpha Squad package.

INB4 flame war.
This isn't going to be good, so fanboys should just save their time and stop reading here.

13 weeks ago I signed up for the PS2 beta. I was excited. I just started watching footage from TB and thought the game looked awesome. I never played PS1, I'm completely against subscription based games. Never played one, and never will. I was thrilled when I heard that PS2 was going F2P. I have reservations about F2P and how well it works with FPS games, but at least this will give me a chance to play. Well, I've been waiting for my beta invite, that appears will never come. I thought Sony said that they were close to beta release months ago and were planning for release by the end of the year. Sorry but 13 weeks with no response is not "close to open beta". It could still be weeks or months before my invite, and that is if I ever even get one. I know some of you have been waiting for beta for a lot longer but that is not really the point. To top it all off, now I can get into beta if I pay Sony $40. Really? What happen to F2P? So the game itself is free at launch, but the unfinished version is $40? Hi-Rez did this same shit with the failure known as Tribes:Asscend. I'm extremely disappointed with Sony at this point. INB4 they have to make money. I know they have to make money, and I'm fine with that....Then sell the game....Don't charge certain people money and give it to others for free. Sure you have a right since it's your product, but to me that is just a little bit unethical. Game companies seem to be going backwards. Betas use to be free and the released product cost money. These days a company will stick the "F2P" label on a game just so they can feel good about charging for the beta. Again, I don't care if they make money. Just be fair about it. If it costs one person $40 to play the game, it should cost everyone $40 (at that specific point in time).

I would just like to add none of my feelings are directed towards this site or the administrators. I think you guys are doing a great job of promoting this game and supporting the community. My disappointment and disapproval belongs specifically to SOE. I would have posted on the official forums if I had access.

tl;dr.

This game is not F2P for everyone. Apparently SOE feels the need to charge some people $40 for it, and it is not even finished. Extremely disappointed.

-SQLOwns

I sent you a pm please read it :)

[PhoenixDog]

I sent you a pm please read it :)

Please share with the rest of us =D

[Snipefrag]

Good troll OP, none of your points had any merit. This is where you slither off to whatever hole you crawled out of until you can think of another ill-informed, bitter, pretentious post.

[Crator]

Yeah..It gets you into beta. However, it's merely an optional package for fans to not only support SoE, but to get some cool shit with it. I really don't get your position. You're either a complete and utter moron, or you're a really good troll.

I'm already in beta and I'll be picking it up down the line. I think you're just an idiot.

Harsh, I was thinking butt hurt kid with no money desperately wanting beta access... But, you could be right since there's so many beta key giveaways currently.

[vVRedOctoberVv]

In Beta already.

Purchased Alpha Squad Package.

Desired to support SoE for the game I intend to play in the future. $40, not so much, intended to spend that much anyway at some point. Got extra goodies, station cash (of equivalent value to the $40), small bonus, and some interesting camo.

Could have opted not to buy it, just as well. Fundamentally... Wouldn't have changed anything.


Conclusion: AS Package, good deal, if you're interested in playing PS2 and want to support SoE. If you don't want to cough up $40, you're not missing anything relevant.

[morf]

OP utterly fails at understanding the f2p model. F2P relies on selling convenience and novelty. That's all this is: convenience and novelty.

I'm irritated by this notion that this is some below the belt money-grab. The simple fact of the matter is the greenest, most lowly, entry level dev or artist at SoE costs AT LEAST $200 per workday to employ. (this is roughly a 42k salary plus benefits payroll taxes - its almost certainly more than this)

So you have to sell 5 of these at $40 each just to keep this one guy employed for 8 hours.

If not for attractive offerings like this, how are the rest of us supposed to pay for your sorry behind to play this game for free?

[cellinaire]

Wait. Does this 'Alpha Squad' thingy give purchasers weapons which give them actual combat advantage or not?

If not, well, no surprise here

[Ertwin]

I'm assuming it'll unlock some of the weapons that are purchasable with Auraxium. They've been pretty adamant against pay to win since the beginning.

[Redshift]

It costs $40 and you get $40 worth of station cash plus some other stuff, Anyone that plans to use the cash shop would be silly not to buy it, i'm in beta and i bought it, because i'd spend that $40 on it later anyway.

If you don't want to spend anything then don't, but don't bitch about an option that's good for most of us.

[Crator]

SC can be used for anything they give in-game to purchase real money for. Such as side-grades and cosmetic customization to XP boosters. As far as the weapon side-grades go though, we aren't certain yet if they will be tied to battle rank. I'm assuming they will be so you'll still have to play for a little while until you can actually purchase the side-grades.

[Raka Maru]

Speaking as someone who has no interest in a single title by SOE outside of Planetside 1/2, I bought this for the camo. HAVE YOU SEEN DAT SHIT?

