Charging for Beta

fcrowles · January 2013

I don't know what's worse. The fact that they are charging for beta or the fact that I'm contemplating purchasing a key. What are your thoughts?

barkyn · January 2013

think of it as you are contributing towards a company that you want to be successful. I dont mind it at all, even though I have my PC gamer key and have used it. Im going to buy a founder pack anyways because I support what they are doing, and that is bringing back Neverwinter and making it an mmo

catburger003 · January 2013

Buying your way to beta, hmmm sounds familiar
@PoE

vagrantzero · January 2013

They aren't charging for beta. There's 2 betas/alphas whatever the hell you want to call them. There is the limited weekend beta tailored specifically to the MMO Locusts (think of it as a marketing beta, its main purpose is to expose the game to potential customers and stress test the servers), and then there's the real ongoing alpha/beta (its main purpose is to be a beta in a more traditional sense). You can't buy your way into that beta though there's a chance that the PC Gamer keys will get you into it, that's a guess on my part, don't run with it.

Also, this is pretty much how any major MMO release of the last few years has been so I'm fine with it.

starkillian · January 2013

I think people that can't afford it shouldn't do it, but nothing in the world wrong with the rest of us doing it.

tracilords · January 2013

The game is free to play, they never promised or made any suggestions that it would be free to test.

6 years of production, no client cost, no box cost, no download cost, no monthly cost. They have a right to produce income. If you choose not to pay to test the game, then it will most certainly be available to you for free when it releases.

devoteoftempus · January 2013

I hate it. I say CB should be for reserved for testers to identify problems and test the game. Pre-orders or founders packs should be for guaranteed fist access for open beta events. Seems like selling beta keys is the new norm though. At least for Cryptic/PWE since that's all they've been doing with their keys for the most part it seems.

devoteoftempus · January 2013

tracilords wrote: »

The game is free to play, they never promised or made any suggestions that it would be free to test.

6 years of production, no client cost, no box cost, no download cost, no monthly cost. They have a right to produce income. If you choose not to pay to test the game, then it will most certainly be available to you for free when it releases.

When a psychologist conducts a study he does not require people to pay him for his study. Testers are there to provide valuable data to the dev team about issues the game has. Making people pay is just bringing in people who just want to play and not really care about quality feedback. ESO had an actual application for CB which is what Cryptic should have done. Beta should not be a paid service, plain and simple. All Cryptic is doing is playing on people's desperation to play the game and whittle some money out of em. Call it what you want but that is some shady bushiness practice.

skinneykrn · January 2013

I'm just glad it's not $2,000 like PoE's Diamond supporter pack. >.>

zebular · January 2013

devoteoftempus wrote: »

When a psychologist conducts a study he does not require people to pay him for his study. Testers are there to provide valuable data to the dev team about issues the game has. Making people pay is just bringing in people who just want to play and not really care about quality feedback. ESO had an actual application for CB which is what Cryptic should have done. Beta should not be a paid service, plain and simple. All Cryptic is doing is playing on people's desperation to play the game and whittle some money out of em. Call it what you want but that is some shady bushiness practice.

No one is making anyone pay. This is all choice. People are still getting access to the Betas without paying a dime. It is your choice. The beta access is a bonus to all the other goodies Founders get, lingering on this one particular item is perplexing to me.

meldroth · January 2013

fcrowles wrote: »

I don't know what's worse. The fact that they are charging for beta or the fact that I'm contemplating purchasing a key. What are your thoughts?

Hey, they have had quite a few ways to get free keys. Handing them out at conventions like candy (for players to then pass on to a lucky few). Subscribers at least to PC Gamer got "free" codes, as do lifetime members of STO. They've also had a few contests along the way.

The game is free to play, they never promised or made any suggestions that it would be free to test.

6 years of production, no client cost, no box cost, no download cost, no monthly cost. They have a right to produce income. If you choose not to pay to test the game, then it will most certainly be available to you for free when it releases.

DEFINITELY! Making these games isn't a public service. It's to make money. Sure, they often love the games they make. There are easier ways to make a dime than make a F2P game. But in the end, they have to make money. And pay to test is not pay to win!

I hate it. I say CB should be for reserved for testers to identify problems and test the game. Pre-orders or founders packs should be for guaranteed fist access for open beta events. Seems like selling beta keys is the new norm though. At least for Cryptic/PWE since that's all they've been doing with their keys for the most part it seems.

