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GamerX, 3000AD and the corrupt web hack
October 13th 2000, 00:04 CEST by andy Bit of a weird one, this... Earlier this week, 3000AD announced that people could sign up for a new round of Battle Cruiser beta testing. There were a few weird stipulations, such as having to pay $15 for what was described as "try before you buy shareware". This prompted CNET's GamerX to post a little rant, looking at "the most outrageous parts" of the release and poking fun at them. And then... The honourable, honest, widely respected and not-at-all-loopy Derek Smart of 3000AD dropped me a line today, suggesting that I post a topic about the GamerX rant. He also asked if he could write some "opening statements" for the topic, presumably to give his side of the story. I told him sure, I'd post the topic, my only request being that he keep his comments reasonably brief. (Hey, if he rambled on like he often does then some people wouldn't read the topic properly and they'd get the wrong idea, and I'd be the one who got flamed. It was a fair request.) But -- and here's where it gets weird -- after a bit of an exchange, Derek told me "I'm not sending you shit". Why? Because I wouldn't tell him who writes the GamerX column. Apparently that meant I had "decided to impose conditions" on the topic, which he felt was "quite questionable and unethical". No, it doesn't make sense to me either, but here's the topic. (And to avoid the inevitable 100+ posts of flames and assumptions, Derek has permission to post all of my e-mails related to this topic if he thinks I've not been honest about what was said. That should shut him up.) Update: Derek has posted some comments about the GamerX column on the 3000AD web site. |
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<b>#120</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Warren Marshall" wrote: <QUOTE>Clubb : <quote>And Derek has already stepped forward to say this wasn't a shareware, but a beta test; which just makes it sleazier :) </quote> Why is it sleazy? </QUOTE> Many years ago, a sad comic book company on the verge of bankruptcy decided to hold a script-writing contest where the winners would get their story printed. Their offices were flooded by amateur scripts, which they then proceeded to publish with no financial restitution to the authors (as per the contest agreement). The winners weren't upset, but the future professionals of that group looked back on it as a truly sleazy moment in comic book history, which, thankfully, didn't give other comic book companies ideas. Now, this isn't nearly as sleazy, but you do have a reversal of the normal procedure, where beta testers are either payed or get free access to the product. If it weren't for the discount being offered on the finished product, this would be a rather sleazy precedent for the video game industry. But it's pretty damn close.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Intaglio : <quote>Seems like it to me: a) The software was unfinished and crashed often. A colleague of mine paid $60 for it. b) The entire scheme solely benefited Microsoft. By paying for the software, my colleague was only putting more money in Microsoft's pockets. Yes, it seems to me like my colleague got suckered, cheated, ripped-off, etc. </quote> But you wanted this unfinished, crashing software anyway so you stole it? Actually ... forget it. I don't have time to get into a long drawn out argument trying to explain why warez are bad. Take your parting shot, and we'll go our seperate ways. |
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#126 I'm sorry, I don't understand at all. For one thing, I don't see any parallel between the comic book thing and Derek's thing, and for another, even after reading your post twice, I have no clue as to what makes either instance "sleazy." Please, can you describe this logically, rather than emotionally? Thanks. |
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Gotta say, I'm with Andy on this one, because of the smiley. If it was some kind of quid pro quo deal, he wouldn't have ended it with a smiley. Seriously. I think it was pretty clearly lighthearted banter, but anyone who's watched Monty Python knows the capacity for misunderstanding in banter. I also agree with Warren: If the whole e-mail exchange, unedited, would have been posted in the first place, all this nastiness could have been avoided. I am absolutely the first person to scream for Andy's head on a spike outside Morn's house, but in this case, I think people are (somewhat) understandably misinterpreting this, probably largely because they don't think much of Andy in the first place. Now can we please get back to the topic at hand? Here's a question for Derek: When it's released, is BCM going to have a proper shareware version, in the old sense of getting to play a bit for no charge and buying if you like it? -brennan |
