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

[Martian Successor]

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.

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?

 

[Cwini]

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.

What makes you think they need a large number of beta testers, or more for that matter ?

(Asking via newsletters is simply a way to drum up more cash that the bean counters will never object to )

 

[Martian Successor]

What makes you think they need a large number of beta testers ?

Because they're trying to sell me beta access. And it says, "Make sure to let us know what you think". I'm new to this whole "charge for beta" thing but that to me seems like they want beta testers. It's identical to the way other games have sent me emails encouraging me to participate in their beta(s) except the key difference is that FD are trying to sell me theirs, which I find a bit tasteless.

 

[shadragon]

The people who want to Beta test are doing so.

The ads are to inform people it is available, as it was asked for repeatedly. Don't want to see them, unsubscribe.

 

[Martian Successor]

Careful modifying quoted posts, I don't remember the exact one but it's against the rules to do so.

I've had it done to me in much more extreme and unpleasant ways. If the mods feel I'm out of line there with the cheeky humour then they can let me know and I'll take my wrist smack like a Martian.

- - - Updated - - -

Should I get the popcorn?

Go ahead, it's a free forum

 

[Cwini]

Because they're trying to sell me beta access. And it says, "Make sure to let us know what you think". I'm new to this whole "charge for beta" thing but that to me seems like they want beta testers. It's identical to the way other games have sent me emails encouraging me to participate in their beta(s) except the key difference is that FD are trying to sell me theirs, which I find a bit tasteless.

Well, I kind of agree that Beta should ideally be free but it's been known for 2 years that FD charge you for access ... why is it different this time for you ?

isn't the FD model more of an early access ?

 

[Martian Successor]

The people who want to Beta test are doing so.

The ads are to inform people it is available, as it was asked for repeatedly. Don't want to see them, unsubscribe.

So am I not allowed to make a comment or give my feedback to Frontier? I have to immediately unsubscribe because I have a difference of opinion about this than perhaps you do. Interesting logic.

 

[Enderby]

They don't need to offer it for free if enough people pay.

 

[Cwini]

So am I not allowed to make a comment or give my feedback to Frontier? I have to immediately unsubscribe because I have a difference of opinion about this than perhaps you do. Interesting logic.

Your feedback is same as mine - Beta should be free ... I am just grumpy cos I don't have access

 

[Arindor]

[...] isn't the FD model more of an early access ?

You get to see and test new shinies, but your commander is from an old save game and deleted once it goes live.

 

[Knot2clever]

It was the players without Beta access that requested it to be made available from the store. Keep up.

 

[OfftheRails]

Nobody cares.

Twenty minutes later and we're on to page two. I take that back.

 

[c00ky1970]

I didn't realise that a marketing email offering you something was so abhorrent.

I have this amazing option in my email application called "delete" which I used on that email and others which were not important to me and carried on with my life.

 

[Martian Successor]

Or something like that

Awwe, did baby not like truth hitting them in face? There, there, have a lolli

Well, I kind of agree that Beta should ideally be free but it's been known for 2 years that FD charge you for access ... why is it different this time for you ?

isn't the FD model more of an early access ?

Because this is the first time I've received an email trying to sell me the beta. That's new to me. And also why it made me think that they are short of beta testers since they haven't sent me an email like this before.

FD treats selling early access to the beta like it is "THE" beta for some reason btw. I see it as early access because we usually get 1 to 2 months of beta testing after the update anyway.

 

[rucky]

So am I not allowed to make a comment or give my feedback to Frontier? I have to immediately unsubscribe because I have a difference of opinion about this than perhaps you do. Interesting logic.

You're here in heavy fanboy infested terrain, you won't get logical comments or are allowed to make constructive critics or give feedback that's not accord with the FD adoration bible.

(at least sometimes it seems so.)

BtT: Yes I was fooled too. I got that email, thought: "Woa?! Open Beta??? Let's have a look..... Ah. Okay, Store page.... I should have known."

 

[Mengy]

The people who want to Beta test are doing so.

That’s not universally true. I for one would love to actually beta test Elite, I’m a fan of the franchise and really want the game to be as good as it can be. However, I won’t pay my own money to do QC work, and that’s how I approach beta testing: as work. I’ve done it for other games and it’s always been volunteer work, lots of play time and report filling trying to break game mechanics on purpose, but to pay to do it? No thanks, that would be like paying a car owner so that you can detail their car; it’s backwards.

 

[Deadspin]

It was the players without Beta access that requested it to be made available from the store. Keep up.

/thread

Stop crying.

 

[h347h]

Because they're trying to sell me beta access.

A business trying to sell you something you say! Maybe that's all they are doing Trying to sell you something.

As far as the beta is going FD is getting a long list of bugs and a lot of feedback already.

It might just them being a business being a business and trying to make money.

 

[Cwini]

I see it as early access because we usually get 1 to 2 months of beta testing after the update anyway.

Touche !

 

[Martian Successor]

Your feedback is same as mine - Beta should be free ... I am just grumpy cos I don't have access

I'm not grumpy because I don't have access. I choose not to pay for early access to betas because I simply don't like this tactic. I think trying to sell me beta via marketing email as if it is a product/service that FD offer is tasteless and so I came here to say so.