I dunno. I've seen quite a few players on here get keys from other players (originally given to them by Cryptic/PWE). So... Yeah...

devoteoftempus · January 2013

zebular wrote: »

No one is making anyone pay. This is all choice. People are still getting access to the Betas without paying a dime. It is your choice. The beta access is a bonus to all the other goodies Founders get, lingering on this one particular item is perplexing to me.

Because it's a matter of principle. CB should not be sold out plain and simple as it's suppose to be a testing phase of the game to sort out bugs. And no it's not a bonus, you know damn well people will be paying the founders pack specifically for that CB access. All that stuff that you are saying is what they are paying for is the bonus.

zebular · January 2013

devoteoftempus wrote: »

Because it's a matter of principle. CB should not be sold out plain and simple as it's suppose to be a testing phase of the game to sort out bugs. And no it's not a bonus, you know damn well people will be paying the founders pack specifically for that CB access. All that stuff that you are saying is what they are paying for is the bonus.

I am not paying for this beta access, when I buy one of those packs it will be for all the other items in it. I couldn't care less about beta access or early access. I like the sound of those other goodies. So.. what may be a draw for some is not for others. To each their own. Why does it matter how people choose to spend their money? It's their money, not anyone else's money.

Besides, companies have been doing this for some time now, including beta access and early access in such promotions and other promotions. It's not like this is new to the industry. Heck, I did it a few years ago with LotRO's founder's pack and enjoyed a head start in addition to all the other bonuses it gave me.

vinsinar · January 2013

Look Anet did the same thing buy the CE to get access it was what $179.00? I don't have a problem with this since no one is making me pay. There use to be time when we the general public wouldn't even have a chance to get in beta and open beta's didn't even exist. You had to buy the game to get your first chance at playing it. Man did I waste a bunch of money back then on some crappy games.

vinsinar · January 2013

devoteoftempus wrote: »

Because it's a matter of principle. CB should not be sold out plain and simple as it's suppose to be a testing phase of the game to sort out bugs. And no it's not a bonus, you know damn well people will be paying the founders pack specifically for that CB access. All that stuff that you are saying is what they are paying for is the bonus.

Yeah and all the people that got keys at the shows and any were else for free are perfect testers? I would tend to think that someone spending $200 is going to give some quality feedback so they don't feel like they wasted their money.

meresk · January 2013

I like Cryptic's games, and this has no bearing on that for me. While I generally dislike the pay for beta access model, it works and people buy into it, so why not?

If it makes you angry, then you are probably putting too much of your time and thought into it. Forget about the game for awhile and come back when its released.

daxiongmao87 · January 2013

devoteoftempus wrote: »

Because it's a matter of principle. CB should not be sold out plain and simple as it's suppose to be a testing phase of the game to sort out bugs. And no it's not a bonus, you know damn well people will be paying the founders pack specifically for that CB access. All that stuff that you are saying is what they are paying for is the bonus.

It is sold because people buy it. The value of anything isn't determined on the price tag, but what people are willing to pay for it. Now-a-days we have a population of gamers that are willing to shell out money for early access, even if it was originally designed as a testing phase. An ugly truth.

vinners · January 2013

A few things:
1. You can still get into the beta without buying a founder's pack. Cor, for all we know they might STILL give away beta keys to people. We're due for another contest >.>
2. I don't think it actually said "closed beta" anywhere. We're assuming this is a closed beta, but everywhere I've seen it says "beta." Make of that what you will.
3. "Testing" in a closed beta is not "testing" professionally, unless you're playing the same 10 minutes of content for 5 hours straight. At the end of the day, being a "tester" in a beta does not count for much professionally.
4. If someone wants to spend $200 on something, who are we to judge? I'm sorely tempted myself.

deathssickle · January 2013

Your paying to get the cupcake ahead of time with lots of different toppings. You also get to help make sure the cupcake turns out to taste good without problems almost every single time. You also get free cupcakes afterwards and most of those toppings will be free to you forever.

visionstorm01 · January 2013

devoteoftempus wrote: »

Because it's a matter of principle. CB should not be sold out plain and simple as it's suppose to be a testing phase of the game to sort out bugs. And no it's not a bonus, you know damn well people will be paying the founders pack specifically for that CB access. All that stuff that you are saying is what they are paying for is the bonus.

I agree with this entirely, unfortunately people's willingness to pay for the privilege of working for a game company have turned it into a product rather than a what its actually supposed to be and was for DECADES until recent times--a service (and one which you're normally supposed to either do for free or be the one actually getting payed to do and not the other way around).

