No, I’m not asking when beta is…!
But what I do want to talk about is what you guys think of open beta programs. And I don’t mean pretend “open” beta programs where, somehow, people still aren’t allowed in… I mean, genuinely OPEN beta programs, where everyone’s invited.
In the few games I have beta tested that have these GENUINELY open beta programs, I’ve got to say that I thought they were a touch of genius. Why? Because they put the game client on everyone’s PC. All a person had to do was buy a game code and they were in.
I think a company has a greater chance of getting people to stay subbed after beta if they make it easy for people to be in beta in the first place, don’t you? None of this “win a place” nonsense (since when was beta testing a prize?); I mean a real open beta, once the game is pretty much done and dusted and been sent to manufacturing, ie: has gone gold, and beta enters its “fun” stage.
What do you think?