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<b>#116</b> "Andy" wrote... <QUOTE>Because I've got about a dozen "intelligent" people telling me that I bribed Derek Smart to give me an exclusive. How could I not feel superior to those people? They're acting like idiots, and that includes you. </QUOTE> I missed the message where someone accused you of bribing Derek. People used barter, dangle, a tease, an incentive, a precondition... there may be more, but I can't seem to find the "bribe." But I'm dumb. And I think one person mentioned the term "exclusive," not "about a dozen." But then again, I'm sorta dim. --- "My life is a patio of fun."<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Nightcloud : <quote>Context arguements aside you have a company making an offer to allow players to pay 15 bucks to play. The company then puts in an clause that makes the money non refundable for any reason. Why should the average gamer, who by the way you need to attract as well as your loyal community, even give your title any type of consideration when an offer like this is made ? </quote> Because the company wants to get as much -quality- feedback as it can to make the finished product better. They don't want random people getting beta copies and not doing anything with them. Charging for the beta weeds out the deadbeats. The average gamer should be jumping for joy ... the finished game will have less bugs in it! Clubb : <quote>Many years ago, a sad comic book company on the verge of bankruptcy decided to hold a script-writing contest where the winners would get their story printed. Their offices were flooded by amateur scripts, which they then proceeded to publish with no financial restitution to the authors (as per the contest agreement). The winners weren't upset, but the future professionals of that group looked back on it as a truly sleazy moment in comic book history, which, thankfully, didn't give other comic book companies ideas. Now, this isn't nearly as sleazy, but you do have a reversal of the normal procedure, where beta testers are either payed or get free access to the product. If it weren't for the discount being offered on the finished product, this would be a rather sleazy precedent for the video game industry. But it's pretty damn close. </quote> I don't think it's even remotely close. |
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<b>#128</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Jafd" wrote: <QUOTE>I'm sorry, I don't understand at all. For one thing, I don't see any parallel between the comic book thing and Derek's thing, and for another, even after reading your post twice, I have no clue as to what makes either instance "sleazy." Please, can you describe this logically, rather than emotionally? Thanks. </QUOTE> 1) I really like comic books and these stories come out. It was a story in which a company took advantage of aspiring writer's desire to be published to save money producing their books. 2) It's a reversal of industry norms. Beta testing is something that people are paid to perfrom. Having the beta tester pay to do the same job would be sleazy. 3) To be fair, Derek is offering a discount on the finished product to the beta testers, so he's managed to counter-act virtually all of the sleaziness--in the end, it just <b>seems</b> real funny.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Wow, only 125 posts and already we're at the stage of misquoting people and then challenging them not to reply! Yeehaw! Hey Chris, shouldn't we continue this on Usenet? Those tactics are bad even for ye olde 'Crappe! |
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<b>#131</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Warren Marshall" wrote: <QUOTE>I don't think it's even remotely close. </QUOTE> Sorry, that was a mis-write. I meant to say it was close to being sleazy, but was saved by the offer of a discount on the final product. I did not mean to imply that it was anywhere close to the incredibly sleazy situation of the comic book company. Had Derek not offered the discount, I think it would have been very close to the situation I described at the comic book company. Just because a bunch of rabid fans are willing to let a company dick them over, doesn't mean the company is write in dicking them over. Again, I'm not accusing Derek of this, his offer of a discount kept this situation from being sleazy, but it does sort of look sleazy at first glance. I really need to stop posting when I'm sober :) <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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george said: <quote>More interesting topic Andy. Isn't it intereting that most developers don't have message forums on their sites? I mean why don't Blizzard, LucasArts, id, Valve etc at least run a silly little EZ Board or Ultimate Message Board. Don't they all have at least one person at the company already doing web work that can maintain it? Don't they want their fans to have a place to meet and talk about their games? </quote> Most companies don't want to shell out the money to pay for the bandwidth (ie - Epic closing down the fabled Megaboard). Most publishers have them, but not all developers... |
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<b>#127</b> "Warren Marshall" wrote... <QUOTE>But you wanted this unfinished, crashing software anyway so you stole it? </QUOTE> That's been ticking me off latly as well. People run around griping about how such and such software titles sucks and crashes constatly or isn't what they expected it to be, then turn right around and steal it becuse they wanted it (same thing happens with MP3's, the record compaies are turning out crap, but I want the crap so I'll steal it). I mean gees I don't like crispy cookies but every now and then I get a craving for some chunky chips ahoy and I would think of heading out to shoplift a bag because I disslike the fact that they are crispy. Ok now to what I think about charging for the beta. So what big deal it's his game, people buying the beta are not being empolyeed by 3000AD per-say. what they are buying a product that is labled as unfinished. The reporting bugs part is acctauly very small and no where near like working as a beta tester would be (I don't see derek or anyone else sending e-mails to people telling them what to test each day and requiring a reports). Lets put it this way if a record company showed up and told you they where going to sell a as of yet finished CD (still unmixed, some songs may not be in the version relased, and other might change) and offered a discount on the final mixed release how many people would call that sleazy. -- None-1a. O forget it.