hi guys,

was just wondering how many people would be interested in pre-oredering civIV at this early stage in order to guarantee themselves beta testing if Firaxis was to offer?

Galatic Civilization II has just done this and it appears to have been a success!

Any feedback welcome!

Dangerrrr

Me !! :groucho:

i would to

me too, count me in... :)

Save me a seat aswell....

me too, sure, any time!!!

who wouldn't?

who wouldn't?

Me.

Where is the point in throwing the money down the drain right now just for getting a torso of a game?

Not to be misunderstood, I would like the idea to beta test the game. But only, if there would be at least a minimal chance to see the found errors being fixed.

The experience from C3C tells us, that exactly this is not going to happen. Don't you guys remember the Forbidden Palace catastrophe? And what was the explanation? "We changed some things after beta tests ended...." :smug:

You would pay money for this? May I announce my newest game? Come on, sign in for testing it - at only € 49.99! :lol:

no, you would pre-order the final copy of civ4, and you would get beta-testing thrown in.

Assuming you would buy the game anyway (as anyone in this forum would) all it is is paying a little early to beta test

no, you would pre-order the final copy of civ4, and you would get beta-testing thrown in.

Assuming you would buy the game anyway (as anyone in this forum would) all it is is paying a little early to beta test

But it would result in the same: I pay NOW € 49.99, I have to download 650 MB of data, the game doesn't work, I report the errors, they don't get fixed and 9 months later I get a CD with a game on it, which I stopped playing 5 months ago.

Sure, some will spend those € 49.99 anyway, but why offering them a loan without interest?
As beta testing is about ensuring the quality of the product (which is going to be sold, later on) beta testing is to be free of charge.
AND IF they did their job, I will spend my money. If they did not - no trade.

who wouldn't?

Me. I don't have that kind of money... I'm waiting until it's a good $20 or as a gift.

I thought the idea of beta-testing was it was free to the testers to report bugs, glitches, problems with gameplay, so when the PROPER game came out £40 or whatever there were as few problems and glitches as possible.

Was I wrong? :confused: :confused: :confused:

That IS the main purpose...

But sometimes companies use it as a means to generate hype before launch. Google has been beta-testing gmail for the past half year or more. Part of it is drawing in loyal customers, and part of it is having the hype of "we had x million users already signed up at launch!" Welcome to the age of marketing.

I don't claim to know what Firaxis/Take Two's goals for marketing and customer rewards are.

I too wouldn't mind "beta testing" Civ IV -- and, unfortunately, I have this feeling that's exactly what the initial release is going to feel like. What I'm not looking forward to, however, is the amount of inevitable whines/complaints about "beta testing" the product. In a perfect world, consumers shouldn't have to "fix" products, but, alas, we don't live in a perfect world.

Seems like a gimmicky promotion to me.

Who would refuse such an offer, but there are better ways to get beta testers. I do however see the idea as being a bit more democratic in that the ability to test is just your willingness to buy a game, and not an opaque process.

Not me. While I would gladly test for free, I won't pay for the honor.

Not me. While I would gladly test for free, I won't pay for the honor.

If you bought Play The World, you did. :p

I knew you would say that (you are too predictable) :P (To be honest I was given a copy for free).

Bad Idea Its Not Worth It

It is not paying to beta test, it is preordering the game (which a lot of people will do anyway) and getting picked first for testing because you’re already on a list.

[SIZE=1]It is not paying to beta test, it is preordering the game (which a lot of people will do anyway) and getting picked first for testing because you’re already on a list.

So you would pre-order your new car before it eaven has been proto-typed to get the chance to pre-ride it?
Well, whatever makes your boat flow...

Bah, we are just a bunch of addicteds ;)

Bah, we are just a bunch of addicteds ;)

And that is, why they could drain almost $100 in total off our pockets... to finally end with a game which was and is still full of flaws and bugs.

This time, they should prove the quality before we prove our willingness to pay for it. The constant exclamation "I will buy it, I will buy it, I will buy it - whatever the quality may be!" for sure doesn't lead to more quality.
Or am I the only one around who has to work for his money? :confused:

To be a good beta tester is no walk in the grass at any cost. Its not just "whee, I get to see it first!" There's a lot of note taking, etc, I would certainly have no time for.

To be a good beta tester is no walk in the grass at any cost. Its not just "whee, I get to see it first!" There's a lot of note taking, etc, I would certainly have no time for.
You have that right - it is a LOT of work. I have done beta testing; but probaly never again. It is just too time consuming and requires true dedication to be effective. I would perhaps question the usefulness of a beta test where the testers were not screened for some mimimum level of competency but merely choosen because they paid their money. The development team could possibly end up spending more time teaching testers and sifting through a ton of perhaps marginally useful stuff instead of spending the time fixing things...

But as was said in an earlier post, if it floats your boat...and at least Firaxis would have more cash flow to (hopefully) use to maybe help solve a few more issues before release.

If I can figure out the final system requierments, I would consider on pre-ordering it ;).

one would have to be a bit daft to do the work for someone else just to play a game- "oh wow i am first to move a iroquios wrker around this new terrain"
- look, if i am drop'n 40 bucks for something i expect me money's worth-
its like Tom Sawyer talking kids into painting a fence- don't be a suxer
people get PAID to test games- don't be fooled into doing other's work- :eek:

Civfanatics.com

Hello ? We won't do betatesting to get paid. :rolleyes:

one would have to be a bit daft to do the work for someone else just to play a game

How about to influence the direction of the title? In many cases, the developers actually listen to the beta testers.

-how about to influence the direction of the title......

Hmm hadn't really thought about that.. i was under the impression that
beta testers were more bug finders- however, i suppose if someone submitted a lucid prose in favor of some kind of significant game play change or Addition/deletion that was implemented then yes that might be worth it...but my instinct tells me that that would be a rare occurance....due largely to the fact that if it is in beta form the major additions ect will have already been made - leaving minor tweaks as the only real items up for grab- :cool:

Civfanatics.com

Hello ? We won't do betatesting to get paid. :rolleyes:
I would even pay to be beta-tester for civ4!!!!!
Firaxis, to get a free tester, tyguyciv@gmail.com

i suppose if someone submitted a lucid prose in favor of some kind of significant game play change or Addition/deletion that was implemented then yes that might be worth it...but my instinct tells me that that would be a rare occurance....

In both the PTW and C3C betas many suggestions from beta testers were implemented. I'd assume that they are still working closely with their beta testers for Civ4.

after finally seeing the game in action :eek: , who now would be prepared to pre-order the final game in order to get a chance to beta test!???


i think i'd put my hand up! :crazyeye:


please firaxis! ;)

after finally seeing the game in action :eek: , who now would be prepared to pre-order the final game in order to get a chance to beta test!???


i think i'd put my hand up! :crazyeye:


please firaxis! ;)
Not me..they wont get my $50 until it has been on the shelf at the store for at least a month. Same reasoning as before...effective beta testing is a whole lot of hard and at times tedious work. Pay to work? I don't think so. :crazyeye:

Plus to me it would be like working at a restaurant...you know the food is good but somehow the magic is gone when you go there as a customer.

I am IN!!! :D

Not me..they wont get my $50 until it has been on the shelf at the store for at least a month. Same reasoning as before...effective beta testing is a whole lot of hard and at times tedious work. Pay to work? I don't think so. :crazyeye:

Plus to me it would be like working at a restaurant...you know the food is good but somehow the magic is gone when you go there as a customer.

I am absolutely with you on this!