Pre-Open Beta Access in MMO's (Questionnaire)

CarnifexRex · January 2011

Just curious...

How many of you have actually signed up for a beta, long before testing even began and been invited due to your beta application? Seems like even though I've always had an above average, if not stellar, rig, and an equally above average connection that I've never received pre open beta access. My track record for roughly ten years is 0 in 20 or so.

I'm not talking about open betas, key giveaways, friend and family referals, etc.

If you have, please share your experiences, strategies, etcetera.

Thank you.

CarnifexRex · January 2011

If you could, would you please elaborate if you choose "Yes"?

Thanks.

astoria · January 2011

I've gotten into closed betas a bunch of times, open betas even more. I'm not sure why, I have often actually had a less than stellar system.

tiki · January 2011

I was let into SWG, WAR, and Vanguard all about 6-12 months before open beta started. Not sure what I did to get in, I guess that I wrote a good "Reason you want to be apart of the beta." I would pretty much just say that I am very excited for the game and I want to do my part in making the game as successful and polished as possible.

Sovrath · January 2011

Yes, I was invited to Lord of the Rings Closed Beta and World of Warcraft Beta.

Also Gods and Heroes (twice )

I was invited to all Rift betas but I suspect that had more to do with the keys I added to my account.

Quicksand · January 2011

Yes:

UO ( dont remember how I signed up for beta in UO but I was in very early stages of beta all the way up to launch )

AC1 and 2, DAoC, EQ2 and The first run at Gods & Heroes when it was Perpetual, All early betas and invited from signing up on their websites.

In another beta right now from sighning up on their site.

CarnifexRex · January 2011

Hmm seems like I've just had bad luck. =/

Eladi · January 2011

It Depents on a lot of factors if you get a key. Remeber that pre-pr-beta(open beta) the amount of player that actualy get in is rather small compared to the size mmo's charter to.

It depents were you live , if your US based you have a bigger chance then if your from europe any other continent/region.(Unless the company itself is not US based, then it depents on the country it is in ofc)

Your age plays a factor aswell, they are more likely to invite a 17-20 year old then a 12-16 or 20-30 year old.

Then theres the whole aplication, did it ask for motivations? How did you write it mathers in those cases.

Being very viseble helpfull and nice on the forums helps alot aswell. the closer you are to devs/gms the more chance you have to get a invite. Some people think it works for discussions aswell, and they go into these big forum pvp discussiona bout feature X and Y..well forget it, thats not gona take you into a beta, infact it might take away any chance you had.

Sovrath · January 2011

Originally posted by bblackwood
Hmm seems like I've just had bad luck. =/

Just because you have a good to great computer doesn't mean that is going ot cinch an invite. Remember, these games are oftentimes being made for people with average computers. It might be of greater interest to the game company to test these machines as they might assume that anyone with a powerful rig is going ot be able to run most of what they come up with.

they might invite less people with powerful computers.

Or, you just had bad luck.

Explorium · January 2011

I get into betas I don't even care to be in, but was curious to see how the game was and wanted to help test as well. Since for me, betas are both a test to see how much I like the game, and to help find bugs and other big problems.

Betas I actually WANT to be in, of course I'm never invited.

Ah well.

norman728 · January 2011

most of the games I've been invited too have been the sister games to the games I already Play.

AND I PLAY ALOT OF GAMES!!!

Sybnal · January 2011

Originally posted by astoria
I've gotten into closed betas a bunch of times, open betas even more. I'm not sure why, I have often actually had a less than stellar system.

Same here, I believe it's BECAUSE my computer has sucked so much, devs want to test out the lower end systems as much as they do the higher ones.

Maintaining an active forum presence, signing up for the newsletter/beta and a shitty computer have gotten me into every closed beta I've ever wanted to get into without exception.

It could be attributed to luck, but I have shit luck. So i don't believe that for a second.

Skooma2 · January 2011

I have been in a couple of closed betas. I was informed by one Dev (1st Rule of Fight Club so don't ask, judge it as you will) that the amount of time available to test is a consideration as is the ability to clearly communicate problems/bug reports, etc. to the Devs. So, applications filled with misspellings and "gross" grammar mistakes go to the bottom of the pile.

CarnifexRex · January 2011

Well, I doubt that its my application that gets me passed over.

I consider myself quite the eloquent typist, and am more verbose than your average bear. And by bear I mean "Bad English, Assumed Retarded."

And I always put in the near maximum hours available for testing.

Skooma2 · January 2011

Originally posted by bblackwood
I consider myself quite the eloquent typist, and am more verbose than your average bear. And by bear I mean "Bad English, Assumed Retarded."

I laughed so hard at this, I spit out a mouthful of soda all over my keyboard.

