Are Alpha/Beta releases counterproductive?

I think they can be, look at DayZ and all the nerds going mental over that because it is 'worse' than the mod...

Well the game is in Alpha, it never said it would be full featured for at least 12 months... so I just dont understand the whine.

The flipside to that is, these same nerds then have a go at say BF4 for not being released in a Alpha state so they can 'shape' the game to how they want by giving feedback...

Basically, Nerds.
 
mlbtheshow said:
I think they can be, look at DayZ and all the nerds going mental over that because it is 'worse' than the mod...

Well the game is in Alpha, it never said it would be full featured for at least 12 months... so I just dont understand the whine.

The flipside to that is, these same nerds then have a go at say BF4 for not being released in a Alpha state so they can 'shape' the game to how they want by giving feedback...

Basically, Nerds.
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Well I guess im a 'nerd' then :D and the issue with DayZ is not a feature full issue, its that theyve done virtually nothing in 6 months. Compare that to other alphas which have content rich monthly updates and you find the real issue. The core issues with the game are not being resolved.

Also not many other alpha project leads earn 20 million in 3/4 months then quit the project.
 
I bought Theme Park Studio in the Steam sale knowing it is still in production. It's the only game/simulator I have done this with and only because it is a small studio that have been providing regular updates and have been open and honest throughout about their intentions.

I would not throw money at a big company like EA without seeing a finished working product. Mostly because alphas and betas seem to be used more like a marketing strategy for large studios rather than as a means of determining and fixing the things that are wrong with their games.
 
I'm not really a fan because of stuff like Prison Architect that was priced at $20 for the alpha and before the game is even out it's been down as low as half that price.

It's also about 2 years since I bought the alpha access and to be honest I've kind of lost interest so when the final version does come out I am unlikely to play it. So I've spent twice as much as I needed to on a game I won't play the finished version of.

I can see why it's great for developers, people pay to test your product when normally you would have to pay for testing. Also, most alpha/beta access is at full RRP pricing and goes direct to the company, if you buy on release you can use someone like GreenManGaming or one of the CD Key sites and pay anything from 20-50% less, of which the company itself only gets a percentage.

I've vowed not to buy into an alpha/beta again for anything story/campaign based as it just means the full game isn't the proper experience.
 
Boycey0211 said:
Well I guess im a 'nerd' then :D and the issue with DayZ is not a feature full issue, its that theyve done virtually nothing in 6 months. Compare that to other alphas which have content rich monthly updates and you find the real issue. The core issues with the game are not being resolved.

Also not many other alpha project leads earn 20 million in 3/4 months then quit the project.
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The game from Alpha release to now has changed loads and there are patches pretty much monthly.... 46 went to stable yesterday, 47 is now on EXP with ragdoll animations...

Its coming along, id like it to be quicker but its still fun to play and thats the main thing. But the point is, I bought into the vision and accepted the fact that it might be crap and not up to what it would be on 'full' release. Moaning about it is basically stating that you cant read as there was a warning before purchasing... not many games offered that, even full releases like BF4 which are **** and cost 80 quid full whack....

Also he hasnt quit yet, still got 6-8 months left I believe.
 
The only thing that has really changed is the quantity of loot and thats it.

It is gameplay wise 80-90% identical to alpha release what 7 months later?

Yes there was a get out clause before ordering, however 2.5 million copies sold says it should get finished! They even put it on sale in the summer sale! Shouldn't be doing that for a gamble really.
 
Boycey0211 said:
The only thing that has really changed is the quantity of loot and thats it.

It is gameplay wise 80-90% identical to alpha release what 7 months later?

Yes there was a get out clause before ordering, however 2.5 million copies sold says it should get finished! They even put it on sale in the summer sale! Shouldn't be doing that for a gamble really.
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Who says it wont get finished?

Its in its development cycle, just like every game that has existed. However this game gave us the chance (if we chose to) to play early by buying early.

Minecraft iirc was very basic to what it is now, but people still jumped in on that and look how long that took to get to this stage.

DayZ has had a lot change, some subtle, some more major... but the game is starting to move along at a fair pace and when its fully finished, then you will forget all about the mod... if the game is never finished or rushed to finish and plainly lacking, then complain about it
 
mlbtheshow said:
Who says it wont get finished?

