The beta.

[Opticalx]

FD, can you explain why only the backers are allowed into the beta to help test the development of the game?
I have spent £40 on the game, which is pretty pricey for a PC game. Yet I don't get access to help test the beta because I did not know about the game till it arrived on steam.
I feel this is pretty lame and the beta should be open to all who own the game ( or at least have an option to sign up for the beta to help ).

I posted on a video uploaded by a youtuber who has access and asked if it was possible and the reply was we can't. He replayed "You don't mate, ED are not allowing non-backers access to the Beta's, it would be better if they didn't tell the community in general because I now feel like I'm not part of the gang. There's a definite two-tier set up in Elite, we're not in the top tier. Second class player if you like." Yeah that is pretty much how people who are not in the beta feel.
So why is it like this? Hell I would even pay an extra £20 to buy access to help support the game, more people testing is sure to help right?

 

[fademist]

FD, can you explain why only the backers are allowed into the beta to help test the development of the game?
I have spent £40 on the game, which is pretty pricey for a PC game. Yet I don't get access to help test the beta because I did not know about the game till it arrived on steam.
I feel this is pretty lame and the beta should be open to all who own the game ( or at least have an option to sign up for the beta to help ).

I posted on a video uploaded by a youtuber who has access and asked if it was possible and the reply was we can't. He replayed "You don't mate, ED are not allowing non-backers access to the Beta's, it would be better if they didn't tell the community in general because I now feel like I'm not part of the gang. There's a definite two-tier set up in Elite, we're not in the top tier. Second class player if you like." Yeah that is pretty much how people who are not in the beta feel.
So why is it like this? Hell I would even pay an extra £20 to buy access to help support the game, more people testing is sure to help right?

most of the backers have spent more than 100;p

 

[Skillet]

You can have mine.

 

[HipToss]

I remember reading somewhere that this was set into place due to the capacity of the test servers, and not being able to handle the volume of traffic.

 

[Jackboot]

Pretty sure they paid around £150 or so, even an extra £20 wouldn't bring you up to speed. Would be kind of immoral to take away some of the exclusivity that they bought with all that cash. I don't know about the legal end of it, and I don't care, but to answer your question it is like that because they are getting what they paid for.
I never much liked paying to be a beta tester myself, but to each his own.

 

[Opticalx]

Well I guess if they have put over £100 into it then I cannot complain.
But still, would be in the interest of the company to get more testers in to help though right?

 

[A Spaceship IRL]

i think i paid around £30-£40 to get the game while it was still in beta. i still have beta access now but i dont use it because i scarcely get time to play the main version of the game tbh.

 

[Philip Coutts]

The original kickstarter had a £50 level to participate in the "Second round of private Beta". £100 got you into the "First round of private Beta" and finally £200 got you into Alpha. These were rewards for people who pledged to get the game made in the first place.

 

[Opticalx]

I really wish at the time I knew the game was being made.... I would have pledged for sure

 

[Quantum Fluke]

The premium/standard beta sales ended, simple as that. People are eligible for beta, because they gambled on unreleased product as well as to show FDevs support (premium was 100-120$ and standard 60$ I think?).

As to why you can't no longer buy beta or donate "kickstarter" money I don't know, but you can show your support by buying skins and other stuff.
FDevs probably have smaller servers for beta, so they wouldn't shell out too much money, so they have enough people as it is.

I have beta and honestly you aren't missing out on anything. It is cool to take a sneak peak and test things out, but in the end not really worth just for that. The forums are open to anyone, so that way you can at least read and join in on a discussion.

 

[xDreadnoughtx]

FD, can you explain why only the backers are allowed into the beta to help test the development of the game?
I have spent £40 on the game, which is pretty pricey for a PC game. Yet I don't get access to help test the beta because I did not know about the game till it arrived on steam.
I feel this is pretty lame and the beta should be open to all who own the game ( or at least have an option to sign up for the beta to help ).

