Alpha/beta/early access to games - you like?

Grim.Reaper · March 29, 2013, 04:54:52 AM

I don't know about everyone else, but simply LOVIING that a number of games nowadays are having the ability for customers to purchases early, get the game early, and assist with shaping the games before official release. I either have been part of or actively doing this for a bunch of games now and have no regrets. To me, it's a win/win situation for everyone. I get the chance to get game early and provide feedback, game companies get more money early and additional testers. I think the quality of games could go up because of more testers early, plus people will leak their impressions early which should force developers to improve their product or risk bad press.

Best part, this is completely optional so nobody should be put off. If you like the game and want it early, opt in. If you don't, you can wait until the full release.

Hoping all games move to this model!!

bbmike · March 29, 2013, 06:35:26 AM

Interesting, I was thinking about this the other day. I'm not really sure I like it. My experience with Stardock's Elemental or Fallen Enchantress or whatever it is now is a good example. I bought the very first one in beta a long, long time ago and to this day still feel like I'm playing a beta that will never end. I always end up playing a while then stop because I know "more improvements" are coming.
I bought StarDrive and the same kind of thing seems to be happening. It seems okay but I know "more" is coming so I'll just wait and play it then.

That said, I do think it is good to let people have the option to buy pre-release and provide feedback for the reasons you stated.

Father Ted · March 29, 2013, 06:51:27 AM

I think it's an interesting shift in the way the economics of videogame development is evolving. In the beginning, games were viewed like books or LPs - you bought a finished product, and expected it to work. A lot of angst is caused by the fact that a lot of us expect that still to be the case. What constitutes a patch versus an update, and so on.

Publishers, especially smaller ones, seem to be realising that maintaining a steady revenue stream via upgrades is better than investing long-term in one big project and hoping that it's successful is a better model. Whether for them or us is another question...

These alpha-releases are just an extension of that model, I guess - getting some income while the product is in development. We would hope that that early income would be partly invested in making a more solid product prior to "release" (since with money coming in there's less pressure to get the thing out the door). Add in the more vigorous play-testing and I think I have to agree.

MengJiao · March 29, 2013, 07:45:37 AM

Quote from: Grim.Reaper on March 29, 2013, 04:54:52 AM
I don't know about everyone else, but simply LOVIING that a number of games nowadays are having the ability for customers to purchases early, get the game early, and assist with shaping the games before official release. I either have been part of or actively doing this for a bunch of games now and have no regrets. To me, it's a win/win situation for everyone. I get the chance to get game early and provide feedback, game companies get more money early and additional testers. I think the quality of games could go up because of more testers early, plus people will leak their impressions early which should force developers to improve their product or risk bad press.

Best part, this is completely optional so nobody should be put off. If you like the game and want it early, opt in. If you don't, you can wait until the full release.

Hoping all games move to this model!!

Yep it is fun and contributes to the idea that any worthwhile game can continue to evolve. I've been in the ARMAIII alpha and it is a blast. I hear that the StarDrive beta is fun too.

Grim.Reaper · March 29, 2013, 06:01:45 PM

Yep, hoping this becomes a trend for new games..cant see much downside.

tgb · March 29, 2013, 06:37:37 PM

I do it, and mostly enjoy it, but have the same concern I do when getting into a closed beta - that I will have burned out on the game long before the finished version appears.

Nefaro · March 29, 2013, 06:59:22 PM

I share TGB's worries about burning out on them, but with the shocking amount of games I already have it's been easy to not mess with the betas too much.

It's great that many of them are doing this, as it often helps get more feedback on what to tweak or change before release and a wider testing base to find bugs. Dunno about the rest of you, but I don't buy into many Alphas.

MikeGER · March 30, 2013, 03:32:10 AM

I like it :)
especially for games that i would have bought sooner or later anyway with very high probability.

so i get it NOW, can take a first glimpse, maybe even find a bug, and got the final product for half the bucks in the end.

Grim.Reaper · March 30, 2013, 03:39:06 AM

Quote from: Nefaro on March 29, 2013, 06:59:22 PM
I share TGB's worries about burning out on them, but with the shocking amount of games I already have it's been easy to not mess with the betas too much.

It's great that many of them are doing this, as it often helps get more feedback on what to tweak or change before release and a wider testing base to find bugs. Dunno about the rest of you, but I don't buy into many Alphas.

I only buy into alphas when it interests me...probably have done around 5 so far....but as more developers do it and I know I'll want the game, I'll do it more.