Minecraft was in Beta for what, a year? Maybe two? And that's made a few million pounds before it even had a release date!
I wouldn't mind paying about £5, since for a 40 minute x 5 chars game, that's pretty good value. Hell, I paid £6.99 for Dear Esther and that lasted me about 2 hours tops and I doubt i'll ever play that again. £5 - £10 for 3 hours of gameplay along with informing the devs about Beta feedback is a pretty good deal.
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"Pull 'em in, den smash 'em up gud!" - Grimjaw, Barbarian Poet
There is a simple reason they can't do it, you can't sell something that isn't ready/ partly broken. That wouldn't be good advertisement.
Let's say i pay $100 for a beta key (lucky i have one already) and i don't like it after 2 hours played or saying that there is not enough info in the beta. Then i'll go screaming @Blizzard and whine @Forums. Then other people will see this > a.k.a. bad advertisement.
I don't think this would be an issue. Reason is, people buying a beta are generally just interesting in getting a feel for the game and being able to access and test the content as its developed. They'll go in fully knowing that they are in fact purchasing access to the development stages of the product.
Plus, people who are getting the beta access for free are complaining anyways, so that wouldn't be any different. I just feel that people who are willing to drop a buck to get in are going to be a little more understanding that there are bugs and mechanical issues that are still being worked on.
If they provided beta keys w/ a normal pre-order I'd get one right away, but why would you pay a seperate sum for just the beta, it doesn't make sense.
Read my previous posts. I don't want access just to play. I want access to test the game, see what makes it tick and to see how the game develops from its infancy to its final days. Having an insiders perspective of the game is something I'm striving for by getting access into a games beta.
While I'm sure (and this thread is evidence) that a large portion of the community would be willing to pay for beta access, it's kind of a moot point because it's just not going to happen. Blizzard has even stated that the beta test is the size it is for a certain reason, and we are seeing all these fansites getting more keys so that Blizzard can *slowly* ramp up the size of the test. If they were to sell keys, it'd be pandemonium, and the tiny beta servers would probably explode. Bottom line is, while most of us would give money/blood/first born/etc. for a key, it's never gonna work that way.
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i would choose my own religion and worship my own spirit, but if he ever preached to me i wouldn't want to hear it. i'd drop him, a forgotten god, languishing in shame; and then if i hit stormy seas, i'd have myself to blame.
I would absolutely pay for the beta (if i knew I wouldn't get some silly perma IP ban from blizzard because it's against their terms and conditions or something silly)
The reason why is simple.... I love diablo, that being said... I am buying the CE for 100 bucks, so whats another 10-20 to get the beta? Hell I'd pay anything reasonable
Like I said, just as a fan and diablo enthusiast, I want to play the game---BUT not having the beta when the game is released, I will have no clue what class is the best to play... because the addition of the RMA I would be able to test and find the character that I could level fastest with a party and have the potential of on release leveling up super fast, knowing how the character plays, some of the skills and how to use them in battles... essentially every one with the beta can practice and I can't because I don't have a key... so If I could pay to practice, try all the classes... by release I know exactly what to do!
With the ability of knowing exactly what class I want to play, I have the potential to make more money selling items on the RMA to make back the money I pay to get in the beta (hypothetically) So it's a no brainer to me... so probably not going to get a beta, and when the game is released I'll play all the classes and waste a ton of time finding out what I like and don't like and how good I can get with each character, and shit even have a chance to just try each character (to atleast a decent level (13)) with out the beta this is not possible to do before release obviously, and is a giant hindrance to any one who want to play competitively when the game is live
That being said, I spend hours of my days on forums, watching videos and entering contest, and using the character calculators and watching videos from mooege of skills runed, or other people like forces lets play playthroughs of the betas displaying all the newest updates from the different beta patches
and all that being said... I'm going to go with the build I want to play the most (frenzy barb) because it was my favorite character from d2, d2 LOD and I used it for ubers and PVP so I can't wait to level him up and go with that, and miss out on all the fun new classes to try and make some money
Before I got the beta I would have totally tried to buy a beta key. But after playing the beta for couple hours and being satisfied, I don't I would have bought a key looking back. But then again if you look at it at a different perspective, your learning ways to beat the game faster, which skills and heroes are the best to rush/magic find etc … so I guess it all comes down to is your opinion.