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#136</b> "None-1a" wrote... <QUOTE>I mean gees I don't like crispy cookies but every now and then I get a craving for some chunky chips ahoy and I would think of heading out to shoplift a bag because I disslike the fact that they are crispy. </QUOTE> Opps would NOT (must remember the word NOT when talking about this stuff). -- None-1a. O forget it.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#109</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "George Broussard" wrote: <QUOTE>Isn't it intereting that most developers don't have message forums on their sites? I mean why don't Blizzard, LucasArts, id, Valve etc at least run a silly little EZ Board or Ultimate Message Board. Don't they all have at least one person at the company already doing web work that can maintain it? Don't they want their fans to have a place to meet and talk about their games? </QUOTE> Considering that you picked four companies whose games would sell even without a message board, I think the answer is self-evident. I know for a fact from your message board, you end up with spiralling levels of aggression from various posters. Someone comes up with what they believe is a brilliant idea for your game, you politely tell them it's a piece of shit idea ("that's a great idea, but it wouldn't work for this game") and suddenly they start talking about how you don't give a shit about your fans anymore. It's almost like stalkers who somehow come to think that their fanhood is as important to the celebrity (or in this case, game company) as it is to the fan. That's not even getting into the "Company X is trying to suppress my freedom of speech" every time you decide to delete some hateful bit of electronic graphitti. Id, LA, Blizzard, and Valve probably end up sparing themselves a lot of ill-will and headaches from not putting up message boards.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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This is a horrible idea. Lets give an analogy: I'm a construction foreman, and you're looking for a job. I tell you you can work the hottest part of the day, and 24-7, but you have to pay ME $5.15/hr to do it! Does that not sound wrong? No because 3000AD is not a construction company and the person paying for the Beta is not a construction foreman. sheesh. <b>but the comment was to take the context and find a better way to look at it ..paying to work hard isnt right but if you are not requireing feedback from your beta test then who cares about the 15 dollars</b> (holds out the GamerX cap for the next guy) |
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<b>#133</b> Andy wrote... <quote>Wow, only 125 posts and already we're at the stage of misquoting people and then challenging them not to reply! Yeehaw! Hey Chris, shouldn't we continue this on Usenet? Those tactics are bad even for ye olde 'Crappe!</quote> As Chris said in #54, Tactic #1 at work... |
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oh yeah -- blizzard has <b><A HREF="http://www.battle.net">huge forums</b></a> on battle.net. |
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On the subject of games companies having message boards: Frankly, I don't know why any company of any sort would encourage or even support interaction with its customers, unless doing so was absolutely essential to the success of its business. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any companies that this applies to more than games companies. Without wanting to point to this topic as a classic example, I'll point to this topic as a classic example of how gamers are NOT exactly the brightest people. Look around the web and it's plain to see that interaction, or perceived interaction, between developer and gamer will almost always end in a negative PR hit for the developer, even if 999 times out of a thousand that PR hit will be forgotten about almost as soon as it has happened. As far as I'm concerned, developers should just lock themselves away and make their games. Then put them on a shelf and sell them to us. If they think that "communicating" with us will help to increase sales (which it obviously does) then they should do that purely for the extra money it stands to make them, but not for any reason of it being "the right thing to do" for us. Bottom line: Consumers suck. Don't talk to them. (<i>But do talk to us pesky web hacks, we don't suck. Well not quite as much.</i>) |
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<b>#95</b> "Jafd" wrote... <QUOTE>Because you have no people-skills. Sorry, guy. Look to your inadequacies and eliminate them. </QUOTE> pah, I don't see what people skills has to do with marketing. What'd I miss? <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Derek, <quote>pah, I don't see what people skills has to do with marketing. What'd I miss? </quote> Everything. Marketing and PR are people jobs. You kiss the ass of reviewers and web guys you can't stand to get good press and reviews. Listening to their ideas as if they mean something, all the time with a smile on your face. Have you learned nothing?! ;) George Broussard, 3D Realms |
