SORRY! Not buyin it. Beta copy/Optimized code Hooplah! - Tomba's Blog

Tomba's Blog

SORRY! Not buyin it. Beta copy/Optimized code Hooplah!

Posted on February 14, 2009 at 10:48 AM.

(12)

I refuse to believe that a beta copy is NOT the final copy or optimized code that is given to retail. To think that the company would send out a beta version of their game to critics and news resources and WANT them to review a middle point game? I think it's all a ploy so that the word "beta" covers up ANY problems the game has while it's being played by the said reviewer/tester. It's almost like a pass. Say the frame rate is bad you can now easily say"well it's a beta copy" "this is not the final build". How can we even really believe to say that. I mean do we honestly think that within the time that they give us a beta we will be able to comment on it and they will implement it before the final "optimized" version hits retailers? It's a fabricated lie. Hate to be negative but that's what it feels like and most likely is.

RANT OVER

TOMBA

Comments

# 1 rudyjuly2 @ Feb 14

I do think there isn't that much difference between betas and final versions.

# 2 Tomba @ Feb 14

There really isn't and you're right and hopefully even the word "beta" can be put to rest because i am sick of how it's being misinterpreted...

# 3 trobinson97 @ Feb 15

Agreed.

# 4 trobinson97 @ Feb 15

Well, to clarify, I agree to a certain extent. With console games, I believe this to be true more often than not. I've had the opportunity to be a part of the beta for several pc games though, and those were real betas, where the game had in game bug reporting.

# 5 bronco92 @ Feb 15

From a development perspective, its quite common for your beta version to also be your final version. Basically, you keep fixing bugs and testing beta builds until finally one of them is "bug free" and it becomes the final build.

# 6 Tomba @ Feb 16

That's true bronco92. trobinson97 I agree that "pc" games and even "some" console games can be in beta "form" but with games being only like 2 weeks away etc i find it VERY hard to even think that the beta received is not just a bootlog version of the game so to speak. you know one without a cover etc.

# 7 sirwoodz @ Feb 17

This is silly. in your own rant here you use the term "middle point of game"...if they sent out copies of games that were in the mid-stage, the game wouldn't even be playable.

They send out games that are about 85-90% done, and allow them to be previewed from that point. so yes, there are differences between beta copies and final copies of games.

# 8 amedawg00 @ Feb 17

I agree Tomba. This is the final build. They are not going to work a miracle and fix all of the framerate issues in less than two weeks before the game ships. This is the final, and VC will issue a patch to address the issues that are being mentioned such as framerate and cpu swinging at every thing. I love 2k but even nba 2k ships with the same free throw framerate glitch every year.

# 9 amedawg00 @ Feb 17

I take that back...here is jon robinson of espn saying that the framerate issues have been fixed.....

"Anyway, the Giants start the season 12-8 with the new lineup and on the brand new code I just got from 2K Sports. I have to say, the game is playing even smoother (and smarter) than the previous build of the game. Not only have the frame-rate issues been almost completely ironed out, I just saw a play where there was a grounder to second with a man on first and the base runner actually stopped in his tracks so that the second baseman couldn't simply tag him and throw to first to complete the double play. Just goes to show some of the AI enhancements to the game."

# 10 rudyjuly2 @ Feb 18

I agree that games can be fine-tuned and optimized before release but the core engine will be 98% the same.