MMORPG Beta Testing

[SmooveB]

With EQ2 slated to launch 4th quarter of this year (yeah right), I have been watching and waiting for them to start accepting beta applications. How long after the first small round of public beta testers are accepted does a game like this (Everquest, Star Wars Galaxies, etc.) usually go gold? I'm assuming SOE is running out of time if they want to release in 2003.

If you haven't seen the screenshots for EQ2 you can check them out on the official website here. It's looking to be an awesome game.

 

[SmooveB]

No one knows what the average time for beta testing is?

 

[DaveSimmons]

Originally posted by: SmooveB
No one knows what the average time for beta testing is?

There is no standard, it depends on both technical and marketing / business issues, . How many bugs, how bad they are, what design flaws are found (play balance, lack of funness); when the product "needs" to ship for revenue or to match an advertising campaign.

Also, so many MMORPGs have "gone gold" and started paid operation while still really in a semi-playable beta state that the official launch date just means you can give them money, not always that you can actually enjoy the game.

So nope, no one knows