My questions is: Do you think open beta is necessary for ESO? Also are you still thinking that open beta (mostly stress testing) will take place before lunch or rather it will be replaced with early access? You want to play beta becouse you are worried about game shape and systems or you rather want to test it before buying or other reason?

I would like to see an open beta for the Ps4, I think it's already been announced.

I chose other because I want to try out the control configurations, and hopefully provide good data to improve quality upon release!

Open Beta is necessary and everyone should support it.

It gives you an idea of how your computer will handle the game.

It lets you get used to the controls, classes, PvP etc etc so that when the game releases you are ready to go.

Stress tests are always good. We want as smooth a launch as possible and anyone whos at least played one MMO launch knows how bad they can go.

It helps people decide if they even want to purchase and play the game at all.

Other reasons of course.

Edited. Thanks for your idea of improving this poll

After they pulled the Imperial Edition bait and switch, open beta is kinda mandatory imo

The Megaserver has to work under heavy load or the live launch will be a disaster. Open Beta would be the best way to test it with real, non-simulated simultaneous player stress.

I chose Yes, and "Other Reason". With the "Other Reason" being that ZOS now needs to allow all the pissed off players to fall in love with TESO again.

Now I am concerned that with just less than 60 days to Early Access they aren't doing ANY Beta Testing. Its like they think that they're perfect code GODs who cannot make any mistakes. And me... I'm certain that I can find more bugs than any "in house Tester" ever could! So there. =P

Definitely like the statement about all the PO'd members, who obviously bought the game already, and the Imperial edition at that. They can claim they didn't all they want... But we know the the truth behind it all...

Perhaps maybe Zenimax is going to wait until the Early Access, and consider that the "Beta", and players who pre-purchased the game will keep their characters, "pretending" it's an early head start. You know, that's kind of my thought right now... A bit worrisome, no?

I think it's necessary- but mainly for marketing purposes. If the game is good, then it will sell itself. If it's not, then keeping it away from the consumer until after they pay for it will generate bad PR. Either way, it's better in the long run to get it out there in the hands of potential consumers before release.

Didn't have the real answer I wanted in the poll.

"No, it is not necessary."

Then the second question assumes that I want to play open beta.

Dude its after LUNCH now and I'm not in open so it sux lol

What truth would that be that you know is behind it all? I purchased the CE and it had nothing to do with the imperial race, i had planned to get a CE months ago. Iam just curious as to what my underlying reason was for buying it....

I'm a little disturbed that most of the answers in the second part of that poll suggest that the OP thinks that a beta is for the sake of the players.

Betas are for the DEVELOPERS, to help them find and fix bugs and other technical issues. That's why it's not up to us to decide whether one is "needed" or not. That is entirely up to them.

Early Access is for the players, although chances are there will be bugs caught and fixed during that period too That's a process which will never end, including after release.

BTW, there is no reason to believe that there is NOT beta testing going on right now. Just because YOU are not currently in a beta test doesn't mean NOBODY is Of course they are testing continuously through this period, certainly internally, maybe also externally with a smaller group.

Played in an closed so no need for me, but I suspect some other might want it. its also nice for stress testing the servers.

I'm confused with your post... I was simply stating all the people who are mad about the Imperial Edition already bought the game, and on top of it, they bought the Imperial edition... That was literally all I meant... And you don't sound like someone who was mad about the Imperial Edition (CE), thus it wouldn't have applied to you. You sound quite happy with it actually. And if you were mad about the Imperial Edition, it would just be further proving my point lol.

Yes, its multiple layers of testing first the developers test during construction to see if an quest or other function work. Then its the internal testing to check for bugs and balance, it the boss to hard or easy and so on. You have the big closed betas the one before Christmas was 300k players ant the latest was even larger, this stress test servers see if an large number generates issues in game and search for rare bugs.

However its probably also an lower layer of player beta who test far more 1000-10000 perhaps who probably mostly check for balance and vote if things are fun.

You're completely right. Beta tests are for testing, not for previewing.

I chose yes, for MegaServer stability testing.

As soon as an MMO launches it's almost always followed by bad press about how the servers can't handle the player count. A Realm Reborn was the most recent example, and it took them almost two weeks to get it running properly. I'd like to see an open beta a month or two before release, if only for a weekend, giving the team at Zenimax a good chance to stress test the servers fully before launch.

They could make it a "closed" beta, sending out invites to absolutely everyone who pre-ordered the game. That'd still be a heck of a lot of stress testing.