Also, this company doesn't need any more "support". It already gets plenty from all the people gambling to maybe get access to fluff content in their other games. Its a business (with aspirations to turn into an online casino :rolleyes:) not a charity.

shiaika · January 2013

fcrowles wrote: »

I don't know what's worse. The fact that they are charging for beta or the fact that I'm contemplating purchasing a key. What are your thoughts?

Think of it as of some kind of Kickstarter.

Edit: can I get a reduced price if all the beta stuff is removed from my pack?

bloodgambit · January 2013

In a way, it's exactly like a kickstarter except that there is no goal and no refund :P

bluesteel8 · January 2013

Ill be getting the $200 for sure. I just cant help myself.

visionstorm01 · January 2013

bloodgambit wrote: »

In a way, it's exactly like a kickstarter except that there is no goal and no refund :P

...and the company already got funding from their parent company and their other games, so you're really just paying huge sums to buy a few fluff features upfront for a game you haven't even played yet.

mnatic · January 2013

zebular wrote: »

I am not paying for this beta access, when I buy one of those packs it will be for all the other items in it. I couldn't care less about beta access or early access. I like the sound of those other goodies. So.. what may be a draw for some is not for others. To each their own. Why does it matter how people choose to spend their money? It's their money, not anyone else's money.

Besides, companies have been doing this for some time now, including beta access and early access in such promotions and other promotions. It's not like this is new to the industry. Heck, I did it a few years ago with LotRO's founder's pack and enjoyed a head start in addition to all the other bonuses it gave me.

Im confused Zeb, i thought that the items and extra slots will get wiped when the games go live?

zebular · January 2013

mnatic wrote: »

Im confused Zeb, i thought that the items and extra slots will get wiped when the games go live?

Closed Beta could quite possibly be wiped, yes. I'd even hazard to say it is almost a sure thing. However, Open Beta sounds like it won't be wiped though with the inclusion of this "head start" part of the promotion. Either way, if Open Beta is wiped, you'll be able to reclaim everything your Founder's Pack entitled you to, once the game goes live.

There hasn't been any released statement of Beta Wipes and honestly, it is too early for them to determine that. This decision is usually based on what happens during Open Beta.

denkasaeba · January 2013

I'd like to buy the 20$ one, but what really stops me from doing this is the impression that most things i'll get will be useless in the game. Someone knows what will be supposed to be in the bags?

warpet · January 2013

idk why is this big problem?gw2 had same or even worse system where u needed to buy game to can be in beta,i think it is not to good they should give some keys to other ppl to and dont like idea of free astral diamonds to ppl who buy packs and so a lot of them 750k looks like way to much

mnatic · January 2013

zebular wrote: »

Closed Beta could quite possibly be wiped, yes. I'd even hazard to say it is almost a sure thing. However, Open Beta sounds like it won't be wiped though with the inclusion of this "head start" part of the promotion. Either way, if Open Beta is wiped, you'll be able to reclaim everything your Founder's Pack entitled you to, once the game goes live.

There hasn't been any released statement of Beta Wipes and honestly, it is too early for them to determine that. This decision is usually based on what happens during Open Beta.

Thanks,

my 2 cents thou Zeb, you guys at cryptic need to make that far more clear. If i am gaurenteed to get all the items, slots and bonuses that i buy taken from beta into live game a lot more people will buy this. Theres a whole thread about it somewhere.

blizzid · January 2013

mmm someone said cupcakes :P.....jk, doesnt really matter, as stated everyones getting in eventually, besides, this is the way things are now, people for a long time whined and complained about premium pay to play games to wheres basically none of them (save wow and couple others) can do it, so when these companies come out with the ftp they way everyone cried about, they have to make money, employees cost money, servers or server in the case costs money, add's cost money, they have to make money somehow, so in the end its up to you if you want to spend a few bucks, why complain, your getting in anyway, and besides, most of those items are things you will be able to buy in game anyway, they're just offering a way to get money ahead of time, and giving these weekend teasers as an insentive.
For me the last part is what bothers me, i personally cant stand beta weekends, to short of any time to give any real feedback and like with swtor you cant even acheive the higher levels to give feedback in that area, most of the weekend betas i tried, sure the low level stuff was great, no problems whatsoever, but then when you got to the higher level area which werent tested as much you found bug after bug and little to no end content..sorry didnt mean to rattle on its late, i was actually trying to support them lol

gillrmn · January 2013

denkasaeba wrote: »

I'd like to buy the 20$ one, but what really stops me from doing this is the impression that most things i'll get will be useless in the game. Someone knows what will be supposed to be in the bags?

If you mean bags of holding, they would be extra inventory slots.

Charging for Beta

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