I keep reading that the game is in "open beta", but are they collecting money?
If so, the game is not in "beta", but is in "production".
It's a marketing decision that PWE has made. Rest easy though. If "launch" isn't right around the corner, we'll be reviewing (scoring) the title in a few weeks.
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I find this amusing considering you've been derailing other peoples threads lately.
The fact that there's "controversy" about the term Open Beta means that people just plain don't understand what the term means.
As per Wiki:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle#Beta
It's undeniable that the game is still in a testing phase, even if they're taking money for services. And it's opened up to everyone, with no NDA. While people may not think the result is any different then some other official releases, it's still an open beta by definition.
Are you really trying to say that games in open release do not have bugs? I mean are you REALLY trying to say that? Once they take the money the game is in release whether the company calls it beta or not. You may think this is only a matter of opinion but check commerce law first. Taking money for a product or service generates obligations that supersede even the TOS as certain rights or obligations cannot be changed by contract.
But neither Cryptic nor Perfect World are claiming it isn't open beta. It you and other players that are claiming it isn't open beta. So if you play a game that the studio making it and the publisher both claim is in open beta and have problems don't come crying to the boards or the rest of us players about how it is unacceptable for a published game to have these problems.
Both the studio and the publisher are not claiming the game is done and ready for final release yet.
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Giving a definition does not settle this argument. The argument is about whether this term is correctly applied in this case or not, not about what the definition is.
Yeah, this is pretty obviously not an Open Beta.
And a definition goes to show exactly that. Again, it's undeniable that the game is in a testing phase, and it's undeniable that it's available to the widest number of people. You can argue that other games have done similar but have not used the term "open beta", but the fact still remains that Cryptic did, and it still fits in the definition.
How does increased rates test the way that any normal player will play the game? How can they know if quest encounters are properly balanced if beta players go through at a higher level with higher then average gear? Proper game testing works when you have testers play in exactly the same way that a normal player will.
The practice of taking money for games in open beta is relatively new. It is no wonder it is not accepted as universally valid yet, and that taking in money is seen as an indication of release. It's becoming more frequent though, especially with f2p titles.
The human race is centered on conflict. For support of this contention, consult history.
they did the same with blacklight retribution, was an 'open beta' for a year, with cash shop and all, got version 1.00 after a year.
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So young, so innocent...
You haven't played many MMO's have you?
On the flipside, they do cash in when someone specs into a bugged talent or ability that doesn't work. That's gotta be making money hand over fist.
From ten feet back it's kind of amazing to see.
I don't think you understand what "Open Beta" means.
Open Beta: