Frontier, if you need more beta testers then make beta free

[avow555]

Do not try to sell people beta access via marketing email please. You are not struggling for cash nor do you have a lack of micro transaction revenue sources so please don't act like you are/do. You're not helping your image by being so eager to exploit your own beta process as an extra revenue source.

http://i.imgur.com/UzIoF8Th.jpg

If you need a large number of beta testers to test new features then I suggest you stop charging for early beta access and just make open beta (accessible to all) and closed (invite only) beta stages. That's how productive and effective beta testing is done in pretty much every other game in the industry. I've been part of a few over the years.

@My fellow CMDRS - there are 2 commander faces with smiles in the images, does this mean we now have changing expressions, i.e. a smile animation from time to time?

Also, there is a female face with a black line of paint across her eyes. Is this cosmetic option available currently as part of the feature or will it be a micro transaction addition purchasable from the store? - And if it is a micro transaction cosmetic why is it being advertised as a part of this beta?

It's the new way, getting players to pay for beta test.

 

[ShimEnki]

I agree, it would seem as if FDev looks for every opportunity to get as much money as they can
QUOTE]

If only this were true. If so then we would most likely have far more than just cosmetic oriented items for purchase at the FD store. QoL addons perhaps?

 

[SaliVader]

I agree, it would seem as if FDev looks for every opportunity to get as much money as they can

If only this were true. If so then we would most likely have far more than just cosmetic oriented items for purchase at the FD store. QoL addons perhaps?

They've kept it to cosmetics because of the backlash from the community they'd get otherwise. And even though it's just cosmetics, they'll try to squeeze as much out of it as they can, at the expense of the player (with the cmdr creator for instance, with already tons of accessories boxes.)

But I've already discussed this before, I spent the last days arguing about this in one of my threads and I'd like to take a rest. We have different opinions and it's unlikely either of us will change the other's mind.

Fly safe.

 

[Martian Successor]

They don't.

Spoke to them personally have you? You're assumption is as good as mine.

They can sell whatever pleases them and whatever people want to buy.

And I can make whatever comment and/or criticism I want to make.

They don't.

Matter of opinion. From my point of view they are pushing it, and not just because of the marketing email plugging the beta like it's a benefit to the player.

Most people get that every bit of money helps in the long term development of the game.
As far as I am concerned FD's image is fine.

Again, a matter of opinion.

They have enough.

You're guess is as good as mine unless you have a direct line to the devs.

You can be part of this one too....
if you pay a few bucks.

No thanks. Not interested.

 

[Martind Forlon]

Sending info-mail is imo good, bcs there are players which want try beta, but which were not possible get access earlier. I wanted buy beta access for previous beta-test (pre Christmas) and that option was not given. So for me was info-mail good (well, I purchased beta before that one arrived ). I look on beta little different way exactly because I paid for it, I wanted try making new commander, test cameras and few other things for mainly my own knowledge and test "safely" one or two things which I do not want test in live. I ofc would report issue(s) if meet some, but this is not priority for me.

 

[Ian Phillips]

I'll take your word for it as you clearly have seen more of the forum than I have (the horrors you have seen ). It's the first time I'm getting this email so.... ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Perhaps there's a reason why the criticism is repeated? Provided there was actual criticism in all those previous threads and not always just "FD blows man!" I mean if FD's marketing tactic is being legitimately criticised every time then is there not the possibility that something might be wrong with their marketing tactic?

I haven't seen any new criticisms in all the threads. It's always the same arguments, repeated every time, rather like a version of Groundhog Day that comes up every couple of months instead of every day.

Some people seem to think that they should be paid to do beta testing.
Some people seem to be fine with paying for access to the beta builds.
Some people actually do testing.
Some don't.

Its all good and everyone has their say, or not, and then moves on to the next big issue.

 

[Martian Successor]

Ian is right - it does come up every single time.

In FD's defense, there isn't an easy way to change course at this point. They've been doing it this way since the beginning. If they completely change now the people who bought beta access years ago will be understandably . If they keep going the way they are then new players may be confused or concerned about the whole paid beta system. There is merit to both of these viewpoints. It's a real 'damned if you do/damned if you don't' situation for FD.

I didn't doubt Ian so I must offer my apologies for yet again bringing "this" up. It's new to me and quite simply I didn't feel like cutting FD some slack on yet another thing that bothers me because I don't like the direction they're headed with certain 'exploity' things in 2.3 and they have gradually eroded my sense of good will towards them because of 5 months without comment on a flea bite issue aka the FAS/FDS cockpit assets issue :x

I can respect that it's a tough place for FD to have put themselves into because of a decision made way back at the Kickstarter stages. If I look at it a bit more objectively I can see that they need to have some way to please the folks that might complain about not being informed that early access is in the store as well as please the folks who might feel cheated for paying for early access all those times if it goes free. Just a little finesse in their marketing approach would be nice though, in my opinion. It feels too aggressive for something that really shouldn't be asking for money (i.e. the notion of volunteers paying the company to do early testing work). Again, just my opinion.

