Bungie calling on beta testers
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Developer says its User Research dept. has begun inviting users to test upcoming unannounced game; team has "very specific curiosities in mind" for potential testers.
Former Halo developer Bungie Studios has begun calling on beta testers for its first project with Activision. In the company's latest Mail Sack question and answer feature, the developer said that its User Research department has "very specific curiosities in mind" when inviting testers and explained that gamers should keep an eye on their inbox for an invitation.
"The mazes that [Bungie's User Research department builds] into their Laboratorium are meticulously customized for the people they choose to run through them," reads a line from the answer. "If you have yet to be selected, sit tight--and make sure that the email address attached to your profile is one that you still check. Your time may yet come."
Bungie announced in November 2010 that it was seeking "hundreds of thousands" of testers for alpha and beta testing of its still-unannounced project. Potential tasks include participating in "play test and usability" events at Bungie, filling out surveys related to gaming habits, and alpha and beta testing the developer's next game. Gamers interested in participating in the beta can follow the instructions laid out by Bungie on Bungie.net.
Bungie's first game as part of its 10-year publishing partnership with Activision is rumored to be a massively multiplayer online-style first-person shooter titled Destiny. The game is reportedly due out in 2013 first for Microsoft platforms, including the Xbox 360 and the rumored Xbox 720. Additionally, three full follow-ups are said to be in the pipeline, with downloadable content packs codenamed Comet being released in the years between main installments.
By
Eddie Makuch, News Editor
Eddie Makuch (Mack-ooh) is a News Editor at GameSpot. He works out of the company's Boston office in Somerville, Mass., and loves extra chunky peanut butter.
32 comments
1 Like I always sign up for the betas you guys post, thank you by the way, but I never get accepted. Here's to being accepted this time, hopefully, cheers!
2 Like The actual contract for Destiny states that a PC/PS3 port will release after the first game. Then, after that, we will see simultaneous releases. The contract is out there for all to read, which is rare these days.
Excited to see them make something fresh and new. Halo 2 was the best IMO but i think its cause it was a new experience for me. Halo Reach was the worst i think. With the new armor capabilities it got to crazy for Halo. With something completely new I wont have certain expectations and I wont be comparing it to a predecessor. Both positives I believe. Im ready for a new Bungie game!
I have a lot of faith in this developer, they made one of my favorite game franchises with halo. I wish they could of kept making halo's but hopefully this new IP they're working on will be just as good as the halo series was, like this if you're looking forward to this game.
1 Like @Xman4787 They don't want to make any more Halo, they wanted to make something new and original instead of being forced to milk a money maker.
@Xman4787 Because they don't own the rights to it. Curious to see if their new title will be multiplatform
@eBentl I remember reading in those call of duty legal papers from activison that the first destiny will be Xbox exclusive and the sequels will be multi platform. Sorry I don't have the source. Think I saw it on ign somewhere.
5 Like The heavy use of beta testers and the resulting polished product is what set Halo apart from a lot of the other FPS also-rans. So i'm thinking this new as-yet-unannounced game will be balanced and fine-tuned.
Which makes me also wonder a little about 343 and Halo 4. No public beta and no mention of private betas? Concerning.
@trinity_rdp Spoken like someone who has played some of the campaign already! 343 has been quiet about it, so it made me wonder.
I remember an article in Popular Mechanics about Bungie and the extensive beta analysis they have done in the past. It was pretty impressive.
A lot of folks at 343 are former Bungie guys, so I can only hope they picked up where Bungie left off.
This comment has been deleted
@spongysnake I'm not butthurt, you're offensive. There's a difference.
The only reason i reply immediately is the email notification on replies. You ARE aware of technology, right little boy? Say "yes" for a cookie from mommy. Say more offensive things to get the banhammer swung.
Etiquette. Look it up. Then TRY it.
@PixelAddict have you considered that you're so butthurt because I just owned you that you have to reply immediately ?
This comment has been deleted
@spongysnake Wow dude.
Isn't it nap time for you? How did you get off the leash? You off your meds?
I could go on and on. As should you. Off the Internet.
2 Like @PixelAddict Yeah, but I guess we have to trust 343 with this one. They haven't screwed up on anything that we know of... yet.
If only we could return to the days when companies stayed relatively small and not as influenced by investors...bungie...bioware...etc etc. Its when companies like EA and Activision come into the mix and sure, they still want to make a great game, but decisions impacting the bottom line become more important. So many games that could have been great end up being mediocre because of the "milk it for all its worth" mentality. Hopefully bungie ends up making a great game, but with Activision influence i think we will end up with a decent game that is dragged down by DLC and microtransactions.
1 Like That's exciting. I hope they choose me. I hope even more that they have a great product.
7 Like @sirkibble2 I wouldn't worry about it. Bungie will probably set the world on fire like they did with Halo. I'm more worried about how Activision might influence Bungie.
1 Like @supermoc10 The influence of Activision is what I'm getting at. Of all the publishers to get involved with...
3 Like @supermoc10 Most likely Bungie will release an epic game that is really awesome and fun, then 3 months later Activision will re-release it with a different set of skins calling it Destiny: White Ops or something really not well thought out, and then releasing 3 expansions for each game in the following couple of months.
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