I would probably buy beta access assuming it wasn't some outlandish price like 30+ dollars. I know it's not the finished game, but the chance to work on and possibly influence a games development, even just to see its development, is pretty enjoyable.
I beta tested scII and cataclysm. Watching them get to be from one thing to the full game was rewarding, to say nothing of the insider knowledge of the game before its release.
Would never support such a move, most likely I'd end up cancelling my pre-order if they were to start selling off beta-keys themselves.
Why? What difference would it make to you if other would be willing to dish out a little lump sum of cash to get access into the games development stages? The opportunity for you to purchase access would be there and for those who couldn't afford buy access then they would still have the give aways to participate in.
It would have to be in some fashion like the Annual Pass giving me access to MoP Beta. Not sure how they would do it for Diablo though it would have been nice for them to tie in Annual Pass to Diablo beta access.
i would buy a preorder of the game if it came with a beta key, i wouldn't pay just for a beta key however. Seems rather silly to play to lv13 and quit for 50-100 bux or w/e is asked for it.
Of course i would buy the beta key if it were on sale, i mean im going to buy the game when it comes out anyways might as well get it early, plus diablo 2 was a game i played most of my younger childhood.
Of course i would not buy beta access, that is the dumbest thing i have ever heard, i already pay for the annual pass to get d3 for free i really dont think that i should have to give any more money to blizzard to experience an unfinished product that they need tested, They need testers more than we need to pay to have beta access, you are doing blizzard a favor when you beta test, it should not be viewed the other way.
It would be commercialy innacceptable for a gaming company to do such a thing.
But I would easily put 10-20 bucks for it (at least to get it from the begining which means for a minimum of 4 months).
I'm not rich but, I'm sure I'd put a lot of time on it so it would be worth my 10-20 bucks, more than a used game that has poor replayability and/or short campaign/story mode.
I too would pay, but it would depend on the price... I guess I could see myself paying something in the neighborhood of $25 for beta access. Maybe they could even give some sort of a discount along with that toward the purchase of the game.
Paying is not worth it. I don't know what the big deal is about beta, i have gotten into every beta since Wrath.....I honestly don't know why, I bash them into the ground if something is wrong and get banned repeatitively from forums for my language. It honestly ruins the game for you and you see it go from good to bad to good to bad to worse. You see how they polish, you see how they start making poor choices after X period and once again like the others....its happening with Diablo 3. It doesn't matter how much feedback you give, they have a set path and they will do it whether the majority like it or not.
Patch 13, just the idea and their reasoning behind the new rune system and UI makes no sense. If you look back on DIablo 2, you would have your core abilities by level 50(maxed) and it would be a matter of filling out synergys and passives to increase the damage output as well as gearing. I don't know why people don't see that, and the new system is forcing you to almost get max level before you even get the runestones you want, during this time you will be collecting gear for a build that MIGHT not work. Playing around with clunky UI and poor decisions is not something you want to see. I was hoping I wouldn't get it, but sadly I did and I feel obliged to try and give feedback so they might just hear my words and others so the game will be great for PC gamers and real Diablo fans. Blizzard has lost their gaming heart back in late Burning Crusade and has since gotten comfortable with perfecting a cash cow and it has shown on SC2 and is showing on D3.
The reason blizzard can't sell beta keys though is because they're testing servers, not gameplay. They need a controlled amount of people playing to stress test. If they sell keys that kinda defeats the purpose.
I would definatly buy a key to the game. But only if it was a reasonable price, and that price came off the price of the game. 10$ is a reasonable price to try out the game before you buy. And would be nice to know that I know have 10$ off the full game price if i decided that i liked it! It would be a whole lot easier than trying to get in all these contests trying to get a beta key, which may or may not actually exist.(it seems that way anyway)So i would gladly hand over a small amount for a beta key.Who cares if they actually want to control the numbers by letting in a small amount at a time! Hasnt this game been 10 years in the making? we all should be playing this by now anyways!
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I wouldn't mind paying about £5, since for a 40 minute x 5 chars game, that's pretty good value. Hell, I paid £6.99 for Dear Esther and that lasted me about 2 hours tops and I doubt i'll ever play that again. £5 - £10 for 3 hours of gameplay along with informing the devs about Beta feedback is a pretty good deal.
