Anyone ever been a beta/play tester for a video game?

[tnf]

If so, is it pretty much just a matter of knowing somebody in the business to get a chance to do this, or are play testers usually employees of the company, or what?

For some reason this question suddenly popped into my mind.

[Freakaloin]

more like being a looser with no responsibilties...

[Freakaloin]

^^^like i said...

[tnf]

I learned a lot from being a beta tester for a mod, then running a mod team myself however your question is quite perplexing (assuming you're speaking of $ games)

I'm saying don't companies have all sorts of folks play the games in development or close to release looking for all sorts of bugs, trying to do random weird shit to break it, etc...?

[DooMer]

q4. Some companies have a dedicated group of volunteers. I guess you can apply without knowing anybody, but if the devs vouch for somebody they'll get right in. Don't get paid for that type of shit, but they'll usually send a free copy of the final version. Cheap bastards didn't send me shit, but it was cool.

[Kills On Site]

I beta tested PlanetSide, I believe this happened because I applied and at the time was an Everquest player. It was nice, I got a few months of a fairly good game free, then they wanted me to pay and I quit. However I still have the 4 or 5 install disks that I got for free, oh yea.

[dzjepp]

It's not really hard, fileplanet has a beta test or two of upcoming games almost monthly... if it's public, all you do is fill out the form and you get a key and download link.

[duffman91]

If so, is it pretty much just a matter of knowing somebody in the business to get a chance to do this, or are play testers usually employees of the company, or what?

For some reason this question suddenly popped into my mind.

While Westwood Studios was still alive and kicking here in Vegas. Being a beta tester was as easy as walking up to the studio and telling them you wanted to test.

edit: let me add a bit more. Being a formidable beta tester involves more than just playing the game. You must meet certain time requirements and often have to write summaries of the things you discover/experience. It's more of a part time job if anything. For the Beta testing of NoX, my friend had to play for 4 hours minimum per day and check in weekly in the status of a report per day.

Unfortunately, now a days companies hire groups of people and keep them in-house as opposed to the days where you'd beta test from home.

[mrd]

I beta tested the D2 expansion pack. Kind of a funny story actually.

One of the guys assigned to work on WoW way way way back when actually came to this very forum, to the level editing section, and was asking for some texture help. I was the only one that helped him and then he started talking to me and told me he was working on a new project for Blizzard. At first I was like "yeah whatever" but I eventually I called him a few times for possible job prospects and what not and it semed pretty real. When the D2X beta came out, I applied formally, but didn't get in. So I called up my bud and he just sent me a fuckin copy of the CD in the mail lol. I got the beta about a week late but at least I got it. Also, when Warcraft 3 came out, I also applied, didn't get in. So what did he do? Sent me the entire god damn thing over MSN and gave me his CDkey

So yea, knowing someone in the biz definetely helps.

[Ryoki]

Also, when Warcraft 3 came out, I also applied, didn't get in. So what did he do? Sent me the entire god damn thing over MSN and gave me his CDkey

Haha

[MKJ]

playtesters are commonly recruited through the dev's website. you get minimum pay but 3 pizzas a day, and that kinda crap
youre also forced to do the same bit of the game 438 times a day

ive done some beta playing before but never as an official "beta tester". it was as the role of "previewer"
*cue farcry cd pic*

[stocktroll]

i beta tested BF2, told them their game was a pos and they fixed nothing i listed....

[Grudge]

hence the bitterness

[Ryoki]

i beta tested BF2, told them their game was a pos and they fixed nothing i listed....

aww

[DiscoDave]

My brother and I registered to beta test the xbox live kit about 6 months before it came out. During which we got free games such as motoGP to play with other testers. We were simply chosen from registering on M$'s site.

Similar thing happened with the PS2 online kit, only my brother was picked for that though.

[Transient]

If you wanna beta test a single player PC game, you'll probably have to know someone in the biz or be a big contributor to their official forums. Console games pretty much require you to have your foot in the door or know someone who does.

MMO games are a whole different story. During alpha testing, chances are rare of getting into it without knowing someone/contributing on the forums. During early beta testing, the same applies but there's also a bit of random chance involved. Open beta testing it just luck of the draw. When I say "open", I don't mean free to all, I mean anyone can register and a random handful every once in a while is let in.

I alpha tested Dungeons & Dragons Online: Stormreach, and I early beta tested City of Heroes and City of Villains. I did other testing (some open, some in between) for these other games:
PlanetSide
World of Warcraft
The Matrix Online
Guild Wars
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