Is this game an "extended beta" version?

[Azurymber]

I have seen so many people argue that it's alright to upset current players or ignore the needs of the current playerbase because the game is an "extended beta." Different people argue different things but there seems to be this common notion that the game is being designed to sell at PS3 launch and until then we should just accept that the game is a beta.

Personally, i think any completed game that is sold in a store is -not- a beta.
Further I don't completely understand the argument that the game is a beta since they are changing things a lot. This is an MMO, and MMO's change... A LOT.... FFXI changed A LOT over the years (-cough- drg -cough-)

I was wondering if any of the devs have ever expressed their thoughts on this in interviews, and what other people's thoughts are.

[Gasher]

It's not a beta product. It's a up and comming MMORPG that lacks quality content and a solid player base. This is not news in the MMORPG genre, espec. not when it comes to a completely new game.

Many games are sold whilst still in alpha or beta stage (Minecraft comes to mind but there are many others). Maybe not in stores but still sold to the general public.

[Ilean]

I sure hope it is. Because if it isn't a beta it is dead by MMO standards.

And there is a difference between balancing up a gimped broken class and having to switch producer and general development direction after release. I'd need to be really dumb not to understand it.

[Coldfire]

The game is not even feature complete. So it might as well be alpha-stage xD
But in the end every mmo is a perpetual beta.

[Betelgeuzah]

I have seen so many people argue that it's alright to upset current players or ignore the needs of the current playerbase because the game is an "extended beta."

If the current players are upset due to changes that benefit the potential future players more and not them, it's completely acceptable. Only one of these demographics is going to pay for the humongous development costs of the game, and it's not the current player demographic. If it wasn't for the potential audience SE is aiming to please, this game wouldn't exist no longer.

You have no purpose aside from giving feedback on the game voluntarily. The developers are using you, and you let them do so.

[Leeloo]

True that you're always gambling in a way with an mmo even in retail. Things will change and people will see it as "their" class getting nerfed when it may be balancing things for the better. Or "their" monopoly on hot items going bye bye when they become obsolete or less important. That's a couple examples anyway.

With XIV the gamble is much bigger because the future has been so uncertain at times. Putting a lot of time & effort into it is itself a gamble. Expecting it to turn around and become well populated again. And the majority voted for "drastic" changes so you can't get too attached to things as if they're set in stone. Plus it's still free to play when that wasn't expected.

That's why I call it "extended beta" until they think the game is fit enough to start charging. But if you don't like that phrase it doesn't really change the situation by calling it that or something different. Sounds like an argument over semantics.

[Catapult]

Is this game an "extended beta" version?

Sort of yes, sort of no, sort of *facepalm*, sort of *rofl*.

It's complicated...

[SuzakuCMX]

Not officially but it should be regarded as such when complaining about things they already are working on. Mostly it's a problem with a lack of constructive feedback. Everyone complains but only a few people actually identify what's wrong with the systems being complained about and then offer solutions to make it better.

[Ilean]

Sort of yes, sort of no, sort of *facepalm*, sort of *rofl*.

It's complicated...

It isn't:

Released game was a disaster.
SE trying to save it by implementing drastic changes.
Retail version reduced to openish beta status meanwhile.


Still, selfish people routinely choose to ignore those very simple facts.

[Catapult]

Retail version reduced to openish beta status meanwhile.

"Open-ish"! <- My point.

We're in a situation that doesn't normally happen. So how you define our circumstances is complicated, since the usual terminology doesn't really apply 100%.