There are a legion of fans out there who, like Cinderella being ignored for the Glass Slipper, did not get their Star Wars: The Old Republic beta testing opportunity. In today's Coyote's Howling, we learn just how bitter that can make a person. Read on!

In fact, I'm actually kind of relieved that I still haven't been selected to participate, as the act of beta testing no longer seems to glow with that same sense of honor and pride that once shined so brightly. Even the coveted title of "Beta Tester" has lost a bit of its luster as industry professionals with years of gaming and testing experience are cast aside in favor of the "leet-speak" slinging fourteen year old juvenile delinquent racists that they apparently prefer.

Read more Coyote's Howling: A Master Beta Scorned.

"The entire industry will fold in upon itself and collapse in a pile of weak, unimagined games, and we will have no one to blame but all of the Beta Testers who got in."

I agree 100%... I say we we burn it pookie... BURN THIS MOTHER F*CKER DOWN!!!!

A Master Beta eh

Thank you. This article has touched me in so many ways and at so many places i don't even where to begin.

I used to Beta test all the time.  I won't do it any more though.  The vast majority of Beta testers these days are not in the game to actually test it.  Their main purpose these days is to find all the exploits and loopholes they can find to give themselves the edge when the game starts.

About the only thing the developers get out of a beta like this, is a stress test on the server.  You can probably count on one hand the number of people who actually find problems and turn them in.

So yes, I completely agree with you Coyote.

Wow, Coyote! You brought back a lot of memories with the opening few paragraphs of this article. I agree with you on basically every point. I especially agree that it' doesn't seem wise to get input from the unwashed masses rather than input from a core, dedicated, experienced group of testers.

Being a beta tester now is absolutely nothing like being a beta tester 10+ years ago, and I think it shows in the products that have been released.

If the zombie hordes of the internet are the ones who will ultimately consume the product, then it makes sense to find out what it is they will consume the most besides meme filled brains. Developers probably figured out that 500 or so really intelligent, experienced testers don't give them one whit of information that relates to how much most people will enjoy the game.

I remember back in the day, sometimes as a beta tester they would mail you actual CDs to install the client on.   Now it's a glorified free trial.

Originally posted by Paragus1

I remember back in the day, sometimes as a beta tester they would mail you actual CDs to install the client on.   Now it's a glorified free trial.

It is because the numbers have sored up and more players play the beta better the companies are prepared for launch day.

You're better off Coyote, did you really want to beta test WOW-clone #237, you already know how everything turns out in the end. 

I actually didn't even apply for the beta, i found that early access detracted from my longevity with the game because as it is I normally only enjoy a theme park MMO for 1-3 months.

Also, several titles that I played in late beta and early launch weren't very enjoyable, and then 6 months to a year later everyone raved about them, but I never go back to games I've left behind.  I figure this time I might give the title a chance to season some before jumping in.  (Did that with DAOC and played it for almost 3 years, same with EVE)

I don't dispute that at all.   I think it's actually better the way things are now.   The amount of information they must be able to gather the new way is probably much larger.   The only thing that strikes me as silly is the NDA and expecting that in today's age that it is even remotely enforceable or realistic to believe it is going to stop people from getting their leaked opinion out there in some way.

Nostalgia week for me. First an article on Planetside 2 brings back the Planetside memories and now early years Beta. In fact the two merge because I got into the Beta for Planetside.

As someone who was in the last two Beta weekends (don't hate me Coyote...) I can tell you the article even in its sarcastic tones is right on. There are too many kids in the beta and by kids I mean anyone of any age who cannot take it seriously. Believe me the same jerks who were making my pen n paper D&D game miserable in the mid 80's are making my MMO experiences miserable today.  I think BIoware/EA should have had the weekends with more structured goals in mind. Say an hour or two of players doing X then let us go and flail madly about the universe.

Ah well, its a pretty good game and I am going to play it, but I totally hear what the article is saying

Agree 100% with OP

You didnt miss anything Coyote.

If you have Beta tested any MMO in the past 3-5 years its much the same as them.

Shallow, linear Themepark crap, but now with a Star Wars skin

I'm actually one of the guys who nowadays only betas a game to see if it could possibly be worth my money. Been burned by so many bad releases, i take chance to check in pre-release whenever i can, esp. when a game comes at horrendous price like SWTOR.

In my early betas, i used to send reports like crazy, contributed like a nolifer in the beta-forums, spent nights bug hunting...spoiled my own experience for launch. It never made any game better though, as in many betas the devs didn't listen to you unless you were that certain forum dweller with 5k posts who on top of his posting also emails every developer.

Also in the process of beta-testing, i found many companies just not being honest to the testers. Hiding too much stuff, no response on features missing, no endgame testing ("it's being tested by our internal crew"), unfinished game and bugs galore 3 weeks prior release ("don't worry, we are always builds ahead and what you test is not the final") is not worth my time anymore.

Games will not only keep on failing because the companies rather invite a bunch of 12yr old brats to test, but also because they just don't listen enough to those who really want to help making a better game.

I actually got my code off this website.. But i never tested it.. Im one of those people that dosn't like beta testing, i feel it ruins the mystery of the game.. I beta tested Rift before purchaseing (or stress tested it at that point) and by the time the game rolled around i felt like i seen all the zones and experienced most of the starting areas.. It wasn't until i got out of Gloamwood till i started feeling like i found new things to explore.

I've got a newly upgraded computer sitting here waiting for this game.. Gonna pass on beta testing and just wait for the earlie start.

MASTER BETA!!!!!

Originally posted by Ozmodan

I used to Beta test all the time.  I won't do it any more though.  The vast majority of Beta testers these days are not in the game to actually test it.  Their main purpose these days is to find all the exploits and loopholes they can find to give themselves the edge when the game starts.

About the only thing the developers get out of a beta like this, is a stress test on the server.  You can probably count on one hand the number of people who actually find problems and turn them in.

So yes, I completely agree with you Coyote.

Really?  A majority are just there to find exploints?  I think you have it a bit wrong.  Most testers are there to play the game to see if they like it, but not to actually test the game.  They are there to find out if they are going to want to buy it at launch.

Pretty much spot on.

For most people the "Beta" is a chance to try out the game, spam general chat with WoW and chuck norris jokes, and bash the game they are in Beta for.

I actually remember times when being in Beta wasnt for the masses and was for testing.

Sadly you are 100% correct.  What's even more discouraging is to see people who are long time beta testers of games then come out and proclaim how wonderful the game is even though they release as buggy and boring pieces of crap.  It makes me wonder how much real, constructive, and effective feedback they've ever given the developers about the product they're supposedly testing.  Ah well, for the state of TOR and some of the things that game does wrong, I blame the developers for not listening, the testers for epic failing, and the media for the nut hugging coverage this game has gotten throughout its development.