I've been a gamer for quite some time now - and the boxes of games I've either tried or played throughout the years could probably fill my entire apartment.

Every gamer has the urge and hope to try as many games as possible. I think we've got that in our blood, the whole lot of us. Humans in general are drawn to adventure, exploring and the opportunity to experience something new. A new game presents us, the gamers, with that opportunity. Every now and then a game allows external testers, that is people like you and me, to participate in the technical or general gameplay testing. In the recent years, the beta phenomenon has become more of a regular thing - which almost all big budget titles go through in one form of another. There's the pre-alpha, alpha, limited beta, closed beta (technical/general) and the famed open beta which allows the majority of gamers wanting to test the game to have their shot at it.

Testing a game used to either be a job, or privilege granted to the few. The main point worth mentioning here, is that it was free. In the light of sites like Fileplanet (Fileplanet.com) we can observe a change in the process revolving beta testing. Usually you could see testing slots given to the faithful fans in the various gaming communities, or the press, or to those deemed worthy through applications. Now it seems like this is ever so slightly seing an alternate course. Beta testing is becoming yet another commercial opportunity for companies, and rather for a player to deserve a slot - it is used in competitions, but more alarming is that slots/keys are sold. The reason game developing companies use a place like Fileplanet is because they are a site aimed for this purpose, of distributing files at a capacity which those dev companies can not, or rather, won't need to - because of Fileplanet. 30.000 keys x 7 dollars each, well, it's safe to say that beta testing has become a lucrative business. I wouldn't be surprised to see sites trying to compete with Fileplanet for the rights to host and distribute beta keys and software for lower prices or with increased service.

Gamers, like myself, are eager to play/test the games we wait for, and to us maybe 7 bucks to enter the beta is something we would be willing to pay - or maybe not! It's up to the individual gamer to decide, but the thing is that a new market has emerged and that's even before the product is finished. The main idea with a beta is to TEST the game, having loads of testers going at it and giving feedback is invaluable to most companies - but I will dare to say that I suspect that only a minority of gamers do actually take their testing "job" seriously - to many a beta is just a way of getting to try a game before you are really supposed to. Now it doesn't seem like the companies care about that anymore, as the beta tests are constantly growing in size, depending on which genre the game belongs to of course, there's bound to be people actually caring about the game, and giving valuable feedback among those masses even if they're paying testers or testing the game for free.

I certainly hope that beta testing remains free or as free as possible for those wanting to get involved with that sort of community/game interaction. If people "pay" to test the game, I'm sure they're expecting more in return in terms of their experience in the beta. I'm sure the paying testers are the ones getting the most frustrated if things didn't turn out like they had forseen, having paid and all. That's something you have to be mindful about as a gamer in this situation. You are paying to test a product, but the product is not finished, it is not a demo- it will also depend on what stage of the testing you've been granted access to - but the facts remain the same. Just think itthrough a few times before paying up and don't be blinded by your urge to get a "sneak peek" at your favorite game. Some say that those who really want to experience the game they're waiting for in its truest form should wait until the game goes Gold and buy the finished product. Betas are what they are, and might tire you of the entire game even before you got to experience it the way it was supposed to be experienced.

The price of testing might be increased in the future if it is known by all that the market will sustain it.

Syz out.