Why do we get excited for beta's?

[Flacracker]

Shouldn't we be more excited for the actual release? Is it because we hopefully get to play it early? Also, why have betas become just a "play it early" thing? When was the last time a beta was used for actual QA by the players?

[AzureWatcher]

It's hard to test an MMO by using only internal testers.

You need a lot of external testers because we're good at breaking things and finding exploits. (However, it doesn't mean that it all gets reported.. )

[bjorntju1]

Originally Posted by Flacracker

When was the last time a beta was used for actual QA by the players?

Next week

[Mauser101]

Because we want to play the game. Next question.

[Flacracker]

Originally Posted by Mauser101

Because we want to play the game. Next question.

An unfinished version of the game? YAY!

[Sirro]

A good deal of PC based betas are legitimate tests, I would say actually 9 out of 10 CLOSED are in fact literal testing, Open is of course up in the air depending on the dev. If it's a console beta there is likely a 1 out of 4 shot it's a real beta, most developers avoid real tests on consoles because people seem to not get testing.

Look at Battlefield 3 and how much people freaked out, even though the devs said it was a much older build than the launch build. It doesn't help that they need certifications to release on consoles so its always behind, it costs much more money and harder to hotfix.

I am grateful to have a good pc to run every game at a good rate on the market, no need to settle for consoles and deal with the first party nonsense.

[VaderShake]

Originally Posted by Flacracker

Shouldn't we be more excited for the actual release? Is it because we hopefully get to play it early? Also, why have betas become just a "play it early" thing? When was the last time a beta was used for actual QA by the players?

Beta's have always been part of the release process so this is just a step closer and an opportunity to kick the tires.

In the case of PS2 being a free-2-play MMO, the beta basically is the release in my opinion, when the final product goes live it will just be like hitting reset with some new features or some missing.

I just want my dam hands on the thing ASAP!!

[Xyntech]

I'm mostly excited about beta because I want to see PS2 go from an awesome idea to an incredible game, and maybe in some small way help contribute to the process.

I always regretted not having been in the PS1 beta, and I kind of feel like PS2 will make up for that a little. Beyond being part of the experience, seeing new tactics emerge for the first time and all of that, it's just cool to be able to say you were there.

But I'm much more excited for the eventual full release for the average player. That's going to be when the real fun starts.

[VaderShake]

Originally Posted by Sirro

Look at Battlefield 3 and how much people freaked out, even though the devs said it was a much older build than the launch build.

People freaked with the BF3 beta because it confirmed the fears of the BF vets that they raped the gameplay and "lowered the threshold" by way to much. Which was evident in the final product.

All previous BF titles = 10,000+ hours of gamplay combined.

BF3 = 120 hours and have not played it for almost 2 months.

Focused soley on PS2......

[MacXXcaM]

Originally Posted by Flacracker

Is it because we hopefully get to play it early?

That's pretty much it...

[Raymac]

1. I can't wait to get my grubby little hands on this game that I've been dreaming about for years.
2. I'm such a fan of the franchise, I'm looking forward to doing my small part in helping fine tune the game.

[JoeDragon]

For me it's only partly that I want to play the game. The biggest draw of Beta for me is that I can say a few years from now... "Hey I was here since Beta, and I helped refine the game in to what it is today."

Unfortunately though I've beta tested for probably 30 games now, NONE of them have retained much of a player base, or just flat out failed and were shut down. (Or were just Expansions for existing games) Not to raise anyone's E-peen, but I actually have a bit of respect for the people who have been playing since Planetside 1 Beta.

[BlueSkies]

Its a chance to bugfix and stress the servers when no one has anything on the line because its beta. Even if you are just "playing early", the beta client you install is packed with debugging code, so you are helping like it or not

[Rivenshield]

I'm not really part of the gaming crowd, so I could give a shit less about betas in general. The last release I got even mildly excited for was SWG, and we all know how that turned out.

But any game that causes me to still remember individual battles almost a decade on, that has a dev team that let's us badger them into getting the guy to write the music we want and that produces promo videos promising us (in precisely these words) GIANT ASS VEHICLE BATTLES.... yeah, I like being on the inside track. I like being able to see and feel and smell it before the general public, and perhaps even influence it in a positive way.

*THIS* beta is different. And you know it.

[Zapalot]

Originally Posted by Mauser101

Because we want to play the game. Next question.

This. And to increase the hype