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Exploring the Current State of Beta Testing

Posted by ScuttleMonkey on from the only-if-you-actually-learn-from-the-past dept.

Karen Hertzberg writes "Since the earliest days of MMO gaming, beta testing has played a pivotal role in the success or failure of our persistent worlds. We've come a long way since the initial tests of Ultima Online and The Realm, but what role do our current beta tests play in the potential outcomes of unreleased titles? To answer this question, Ten Ton Hammer turned to current and former beta decision makers at Cryptic Studios, NetDevil, Sony Online Entertainment, Funcom, and Mythic Entertainment. Some of their answers — and the information they reveal — may surprise you."

2 of 82 comments (clear)

  1. Rant by Ethanol-fueled · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    but what role do our current beta tests play in the potential outcomes of unreleased titles?

    Companies just release their products anyway. Nowdays beta-testers are referred to as "early adopters". Sadly, that extends to the hardware world as well, as this and this (the forum is riddled with those kinds of posts) demonstrate. At least Google are honest about their products being in permanent beta, but their stuff works unlike the others ;)

    Disclaimer: I'm familiar with both items because my father purchased one of those laptops only to have it die within 1-2 months. I bought a Peavey Vypyr amp which was riddled with the bugs that you see in the forums, problems which firmware updates did not fix. I took it in to the repair shop three weeks ago and I just found out that the board my amp needs is backordered until mid-May! /rant, thanks for reading.

  2. Re:There Really Are Some Gems in This Article by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 0, Offtopic

    Seriously though

    "
    wonÃ(TM)t
    "

    What in the fuck are you using to cut and paste that does this fucking SHIT!!@!!!