Some info please?

[ColonelJack]

I'm just trying to figure out everything with the game, I have a lot of questions, but some quick ones that are more urgent time-wise...

Is the $75 just the game+beta access, and nothing else? no backer app login thingy etc?(i suppose that was kickstarter only, or no?)

Why is there, looking at another thread, such a thing as a Premium Beta system? Are these systems that do not exist for anyone who pays $75 right now?

What have I missed out on at this point, and what will I miss out on if I do not buy the $75 beta+preorder?

Thanks for the patience, any answers would be welcome.

I'd like to support the game, and "get in early" looks like i'm pretty darn late though, and if it's beta access only I'm uncertain how much I'd actually play it before launch anyway

 

[Half Giant]

Premium Beta was the stage before Beta. That option shouldn't be available now because that stage is over. Buying Beta gets you access now to test. Also gets you access to Gamma, the next stage which should be feature complete and kind of a full release but with the note to be cautious and bugs might happen. You also get full access to the final game on release.

This helps.

 

[ColonelJack]

Premium Beta was the stage before Beta. That option shouldn't be available now because that stage is over. Buying Beta gets you access now to test. Also gets you access to Gamma, the next stage which should be feature complete and kind of a full release but with the note to be cautious and bugs might happen. You also get full access to the final game on release.

This helps.

Yes I was mostly curious about extras/perks, for example the link you graciously provided(thank you for being willing to help btw) lists premium beta but says nothing about any kind of sectors exclusive to premium beta, yet I was under the impression there was such a thing?

Just looking to firm up also, that yes, there really are no prebuy perks, it really looks that way ... I'm still trying to wrap my head around it, because it makes me sad.. beta testing isn't a prebuy perk, not for me... ho-hum

 

[Toumal]

There's no systems that only beta-owners can visit. There is however one system that only Kickstarter backers will be able to travel to:

Kickstarter Special: Have the option to start in the founder's world with any starter ship and 4,000 CR. Note: any Kickstarter decal-carrier will be able to travel to this secret system in gameplay

The kickstarter rewards are closed now. What you get for the price of Beta is immediate access to the game in its current state, which is fun and playable, but not yet feature complete. The beta simply spans 55 systems right now, the rest of the galaxy cannot be visited yet. This is expected to be possible when the Gamma phase starts, after beta and shortly before public release.

If you'd rather wait a few months for the release version, I'd say don't get the beta now. However if you own an Oculus Rift, are a huge space nerd, or just want to experience what you've seen in youtube videos right away, go for it! It is a lot of fun, even though some systems are definitely not fully implemented yet.

 

[Half Giant]

Premium Beta was just the stage before Beta. It is closed now and the perk was access before Beta. There were perks for various levels of Kickstarter backer but that is long over. There are purchasable extras in the store which for now is limited to cosmetic skins but who know what else will be there. There will also be expansions at some point after launch - for instance planetary landings.

I think your best bet is to keep an eye on the store and sign up for newsletters.

There is a thing called the founder system which is one place only kick starter backers can get to, I think. I missed kick starter but we have the whole of the milky way so I won't miss one system. I could look up those details because I'm not 100% sure but it isn't a huge deal and that ship has sailed.

 

[Voo]

Hey,

So Premium Beta has no 'perks' as you put it, it was just access to the game between Alpha and Standard Beta, nothing to do with systems, to simplify it was just an earlier build. We are currently in Standard Beta.

Standard Beta purchase has no perks other than early access, if you consider that a perk. As I understand it the next phase will be the Gamma release, which will be just before Full Release.

Only Kickstarter Backers get the perks in line with what they pledged, Alpha Backers will receive some sort of discount on ship insurance/re-purchase (10% I seem to recall).

Hope this helps.

- V

 

[ColonelJack]

Well thanks again for your patience and understanding and replies...

While I'm very interested in the game, I'd also like to feel I'm taken care of, there are skins in the shop right now... makes me wonder what the future of this game is monetization-wise, that there are no prebuy perks (practically an industry standard as it is recognized that prebuy=good for dev/pub) yet there are skins in the shop already. No doubt it all sounds very petty to people excited about this game, I'm excited too, but I like feeling coddled by caring devs.

I suppose there are also no plans for anything? If I had shown up just a few days earlier the expansion thing would've been on sale and i would've just bought it out right and felt satisfied that I got in early on a great and upcoming project.

Hey, I'm crazy, I will concede.

I'm a little bummed, it's an emotional roller coaster ride.

 

[ZenSpider]

I can totally understand you viewpoint, but most of the coddling has been reserved for us Kickstarter backers, alas.

It would be nice to think that there would be a little more reward for people who'd bought in at this late/early stage but it doesn't look like it's going to happen.

On the subject of monetisation, FD have always said that ongoing development would be funded by paid expansions and that server etc. running costs would be met through microtransactions. Hopefully these will remain forever cosmetic only and therefore optional.

FD are still a relatively small studio and at this stage gauging demand is probably as if not more useful than the actual money that selling a few skins is likely to bring in.

 

[MikeSnos]

Is the $75 just the game+beta access, and nothing else? no backer app login thingy etc?(i suppose that was kickstarter only, or no?)

I'd like to support the game, and "get in early" looks like i'm pretty darn late though, and if it's beta access only I'm uncertain how much I'd actually play it before launch anyway

Hi there, welcome aboard!

Premium Beta was the beta phase before the one currently going on now so you can ignore that; all it meant was earlier access to the game.

You haven't really missed out on anything... everything that's gone before is in-game (excluding the many fixed bugs etc of course! ) The same applies to what comes up...

Really the decision is how much do you want to play the game? If the answer is 'I love how it looks so much' and 'wow' or 'where can I get that?' then you'll not be disappointed if you buy now...

However... the key factor from what you say is whether you'll be able to play a great deal... The decision is yours as to whether to buy now or wait for the Gamma release in a couple of month's time...

Ultimately it all comes down to affordability now and what you're willing or able to pay.

Best of luck!

 

[Schlack]

Perhaps to clarify, older idiots such as myself were not willing to wait any longer for an elite game and so paid up! I was willing to pay the steeper cost to help ensure the game got finished.

I was sucked in by the vids and bought in at premium beta. The perk at that time was the lifetime expansion pack for a cheaper price - no longer available. As you can see Frontier are not following many standard practices in games development.

The pricing was not that much different from BF4 + premium, and in terms of euro per hour played it will still represent excellent value!

Be warned though the game is far from finished. Many mechanics are placerholder or evolving. The netcode needs significant work to cope with greater player numbers.