Its in its development cycle, just like every game that has existed. However this game gave us the chance (if we chose to) to play early by buying early.

Minecraft iirc was very basic to what it is now, but people still jumped in on that and look how long that took to get to this stage.

DayZ has had a lot change, some subtle, some more major... but the game is starting to move along at a fair pace and when its fully finished, then you will forget all about the mod... if the game is never finished or rushed to finish and plainly lacking, then complain about it
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Well I'm not one of the ones thinking it won't get finished, though a lot of people are having that feeling. I think when I bought into minecraft alpha it was $5, thats a bit different to £20 which may explain some of the feelings towards it.

Hopefully these 2 weeks updates aren't just a flash in the pan and will continue. I never really got stuck into the mod so I haven't really got that to compare it to
 
I think they're a way of exploiting mugs, It's amazing they have the nerve to charge ridiculous prices for access to unfinished games, some that may never even get finished or be terrible.

Archage for example: £109.99 for alpha access (sorry 'Trailblazer' status :) ) and it's going to be F2P.

You've got to laugh.

:D
 
Those mugs are going to ruin the industry because why would anyone ever finnish a game now when you can get idiots to pay for a game early. And you can shave off tons of content and sell it for a DLC. Did i mention this costs more than 100% finnished games that never had a DLC?


PC gaming is withering down to single digit games per year now, It is 90% trash 10% AAA+ thanks to this. And people wonder why i take joy in a studio going bust like the script writer from murdered soul who hopefully is rattling a can somewhere for change or writing childrens books which is probably more his talent level.
 
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Rofflay said:
Those mugs are going to ruin the industry because why would anyone ever finnish a game now when you can get idiots to pay for a game early. And you can shave off tons of content and sell it for a DLC. Did i mention this costs more than 100% finnished games that never had a DLC?


PC gaming is withering down to single digit games per year now, It is 90% trash 10% AAA+ thanks to this. And people wonder why i take joy in a studio going bust like the script writer from murdered soul who hopefully is rattling a can somewhere for change or writing childrens books which is probably more his talent level.
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Bingo, they know people can't wait for anything these days and they're going to exploit the arse off them.

The instant gratification generation will never have a pot to p*** in.

This is just the beginning.

I can't for the life of me work out why people can't wait a few months and get a £45 game for £15 which is actually finished, improved and has had time to mature with the mod community.
 
Darujhistan said:
Bingo, they know people can't wait for anything these days and they're going to exploit the arse off them.

The instant gratification generation will never have a pot to p*** in.

This is just the beginning.

I can't for the life of me work out why people can't wait a few months and get a £45 game for £15 which is actually finished, improved and has had time to mature with the mod community.
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Because they were brought up like that. Patience is a virtue and so is 120hz, So i wait on both if the game wont run at 120fps i wait. If the game is unpolished i wait a bit longer and hope. So while most of them are rushing out and spending £39.99 on Watchdogs to be running low120fps/high60fps i am waiting for Ultra/120fps and a DLC and simply putting my release list back by amount 12 months. 12 months is no big deal because when i do buy them like the Batman games i am getting GOTY edition for £5.
 
Rofflay said:
Those mugs are going to ruin the industry because why would anyone ever finnish a game now when you can get idiots to pay for a game early. And you can shave off tons of content and sell it for a DLC. Did i mention this costs more than 100% finnished games that never had a DLC?


PC gaming is withering down to single digit games per year now, It is 90% trash 10% AAA+ thanks to this. And people wonder why i take joy in a studio going bust like the script writer from murdered soul who hopefully is rattling a can somewhere for change or writing childrens books which is probably more his talent level.
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You do realise that "AAA+" account for 0.00000000001% of original game development?

If AAA is your "bag", then of course early access is not your thing.

I am sure the next AAA you like will have Beta access if you pre-order for £60.

THAT IS WHAT IS **** ABOUT THE INDUSTRY RIGHT NOW, NOT CREATIVE DEVS MAKING GAMES ON A SHOESTRING ASKING FOR HELP TO GET THEIR ART FINISHED.
 
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