Had a conversation with Calthine about betas, including a little bit of beta strategy explanation that turned into the second half of this article over on Allakhazam: All A-Buzz About Beta
Other than the actual launch, beta is my favorite part of the dev cycle. It’s when all the excitement happens. It’s the first transition point where the plans meet the chaos.
You also get a much better handle on the surprises that may lie in store. Nothing crystallizes a set of remaining priorities quite like seeing first-hand the impact they could have on real people.
Assuming that your game is inviting people at the correct stage of development, you finally get to see people playing and having fun. On top of that, if you pick the wrong people, and beta’s either bad or nothing special. Invite the right people, and the tone of a good beta community is just unmatched.
It’s also great being there to see people who’ve been “beta friends” through other test cycles, or are long time friends from the boards, get a chance to hang out with each other in-game.
Even though (or maybe because?) they’re playing on disposable characters, there’s a time when everyone’s on their best behavior, genuinely at their most helpful, and the overall feeling is a server full of extra-cooperative folks truly banded together against the world.
Yep. I like beta.
cyanbane said
September 21 2007 @ 9:21 am
Do you think it “marinates” your content too early (before prod/live release) to where it mitigates some of the excitement that would have traditionaly (before mass-beta crazyness of the past few years) been associated with launch day? Or do you think this is just a function of how many people are in beta vs how many people you guys think would initially be pruchasing the product (ie if 20% are in beta it isn’t a big deal, but 80% is a different story?)
Bunion said
September 22 2007 @ 8:44 pm
As a participant in multiple betas of various games, I admit I enjoy getting to see stuff before most other players. But I am not one that works out some kind of huge strategy of what is the best zone or where the best loot is etc. I do my best to find bugs and other problems and post my feedback in hope that my comments are actually read by someone.
I do enjoy smaller betas where you just start up random conversations with other players “Hey did you see this? How do I get to so and so? etc.” People that you have never met before that are happy to talk about the game.
If I am lucky enough to get into a beta early I tend to play more when there are fewer players in it. Once the masses start coming in the tone seems to change from constructive comments about the game to people just complaining about everything that isn’t working as intended yet. I usually start dropping off in my playing time then.
The other thing about beta’s that amaze me are the people that full on play the game like they are going to keep their character or something. I’ll be happy to test what ever content they want, but I am sure not going to see how high of level I can get my character. If it is an enjoyable game, I may end up with a fairly high level character, but I am not going to grind for hours just because I can. I want to enjoy playing the game when it comes out, not already be tired of it.
Bunion
The Hiram Key said
September 23 2007 @ 3:29 am
Clearly a positive, friendly and inbred beta testing environment is > honest and or critical feedback. History repeats itself, for it is the doom of men that they forget.
Adele said
September 25 2007 @ 7:29 am
Beta is important, although often it seems like people use it to get a free preview of the game. I have met some good friends in betas, and have remained playing with them once the game has gone live. It is also great to be in a beta when you know you are going to love a game, and you get to see it grow and develop until it is as perfect as can be expected:)
Lars said
September 27 2007 @ 12:04 pm
I like beta communities better because the focus is less about grinding and improving your character (achiever type activities in the Bartle Four) and more about exploring the world and new game mechanics that are introduced. But I think betas kind of ruin the surprise when the game is released (and while I can avoid spoiler sites, you can only avoid so much in a multiplayer game). Of course, the game does need to be tested, so I guess its unavoidable.