Petition to make PotCO free for beta testers

[Davy]

Originally Posted by Dolnor

Yes, I beta-tested ToonTown Online. No, beta testers did not get a free account. Yes, we had to pay-to-play...which I did for a while. Content was being updated very slowly back then (which was before Cog Headquarters) so the game became too boring after a while. Hence, I left the game. I am thinking of starting playing again soon...first I must justify having 3 MMO subscriptions at the same time to myself! -)

Yes, ToonTown Online beta accounts were deleted but our character names were "reserved" for us to use on our public account. Basically, our toons were kept in the database in case we started a paying account. Then they just showed up as being wiped to the players.

I will not be signing anything requesting a free account. The payment for most online beta testings is that you got to see the game before it was released...for free. Your input and bug reports were helpful in making the game better. They allowed you on their server(s) and you had some fun. That is your payment. To ask for anything more, in my opinion, is selfish and not in the spirit of beta testing. But hey, I don't expect most testers to understand me! -)

Toodles,

Dolnor Numbwit
Eternal Testing Newbie

I understand you not signing. But what PotCO is doing to their beta testers is also wrong. Let's have a look.

1. They gave us the server when it was slow; so, we spend about half of our time on the game waiting for our characters to start moving.

2. They gave us the beginning of the game; bad graphics and plenty of glitches. We die from Crabs that cannot be shot, and we kill crabs that cannot do damage.

After all this; trying to help them fix the glitches and the lag, and having to go through some rough times in the game, all beta testers, or at least those who have submitted an appropriate amount of bug reports, don't get free accounts? I don't quite understand.

[Captain Grizzly]

PirateAhoy,

The things you mention as "what PotCO is doing to us" are the things beta testers are supposed to put up with. It was explained to you when you received your beta key that this is an unfinished product and that there would be bugs, glitches, crashes, missing items and so forth. It was never stated that it would get any better any time soon. It is a beta and we may not even get to see everything the public release will have until it is released. This is not a finished product and everything isn't going to work they way it will in the final release. If you feel that this wrong and your being taken advantage of, you should not be beta testing, you should wait for the release.

[Indianajo75]

Dude, it is free.

You just dont get additional content.

[Bellatrix]

Originally Posted by Indianajo75

Dude, it is free.

You just dont get additional content.

Yep. So yeah, PirateAhoy, it is free.


We, as beta testers, signed up because we wanted to play Pirates Online first,
for free. But as beta testers, we [are supposed to] know that bugs and lag comes
along, so it is our job to report that.

But like I said, Disney would lose $100,000 a month if they gave beta testers free
accounts. I would rather get a limited-edition pin than free play.

[Dolnor]

POTCO is not only a free game. It is in beta and has a lot of problems. Most games, in early closed beta, are pretty bad. I alpha/beta tested The Realm. That game would reset the server every 15 minutes...every day...24/7. The testers still stuck with the game to help find bugs.

While some are here to just play for free...this is fine because the Devs have programs running that track what you do, how you survive, what kills you, etc. Many are here to be an active bug finder & play the game. We just like to help the Devs make a great game. Maybe something that we suggest ends up in the game...we can point and brag! -)

Think of testing POTCO as volunteer work. You don't get paid, you are helping someone out, and at the end....you go home...nothing gained other than self esteem and sense of purpose. Think of this game as an extended buggy preview of the released version....a sneak preview.

Toodles,

Dolnor Numbwit
Eternal Cannon-fodder

[wildtaz999]

a few of you have good points.. it sounds like alot of people that are beta testing thyis game have never done this before.. I feel bad for them.. but having these forums up and running are excellent.. i can rmeber beta testing LOTRO and like only having one place for testers to pass info.. this isite is great.. and who knows the way things are going we might get a game for christmas.. but I am sure like other companys diney will give a special ingame gift to beta testers who signup for the real game.. like a special cutlass or ship or something