A non-believer , no kool-aid for you!

Beta 1 is now closed to new pre-order customers. Anyone who preorders now will be able to take part in Beta 2 in a few months time (orders will be charged upon Beta 2's release).

>Stands on soapbox<

Why couldn't the existing registered GalCiv players have access to the Sins beta test? Like sbradfor says, why does the beta access have to be only for prepaid customers? I'm an avid gamer and really enjoy GC2 and DA and would love to participate with the Sins beta. However I'm not going to shell out money just to become an informal Stardock intern A demo doesn't cut it because by then the game will have gone retail and it's final gold status would be based on what...a handul of prepaid customers? Opening the beta to a broader user base will allow for even more extensive testing as well as good ideas to enhance the game as a whole.

I've been involved with pre-release beta tests for other games (WoW, Earth & Beyond, Eve Online, etc.) and have never had to pay to do so. I ended up becoming a WoW subscriber, btw. It's too bad we, the Stardock Loyalists, can't be involved with SoaSE.

Oh well, that's my opinion. I'll still be watching the development of SoaSE from the sidelines I guess.

>dismounts soapbox<

I'm a hardcore SD loyalist. Shoot I buy software I never use (No time to really learn it and no artistic skill) as well as subscriptions just to show my love and I dont mind paying now for the game but I guess that is reasonable given my purchasing habits.

What I'm getting at as a loyalist is that charging for the title now gives them the cash needed to develop the game without use of financial institutions that would more then likely jack up the cost considerably. And all loyalists want what is best for SD when all is said and done - yes?

I always wondered when I did the GC/GC2 preorders why they did not take my money when I placed the order. I know in my heart at the time I place the oder I'm a customer and I'm not going to change my mind, so just take the money now.

Additionally I have also wondered why SD never asked for community members to do direct investments in titles. For example say minimum $100 per share for title [name here] -etc... After some time SD could be self financing and providing development opportunities for other would be developer companies - food for thought...

Only giving pre-order customers access to our beta tests was also done during the development of Galactic Civilizations II and Dark Avatar.  Many people appreciate the ability to participate, others don't.  There are many reasons why we handle beta tests the way we do.  For starters, I'd say we give a lot more input to those who pre-order our titles than other companies.  We really do listen and make significant changes based on user-feedback, not just bug fixes, as the Sins beta has already shown.  For another, we don't want 200,000 beta testers (it's difficult just reading all the responses we have now!), so by only giving access to those who want to invest themselves in the game, we limit that pool. As for investing in a game, that would be a nightmare of legal issues. Pre-orders work just fine, however.

*Fanboymode*
Which is why SINS ROOLZ!
*/fanboymode*


Haven't spotted any yet, (besides that pirate in the tutorial was spelled "Pirate!" which just burns the eyes)