w00t, now that would be awesome news =D Since im sure buying XIII, ( I got whole colleciton ) and getting access to XIV beta wud be over awesomeness hehe ;P if thats a word.. =DD

Wont happen since FF13 is going to sell so many copys that they would not beable to handle the outcome of atleast 300k people over japan and us.   

ha theres gonna be a ton of FF14 beta testers if thats the case 

Well thats infact true, there wud be lots rly :p considering the impact tha FFXIII is gonna be :p

There are now two short-hand words I despise. Wud and wat. Sound like wood and twat.

But, ahem, in any case, I agree with the posters that said it would be too many players. I know my friend is going to get XIII and I'm sure she'd give me her beta since she doesn't play computer games; however, I don't think they'd be able to handle so many players. They'd need multiple servers. While I'm sure Square has the money for it, I don't think they'd actually pony it up.

It could still be techinically true and not be an actual truth.

They could give everyone that buys XIII access to beta in stages. With everyone getting access to it just before open beta(If there is one) and would still be truthful in their advertising.

SO I can see this happening.

Sorry, after Cryptic's nice bait and switch with wording in what they were saying in the forums and what they are saying now, I'll never buy another game of a companies to get into another closed beta.  Just won't happen.  Because of the offer, I'll skip 13 and wait for a free trial before I even consider FFIV.

Old saying... Screw me over once... shame on you, Screw me over a second time... shame on me.  I'm sure the heck not going to let another company do this scam to me.  Working on three weeks now and still no mention of a second wave of STO closed going out to the C.O. Lifetime and 6 month subscriber customers.  I've learned my lesson.

Originally posted by Athyr

It could still be techinically true and not be an actual truth.

 

They could give everyone that buys XIII access to beta in stages. With everyone getting access to it just before open beta(If there is one) and would still be truthful in their advertising.

 

SO I can see this happening.

How are they screwing you over? Its an easy and simple way to get people involved in the beta, first off it stops them from actually screening applicants, which in the long run would allow them to hit the beta on a LOT more machines then would normally be possible. Its just a nice plus to people who wanted to purchase FFXIV in the first place.

The developers were also saying they eventually want to expand the beta to a few hundred thousand people online at once, so I do believe this story, its just that I think this will be the final stages of the FFXIV beta in which they allow this many people online.

You know, they had the FFXI beta in a magazine (think OXBM) for the 360 beta...you had to pay 8.99 USD for the magazine, and I sure as hell didn't hear anyone whining about it.

I could understand if they were trying to rip you off or something, but as I said before...IF (and its a huge IF atm) they do allow this, its going to be near the end of the beta (due to the server load this would produce) So getting your panties in a bunch before you even know how the beta works (when it was laid out in steps by the dev team in numerous FFXIV interviews) is just silly.

 They're probably giving access to beta for stress testing. If I remember correctly, FFXIV was slated for release around the same time as FFXIII, so it would make sense. Kind of like how so many MMOs lately give early access for those who pre-order.

EDIT: it could also be that the beta keys are only included in japanese versions of the game (since the ad came from a japanese magazine)

Franchise would rewards loyal fans. It's perfect. If you're going to be selective about who gets beta invites, make it the community who enjoys the title. It's a preening. Obviously it's marketing as well, probably being the priority in the matter, but a good move to set your discriminator to being anyone who isn't stoked about the franchise.

Edit: grammar is all over the place. Hen and Ginger ale... recent find.

FFXIII looks pretty awesome! this just sweetens the deal

You guys are forgetting that not every package has to contain a beta key. They could do something like the first 5,000 copies sold get into beta, or something like that.

If final fantasy XIII came to the PC, I'll get it. I don't got a 360 or any of the new generation consoles.

This is of course presuming that every system that FF13 will work for is a target system for FF14.

Originally posted by ShuttleXpC

Originally posted by Athyr

It could still be techinically true and not be an actual truth.

 

They could give everyone that buys XIII access to beta in stages. With everyone getting access to it just before open beta(If there is one) and would still be truthful in their advertising.

 

SO I can see this happening.

 

How are they screwing you over? Its an easy and simple way to get people involved in the beta, first off it stops them from actually screening applicants, which in the long run would allow them to hit the beta on a LOT more machines then would normally be possible. Its just a nice plus to people who wanted to purchase FFXIV in the first place.

The developers were also saying they eventually want to expand the beta to a few hundred thousand people online at once, so I do believe this story, its just that I think this will be the final stages of the FFXIV beta in which they allow this many people online.

You know, they had the FFXI beta in a magazine (think OXBM) for the 360 beta...you had to pay 8.99 USD for the magazine, and I sure as hell didn't hear anyone whining about it.

I could understand if they were trying to rip you off or something, but as I said before...IF (and its a huge IF atm) they do allow this, its going to be near the end of the beta (due to the server load this would produce) So getting your panties in a bunch before you even know how the beta works (when it was laid out in steps by the dev team in numerous FFXIV interviews) is just silly.

Who's to say it is even for the NA, Euro, audiences anyway. Might just be the Japanese that get this privelage.
 

I don't see this as a bait and switch.  I think its funny that Cryptic is still accused as the same thing.  I had a friend who was going to buy a lifetime sub to CO even though he had not intention of ever playing just to get beta for STO and I convinced him otherwise.  Cryptic didn't advertise as a guaranteed early/priority beta slot and I thought it was really stupid for anyone to interpret it as such.  Granted, I'm sure the marketing folk probably thought that beta access would provide an even greater incentive to purchase lifetime subs, but if you purchased it just for the beta slot - that was your stupidity.  

In this case, its a very smart marketing ploy.  If you like the FF series, there is a possibility you'd like FF14.  What better way to reach out to potential subscribers by offering beta(free trial).  If you're looking forward to FF14, there is a possibility you dig single player rpgs, and would therefore enjoy FF13.  Because you think FF13 might be fun and you want to play FF14, you go ahead and pick up FF13.  Yeah, people will purchase FF13 just for beta - but if they complain about it - that is their stupidity.  If you think about it, it was really meant to cross-polinate both sets of fans.  Get off-line gamers to consider the online iteration.  Get online gamers to consider the offline.

Bait and switch? Where the hell would the idea of a bait and switch come up over this? A bait and swtich is where you offer someone something (i.e. a car or a TV) at a special low price, but when you do go buy it you find out that the sale isn't valid and it was only to get your attention to get you to buy something more expensive.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bait_and_switch

This first off, is still classified as rumor: Square Enix, to my knowledge, has not confirmed this. Accusing someone of illegal business practices off a rumor is freaking weak. Second then did something similar with adding in a demo disc for FF12 in Dragon Quest 8 so it isn't like it hasn't been done before. And lastly if it were true they are giving you something for free for buying something else. It isn't like they are advertising you are the beta in every FF13 box but you find out that it is only the FF13 collectors editions and you only find that out at time of purchase. That would be a bait and switch (albeit quite a weak one). If you are going to buy FF13 for the sole purpose of getting into the beta of FF14 then that is your own dumb fucking fault. There is no bait and switch going on much less a bait and switch on a rumor that someone else made up. Stop spreading ignorance.