Anyone that I have talked to that's in an exclusive beta similar to Skyrim's, seem to play the beta more than test it. Sometimes I will ask them "What are you doing?" (in general), they would answer "Playing the beta". I wonder why they always answer "Playing the beta" instead of "Beta testing". I know you have to play the beta to actually find the bugs, but then the next question would be "Found any bugs or problems yet?". Most of their answers were simple: "Just this and that". Only a few that I questioned were actually beta testing the game. I think most people get into these betas just to get an early access to the game. I don't agree with people just getting into exclusive betas such as Skyrim's just to "play the beta". I think "Beta players" take away from real bug testing ect.

What do you think of this?
I think: When it comes to exclusive betas...
Beta Testers = Win
Beta Players = Fail

I think Dawnguard will be great! But I think there might be a few bugs that could have been found/fixed if there were more beta testers.

Sorry for so many quotation marks.

I am really skeptical.

I know some are but a lot of users that just registered up for the beta got into the beta. I severely doubt they're doing anything but "lulz, we got Dawnguard for free and early kkekekekekekkekekekkekekekkekeke!"

There's not much you can do about it, there will always be people not interested in reporting bugs. You can't force them. But I'm sure Bethesda has taken that into account when they decided on whatever number of beta testers they invited, so that they still get enough people that do report bugs.

Or they could have, you know, not selected people that registered on the forums the same damned day they applied for the beta.

Are they searching for them? Probably not.

I can promise you though, the bugs are finding them. Isn't that the best way to play a beta test? Play it normally and see what bugs arise, then when their characters are ruined they'll come to the forums and report back on their problem, then it gets fixed. So in a roundabout way it all works out.

i am sure some people will report bugs because they might be helpful and it could also imped there progress

Ya it's not really fair to the players but theres not much to do about it

Please don't come into threads to say things like "there's not much you can do about it". It's very rude, especially if the OP didn't asked Bethesda to do something about it. I also don't know in what sense you say something, so please don't post anything like that. I do agree with the last of your post though. There should be enough people actually reporting bugs. Sorry for attacking your post, just don't like what you said I hope you have fun in Skyrim and in Dawnguard (if you get it).

This^
When they encounter a bug, whether they're looking for it or not and it impedes progress, they'll come on here and [censored] about it.


He didn't say there's nothing Beth can't do about it, he said there's nothing you, the player, can. At least that's how I took it, and it's true anyhow.

I'll use Bungie for an example. When Halo Reach was set to come out the summer before they released a beta. Now this beta was not as selective as Dawnguard, but the end goal will be the same. A beta is basically a finished product. What they are testing for is major issues with minor systems that won't require them to go back to the drawing board. What the beta testers are playing is what the rest of us will see except for a few minor changes. Beth willh have all kinds of stuff loaded in the back end of this beta tracking what is going on and will not require a lot of feed back from the end user.

I think Bethesda outright said that they would give many more people a chance to beta test Skyrim DLC. In fact, they basically said that everyone who play skyrim on 360 will likely be chosen to beta test at least one DLC. So if you didn't get chosen, be patient, and its very likely Bethesda will choose you for another DLC.

Lol yes. I think game-breaking bugs will definately be found. But it would be nice if others are found, such as a perk not working.

I would probably play it normally.

Well Halo is a multiplayer game. That beta was mostly for finding balance issues and testing there servers. It wasn't really a beta for finding bugs.

Oops I hit "Quote" instead of "Edit" sorry.

I'd say a lot are actively searching for bugs and glitches.
But what would I know?

I take issue with that, Bethesda NEVER seems to have enough beta/QA testers.

As long as Dawnguard comes out without many bugs, I'm happy with the beta testers' job! (the ones that reported the bugs they encountered!)

I don't think most people know how to search for bugs. The best way to find them is by playing the game you normally would, and if you happen not to find many bugs, thats that. Now, if they're not reporting bugs they find, thats an issue.

I would hope that they would. May those below take them, shall they fail in their duty.

Let's say there are 50 guys which had luck in participating in the beta(0,5% isn't much).
Now let's guess at least 5 of them participated just for fun in the survey.
Also maybe 5 other guys just don't know that there is a beta forum, they just took the code and play Dawnguard.
I also saw a code on ebay, sold by some guy with about 5000+ positive ratings(seems legit!)...so maybe another 5 just sold the key.
And how many might just play the game and think something like "hey lol got the game 4free and saved 20bucks"....let's say at least half of those 50 guys

=== 10guys MAYBE reporting bugs...and this is VERY optimistic, probably just 5 or even less!

That makes me think about two options:
1.Bethesda is freakin stingy OR
2.they are stingy PLUS beta was just to get even more publicity....

Your faith in society is undesirably low....but this is a worst case scenario. im going to guess they got a decent number of people. that were trusted.

And let's say I know from experience that is entirely false, and people want an excuse for the bitterness of not getting picked.

You're doubts on the quality of the Beta testers will show the answer when Dawnguard is released. I am doing my part to find bugs and you should have faith the other Beta Testers are doing the same.

Probably. Also, your signature is lovely.