 

[ZeeWolf]

Sadly Frontier closed the door on free access to Beta when they offered "lifetime early access to all future updates" as a perk for Alpha/Beta backers years ago.

 

[Martian Successor]

I haven't seen any new criticisms in all the threads. It's always the same arguments, repeated every time, rather like a version of Groundhog Day that comes up every couple of months instead of every day.

Some people seem to think that they should be paid to do beta testing.
Some people seem to be fine with paying for access to the beta builds.
Some people actually do testing.
Some don't.

Its all good and everyone has their say, or not, and then moves on to the next big issue.

 

[space pilot]

How games have been made the past few years:

[video=youtube;Jah71XURbIg]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Jah71XURbIg[/video]

Never paid for early/beta access and never will, unless I'm terminal and I know I won't be there for release.

 

[Cmdr Travers]

It could be argued that they could sell more copies of the full game, by making beta access free.

 

[Martian Successor]

Sending info-mail is imo good, bcs there are players which want try beta, but which were not possible get access earlier. I wanted buy beta access for previous beta-test (pre Christmas) and that option was not given. So for me was info-mail good (well, I purchased beta before that one arrived ). I look on beta little different way exactly because I paid for it, I wanted try making new commander, test cameras and few other things for mainly my own knowledge and test "safely" one or two things which I do not want test in live. I ofc would report issue(s) if meet some, but this is not priority for me.

Maybe i'm just too tecthy at FD at the moment. I guess because we saw the beta pass in the store and informed our group way back when it first came out so I'm like, "Damn it FD, I already know!!!"

I still feel like their marketing could use some finesse but hey, no need for me to go full salt over it

Hmm, no one has yet answered my question as to whether we can make our Commanders smile like the guy in the picture. Well, how about it, can our CMDRS smirk?

 

[ShimEnki]

... instead, beta could be a customer loyalty feature to current game owners wherein they get a chance to enjoy whatever those that beta test enjoy and are offered in game CRs per bug they helped find.

 

[Surprised Brony]

OP, isn't this thread about the (arguably in poor taste) email itself and not the fact that they sell beta access? Unless I'm misunderstanding, that's what this is about, right?

I feel like everyone thinks you're spilling salt over paid beta access when you're not.

 

[Soopyyy]

I am so over this same topic coming up from people who want stuff for nothing, every single time there is a beta... Pay for it like the rest of it or please shush...

 

[Martian Successor]

OP, isn't this thread about the (arguably in poor taste) email itself and not the fact that they sell beta access? Unless I'm misunderstanding, that's what this is about, right?

I feel like everyone thinks you're spilling salt over paid beta access when you're not.

You got it. This thread is about FD's marketing style email. I thought it was in poor taste to plug the early access beta like it's somehow a 'favour' they are doing for the player. Or if they want more testers (I'm assuming) then it's tasteless to 'invite' them in this way, in my opinion

 

[SnowyNI]

They most likely need them because a lot of the old hands have left the game or just no longer care enough to take part, I know I'm the latter.

 

[Archvillain]

My understanding is that FDev has more than enough beta testers, not too few. They could double the price and be fine. They could remove the public access altogether (their normal method).

Email-advertising beta access... (Unless it's the email newsletter, I didn't get an email presumably because I already have beta access) I assume that's simply to make some $$$ sales off the feature and/or ensure that players who want to participate are aware that they can do that now. Probably no deep significance to be read into it.

The additional idea that FDev should throw away money simply as a gesture of goodwill overlooks (1) that FDev has already made that gesture of goodwill by acquiescing to demand that any joe random player should be allowed to buy their way into beta, and (2) overlooks that it would actually be interpreted by some as a gesture of contempt to those who took a much bigger gamble with a lot more money for what was supposed to be a special extra level of access. (Though I like to think most early backers would be bigger than that)

Paid open beta is the everyone-wins scenario:
- FDev gets to drink from the firehose of thousands of people banging on stuff.
- Any player that wants in has a way in.
- FDev doesn't burn its early backers.
- More funding to ensure future ongoing development of Elite!

 

[Surprised Brony]

You got it. This thread is about FD's marketing style email. I thought it was in poor taste to plug the early access beta like it's somehow a 'favour' they are doing for the player. Or if they want more testers (I'm assuming) then it's tasteless to 'invite' them in this way, in my opinion

Well, then we are in agreement. I got over the fact that they sell beta access pretty quickly, but to email people about it? I don't think that's in good form at all.

I'd definitely appreciate if others would read past the title and not dismiss this as another salty thread. It most certainly is not. I'm not sure if a thread debating the class of such a move by FD has ever existed, but that's what this is. It isn't about having to pay for anything.

 

[Hexcaliber]

Beta access is already free to more than enough folks for testing purposes, the folks who bought in during kickstarter and the higher level packages during closed beta, and those who purchased the all seasons access pass separately immediately after launch.

Paid access to beta's was added after members of the community without free access asked for it.