How long will the beta be?

[Liwen Diamond]

If my estimate of SOE's developpement ressources and efficiency is accurate and the alpha footage shown at E3 is a viable snapshot of the current stage of developpement of the game at the time, I'd say 3 to 4 months.* Most of the game bugs proper have been squashed, most of the graphics assets are done, most of the features they wanted for launch are included, the biggest and perhaps hardest of challenges in left to overcome however : Making the game stable at performing at 100% under of the strain of thousands simultenously playing. And THAT, I predict, will take a solid 3-4 months.

*This expert opinion as been provided to you by Liwen Diamond, a 23 years old gamer with zero insider experience in the buisness of developping video games and no access to any concrete information regarding the game developping studios known as SOE outside of "Must have around 300-400 ish veterans of the industry working in there, with maybe 250 of them actually developping games of the rest being administration, PR and marketing." This opinion as thus, on a scale of 1 to 10, an approximate value of 0.

[SpottyGekko]

Of course, the phrase "it's done when it's done" is just a myth. No commercial product development team has an infinite budget.

SOE have their internal deadlines, I'm sure. There will be some flexibility in that deadline, but they will try their best to meet it.

[megamold]

Originally Posted by SpottyGekko

Of course, the phrase "it's done when it's done" is just a myth. No commercial product development team has an infinite budget.

SOE have their internal deadlines, I'm sure. There will be some flexibility in that deadline, but they will try their best to meet it.

but what if they were to implement the store and stuff say a month into beta ? that would mean the game would be making money in only slighty smaller amounts then at launch, thus giving them the cash and drive to continue the beta as long as needed.

if im not mistaken several other f2p titles have done this, we just have to remember that the process for making a f2p is different from making a classic mmo or boxed title.

[sagolsun]

It'll be in beta until the developers consider the game balanced enough.

Beta is the time when developers can freely wipe zones, screw around with game balance, switch player factions, add and remove features as seen fit.

The beta will last until the numbers balance out and the game is reasonably well balanced and the dev team can get an idea of how all the systems work together on a large scale from a bird's eye view.

PS2 is an ambitious undertaking and the only competition is PS1, really, so there's little in way of industry standard to go against. You throw stuff on the wall and see what sticks. Hence the beta will be longer than in other games.

[Dart]

I know what SOE have said but I'd be surprised if beta was LESS than 6 months. NDA doesn't permit me to tell you guys why just yet but I think the 3-4 month timeline is overly optimistic.

[Sunrock]

Originally Posted by SpottyGekko

Of course, the phrase "it's done when it's done" is just a myth. No commercial product development team has an infinite budget.

SOE have their internal deadlines, I'm sure. There will be some flexibility in that deadline, but they will try their best to meet it.

Agree. But one could only wish

[Littleman]

Originally Posted by megamold

but what if they were to implement the store and stuff say a month into beta ? that would mean the game would be making money in only slighty smaller amounts then at launch, thus giving them the cash and drive to continue the beta as long as needed.

if im not mistaken several other f2p titles have done this, we just have to remember that the process for making a f2p is different from making a classic mmo or boxed title.

Even with an income, at some point calling it a beta is just a free pass for them to make sweeping changes that they couldn't get away with at release, like wipes. As time goes on, only the most gullible fools will continue to take the developers word for it, and the rest will wonder when the wipes will freaking end.

I don't think the beta will truly last so long. I can see delays into spring of next year, but I can't see this thing taking a year, not for balance. "Balance" will fluctuate from day to day simply because people may eventually find the scissors to the paper that was constantly defeating the rock which made scissors look pretty useless at the start. Also, introducing new content can lead to imbalances. We can't really expect there to be no new content updates post launch, can we?

So basically, stress testing server loads and balancing weapons and vehicles. Those are the primary purposes of this beta. Thinking this will work out like other betas is kind of short-sighted: those other betas don't concern themselves with 2000 players on a single map. SOE will have gotten a bulk of the "small time" testing done already.

[Dart]

Originally Posted by Littleman

SOE will have gotten a bulk of the "small time" testing done already.

Sorry man but this is not the case... You might think it would be - in fact I'd probably have agreed with you before the tech test - but it isn't.

[Littleman]

Originally Posted by Dart

Sorry man but this is not the case... You might think it would be - in fact I'd probably have agreed with you before the tech test - but it isn't.

You can't make this claim until AFTER the beta client is on everyone's hard drive. It's not going to be the tech test client. What do you think the delay was for?

[sagolsun]

Originally Posted by Littleman

Even with an income, at some point calling it a beta is just a free pass for them to make sweeping changes that they couldn't get away with at release, like wipes. As time goes on, only the most gullible fools will continue to take the developers word for it, and the rest will wonder when the wipes will freaking end.

Correct. We can expect wipes of player progression, side swaps, forced weapon usage, "TANK ONLY WEEKEND" or whatever. Players who coughed up cash for premium features would feel cheated and complain. Even if you'd put a giant <blink><marque>disclamer upfront.</blink>

A better way of getting a feel of the premium market would be to randomly give out credits for free to some players and see what they buy. Maybe even use that as an incentive, if they can be bothered setting such a system up.

[Dart]

Originally Posted by Littleman

You can't make this claim until AFTER the beta client is on everyone's hard drive. It's not going to be the tech test client. What do you think the delay was for?

I can't tell you what the delay was for. Just bear this conversation in mind while you're playing later.

[Littleman]

Originally Posted by Dart

I can't tell you what the delay was for. Just bear this conversation in mind while you're playing later.

Oh yes... because they've been keeping the tech testers WELL informed on the major issues that would cause the beta to last much longer than 4 months

I'd actually be concerned if it took them that long to handle something they've known about since the tech test.

[Piper]

Originally Posted by Dart

I can't tell you what the delay was for.

Smedley wanted to do some accounting in the style of the Count from Sesame street?

[Dart]

Originally Posted by Littleman

Oh yes... because they've been keeping the tech testers WELL informed on the major issues that would cause the beta to last much longer than 4 months

I'd actually be concerned if it took them that long to handle something they've known about since the tech test.

Play the game - then feel free to PM me on the OF. Until then you can't possibly know what you're talking about.

[LampShade]

The Call of Duty 4 Beta lasted about 2-3 months. C&C Red alert 3 beta lasted around 4 months... But seeing as Planetside 2 is way more complicated than both of those games, I would assume 3 months would be a BARE MINIMUM.... probably 5++ months is realistic unless they decide to put a few big things off on later updates in order to release sooner. Bug fixing in MMO's is very difficult compared to a normal FPS or a RTS.