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- What Do You Think Wednesdays: Beta as Incentive, Do You Bite?
- Posted 4 months, 4 weeks ago by Dominic
The Street Fighter II HD Remix beta released this morning for those who purchased the full version of Commandos 3 on XBLA. And I have to say that the only reason I bought Commandos 3 was because of the special beta opportunity. C3 did peak my interest when originally announced but I probably would've passed on the 800 point price tag as it released. I did the same thing with Crackdown when it offered the Halo 3 beta, and I can assume this is the case with most people. Crackdown is a game I'd pick up in the bargain bin at $10, I'm astonished to look back and say I payed fulled price.
I even pre-ordered the collector's edition (which I rarely do) of Warhammer Online because it offers a closed beta key to pre-orders later this year. A few of my friends won't play the beta due to spoiling the game for themselves. An MMORPG can quickly become stale if you force yourself to play through the same content again.
The early look does come at a price...well besides the price you've paid for the other game. With having beta access comes the frustration of trying to play it. Frequent glitches, disconnects and other malfunctions tend to wear on one's nerves when all they want is some early enjoyment. I tried to play a match of SFII HD Remix today and the game froze each time it went to join a game. I tried a few different ways to join a game, i.e. quick match, custom match, but none seemed to work. After the 4th time I turned off my 360 and decided to wait for a patch of some sort.
A beta's major objective is to work out any additional problems with the game before it's release, so perhaps these companies are secretly employing us temporarily, not giving us exclusive fun. Have you been baited into purchasing a game you normally wouldn't have just for a beta? If so, what do you think? Is it really worth it?
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Comments
I totally bite! Sometimes, you can get into a beta by simply putting down $5-10 for the pre-order. Personally, I'll do that ANY day over dropping $60 & praying it's good.
I remember playing in the Call of Heroes closed beta in 2004. The ONLY reason I was able to check out (& love the smack out of) the game was 'cuz of this. I don't think I would've taken the chance without it.
Also remember one VERY important fact: there's no more Electronics Boutique, so the days of you being able to return PC games are LONG gone!
I've been in on a few betas. Generally speaking, I bite. I just love playing a game knowing that I have an "exclusive" look at it. It feels like when your parents let you open just one present on Christmas Eve.