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<b>#142</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Andy" wrote: <QUOTE>Without wanting to point to this topic as a classic example, I'll point to this topic as a classic example of how gamers are NOT exactly the brightest people. </QUOTE> Hey!!!! :) <quote> Look around the web and it's plain to see that interaction, or perceived interaction, between developer and gamer will almost always end in a negative PR hit for the developer, even if 999 times out of a thousand that PR hit will be forgotten about almost as soon as it has happened. </quote> From my experience with the PlanetBlood forum, I know that we took a lot of flak for various bits of bullshit. Whoever is running the board has to enforce rules and that person is never going to be popular in certain quarters. Also, the attacks on Monolith there tended to be rather impersonal ("Lith Sucks" and the like), whereas the official forum ended up with a lot of personal attacks toward the employees who frequented the boards. Also, from here, we all know that the professional here tend to have more people paying attention to their posts. So, any mis-speak there will end up being blown completely out of proportion.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#107</b> "Andy" wrote... <QUOTE>Truth be told, I don't think much of Derek, don't consider him at all important and don't have any interest in him, his company or his wretched game. So the idea of me trying to bribe him for anything, let alone to write a topic that HE requested, is ridiculous. </QUOTE> heh, no kidding, jackass. You've made this quite clear in the past with your blatantly obnoxious, stupid and brain-dead posts. And not only to me either. I think I can safely say that the general consensus around here is that, well, you're ass. And a bad one at that even though, to your credit, you do try hard at it. And these sentiments alone are those that give credence to the premise of your emails to me as well as the creation of this thread....even though you had given all indication that the thread would not be created (<i>because you felt that I had wasted your time</i>), hence my doing the soapbox article - and taking the wind out of your sails. The fact is, you are feeling the heat from this farce and caving under pressure. Deal with it, fool. You reap what you sow. <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#108</b> "The Clubb (tm)" wrote... <QUOTE>Derek, I'm Gamer X. Here's hoping everyone saw Spartacus and joins in :) </QUOTE> Won't that be the Usual Suspects? :-) <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#112</b> "warmonger" wrote... <QUOTE>I'm Gamer-X!</QUOTE> LOL!! ok, here comes the trend <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#147</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Derek Smart" wrote: <QUOTE>Won't that be the Usual Suspects? :-) </QUOTE> I'd rather quote a good movie.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#145</b>, The Clubb (tm): Oooh, the PlanetBlood forums are a much better example than even this thread! The idea that people could go to a FAN site and blame the FANS who run the FAN site for what they saw as problems with the game, or mistakes by the developers... well, how can I finish this sentence? It baffles me. Deep, deep levels of stupidity. And that brings us back nicely to this thread! |
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<b>#115</b> "The Clubb (tm)" wrote... <QUOTE>And Derek has already stepped forward to say this wasn't a shareware, but a beta test; which just makes it sleazier :)</QUOTE> LOL! Thanks, turn up the heat whydoncha! <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#117</b> "crash" wrote... <QUOTE>ask EA/Origin why not. reference Ultima IX in your email. :)</QUOTE> ROTFL!! Oh gawd, this is getting hilarious <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#123</b> "EvilAsh" wrote... <QUOTE>How does one get to be able to post an article for Planetcrap? </QUOTE> Once we figure that out, we won't need that ass. In fact, I don't know how to create a topic, which is why I asked him. On hindsight, I should have gone to someone more credible, like morn. Andy is ass <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Ee-aw! |
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<b>#151</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Derek Smart" wrote: <QUOTE><B><A href="spy-internal:Load/171#115">#115</A></B> "The Clubb (tm)" wrote... <quote>And Derek has already stepped forward to say this wasn't a shareware, but a beta test; which just makes it sleazier :)</quote> LOL! Thanks, turn up the heat whydoncha! </QUOTE> At least you got the joke. I ended up making a complete fool of myself trying to justify that comment--not that it changed anyone's opinion of me :)<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#129</b> "brennan" wrote... <QUOTE>Here's a question for Derek: When it's released, is BCM going to have a proper shareware version, in the old sense of getting to play a bit for no charge and buying if you like it? </QUOTE> No <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Yeah! Chet just posted in another thread so he's bound to turn up here soon! *waits* |
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<b>#144</b> "George Broussard" wrote... <QUOTE>Everything. Marketing and PR are people jobs. You kiss the ass of reviewers and web guys you can't stand to get good press and reviews. Listening to their ideas as if they mean something, all the time with a smile on your face. Have you learned nothing?! ;) </QUOTE> Oh OK, if you put it like that, I've been doing great then :-) <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>#155</b> "The Clubb (tm)" wrote... <QUOTE>At least you got the joke. I ended up making a complete fool of myself trying to justify that comment--not that it changed anyone's opinion of me :)</QUOTE> LOL! At least you remembered to remind yourself not to post while sober. <I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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<b>Derek Smart</b> (#143): <QUOTE>pah, I don't see what people skills has to do with marketing. What'd I miss? </QUOTE> Rather a lot I suppose. :) Come now, is it really worth it to be able to stand up at the end of your life and holler, "I did it myyyyyyyyyyy wayyyyyyyyyy"? Hell, I don't think so. Your mileage, of course, may vary. |