"Pull 'em in, den smash 'em up gud!" - Grimjaw, Barbarian Poet
I don't think this would be an issue. Reason is, people buying a beta are generally just interesting in getting a feel for the game and being able to access and test the content as its developed. They'll go in fully knowing that they are in fact purchasing access to the development stages of the product.
Plus, people who are getting the beta access for free are complaining anyways, so that wouldn't be any different. I just feel that people who are willing to drop a buck to get in are going to be a little more understanding that there are bugs and mechanical issues that are still being worked on.
Read my previous posts. I don't want access just to play. I want access to test the game, see what makes it tick and to see how the game develops from its infancy to its final days. Having an insiders perspective of the game is something I'm striving for by getting access into a games beta.
Link to my post about people hawking their beta accounts for 100$ +
Apperently some people will pay A LOT for the beta...
I think Blizz should package it with other diablo content... would buy book of cain if it came with a beta.
The reason why is simple.... I love diablo, that being said... I am buying the CE for 100 bucks, so whats another 10-20 to get the beta? Hell I'd pay anything reasonable
Like I said, just as a fan and diablo enthusiast, I want to play the game---BUT not having the beta when the game is released, I will have no clue what class is the best to play... because the addition of the RMA I would be able to test and find the character that I could level fastest with a party and have the potential of on release leveling up super fast, knowing how the character plays, some of the skills and how to use them in battles... essentially every one with the beta can practice and I can't because I don't have a key... so If I could pay to practice, try all the classes... by release I know exactly what to do!
With the ability of knowing exactly what class I want to play, I have the potential to make more money selling items on the RMA to make back the money I pay to get in the beta (hypothetically) So it's a no brainer to me... so probably not going to get a beta, and when the game is released I'll play all the classes and waste a ton of time finding out what I like and don't like and how good I can get with each character, and shit even have a chance to just try each character (to atleast a decent level (13)) with out the beta this is not possible to do before release obviously, and is a giant hindrance to any one who want to play competitively when the game is live
That being said, I spend hours of my days on forums, watching videos and entering contest, and using the character calculators and watching videos from mooege of skills runed, or other people like forces lets play playthroughs of the betas displaying all the newest updates from the different beta patches
and all that being said... I'm going to go with the build I want to play the most (frenzy barb) because it was my favorite character from d2, d2 LOD and I used it for ubers and PVP so I can't wait to level him up and go with that, and miss out on all the fun new classes to try and make some money
/endwhining /endrant
Cant wait for d3... and damn I hope i win a beta
I beta tested scII and cataclysm. Watching them get to be from one thing to the full game was rewarding, to say nothing of the insider knowledge of the game before its release.
Why? What difference would it make to you if other would be willing to dish out a little lump sum of cash to get access into the games development stages? The opportunity for you to purchase access would be there and for those who couldn't afford buy access then they would still have the give aways to participate in.
But I would easily put 10-20 bucks for it (at least to get it from the begining which means for a minimum of 4 months).
I'm not rich but, I'm sure I'd put a lot of time on it so it would be worth my 10-20 bucks, more than a used game that has poor replayability and/or short campaign/story mode.
Patch 13, just the idea and their reasoning behind the new rune system and UI makes no sense. If you look back on DIablo 2, you would have your core abilities by level 50(maxed) and it would be a matter of filling out synergys and passives to increase the damage output as well as gearing. I don't know why people don't see that, and the new system is forcing you to almost get max level before you even get the runestones you want, during this time you will be collecting gear for a build that MIGHT not work. Playing around with clunky UI and poor decisions is not something you want to see. I was hoping I wouldn't get it, but sadly I did and I feel obliged to try and give feedback so they might just hear my words and others so the game will be great for PC gamers and real Diablo fans. Blizzard has lost their gaming heart back in late Burning Crusade and has since gotten comfortable with perfecting a cash cow and it has shown on SC2 and is showing on D3.
The reason blizzard can't sell beta keys though is because they're testing servers, not gameplay. They need a controlled amount of people playing to stress test. If they sell keys that kinda defeats the purpose.