It seems that you're using an outdated browser. Some things may not work as they should (or don't work at all).
We suggest you upgrade newer and better browser like: Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer or Opera

×
Community
General discussion (archive)Selling games that are in beta (or even alpha)(25 posts)(25 posts)
(25 posts)
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Posted June 07, 2011
I have Minecraft, Natural Selection 2, and Overgrowth. In none of the cases do I regret pre-ordering the games and getting access to the alpha versions.
Posted June 07, 2011
avatar
Bolek: What are your thoughts on that?
Lets look at Minecraft. Over 2 mln copies sold, game is still in beta, new patch every now and then, but there are no signs that game will be fully released any time soon.
avatar
bansama: IIRC, Minecraft has now got a release date which is the same as that for Skyrim.

I generally won't buy games that are being sold in alpha or beta state. With the only exception being when some form of demo is available at the same time, so I can make up my mind based on that (and then the price has to be cheap enough).

Thus for Minecraft I purchased it (a) because I enjoyed the web based demo and (b) it being sold at a price I was happy with.

Miner Wars on the other hand, last I checked had no demo, nor did the developers advertise it correctly. First it was an SP game with MP options, then it was SP only and MP was a completely different game not included in the pre-alpha version, etc.

So I won't touch that one at all.
Also with really horrible "part of the code is executed on our servers and therefore you have to be online all the time"-DRM. But yeah €10 is way too much for the limited amount you can do in the game at the moment. They're selling a pre-alpha for the amount the Minecraft alpha cost (and Minecraft was surprisingly solid for an alpha).
Posted June 07, 2011
I think it's better than releasing a game that is a buggy mess, thus essentially in beta, and selling it as a finished product. Fallout 3 anyone? That game could have used at least another 6 months of development before hitting the shelves.
Posted June 07, 2011
How are the Interstellar Marine gameplay demos? Their video is mostly generic hype, but the gameplay demos are a nice idea for what they're doing.
Posted June 07, 2011
I paid for Natural Selection 2 special edition, like way before there was anything playable, and as it is a indie game with no guaranteed game. But it was needed to fund the game at all.

So my view on it is that, it's up to the consumer, if the consumer wants to take the risk, then it's fine.

Of course, this depends on if the developer speaks the truth, lying about progress etc. is something completely different.
Posted June 07, 2011
avatar
eyeball226: Also with really horrible "part of the code is executed on our servers and therefore you have to be online all the time"-DRM. But yeah €10 is way too much for the limited amount you can do in the game at the moment. They're selling a pre-alpha for the amount the Minecraft alpha cost (and Minecraft was surprisingly solid for an alpha).
That's a good point. Especially as they now bill it as SP only (for the paid pre-alpha) - at least, last I checked. And as you say, Minecraft was very polished for an alpha state game. Mind you, it also had a free web-based "pre-alpha" version available too.

I happily put money down on Minecraft based on that free version. And I don't regret doing so at all. Even if I have since stopped playing it for a while. But I only stopped because I was getting bored of having to find new versions of the mods I use each time it was updated.

Hopefully, the released version won't break mods anymore. Although, it'd be even better if a beta update fixed that one annoyance...
Posted June 07, 2011
Given the time and energy required to complete a game, I think charging for an alpha version is reasonable as long as it's playable

Ex: To create a game the way you envision is, it might take 6 years... but you might have less development time than that before you need to see some revenue.

However, once people start paying, you kinda have an to complete it which might backlash if the game ends up not being profitable.

An alternative might be to release a "completed" game that implements part of your vision and then assuming the game is profitable, add free add-ons later.
Posted June 07, 2011
avatar
eyeball226: Also with really horrible "part of the code is executed on our servers and therefore you have to be online all the time"-DRM. But yeah €10 is way too much for the limited amount you can do in the game at the moment. They're selling a pre-alpha for the amount the Minecraft alpha cost (and Minecraft was surprisingly solid for an alpha).
avatar
bansama: That's a good point. Especially as they now bill it as SP only (for the paid pre-alpha) - at least, last I checked. And as you say, Minecraft was very polished for an alpha state game. Mind you, it also had a free web-based "pre-alpha" version available too.

I happily put money down on Minecraft based on that free version. And I don't regret doing so at all. Even if I have since stopped playing it for a while. But I only stopped because I was getting bored of having to find new versions of the mods I use each time it was updated.

Hopefully, the released version won't break mods anymore. Although, it'd be even better if a beta update fixed that one annoyance...
Yeah, I'm deliberately taking a break from it now so I can re-appreciate it when it's released. After all, Notch said the release version will barely be different from the last beta version. It'll seem really new to me by that point. =D
I hear they're currently working on Adventure mode.
Posted June 07, 2011
avatar
eyeball226: Yeah, I'm deliberately taking a break from it now so I can re-appreciate it when it's released. After all, Notch said the release version will barely be different from the last beta version. It'll seem really new to me by that point. =D
I hear they're currently working on Adventure mode.
Adventure mode sounds like it could be interesting. And I know they've already made several changes since I started my break from it. What with some kind of achievement system and craftable maps being added. (Although I really want a waypoint system with minimap -- which is one of the mods I used to increase the amount of enjoyment I got from exploring).
Posted June 07, 2011
I pre-ordered Minerwars and while it was cool for a little bit I'm now fairly certain that I got hosed as far as seeing it turn into a full game.

$10.00 wasn't a bad price for it.
Pages:
1
2
This is my favourite topic
Community
General discussion (archive)Selling games that are in beta (or even alpha)(25 posts)(25 posts)
(25 posts)