Why would anyone want to be a beta tester?

[FelixDeCat]

The software is delivered full of bugs. Why do it? Arent you just screwing up your system?

Or do you think that all software is beta?

 

[CuriousAndy]

Let's say you're eagerly waiting for Blizzard to release WarCraft III

You wait and wait and wait for the day you get your hands on the game.

Before 6 months prior to release, Blizzard decides to do Beta testing to finalize the game

Wouldn't you want to do the beta testing to experience the glory of WarIII in 6 months in advance than anyone else?

~andy

 

[prodigy]

I suppose you are "cooler" if you get to play a computer game/see a piece of software before anyone else, if that's your thing.

 

[yobarman]

I must've applied to be a beta tester for like 4 different Philips Magnavox products, they all seem super cool but I've never been picked.

 

[Miramonti]

it depends what the software is and what the needs are. the software that I use for work has many more betas (2 a mth) than releases (1 a qtr) and I often need the changes that are made to it, asap. This also helps me to give feedback if theres a bug in the changes so they can get it out asap. There's some other software now that I use that I'm hoping a release comes out too. I'm anxious to see if it has resolved some issues.

I just read this part :
or do you think all software is beta
80% of the time.

 

[PrincessGuard]

Not to mention some companies give you a free copy of the final product...

 

[FelixDeCat]

WarCraft III

I was thinking about utilites and os's when I asked the question. Ive never played WC3, is it that good? I guess if we were talking CIVILIZATION 3.....

 

[BrunoPuntzJones]

<< WarCraft III

I was thinking about utilites and os's when I asked the question. Ive never played WC3, is it that good? I guess if we were talking CIVILIZATION 3..... >>

wc3 nor civ 3 are out yet. yeah when it comes to apps i could care less about testing. but when it comes to games, sign me up! luckily i have a bud that's in some high profile group and gets into any beta he pretty much wants, and i get him to get me in. it's really best for MMorpg games. you get to know the interworkings of the system, and exploits/loopholes that the dev team decides not to fix. so when release comes and you get the game, you're a machine you dont have to spend time learning the game and it puts you ahead of everyone else.

the uo2 team had a good idea. their beta was structured so that you couldnt do everything. one set of testers was limited to 1/5 the land lets say and 1/5 the skill trees. another group would have been assigned another area with other skills. this way no person knew the game completely before release. too bad the game was canned

 

[CuriousAndy]

I remember Diablo II beta sign-up

about 65,000 applied throughout the world.. only 3000 were chosen

~andy

 

[Viper22]

I do it because its fun. Ive done plenty of games and Applications. I mainly do it to see how im gonna like somthing before i go and buy it. It is true that some places will give you a final copy of it when your done but ive only had that happen once and it was for Crimson Skies by Microsoft. Diablo 2 Stress test was a fun one also hehe.

Viper22

 

[GigaCluster]

<< The software is delivered full of bugs. Why do it? >>



Let's say Microsoft releases Windows XP. The first time you install it, it gives you a BSOD. You curse Microsoft for the bug and vow never to buy any Microsoft products again since they're always full of bugs.

Now think: had a beta-tester reported that bug, Windows XP would be that much better and you would be happier with the operating system.

Beta testers are a sort of buffer between the software and the final user: they experience it beforehand, and report any bugs so that the final user would have a better exprience. In a sense, they sacrifice their time and possibly their machine (if the software fatally messes everything up) just so that the user would be happier.

Without beta testers, buggy software would be shipped directly to end-user, it would take more time (and more unhappy software buyers) to fix the existing bugs, and software progress would be impeded.

Hope that explains.

 

[Windogg]

Beta testing a game like Warcraft is not a bad thing. You get the software for free and also play around with a possible classic. Usually you geta free copy of the final game when it is released, not a bad deal at all.

What I do feel is dumb is when people pay $10 or DL a pirate warez copy of a pre-release verson of MS Windows x. If a game crashes, you simply reset your PC and report the bug. If your OS crashes, you are in a world of hurt. I have no sympathies for people that complain their their PC cannot run so and so under Windows XP and now they've lose all their work. Guess what? You brought it upon yourself.

 

[yakko]

I have a machine just for testing.

 

[Looney]

You get a first look at something that most people haven't! And it's free! What else more could you ask me? I've beta tested many things (mostly MMOG), and it's great. You get to play for free, and also get to see the growth of and development of something great (and might even be a part of).

Worst thing about being a beta test is the Non-Disclosure Agreement

 

[johndoe52]

bugs or not you still get to be one of the first people to play a game before it even comes out. Something to brag about to your friends. I'd love to be beta tester.