Also some of the terminology is revealing; suggesting that when you *buy* camo from the store, it expires after a duration. Ho ho.

FOUNDER CAMO IS ETERNAL CAMO.
Get it while it's hot.

They said EXCLUSIVE, not eternal. And purchased camo will not expire, where did you hear this?

[megamold]

failure known as tribes ascend?
you are kidding right?

i will be buying the founders package, 40 bucks for equal amount station cash + free stuff? i'd be stupid not to buy it.
and i'm guessing the package is actually worth quite a lot since you get 6months worth of +xp and +resources.

[zzzornbringer]

ok, i stopped reading where you called hi-rez'es tribes ascend a failure.

i don't see what's wrong with offering people instant access to the game + ingame stuff and currency and whatnot.

no one forces you to buy, you may also just wait a few more months and the game will be released free2play.

firefall does a similar thing btw. they offer 3 founder packs that get you "priority beta access" for the next invite wave.

i'm just having an issue with the price. i payed 25€ for tribes ascend, actually after i got into the beta. but i thought it was worth it and i could need the ingame gold. this 25€ would have gotten me into the beta if i weren't already in it.

the lowest entry for firefall is 20$. they don't have euro servers yet though and content wise the game is lacking. so, it's not even worth the 20$. but 20$ is a more reasonable price. i won't pay 35€ or 40$ for this game. i don't even know if it runs on my system. i need beta access to test this. and if i can run the game and i think it's fun i'm more than willing to pay cash.

[Canaris]

I loved Tribes Ascend.

And MWO did it as well as Firefall.

You understand that you aren't just BUYING beta access although many people will purchase it just to get into beta. Your buying $40 of in-game currency as well as exclusive content, an xp boost, and 12 weapon unlocks.

It's a good fucking deal. So please quit your bitching.

damn right it is :D

[Kitsune]

Think of it this way...

When it goes live you may be spending over 40 bucks on cosmetic items anyhow, so why not get beta access, a title, exp + resource boosts, exclusive camo, decal, and 12 weapon unlocks for that much as well when you got the chance?

Btw quick question though for people who bought this, anybody know if the 4000 points are for live or just for beta? And anybody have a clue when the beta will end? I don't wanna buy this and 3 days alter the game goes live.

[HeatLegend]

This game is not F2P for everyone. Apparently SOE feels the need to charge some people $40 for it, and it is not even finished. Extremely disappointed.



I didn't get that part... the 40$ deal is for when the game is released, it's not a ticket to beta. We havent recieved any info whatsoever about the pay-2-play model yet; just that there will be an option for it.

In any case I see why you'd have your concerns but it comes down to personal preference; and I love pay-2-play. As a person who games a lot I don't have a problem of paying 15$/month for something I spend most of my sparetime on.

I might not get the p2p model though, it will depend on what you get; I'll most likely buy this 40$-thingy though.

[Hamma]

Essentially SOE is selling 40$ worth of station cash and giving you some free items. So yea...

Station cash that you will use anyway...

[Baneblade]

Btw quick question though for people who bought this, anybody know if the 4000 points are for live or just for beta?

The 4k SC apply to your station account immediately.

[Levente]

shut up and take my money i say

[Dagron]

OMG, i've been waiting for so long to join beta and now they offer people access to it when they buy $40 worth of SC? That's an insult, how dare they not invite me for free to their unfinished game when i clearly "deserve" it?

It's funny how people are so eager to play that they keep forgetting that beta isn't early access, but actually a chance to be a small part of the game's creation. No one has any more or less right to be in beta, whining that you didn't get picked is like whining that you didn't win the lottery.

[Kipper]

Damnation, you mean I paid $40 to get into a beta that I'm already in? :cry:

Seriously though, yeah. Its "buy some station cash now and get some free shit" and everyone I game with has so far endorsed it by making a purchase.

[Ipimpnoobs]

SUCKER!!!! HAHAH MUAHAHAHAHA HAHAHAH haahah he he MAUAHAHHAHAHA!!!

j/k If dudes mad, then dudes mad. After your done being upset sir, come back in-game we are about to raid an NC base! lol

[Jahoota]

Not sure if OP is trolling or just stupid.

[SixShooter]

Btw quick question though for people who bought this, anybody know if the 4000 points are for live or just for beta?

You can't actually use it in beta. You'll be able to use it when the game launches. It goes into your Station cash balance and you can use it for other SOE games as well.

[IHateMMOs]

Read into the F2P model and the Alpha Squad pack before making threads where you have no idea what you're talking about...

[GisTheGit]

Well seems like a bit of a race to me on who receives my patronage

SOE PS2 or EA backed WARFACE ! (I hate EA btw for killing BF )

Either way I`not going to spend a penny until I see results & I can`t see that without a beta key :p