Beta Character Retention

GTGD · 2011-08-07, 12:04 PM

I was wondering what the situation was going to be like this time around when the Beta ends. I know that there was a complete character wipe last time.

But I was thinking it would be really cool if the characters were just reset, and not deleted. That way if you made a character with a name, you can keep it. Also, now that they have implemented the merit system (and I can't see that going away), it would also be awesome if there was a special merit for Beta players. I know I loved having my veteran merits from before server merges.

That would also allow outfits to maintain their members (wipe the stats and whatnot) and it would get everything moving very quickly. Maybe let them have something that shows that the outfit was in existence since the Beta.

Huma · 2011-08-07, 12:11 PM

Sounds good to me

MrVicchio · 2011-08-07, 12:42 PM

They always, every game, deletes your toons.

DashRev · 2011-08-07, 01:15 PM

Originally Posted by MrVicchio

They always, every game, deletes your toons.

Not always, but close to it.

Duddy · 2011-08-07, 01:57 PM

I'm not sure what this obsession people have about wanting something special from being in Beta (I'm aware this thread doesn't pertain exactly to that, but it does follow the theme).

Can't people be happy that they were able to experience the game ahead of time?

No of course not, they need some way to say "Hey look, I'm better than you!"

Ridiculous.

Baneblade · 2011-08-11, 09:44 AM

Originally Posted by Duddy

I'm not sure what this obsession people have about wanting something special from being in Beta (I'm aware this thread doesn't pertain exactly to that, but it does follow the theme).

Can't people be happy that they were able to experience the game ahead of time?

No of course not, they need some way to say "Hey look, I'm better than you!"

Ridiculous.

I want it for a different reason. Almost everyone says they were in beta, whether it is true or not.

SKYeXile · 2011-08-11, 05:44 PM

Any game that has an item mall up in open beta will probably see the beta characters rollover to live, so it could be a possibilty.

Duddy · 2011-08-11, 06:56 PM

Originally Posted by Sobekeus

I want it for a different reason. Almost everyone says they were in beta, whether it is true or not.

And what reason might that be? Because from the latter part of your statement it sounds like you feel the need to be able to prove you were in Beta over others.

Which kind of just goes back to this point:

No of course not, they need some way to say "Hey look, I'm better than you!"

That said, I'm fine with people being able to identify Beta testers, but it can't have any meaningful purpose.

With Global Agenda they gave us a forum tag for being Alpha/Beta testers, and that was alright, though it did lead to use of said tag to try and reinforce ones argument.

What would you propose that testers get?

exLupo · 2011-08-11, 11:41 PM

It's less about the beta peen (tho, that is sexy) and more about calling BS on people trying to play the "I was in beta so I'm clearly an expert" card. I don't remember any of the tagged testers in GA doing that but I left the forums after the first few months of live.

SKYeXile · 2011-08-07, 05:22 PM

Originally Posted by MrVicchio

They always, every game, deletes your toons.

except for Hellgate London and dragons nest, but other than those games off the top of my head, EVERY GAME!

opticalshadow · 2011-08-07, 02:17 PM

well things that would be nice from ebta would be having are names outfits and all already set up, its not a ton of work but its that much less.

Hamma · 2011-08-07, 04:13 PM

I would suspect if anything pre-orders would get early access or something. I highly doubt anything would be carried over from beta often times things just can't be carried over due to changes.

WarChimp130 · 2011-08-07, 04:26 PM

I wonder if some people will go ahead on day one and use their extra character spots to make characters named dogtag and GODJOEY and Ash and all those other guys of yore. Hell somebody could probably just go ahead and be a dick and name them after people they just know are going to be coming back just to spite them.

Zulthus · 2011-08-07, 04:53 PM

I hope they have some sort of system in place that reserves your character names tied to your account.

Kurtz · 2011-08-12, 03:01 PM

Originally Posted by WarChimp130

Hell somebody could probably just go ahead and be a dick and name them after people they just know are going to be coming back just to spite them.

[True story]
I'm convinced that some douche is running around buying games on Day 1 just to take my name even though he doesn't use it....just because I called him out for being a douche.

So im changing my name...

to WarChimp130