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<b>#159</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Derek Smart" wrote: <QUOTE>LOL! At least you remembered to remind yourself not to post while sober. </QUOTE> Sadly, I always post when sober. Oh, how I long for the excuse that booze and drugs are the cause of my stupidity :)<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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should have called this post <B>"destractions during the testing phase." v2.0</B> regardless of who said what, when or why...this site is fun in the way that lighting a bag of dog poop and leaving it on some old guys doorstep is fun. thanks Andy for the full on belly laugh...this site is TRUE 'geek humor'. dang, when i tested the closed beta of Everquest or the current MMORPG i'm currently helping beta, noone ever asked for a DIME. *however*, in Mr. Smart's defense, i really like the idea of the credit towards future purchase of the full product. (This is all assuming the game is finished or the deal isn't forgotten later down the road.) ANDY: <I>"<B>He wrote to me and asked me to post his comments</B>, so of course I knew I had to bribe him. Otherwise why would he send them? <B>I mean, it's not like he'd asked me to post them, is it?</B>"</I> asdf'q' sorry, more of that choking laughter...*whew* hard to type. ^M^ |
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<quote>Wow, only 125 posts and already we're at the stage of misquoting people and then challenging them not to reply! Yeehaw! Hey Chris, shouldn't we continue this on Usenet? Those tactics are bad even for ye olde 'Crappe!</quote> Ahhh... as pointed out earlier, thank you for an unscheduled example of Tactic one yet again. And no I didn't say don't reply. In fact just the opposite. I said <quote>Go ahead an reply if you want. I gots me better things to do with my time this evening. </quote> Exactly the opposite of what you are saying I said. In fact, I invited you to reply. And the better things I had to do? Done, next (to use the Broussardian parlance). But far be it for me to actually accuse you of misquoting me. We know you'd NEVER do anything like that. The fact of the matter is, I asked a perfectly good set of questions, which you responded to with a) sarcasm, then b) trying to skew what I asked, even though it was readily apparent I didn't come close to asking what you wanted to say I did, and c) derision. All three are pretty damn evident of your lack of a) knowledge and b) a foothold in reality. And quite frankly, if you can't be bothered to actually use, post, or think anything of relevance, then feel free to go ahead and pu me on ignore. I'd much rather have a conversation with the actual coherent folk who are here. G'night kids! |
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I skimmed so I think I have this right... Derek is forcing people to pay him $15 to play his beta? All gamers are required to participate. People are also questioning Derek's people skills. Andy is my 13 year old niece with a secret. Andy wants to go to bed with him. Andy is not giving straight answers so he can be the center of attention. Playtesters once again feel unimportant and want to bore us with a description of their oh so important jobs. Is any of this news? I love the post count with Derek threads. Derek - try responding to just every other post. I can't wait until mourn tries banner ads. Nothing to sue when Andy lies now - when the site is "making money" there is a whole new can of worms opened up for intent and damages. Good thing Andy doesn't own anything more than a 10 year old PC and a hot plate. Chet |
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I think I can die happy, because I can't think of another person who actually managed to coax a one-word post from Derek Smart. No offense, Derek. :) -brennan |
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Never mind GamerX, who is BitchX? |
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Someone who hasn't updated in a dog's age, and who I'd forgotten about until you mentioned him/her/it. ;) |
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<b>#166</b> My Personal Lord and Savior "Bracket" wrote: <QUOTE>Never mind GamerX, who is BitchX? </QUOTE> Dude, this isn't an episode of Scooby-Doo. We're not going to rip the mask off and recognize the old lighthouse keeper underneath. It's more like, we rip the mask off, find out it's Joel Sneezer from Doglick, Virginia; and say, "who the fuck is this idiot?" My Scooby-Doo ending for "who is GamerX and BitchX?" John Romero and Killcreek.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Andy (#142): <i>Frankly, I don't know why any company of any sort would encourage or even support interaction with its customers, unless doing so was absolutely essential to the success of its business. Off the top of my head, I can't think of any companies that this applies to more than games companies.</i> in general, sure, but for specifics, i can't think of a more interaction-intensive product than a game--specifically, an MMORPG. most games, but not those. :) i guess it's because of the nature of the product. games are entertainment. or supposed to be. a one-time deal; buy, play, hopefully enjoy, maybe play again. with the new breed of online-onlies, tho, it's a day-to-day, every day kinda thing, and customer service--at least, good customer service--is pretty important. i hope MMORPG companies realize this sooner rather than later. |
