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When Is A MMORPG Beta Not A Beta?
Thanks to Skotos for its editorial discussing the definition and previous use of the 'Beta phase' in relation to MMO titles. The writer argues, overall, that "The problems [in Beta] arise because of the differing agendas of the parties involved in bringing the games to and through the Beta process." He then posits that, "well before the full featureset is in place, the complexity surpasses the point where internal QA processes are adequate to cope", but "on the other hand, for the purposes of getting high-quality feedback that tells you what is wrong and where to look in order to fix it, Beta sucks." So, it's suggested, the end result is that "[massively multiplayer] Betas become exercises in community management, usually long before the team is ready to make the transition from developing a game to operating one. Meanwhile, an increasingly jaded marketplace is judging the Beta against the same standards they judge games at launch, or even years past their launch." What, if anything, can be done to ameliorate or fix these problems?
You know it's not a beta any more when you stop finding "SYNTAX ERROR: LINE 6778 INVALID CHARACTER AFTER ;" in treasure caves.
Don't blame Durga. I voted for Centauri.
...some betas are more beta then other betas.
When its ajar.
The real question most MMORPG gamers would ask is "When is a MMORPG not in beta?"
That's an easy one. To quote a developer of one of the currently largest MMOGs I met last year, "When the money runs out, its time to launch!"