Early betas (like Halo 5) - good or bad?

The concept of having a year early beta, especially for a major title, is something that hasn't been done often. But now it's a little more common.

Pros:
The companies can fix problems in the game before it actually releases so we avoid the problems of games like GTA Online. The gameplay can be fine-tuned, balanced and made overall better when its developed openly rather than in an isolated bubble.

Cons:
It totally takes away the surprise factor. It's like knowing what you're gonna get next year for Christmas. That feeling of playing it for the first time is gone.

It's nothing new for PC, and it has worked great for blizzard.

Well due to the lack of Demos these days, I don't mind it

If the developer listens to feedback, then its great. If not, then it's a waste of time.

I think as times change, things become more open. We gain more information. For example, the leak of Star Fox before Nintendo's E3. We lose the surprise factor, but we get more important things from it I guess. PC has been doing this earlier. Its consoles that generally are a generation behind PC's in terms of openness and the like.

Betas are great, and frankly necessary for online shoooters.

Betas arent even really betas any more. They're basically just demos.

well, betas are betas. not alphas.

more on topic, before the internet was big, games were surprising. all you had was a review magazine and you didn't know what you were going to get when you played a game. now, trying before you buy makes total sense.

What games have a beta a year before the release?

True but everyone can participate.

@R3FURBISHED: Dota 2?

A beta that is out almost a year before the game is released is really a beta.

Everyone today is whining that games are being released that aren't "fully tested" and that the first 6 months after launch is a mad dash by the developer to make the game stable and playable.

The best way to prevent this from happening is having a large-scale test (alpha, beta, who cares what arbitrary delineation you give it) to see where your problems are and having this test early enough that all of the feedback can actually be incorporated into the game by release.

They are great.

Period.

Good, for all parties involved (generally).

Publishers can build hype, consumers get an early glance at a product that interests them, and feedback is facilitated so the developer can remedy issues they hadn't previously anticipated.

Early access, meanwhile....

Summed up perfectly. Gamers will never be content. Complain if they don't, and complain if they do.

Yes. If it wasn't for Destiny's beta i dunno what i'd play until fall, starting to get tired of dks2 and there's absolutely nada until September

No I think early betas are great. On top of the things you mentioned TC, I see an early beta as a sign of commitment from the game makers...that they are doing what they can to get everything right on day 1.

Regarding your Con, not a big deal for me because it is up to he user if they want to participate, but you are right it could ruin he surprise factor for some people. Perhaps a closed beta would be better in that respect, that way only the people who really want to get in will do so.

You're that guy that continuously bragged about PS4 heh? Sorry to hear you're not having fun with your precious console.

A beta in itself isn't bad. Monetizing them and treating them as some sort of special event is fucking horrible.