Leviathon77 · January 2011

I have been invited to many beta tests over the last decade, so many in fact that I've actually just ignored them due to being in one or two other quality beta tests at the same time. I usually have a mid-high level system and I'm always honest on the applications about what I've tested in the past and how many hours I can dedicate to the test. I truely believe the factor in being selected for beta testing is random most of the time. I'm sure occasionally the development staff has some concerns regarding a particular setup or piece of hardware and they make sure to closely monitor those setups, but in my opinion it's too random to worry about figuring out. I can offer this advice though, forget about buying lotterty tickets.

project8six · January 2011

Originally posted by Eladi

Your age plays a factor aswell, they are more likely to invite a 17-20 year old then a 12-16 or 20-30 year old.

Being very viseble helpfull and nice on the forums helps alot aswell. the closer you are to devs/gms the more chance you have to get a invite. Some people think it works for discussions aswell, and they go into these big forum pvp discussiona bout feature X and Y..well forget it, thats not gona take you into a beta, infact it might take away any chance you had.

i have to disagree. why do they care about some student that has no money or experience? also i don't feel like being on the forums helps. its just my personal experience. i've never been active(posting) on the forums for any games website. there are so many people there anyways, and a lot of the time there will be a private beta forum that the devs are more active on(instead of just a CSR in the public forums).

i've been in many closed betas, only a few alphas. i feel like they like experience, so lie about it. say you have been in many betas.

as far as rigs go, they probably have a demographic to meet and they try to get a range of systems. but if your pc doesn't meet the sys reqs that may disqualify it for ya.

do not say you work for a video game company.

basically lie like on your resume and you'll get in.

if you do well in betas they may send you invites for other betas for games they are working on down the line.

Niieh · January 2011

I register for many betas and a lot of the time I also get invited. I think this is because I often indicate being a part of a 'niche' group which they also want to test the game - but they have less players to choose from

E.g. if possible, I indicate that I want to test the French version of the game (French is my second language)

Or

If they ask about what kind of activities I enjoy the most in an mmo, I say I like crafting and RP

CarnifexRex · January 2011

Originally posted by Skooma2

Originally posted by bblackwood

I consider myself quite the eloquent typist, and am more verbose than your average bear. And by bear I mean "Bad English, Assumed Retarded."

I laughed so hard at this, I spit out a mouthful of soda all over my keyboard.

Glad you got a laugh out of it. Sorry I ruined your keyboard, hope it was diet so its not all sticky.

Anyhow, thanks for your reports on successes folks, keep'em 'coming!

Grunty · January 2011

Multiple times. I think the shoe-in is that I beta tested Star Wars:Galaxies but have never purchased it. Well, except for the beta CD which was about $5 to have it mailed to me. That's also the last time I paid anything to get in a beta.

CarnifexRex · January 2011

Yeah I played the SWG beta at a friends house. With the limited time I had, all I remember doing was sitting my furry wookie fanny in a chair and just watching Tattooine go about its daily routine.

TheLizardbones · January 2011

No strategies. I just sign up on the game's website if the game interests me. There are games that do and games that don't. I don't think there's a strategy other than signing up for as many games as possible in order to get as many invites as possible.

Falcomith · January 2011

Something that should be elaborated, is that alpha, closed and open betas are different from each other.

Alpha comes first and is normally has a very minimal amount of people. Its basicly to test character creation, starter zone and some mechanics and get most of the crippling performance bugs out.

Closed betas are more public but still limited to a specific population number. Usually there is multiple phases to closed betas like what is happening to the game Rift. They start off with a larger population then alpha and some content. As each CB phase is introduced more players are added and more content is opened up. CB is used also to locate more bugs usually but not limited to the UI, graphic enomolies and class balancing issues.

Open beta is typically the whole game and mainly is for stress testing the servers and of course promoting there product as the NDA or Non-disclosure aggrement is lifted thereabout or shortly after start of open beta.

Now that is out of the way, I have been in allot of closed and open betas and some alphas. The most recent alpha beta I was in was FFXIV. Too bad they didnt listen to the alpha testers...but thats another story.

I find that you have a better chance to get into alpha or at least an early closed beta if you fill out out the information on the application on the games website. Dont leave anything blank unless it really doesnt apply. Allot of apps have a box on the bottom of the app for comments or sometimes a direct question that will ask, "Why should we pick you to help test our software?". Never leave this blank and never input into the box, "I just want to play your game to see if I want to buy it.". More likely those type of responses will get you tossed to the side as they are not looking for people to play, but to test.

What you want to do is list your experience. Tell them what other betas you have participated in. Tell them what you are looking forward to test. Just what ever you do, dont tell them you just want to play the game.

One other thing that developers like to look at, especially if you are looking to get into alpha testing, is how often do you log into there website and how much do you participate in the forums of that games website.

Thats basicly how you can increase your chances in getting into alpha or an early closed beta.

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Pre-Open Beta Access in MMO's (Questionnaire)

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Pre-Open Beta Access in MMO's (Questionnaire)

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