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1: NC

2: NC and TR

3: NC, TR and Vanu

[Briggsy16]

I feel that the term 'beta' has been ruined by games like Minecraft, beta is beta. There will be crippling bugs, there will be downtime. Part and parcel really.

[ScriptWolf]

I feel that the term 'beta' has been ruined by games like Minecraft, beta is beta. There will be crippling bugs, there will be downtime. Part and parcel really.

I agree with this statement, I personally like to see a bit more order and features during a beta due to that

[sluissa]

I feel like beta has been ruined by the big companies that turn them into pre-order demos.

There should be SOME bugs in beta, but for the most part, it should be a finished product with only polishing left to do.

In the state it's in now, it's probably closer to an alpha. You have a working basis for a game, but significant portions are still being worked on.

Still, in the end, they're just words, and mean only what the user intends and the listener interprets. Words change, and in the present era they change faster than they ever have. I get pissed off at some of the directions this takes, but in the end, it's silly to fight it. Words will be used however they're used, and sometimes it'll catch on, sometimes it'll die out.

I do want to play this, probably to the point where I've gotten myself too hyped up about it, but I'm patient. I have other things to do in the meantime, and when it's ready, it's ready.

[Sensei]

So, beta/next round of test recruits opens up on Monday for certain! Rumors abound regarding whether SOE will delay Monday for further game updates, in favor of a protracted Sunday until they are ready to accept more players.

[hemmingjay]

I think people are confused on Alpha and Beta, so from software development on wikipedia

Alpha

The alpha phase of the release life cycle is the first phase to begin software testing (alpha is the first letter of the Greek alphabet, used as the number 1). In this phase, developers generally test the software using white box techniques. Additional validation is then performed using black box or gray box techniques, by another testing team. Moving to black box testing inside the organization is known as alpha release.[2]

Alpha software can be unstable and could cause crashes or data loss. The exception to this is when the alpha is available publicly (such as a pre-order bonus), in which developers normally push for stability so that their testers can test properly. External availability of alpha software is uncommon in proprietary software. However, open source software, in particular, often have publicly available alpha versions, often distributed as the raw source code of the software. The alpha phase usually ends with a feature freeze, indicating that no more features will be added to the software. At this time, the software is said to be feature complete.
Beta

Beta (named after the second letter of the Greek alphabet) is the software development phase following alpha. It generally begins when the software is feature complete. Software in the beta phase will generally have many more bugs in it than completed software, as well as speed/performance issues. The focus of beta testing is reducing impacts to users, often incorporating usability testing. The process of delivering a beta version to the users is called beta release and this is typically the first time that the software is available outside of the organization that developed it.

The users of a beta version are called beta testers. They are usually customers or prospective customers of the organization that develops the software, willing to test the software without charge, often receiving the final software free of charge or for a reduced price. Beta version software is often useful for demonstrations and previews within an organization and to prospective customers. Some developers refer to this stage as a preview, prototype, technical preview (TP), or early access. Some software is kept in perpetual beta—where new features and functionality are continually added to the software without establishing a firm "final" release.


PS2 is not ready for beta unless the version we have seen is different than the version for CBT.

[timferius]

Are we not just arguing semantics? It's a release of the game, to participants who have signed up, to test the game and aid in bug hunting and feature development. They've constantly stated that it will be a buggy release, they've not tried to lie, hide it, or even charge you for it. They can call it an epislon for all they want, they've stated their deffinition of beta openly.

I guess my point is, why are we arguing this?

[forsaken1111]

I guess my point is, why are we arguing this?

Because the beta hasn't started yet, so we're all bored.

[Tobel]

I'm curious to see how many people resubbed to P1 in the hopes of getting beta faster.

[timferius]

I guess my point is, why are we arguing this?

Because the beta hasn't started yet, so we're all bored.

Valid point

[warhammer651]

Did we decide which faction we're going with?

[forsaken1111]

Did we decide which faction we're going with?

Terran Republic
 49 (34%)
New Conglomerate
 56 (38.9%)
Vanu Sovereignty
 39 (27.1%)
Total Members Voted: 144

Poll at the top says NC

[forsaken1111]

Hilarious. Right after I say we're waiting for closed beta I get in to the closed beta get tasty cookies.

I'm going to go download the beta eat mah cookies.

[Tobel]

I just checked my SoE account and it says "ACTIVE" next to Planetside 2. Does this pretty much mean I'm in, or just on the list? I haven't been following too many "How the beta works" articles so I'm not sure what to expect.

[jocan2003]

Active simply mean yu WILL get in beta, just dont know when.

[sluissa]

So, my "Inactive" means I have no chance at all despite signing up and being a prior subscriber?