I posted on a video uploaded by a youtuber who has access and asked if it was possible and the reply was we can't. He replayed "You don't mate, ED are not allowing non-backers access to the Beta's, it would be better if they didn't tell the community in general because I now feel like I'm not part of the gang. There's a definite two-tier set up in Elite, we're not in the top tier. Second class player if you like." Yeah that is pretty much how people who are not in the beta feel.
So why is it like this? Hell I would even pay an extra £20 to buy access to help support the game, more people testing is sure to help right?

Try this. Search function is great.

Should communicate every type of post necessary. The entitled. The nonchalant. The realistic. The angry.

https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=148563

Enjoy.

 

[wreckage]

It's a grass is always greener outlook. You play for a week usually. Nothing gets saved. you loose time from the main game.
You may find that you can't play when you want due to a bug/server down. If there's something you don't like, you just end up playing the main game anyway.

 

[Darrett]

I'm not particularly set on having Beta access- I would have liked for there to be buy in options after the fact for various things, since the game wasn't exactly advertised very strongly. I still never would have heard about it if it hadn't come onto Steam.

Even if they doubled the Kickstarter prices to let people buy into options they liked, such as Beta access, Freagles, etc., I'm sure they'd have some takers, and it would raise additional revenue. I probably would jump in for some of it as well, after all, I've picked up most of the paint packs to give myself a little variety and support the game already.

 

[Fenris Wolf]

FD, can you explain why only the backers are allowed into the beta to help test the development of the game?

Just a quick question... Not being offensive or anything... Just curious...

How many games have you bought that give you access to the Beta development of new elements, just because you bought the game?


I've been involved with Alpha/Beta testing of commercial software as well as games for quite a few years (got paid for it as well... amazingly!) and I've never seen a game that automatically allowed you that sort of access.

 

[Zplintz]

It isn't all backers. It is people who pledged beta or higher.

If FD want/need more players (or even everyone) in the beta(s) they will put it to us for free (or even for a fee). They obviously don't want/need more so they haven't.

The game wouldn't be here if it wasn't for the backers (and the additional funds the betas, alphas etc put into the game) - a lot more than the £40.00 you paid to play the game. It was a pledge reward that you didn't take up.

£40 is also not a lot of money for a game.

 

[Roninpaul]

If you want to see power play beta in action have a look on twitch TV where several gamers are streaming it.

and finally a big thank you to all those people. Who paid extra to get this game off the ground I bought it on release after seeing it on twitch. Good to see that development is carefully being laid out along with suggestions made by U.S. The players.

Great to see the passion everyone has for the game , I have found it truly amazing ! Well done FD

 

[Opticalx]

Just a quick question... Not being offensive or anything... Just curious...

How many games have you bought that give you access to the Beta development of new elements, just because you bought the game?


I've been involved with Alpha/Beta testing of commercial software as well as games for quite a few years (got paid for it as well... amazingly!) and I've never seen a game that automatically allowed you that sort of access.

Like blizzard games ( wow / diablo 3), PTR's all the time for the general public to test. I also recently got into a ViP beta of Act of Aggression, a new RTS by eugen systems.

 

[Y2K]

I took a gamble and paid £100 for premium beta access + free lifetime DLC .... it paid off

 

[Monk]

I vaguely remember that the original plan was to offer beta access post-release, however that was scrapped and probably for logical reasons.

I missed the expansion pass by a couple days, and felt a little sore about it. Though, I can't blame Frontier for my ignorance.

 

[xDreadnoughtx]

Like blizzard games ( wow / diablo 3), PTR's all the time for the general public to test. I also recently got into a ViP beta of Act of Aggression, a new RTS by eugen systems.

ED is not those. ED is ED. FD is FD. Thankfully.

When FD can't find enough good testers (active backer numbers dwindle perhaps) then hopefully they will look to offer it. Cash or free, who knows.

Right now, you are seemingly not needed or possibly would hinder the process. Who knows.