Originally posted by maskedweasel

I can see this game how it is now, plus I've read so much on the title I already know I'm going to buy it.  For those still on the fence, I don't think an Open Beta should cure that,  maybe a free trial after the game has launched, or a ton of reviews from people they trust.

What would realistically be the difference between the effect of an open beta and a free trial- as far as I can tell it's just a matter of time. I will agree with you that it may not be representative of the game as of launch- we can see that from the changes made in Rift.

I think it's silly to say (from another post) that open beta would result in more spoilers as the people that maintain fansites and such likely have a better chance of getting in a closed beta than casual players. Also, just an aside- it's hilarious that people averse to spoilers are usually the same people that have to know all about the game before it is released- living on the game's official websites, watching vids from conventions or podcasts. Laughable

No open beta... hmm... servers aren't going to be functional for the first week of launch.

I actually like the idea of having no open beta. I hope they have a demo or trial though...

Originally posted by ichimarunico

No open beta... hmm... servers aren't going to be functional for the first week of launch.

Let me just prick that bubble for you mate, Open betas are NOT about stress testing hardware or anything like that "open betas" are a marketing tool designed to drum up extra day one sales.

Stress testing hardware can be done with one server and configuration and a selection of the 1.5 million people that are signed up for closed beta opt in ;) so a open beta is not needed what so ever for this game.

Originally posted by pierth

Originally posted by maskedweasel

I can see this game how it is now, plus I've read so much on the title I already know I'm going to buy it.  For those still on the fence, I don't think an Open Beta should cure that,  maybe a free trial after the game has launched, or a ton of reviews from people they trust.

What would realistically be the difference between the effect of an open beta and a free trial- as far as I can tell it's just a matter of time. I will agree with you that it may not be representative of the game as of launch- we can see that from the changes made in Rift.

 

I think it's silly to say (from another post) that open beta would result in more spoilers as the people that maintain fansites and such likely have a better chance of getting in a closed beta than casual players. Also, just an aside- it's hilarious that people averse to spoilers are usually the same people that have to know all about the game before it is released- living on the game's official websites, watching vids from conventions or podcasts. Laughable

Well the difference is more than just a matter of time as I see it.  Open Beta is still technically a test environment while Trials are in a Production environment.

In a trial you keep your character,  all changes are (semi) permanent,  and you have the entire playerbase of paying players rather than those just interested in testing another game.  I think Open Beta populations aren't indicative of launch player bases because

 1) they limit the amount of servers and server types in Open betas usually.  and

2) People who are just messing around and using an open beta slot may not actually buy the game on launch.  

A trial environment has the same kind of  open beta mentality -  that the players you're playing with might not be paying customers yet,   but you can limit where these players can go and what they can do,  and you give them a choice as to what server they want to play on and they can choose the exact population they want to be a part of when they start the game.

Server populations on launch rather then in Open Beta are really what play a big part of the MMO space for people. 

Personally though if they have an OB I'll play it,  if they don't I'll still play on release.  I don't care too much about spoilers, because my choices will be different then someone elses, and my characters will be different too.  I'm just trying to look at it from BioWares end.

Originally posted by Kothoses

Originally posted by ichimarunico

No open beta... hmm... servers aren't going to be functional for the first week of launch.

 

Let me just prick that bubble for you mate, Open betas are NOT about stress testing hardware or anything like that "open betas" are a marketing tool designed to drum up extra day one sales.

 

Stress testing hardware can be done with one server and configuration and a selection of the 1.5 million people that are signed up for closed beta opt in ;) so a open beta is not needed what so ever for this game.

wow, I completely disagree with you. If anything the last thing a developer wants to do is give a player a chance to play their game unless they know it will blow over 80% of those players away. Beta's are a bigger opportunity for players to decide not to pick up the game than to pick it up.

They are not only stress testing hardware, they also stress test software and test software in general. It's usually easier for them to fix a hardware problem than a software problem that's why beta's are important. There is only so much a scripted stress test can test vs a random user population.

Originally posted by Elidien

I will not play the open beta of this even if there is one. Why? TOR will be story based and I want the experiences to be new and fresh at launch. Sure I may eat my $50 but its called taking a risk. Just like with going to a movie without reading reviews, or eating dinner at a new restaurant. Sometimes its nice to be surprised, especially if that surprise is a good one.

 I was a beta tester for UO (had to pay to get the discs), was a very early tester of SWG, WoW and Warhammer...

I couldn't agree with you more. I don't even sign up for testing anymore, it has spoiled many a launch day for me, and i tend to get burnt out a lot faster because of it.

I am hoping they dont have an open beta just because it will deny alot of wlf"s who aren't  willing to part with their cash the opportunity to get attention by screaming about how they think the game sucks.

Regardless I wont be getting the game until 40 or so days past launch, have been burned too many time in the last five years.

This is the first game I am actually torn on playing the beta with or not. I have always been awaiting a closed beta invite, but at the same time I would not want to spoil the entire story line for myself only to run it again when the game launches and know exactly what is going to happen. 

