Beta Testing

[evilmess]

I just got chosen to beta test a hot new PS2 FPS. WOOT!
Not sure if I can say what it is because my beta test materials haven't arrived yet but I'm stoked to give this game a shot before it goes live. My 12-year-old son is a HALO freak so it should be real interesting to get his perspective too.

This will be my second ever beta test, my first was for Motor City Online.

I thought I'd bring up the topic for anybody to share his or her beta test stories and experiences.

Are beta materials ever considered collectable?

[tholly]

just because not everyone gets to be a beta tester, i would have to say that the materials are probably pretty collectible. if not, they are at least a nice addition to any collection.

[evilmess]

The PS2 beta test I was chosen for is supposedly open to the first 10,000 applicants.

It's kinda cool to get a playable "sneak peak" at a game before it's released to the public. 8-)

[LAGO]

Whre do you guys here about the beta tests at? I never seem to hear of any of them.

[ubersaurus]

I beta tested Marble Craze and the Synthcart before they came out, for Paul Slocum. I didn't find any bugs, and no one ever reported any, so I suppose I did a good job.

[evilmess]

I joined the Playstation Underground at http://www.us.playstation.com/ and selected the beta tester option in my profile. Earlier this year I declined an offer to test some MMOG Dinosaur/Monster Hunting game that Sony invited me to try. The game (the name escapes atm) looked really cool but it wasn't the type of game i'm into.

To beta test MCO I had an MCO fan site and we contacted the MCO community guy and he hooked us up with that game.

[EnemyZero]

I was in beta testing for a few pc games, IE Lineage, Lineage 2, Ragnarok On-line, and currently Warhammer 40K Dawn of War, never got anything cool tho..lineage 2 i got collectors cards :/

[brykasch]

I have beta tested alot for different systems. I love trying the stuff out and helping dev make a better gaming experience (not to mention the bragging rights)

PS2-Everquest Adventures

XBOX-Xbox Live

PC-Diablo II
Warcraft III
Everquest
Asheron's Call 2
Star Wars Galaxies
Sims Online
Diablo

Only thing I hated was diablo's yu must start new charecters when the official version comes out crap. I mean wtf, we help you test and we get screwed?? Oh well. At least with tthe xbox live I got extra copies of my beta discs if anyone needs em:) Sold the orange memory card on ebay to some sap for 50 bucks. Crazy I tell ya.

[gamegirl79]

I've done beta testing for a few PS2 games. They have all been online only (to test server load I assume) although Hot Shots Golf Fore had a limited single player mode on the beta as well. You need to register a Sony network adapter on the PS Underground website in order to be eligible.

The games I've been in beta tests for are:

-FFXI (this one was very cool, my favorite so far)
-Socom II
-Resident Evil Outbreak
-Hot Shots Golf Fore

[FantasiaWHT]

Easiest beta tests to get into are MMOs. Most of them have an "open" beta (Sign up and you're in) a month or two before release to stress test the servers and (more importantly) spread word of mouth about how l337 their game is.

Even the earlier "closed" beta tests are pretty easy to get into. You can easily do a search online and find dozens of closed betas accepting applications. Fill a few out and hope you're chosen!

PC single-player and console games are the toughest. Generally you need to have some insider connections.

Games I've beta tested:

Pax Romana (PC only)
Stronghold: Crusader (PC only)
Age of Mythology (PC only)

Dark Ages of Camelot (Closed)
Shattered Galaxy (Closed)
World of Pirates (Closed)

Ragnarok Online (Open)
Anarchy Online (Open)

[tholly]

I joined the Playstation Underground at http://www.us.playstation.com/ and selected the beta tester option in my profile. Earlier this year I declined an offer to test some MMOG Dinosaur/Monster Hunting game that Sony invited me to try. The game (the name escapes atm) looked really cool but it wasn't the type of game i'm into.

To beta test MCO I had an MCO fan site and we contacted the MCO community guy and he hooked us up with that game.


i cant find this open to be selected as a beta tester...where on the PS Underground site do you go to sign up??

[Tritoch]

Since everyone else is doing it, I've beta'd the following:

Ultima Online: The Second Age (PC)
Ultima Online: Third Dawn (PC)
Everquest Online Adventures (PS2)
SOCOM II (PS2)
Warcraft III (PC)
Final Fantasy XI (PC)
Xbox Live
Resident Evil Outbreak (PS2)
Monster Hunter (PS2)

That doesn't count the playable preview copies I've gotten, which I can almost never play since I don't have any debug units. I'm in another beta test right now, but would rather not mention it until the game's released. It's time to play the game! 8-)

[evilmess]

tholly, are you looking for this. http://www.us.playstation.com/registration
And the beta test option is in the "Online Gaming Preferences" of your profile page.

[kai123]

I just signed up, I want to start beta testing some games. Please for the love of God let me beta test Outbreak file #2.

[tholly]

tholly, are you looking for this. http://www.us.playstation.com/registration
And the beta test option is in the "Online Gaming Preferences" of your profile page.


yea, i was registered, i guess i just over looked that option in the online gaming preferences.....thanks for the info...i got my beta test option checked off now

[nesuser2]

I was just going to post about this and dug this up instead. I was selected a few weeks ago for Eidos Crash N Burn for PS2 which is probably more up my alley than most games. I am supposed to be notified soon as to when the "beta kit drop-date" is, but whatever I get.....it's more than I had before and more than I can afford right now....I'll take any hack up versions of a complete game as long as I have something to play, any collectibles are just extra incentive!!

[brykasch]

Yeah I got the e-mail about the crash and burn, but of course I didn't read it till the day after and by then they ahd all been claimed, oh well:)

[Avatard]

I beta tested a few online games back in the mid 90's, nothing major. Then I tried out DAoC the MMORPG and realized I didn't like it so I stopped after and hour or 2. I don't think Beta testing scores you a free copy of the game after release anymore so its just for prestige now it seems, and to help out a game you want to see do well. But getting into MMO beta tests is super easy.

Sometimes if you get in is based on your system setup when you mail in your application. If you are running...say...WinXP Pro with a 64bit processor and some video card other than ATI/Nvidia then you're probably gonna get in. They want to cover all bases.

[thehistorian]

Ok.

Games Beta tested:
You Don't Know Jack 5th Dementia
Asheron's Call
Asheron's Call 2
Mech Warrior 4
Catz & Dogz 3
Dungeon Siege

There are also a ton of applications that I've tested too..

Running a Fan site does up the chances of getting in to early betas. Truth be told it isn't all that special. Sometimes you get full versions after... most time not, especially with MMORPGs.

I have quite a few Dungeon Siege Beta disks and Media Preview Disk.. As well as a Cloth Map signed by the whole development team.. Need to scan it one of these days..

[kainemaxwell]

Congrats on making beta testing. I also signed up, hope I make beta testing sometime too!

[PhoeniX]

Years ago I beta tested Supreme Warrior.... I told them it was a peice of crap but I guess they didn't believe me; as it was pretty much an abysmal failure maybe they should have. :)

[soniko_karuto]

i've only tested age of mithology. :(