Re: CHARGING FOR PLAYTESTS

From: tim@leaphome.pelican.org (Tim Franklin)

Date: Fri, 06 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000

On Thu, 5 Nov 1998 00:26:08 -0000, "Warrior Games - News" <warrior@zen.co.uk>
wrote:

>I thought it about time I placed a valid subject into the boiling pot after
>reading a few comments earlier about this subject.
>
>Does anyone have anything to say about PBM moderators charging customers for
>playtesting a game?
>

[snippage]

It depends on what state the playtest is at, and what level of feedback I'm
expected to provide.

For a game in a very much 'bare-bones' state (much descriptive text / graphics
missing, only the simplest level of the combat rules, limited character types /
ships / weapons etc) in which I was expected to provide a regular (each turn,
once a month, whatever) formal feedback report to the GM, I'd expect to play for
free (or at least postage costs only).  Possibly add to that a game for which
the coding is complete, but there are expected to be some glitches, ie I'm doing
the bug-hunting.

For a game which is pretty much in a state where it *could* be released, but the
developers are polishing it up and adding / improving features at a fairly rapid
rate at the suggestion of players, I'm not averse to paying.

Play-tester group size is also a factor.  If I'm one of a dozen or so testers, I
know that it's likely the game is less finished, I'll be responsible for a far
greater proprotion of the input, I'll probably spend more time in contact with
the other testers - in short, I'll be putting more work in above the basic
"playing the game level".  Free play-test.  If there's a much larger test group,
it implies the game is far closer to "release quality", I'm going to be doing
less work (and hence closer to a "regular player" position, and I'm more
inclined to pay.

FWIW, I'm three turns in to my Dungeon playtest, enjoying it immensely and quite
happy to be paying.  The only thing (IMHO) keeping this one from "release"
status is the rate new additions are being made - a new rulebook would be needed
once a week!  (I've not fed anything back yet, but that's possibly because I'm
not deep enough into the game yet - first combat coming up.  I'm hoping I'll be
able to contribute *something* at some point.)

Just my thoughts on the matter...

Regards,
Tim.

--
Tim Franklin                       | "Progress is the process by which Usenet
                                   | has evolved from smart people in front of
Home    : tim@leaphome.pelican.org | dumb terminals to dumb people in front of
FidoNet : Tim Franklin@2:257/15    | smart terminals."  -- Obscurity, 1997

References

CHARGING FOR PLAYTESTS
"Warrior Games - News" <warrior@zen.co.uk>
Thu, 05 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000

Referenced By

CHARGING FOR PLAYTESTS
"Warrior Games - News" <warrior@zen.co.uk>
Thu, 05 Nov 1998 00:00:00 +0000