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I'm getting tired of Derek Smartypants and Bad Andy. Both could be a little more civil to one another and the rest of the thread participants.<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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#166: One could surmise that BitchX and GamerX are just pissed off editors at respective publications seeking to write gossip without getting 'in trouble', so to speak. who knows -- they could be "real people" though ;) |
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<b>The Clubb (tm)</b> (#149): <QUOTE><quote>Won't that be the Usual Suspects? :-) </quote> I'd rather quote a good movie.</QUOTE> The Usual Suspects wasn't a good movie? What planet are you living on? -- Warren Marshall - Professional Nuisance<I><B></B></I><I></I><I></I> |
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Hello! This place is funny. :) All these people, and none of them have anything better to do than quote each other, manipulate the quotes, and then give answers that are even more crooked than campain promisies! I've read the whole thread, so that's qualification 1. I know the BCM beta-thing, and actually have some idea of it's past history (!), qualification 2. I'm going to try to say things very clearly, because the average poster here seems to have trouble both reading and creating sentaces in the English language. You read a Non-Disclosure Agreement. You fill out a long and detailed form asking questions as your standing as a member of the Battlecruiser community and your experience with the previous versions, but mostly you answer questions about your computer specs. You send the completed form to several fellows. Depending on how well you answer the questions, you get the privilege of becoming a hand-picked beta tester. When you become a beta tester, you are asked to send to $15 to 3000ad Inc. In turn, they will send you the beta version of a new upcoming title called Battlecruiser:Millennium. You will also be able to patch this copy so it stays up-to-date with the current improvements. In turn, you are asked to look for and report errors in the programing. Those who are willing to go through the above steps will likely be people who have played AND ENJOYED previous games produced by 3000ad Inc. That means they are very eager to see the latest installment. Very eager, as in willing to fork over any amout of money just to have the opportunity to play a game they have slowly seen come into creation for a matter of YEARS. People who have helped influence this game, what it is, and how it plays. People who have already spent untold hours reading press releases, downloading new screenshots, and building up an online community for a game that doesn't even exsist yet. These people are DEDICATED, and most of them are quite coherent. They WANT to give money to Derek, they WANT to toil away for hours in code. Derek Smart could have decided to keep this beta version to his 50-some already experienced testing team, but instead he decided to give (yes, GIVE) a community that has kept him going for years something back. He is now letting these very dedicated fans a look at what they've been dreaming of for quite a while, and a chance to become an active part of this games' development. So what if he's charging them for labor? They obviously WANT to be charged, or don't care, otherwise why would there be so many people who were jumping at the chance to pay fifteen bucks for a buggy piece of software? If you don't like it, fine. SO PISS OFF! You don't have pay him diddly squat, you could probably wait 10-12 months and get the damn thing without bugs for $30. You're not even asked to do any work. Besides, if your reading this thread and thinking, "God, Derek Smart is such an ass, he can't even make games that don't crash evey 2 seconds!", then you probablywon't even be approved to give 3000ad $15. I like ranting, gets all the jeebers out. Now I'm happy, 'cause if you didn't understand what was said above, you weren't meant to! And yes, I am a BC fan, have been ever since the free v1.07D. Because I enjoy the game. It is fun. I like it. |
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I'm one of the ones applied for the beta, I read and understood the agreement. No one is forcing anyone to go for it or am I missing something? I live in the UK and am amazed DS got a deal to send out cd's for $15 (remembers Verants ruin of kunark upgrade and the $39.99 shipping charge for a single cd and map) life is life :) |
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Chris, I think what Andy is getting at between his jabs and witticisms is that a lot of people don't seem to realize that <i>Derek</i> was the one who initiated the idea for a PC topic on the matter, thus making it seem silly that Andy would try to bribe or entice Derek into providing commentary for the topic opening (as Derek had suggested the topic himself). I may have this wrong, but that's the way it reads to me, at least. Andy has mentioned it a few times, but he's never flat-out stated it like this. That might spoil some of the fun, I suppose. |
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Topic: GamerX, 3000AD and the corrupt web hack
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