I think if anything I would pick the choices I know I will not make on my live server character just to see how all the negative choices play out and change the progression of my character. 

Its pretty easy to understand why they may not offer an open beta. 

Originally posted by Xerith

This is the first game I am actually torn on playing the beta with or not. I have always been awaiting a closed beta invite, but at the same time I would not want to spoil the entire story line for myself only to run it again when the game launches and know exactly what is going to happen. 

I think if anything I would pick the choices I know I will not make on my live server character just to see how all the negative choices play out and change the progression of my character. 

Its pretty easy to understand why they may not offer an open beta. 

You could do what I plan to do. If there's an open beta I'll stay away from the smuggler and Inquisitor, the two classes I plan to play at launch. You won't completely ruin the story and you get to play beta. Win win.

As others have noted, a lack of open beta generally means the developers are hiding something. On the function front, open betas can help prep for launch by providing a larger stress test. However, IMO, open betas are much more important for MMOs than with other products. For example, you cannot return an MMO to the store once you've purchased it. No other game has this limitation. Yes, you can ebay it, but that's a bit of a gray area (I've met enough people that bought brand new ebay accounts for next to nothing and had the original owner recall the account months/years later to know that it can simply be a way of getting free levels/items).

Personally, if I wasn't looking at this game as KotOR 3, this would be my red flag. However, since I'm mainly expecting a few months out of it, it's not going to stop me from buying the game.

No open beta = better game longivity.  I hope they do not have an open beta.

Why let everyone play the game for a month, explore mostly everything, experience almost all the content, then actually release the game and many people get bored immedietly with nothing new to explore/do.

As far as a free "trial" to gain membership, I don't think that in this day and age people really need a free trial to buy an MMO.

With them being so "few and far between" as far as big name IPs, people will more than likely buy it to try it out, or check out the many youtube videos, or their friends accounts (its bound to happen that someone you know will play the game)

And if you complain about not being able to have a "free trial" than maybe you just shouldn't play any game in the first place.

I understand that a company might need to "promote" their product through open beta, or "stress test" it, but I don't believe it is really needed in this day and age if you are a big name IP.  Maybe so if you are peddling a new no name IP from a noname company.

Originally posted by Dragim

No open beta = better game longivity.  I hope they do not have an open beta.

Why let everyone play the game for a month, explore mostly everything, experience almost all the content, then actually release the game and many people get bored immedietly with nothing new to explore/do.

This is what I am hoping for...... I believe they have invested heavily in professional Testers(Paid) . This to me leaves only a requirement for a small load / Stress Test.

good idea?

Originally posted by Dragim

No open beta = better game longivity.  I hope they do not have an open beta.

Why let everyone play the game for a month, explore mostly everything, experience almost all the content, then actually release the game and many people get bored immedietly with nothing new to explore/do.

WoW had an open beta...  The only time no open beta = better game longivity is when these crap MMO launch with less than 2 months of content or at just anothe WOW clone that people get bored of in less than a month.

Originally posted by nomss

good idea?

Depends on how large they intend on making the closed beta.

Either way there will be plenty of leaks to go around. Can't stop the internet, baby!

No Open Beta = Really Bad Sign.

If an MMO is actually good and contains enough content and a large enough world (Universe) to support extended play, then Open Betas provide zero threat to an MMO developer and are great for hooking in players who might otherwise be on the fence.

Lack of Open Beta almost always has proven to presage a game that either sucks at launch, or more commonly in recent years, has a serious lack of content.

Cartoonish graphics and very limited class outfit progression (everyone of the same class/level range looking pretty much the same) seems to already be strike one and strike two vs. this game. No Open Beta may be strike three for a lot of people, escpecially if they are cautious about the title due to the aforementioned issues or any of the other concerns that exist around the title.

Originally posted by Hendo0069

Originally posted by nomss

good idea?

Depends on how large they intend on making the closed beta.

Either way there will be plenty of leaks to go around. Can't stop the internet, baby!

I can stop the internet.  Don't make me do it!

Also, I can do cartwheels for a mile.

Originally posted by Drakxii

Originally posted by Dragim

No open beta = better game longivity.  I hope they do not have an open beta.

Why let everyone play the game for a month, explore mostly everything, experience almost all the content, then actually release the game and many people get bored immedietly with nothing new to explore/do.

WoW had an open beta...  The only time no open beta = better game longivity is when these crap MMO launch with less than 2 months of content or at just anothe WOW clone that people get bored of in less than a month.

 WoW is/was a freak of nature.  I would not consider WoW good to use in any kind of comparison.  Compared to the number of MMOs that have launched and their levels of success, I feel my statement is sound.

(Well, then don't play the open beta, I will.) Yeah but then you will quit after 2 months and complain of lack of things to do because you raped the open beta 10 hours a day and got bored before the game even released.

My recent example is Rift, look at how that is going (sarcasm).  Look at AION..

they dont actually have to have an open beta depending on the amount of CBT keys they send out. it works the same just requires a key to download and play rather than just DL&P