a90skid.com
  • Home
  • News
    • Nintendo
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
A 90s Kid
  • Home
  • News
    • Nintendo
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
SIGN UP FOR OUR NEWSLETTER

For the latest video game news, reviews and more subscribe to our weekly newsletter.

  • Opinion

Why Open Betas Shouldn’t Replace Reviews

  • February 6, 2017
  • Mathew Falvai

Ubisoft’s For Honor is the latest high-profile game to go against the industry standard of providing review copies before launch. Instead, an open beta will substitute for gamers looking to make an informed purchase.

Open Betas are better because the consumer get’s first-hand experience?

You could argue that since For Honor’s beta grants access to every multiplayer mode, it does a better job than reading/watching a review. What better way to inform a consumer if they like playing a game than by actually playing the game?

The issue is that the full game is not available to the player. Many classes will be locked, similar to Ubisoft’s Rainbow Six Siege model. A proper reviewer with an advanced copy could spend dozens of hours unlocking everything.

Perhaps the balance of gameplay changes drastically once later classes are introduced. Maybe the later classes are terrible to play or simply not worth your time to unlock. Plenty of games provide enough front-end entertainment for a compelling beta, but might fall apart after significant time is invested.

There’s also a single-player campaign that Ubisoft promises will be worth the price of admission alone. But without a first-hand account from a reviewer or consumer, we’re left with the word of a biased publisher heavily invested in the game’s success.

What if ReCore ditched reviews copies for a beta of the first few hours?

Developed by the legendary Keifi Inafune and key members from Metroid Prime, ReCore looked impressive. With enough time, the finished product might have been a modern classic. Unfortunately, it felt rushed and incomplete. Long load times, empty areas, and blueprints for a fifth robot that cannot be built, are a few of the worst offenses that a beta test wouldn’t uncover.

The pedigree of development and strong opening section could have led to millions of sales to gamers that might have felt ripped off. Its commercial failure is a tragic, but important reminder that might encourage future games to receive more attention before release.

 

 

Consumer vs Publisher

Publishers of high-profile games risk plenty and gain almost nothing by providing advance copies of their games. Only the most critically acclaimed titles can point to their review scores as good press. A solid 7 or 8 out of 10 might mean an enjoyable game, but it doesn’t scream ‘buy me’. Often I’ll see comment sections of reviews full of “was going to buy, but now I’ll hold off until a sale”.

Frankly I’m surprised that more publishers haven’t followed Bethesda’s lead. I’m sure they’re watching for potential backlash and impact on the bottom line, but I bet this is a trend that’s here to stay.

At least until it swings back the other way.

 

Total
0
Shares
Share 0
Tweet 0
Pin it 0
Related Topics
  • Bethesda
  • dishonored
  • doom
  • fallout
  • For Honor
  • games
  • gaming
  • reviews
  • Ubisoft
Mathew Falvai
Mathew Falvai

Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it comes to games and films, he’d much rather experience a 10/10 classic from yesteryear than a 6/10 modern blandfest. He does feel we’re living in a gaming golden age with the power of indie developers at an all-time high, but wishes AAA publishers would take more risks. Mat believes it’s only a matter of time before the pendulum swings the other way and new ideas take their rightful place above reboots.

You May Also Like
Zelda Ocarina of Time Glitch at AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 6 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Seven

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 12, 2021
Super Mario 64 Blindfolded at AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 5 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Six

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 9, 2021
Zelda Wand of Gamelon AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 5 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Five

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 8, 2021
Spyro 3 Skateboarding
View Post
  • 6 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Four

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 7, 2021
Cuphead at AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 7 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Three

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 6, 2021
Sonic 1 World Record at AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 5 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Two

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 5, 2021
Donkey Kong Country AGDQ 2021
View Post
  • 3 min
  • AGDQ 2021
  • Opinion

The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day One

  • Matthew Owen
  • January 4, 2021
AGDQ 2019 Banner
View Post
  • 9 min
  • News
  • Opinion

The AGDQ 2021 Schedule is Live, Here’s What to Watch

  • Matthew Owen
  • December 30, 2020

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

TRENDING
  • Scott Pilgrim vs the World Seven Evil Exes
    Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition Review
  • February NIntendo Direct
    Everything Nintendo Announced During the February Direct
  • Super Mario 64 Blindfolded at AGDQ 2021
    The Best Speedruns of AGDQ 2021 Day Six
  • Hitman 3 Title Screen
    Hitman 3 Review – The Thrill of the Hunt
  • Little Nightmares 2 Hunter Shack
    Little Nightmares 2 Review – Tiny Terror
Instagram
Find the crpg for you in our newest YouTube video #crpg #divinityoriginalsin2 #baldursgate3 4 0
Get everything you need to know about the latest #nintendodirect on our YouTube. Including synced voice to my lips! 7 0
Celebrating the best game music of the decade in less than an hour on YouTube Facebook twitch dlive but not Instagram. 7 0
#gaming #gamingdaily #gamingmemes #morrowind #skyrim 6 0
#skyrim #morrowind #gaming #gamingmemes 8 0
#morrowind #skyrim #elderscrolls 8 2
#finalfantasy #nobuouematsu 7 0
#hyperlightdrifter streaming now. :) 7 0
When you typo links awakening and stumble into a very specific YouTube niche 6 0
Please check out our review of #MarvelsAvengers if you're interested! Many thanks to @msigaming_anz for letting us review the game on their powerful and sleek GE66 Raider. @intelanz is throwing you the game with any MSI laptop with a 9th or 10th Gen INTEL Core i5, i7, or i9 Processor H-Series (Australia and New Zealand) Link is in the bio! 10 0
Our review of #SeriousSam4 by @officialcroteam is live! Shout out to @msigaming_anz for letting us review the game on their super impressive GS75 Stealth gaming laptop (link in bio) 9 0
#itdobelikedat #belikedat 7 0
Follow
Author
Mathew Falvai
Mathew Falvai
Mathew is a huge fan of Space, Strategy, and Shadowrun (Genesis version is #1). When it…
View Posts

a90skid.com

24 User(s) Online Join Server

Subscribe

Subscribe now to our newsletter

Find the crpg for you in our newest YouTube video #crpg #divinityoriginalsin2 #baldursgate3 4 0
Get everything you need to know about the latest #nintendodirect on our YouTube. Including synced voice to my lips! 7 0
Celebrating the best game music of the decade in less than an hour on YouTube Facebook twitch dlive but not Instagram. 7 0
#gaming #gamingdaily #gamingmemes #morrowind #skyrim 6 0
#skyrim #morrowind #gaming #gamingmemes 8 0
#morrowind #skyrim #elderscrolls 8 2
A90KID.COM

VIDEO GAMES COMMUNITY & ENTERTAINMENT

A 90s Kid is an active website and media channel, dedicated to providing you information and entertainment related to the video games industry

Navigation
  • Home
  • News
    • Nintendo
    • PlayStation
    • Xbox
  • Reviews
  • Opinion
Recent Articles
  • Little Nightmares 2 Review – Tiny Terror March 5, 2021
  • Hitman 3 Review – The Thrill of the Hunt February 21, 2021
  • Everything Nintendo Announced During the February Direct February 18, 2021
  • The Medium Review – Resort of the Dead February 15, 2021
  • Scott Pilgrim vs. the World: The Game – Complete Edition Review January 22, 2021
A 90s Kid
© 2021

Input your search keywords and press Enter.