Beta ruins 'initial cherry popping' of videogames says Bleszinski Options

[Xbox-Scene]

Beta ruins 'initial cherry popping' of videogames says Bleszinski Posted by XanTium | November 5 15:02 EST | News Category: Xbox360

From strategyinformer.com: [QUOTE] Asked why there was no Gears of War 2 beta, Epic's Bleszinski has compared the process to getting laid with some chick and then moving on. He argued that beta testers are susceptible to not feeling "motivated" enough to grab the final product as you've already gotten your taste. GOW2 a "pretty great game", by the way. "A beta is like hooking up with a girl just to say, "yeah, I f*cked her." I know that sounds crude, but it's the honest-to-God truth," said Bleszinski, speaking with GamePro. "Once you play a beta, you can check it off your list -- you can say, "yeah, I played it." Then you might not feel motivated to get that initial cherry popping from the proper, final game." [/QUOTE] Full Story: strategyinformer.com | gamepro.com

[PaddyPat]

I hope this was an off the record conversation that somehow was recorded. This guy's probably going to get reprimanded or even fired for those comments! Where's the PR?

[AcidPenguiN]

I hope this was an off the record conversation that somehow was recorded. This guy's probably going to get reprimanded or even fired for those comments! Where's the PR?

HA! Fire Cliffy B? Like that will ever happen.



I think he's right in the result but the wrong assumptions are implying his conclusion. In my opinion people who play the beta and not buy the game have simply realized that the game is not worth the money. That's why we don't see demos anymore; if everyone plays the demo then no one will be fooled into buying a bad game.

[juntistik]

I hope this was an off the record conversation that somehow was recorded. This guy's probably going to get reprimanded or even fired for those comments! Where's the PR?

This is about an M-rated intensely gory game with strong language, not Highschool Musical 3.



Edit: I wish PR would use easy comparisons like this all the time. Straight, to the point, and humorous.

This post has been edited by juntistik: Nov 5 2008, 11:21 PM

[JustDanMI]

HA! Fire Cliffy B? Like that will ever happen.
I think he's right in the result but the wrong assumptions are implying his conclusion. In my opinion people who play the beta and not buy the game have simply realized that the game is not worth the money. That's why we don't see demos anymore; if everyone plays the demo then no one will be fooled into buying a bad game.

I agree with what your saying. If I play a demo, and I like it, I go and at least rent the full version. If I play a demo and am not impressed, than I know there are other games I'd rather be playing than that demo. But that's not saying I won't go and play it in the future, when I'm looking for something new to play.

[ILLusions0fGrander]

terrible analogy.

but using that - at least with a beta you know if the chick has herpes before she starts to f*ck the masses, right?

This post has been edited by ILLusions0fGrander: Nov 6 2008, 12:28 AM

[leorimolo]

Im happy theres betas, see if I wouldnt have played the WaW I might have actually bought the game

[dokworm]

Good thing it only 'sounded' crude, but wasn't actually...

[Tiuk]

Haha, leave it to CliffyB.

[johnnyrico]

sounded crude but it's actually true, public beta's just spoil the magic if you ask me.
sure a game needs to be tested before release, but there are the few people who actually test it and the majority who signs up just to get an early shot.
same thing happened with halo3 remember: halo3 MP beta's were given away with Crackdown and the preorder count for crackdown skyrocketed.

[ravage73]

playing the cod4 beta is the reason i bought the final game. so he must be referring to games that suck.

[BasicAir]

sounded crude but it's actually true, public beta's just spoil the magic if you ask me.
sure a game needs to be tested before release, but there are the few people who actually test it and the majority who signs up just to get an early shot.
same thing happened with halo3 remember: halo3 MP beta's were given away with Crackdown and the preorder count for crackdown skyrocketed.

Public betas like CoD4 and CoD:WoW aren't really what you seem to think they are. You're implying they really are meant to test the software for bugs and such. They're not. Sure the developers like IW and Treyarch will encourage you to provide feedback of their "beta" but as they have even said, it's really to test the back-end of online play and stress test the network. Real alpha/beta processes are done long before any public "beta" comes. The developer fully expects and intends on regular Joe's signing up for public betas to really just play the game and enjoy it, NOT to sift through the limited play to look for bugs.

But anyway, I disagree with CliffyB. Sure there may be some people who would sign up for a beta/demo, play it, then be unmovitvated to buy the retail disc. But for every one of those people, there's another person who was going to buy the game anyway regardless of a beta/demo, and those who weren't but will after playing the beta/demo if it's good.

That's the key though-- The game must be good or else it's beta's/demo's chances of boosting sales go down the toilet. Developers know it's a risky move even if they think their game is great. CoD4 and CoD:WoW I was already going to buy before I played their betas and my decision to buy it only got stronger after I played them.

GoW I don't care for so I am definitely not going to get GoW2. I realize it's a well made game but it's not a game for me. If they had a GoW2 demo or beta I wouldn't even download it. I know, I'm the minority here, but I'm just saying... Not everyone will react the way CliffyB thinks. IMO if your game is one of the top 3 hyped games of the year, which GoW2 is, and you know it will be great, which Epic knows it will, then I say go ahead and release a demo. The chances of the decision backfiring are really slim to none.

[babyblu]

That's the key though-- The game must be good or else it's beta's/demo's chances of boosting sales go down the toilet. Developers know it's a risky move even if they think their game is great. CoD4 and CoD:WoW I was already going to buy before I played their betas and my decision to buy it only got stronger after I played them.

I agree with you on already going to buy WoW but I probably wouldnt have picked up CoD4 right away if it wasnt for a friend sending the beta code. I played the beta til it ended and got CoD4 the day it came out I even trade halo 3 in for credit against it. CoD4 was pretty much the only game I touch until I get the beta for WoW which I have been playing alot and cant wait for it to come out

[halikus]

"...Gears of War...I F*%ked her....arrgh.." (in Andrew Dice Clay voice). I beat her too lol.

[liam82517]

Actually it goes somethig like this:

Gear of war pulls its panties up from around its knees and says " I just needed to be held Cliify B!".

To which Cliffy replys( in an Andrew Dice Clay Voice) " you got the bonus plan baby, OOHHHHHH!!!"