Expect the worse. Backup all of your save files from any game to a flash drive. It says in the terms that bethesda is not responsible for any damage to your console so be aware. Also don't expect a finished DLC it will probably be a buggy mess. Any bugs you find write them down. The TES community wants this DLC to be as good as possible and the community can contribute to this.

Reading that is making me reconsider joining the beta in the first place.

That is very realistic advice. This is not going to be a perfect version. I doubt it will even be as clean as Beta tests for online games. Bethesda does not exactly have a good track record with bugs in their finished games, let alone their unfinshed ones.

Anything could happen. I highly doubt that it just bricks your Xbox but then again it's possible. Just be aware what your getting into

Also, by signing the NDA, you are subject to legal action if you disclose any details over public broadcast (Youtube). I predict this happening anyway... A lot.



Considering that New Vegas in it's retail version bricked my 360... it's more than possible.

Yes new Vegas is one of the buggiest games I have ever played. I Bought the ultimate edition and now I can load my level 29 character because of infinite loading screens

I survived playing the original buggy PS2 version of Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Angel of Darkness, something made by Bethesda even in a beta state could not be any worse than that. My PS2 also survived the several hundred restarts it required to actually finish the game. Skyrim already requires the occasional console restart when my XBox 360 freezes, so I am used to that. My save games become corrupted I have plenty of earlier ones, which I will be backing up just in case. At least then the thing completely dies I can always go back to the start and try again. Pretty sure Bethesda would have already done a fair bit of beta testing though, they would just want to see what unexpected things we can do to break the game.

Autosave Blackout is what caused my 360 do die.

Overall, I actually had way less bugs than a lot of people though. I think it's cause I never fast traveled, like New Vegas was big enough to justify Fast Travel anyway.

I doubt that the game will be as broken as you predict. If even the achievements are going to be there, which they said would be the case, it's safe to assume that it will be fully playable. Bethesda has their own QA team, after all, and they have enough experience to get things right. Skyrim may have been buggy, but even without a patch, most people played it without experiencing any major setbacks. This is probably being done to fine-tune the DLC, fixing anything that slipped through the cracks, and to see how balanced it is for various characters of different types and levels.

Because of all of that, including on how they're going to choose who is testing it next week, I wouldn't be surprised if the DLC has a July release date.

That's why I plan on not saving over my working saves.

Those ps2's will survive anything. My frien has the launch playstation 2 and it still works perfect. It's amazing really

Smart advice.

I've done beta testing before on games, so I'm pretty good with what may occur. But as others have said, good advice. I fear many have applied and really don't know what there getting into.

Nice pic. Ehhhhhhhh

Let me say, as someone who has beta tested and run plenty of beta's, it's not all fun and games. You're bound to encounter a lot of issues, this ruining any feel of conventional play. You're going to have to stop constantly to report bugs, load saves, repair and restart. May I repeat that many who have applied are in for a huge surprise. Beta testing is time consuming and difficult. Most who get into end up hating it.

That said, it wont be too bad since you guys aren't inhouse testers (Who get the worse), but a closed beta group. That means that most of the major kinks should have been worked out, and you'll deal mostly with minor issues. But it really depends.

Don't sign up for the beta expecting it to be, "I get the DLC early, and for free." Sign up prepared to spend many hours (More time reporting and discussing than actually playing possibly) describing your issues in detail and providing the necessary information.

I think i might start a faux Gamertag to test it with.

This will be my first beta test (if I get picked), but I ain't no baby. In it for the glory of the game! <---- Meh, don't listen to this nonsense... I'm all hyped up from watching Naruto too much.

But I'm serious about this beta. Beth can expect a lot of good feedback/bug-finding from me.

That's good to hear.

Same here, never beta tested anything but I consider myself fairly familiar with the TES games. I've played them all but Arena.

If i was chosen i intended to take it slow and write down everything i could about any bugs i found (Location, effect, damage, etc). If i can help make the DLC at least playable then i have done my part for Beth. The only Beta Testing i have ever done was the Halo Reach and Crysis 2 Betas but i dont expect this to be anywhere near similar (The nerfing of the cloak in Crysis 2's multiplayer was my fault...sorry everyone)

Don't know whether it's gonna tear up my Xbox from the inside but we'll see. I don't mind anyway, my Xbox is incredibly old.

Ok this is making me nervous. If it can kill my 360...wait what am I saying?! Of course I want to get into the beta. I may be new to it but I support bethesda a great deal. Now lets pick up our bug spray and...you get the idea...

I guess thats why they ask which xbox 360 you have ( s or older version ) , flash drive & if you have installed Skyrim on your hd . Ill backup my save if im in, thx for the info