No Beta for Little Big Planet [Archive]

Yeti2005

05-08-2008, 10:43 AM

PS3Fanboy (http://www.ps3fanboy.com/2008/05/08/littlebigplanet-open-beta-will-never-happen/) had a chance to talk with the developers of LittleBigPlanet and are reporting the game will NOT have a beta anymore.

Sam Bennett (Community Development Manager) and Pete Smith (Producer) maintained that a public, open beta will sadly not be happening. The game will go through a beta phase, obviously, but this will be performed by an internal group at Sony.
I'm pretty disappointed by this news since by all accounts the game is a lot of fun. I guess we'll get our LBP fix in October.

Gorvi

05-08-2008, 10:45 AM

That is really disappointing. :(

UnderHero5

05-08-2008, 10:48 AM

Yup, saw this news earlier on Joystiq, and was very disappointed.
However, as long as the game makes its new October release date, I'm okay.

I just want this game so freaking bad!
My PS3 has been waiting patiently for this game since the day I bought it (a year ago, in ~3 weeks).

violentp

05-08-2008, 10:55 AM

Kinda blows but hey, it's been this long already, I'm used to waiting.

UglyPimp

05-08-2008, 10:58 AM

Is this a pure disc based game, or is a downloadable version coming too? I think I may get a PS3 in the next month or two and I definitely want to pick this up when it comes out, but I really like the idea of downloading a simple, fun title like this.

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 10:59 AM

Yeah, ever since LBP was pushed back to fall '08 I didn't think we'd see a demo. Still sucks, though.

roboninja

05-08-2008, 11:04 AM

fitbabits

05-08-2008, 11:05 AM

The BETA for this will be the commercial release.

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 11:12 AM

I guess it is disappointing in the context that it seemed like there would be a beta, but most games to not go through an open beta BTW VariableGear, beta =/= demo. They say in the article that a demo is still a possibility.
Dammit. Most Betas (That's pronounced "Bee-tas") nowadays are glorified demos. Sure, a dev needs to work out the net code and a beta is a fine place to do that, except there is an implication that things are actually up in the air, that things will change in the final release. I'm not a big fan of that. Having returned from off-topic concerns about betas, I am happy that there may still be a LBP demo. Looking forward to the game and buying a PS3 someday.

grognard66

05-08-2008, 11:14 AM

Oh well. October's not really that far away - as long as it doesn't get delayed.

UnderHero5

05-08-2008, 11:37 AM

The BETA for this will be the commercial release.

What's that supposed to mean?

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 11:42 AM

What's that supposed to mean?
He's trying to say "If people don't make great levels there won't be anything to do in LBP."

Unfortunately, there is a single-player mode, so his point is moot.

fitbabits

05-08-2008, 11:52 AM

He's trying to say "If people don't make great levels there won't be anything to do in LBP."

Unfortunately, there is a single-player mode, so his point is moot.

Actually, what I was saying was that LBP will likely be released as a work-in-progress and patched later as issues are discovered.

Gorvi

05-08-2008, 11:53 AM

Actually, what I was saying was that LBP will likely be released as a work-in-progress and patched later as issues aer discovered.
What would make you think they're going to release an unfinished game? At least, why would you think that with LBP any more than you would any other game?

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 11:57 AM

Yeah, what kind of issues could impact the quality of LBP that aren't a part of any other game release?

ZeroOmegaZX

05-08-2008, 11:59 AM

BlueBomber

05-08-2008, 12:09 PM

Hype = expectations = Sony going "oh fuck" = delays.

See: Killzone 2, Home, and now LBP.

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 12:12 PM

This is really screwed up. One of the biggest points SONY pushed from day 1 of this game was that there would be the beta to help include levels in the game. After countless delays with this game after is looks like its been finished for a while, they should at least give us a beta to fuck with. Poor choice on SONY's part IMO.

Just 4 months ago, they were pretty positive about the beta. Lot can change in a short time I guess:

http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/littlebigplanet-public-beta-still-coming/

PsychoticVile

05-08-2008, 12:14 PM

Makes me wonder if it's not as good as they claim which is usually the case when companies change pace like this. If it is as good as they claim then this is a bad move as I would of tried the beta and it may have gotten me to buy a copy but as it stands I am not planning on picking up this title. It just seems like it would get old after an hour or two and would of made a better PSN title.

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 12:23 PM

Gorvi

05-08-2008, 12:27 PM

It is a PSN title. I'm getting my PS3 this Christmas and this will be one of the first games I get unless it gets crapped on in reviews.
It was announced as both, actually, disc and download, similar to Warhawk and SOCOM.

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 12:29 PM

It's a PSN title and a retail title, if I recall correctly.

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 12:29 PM

It was announced as both, actually, disc and download, similar to Warhawk and SOCOM.

Phil Harrison said the PSN title would release first then a Blu-ray version later down the road. That could have changed though... like Phil Harrison status in the company.

Gorvi

05-08-2008, 12:32 PM

Phil Harrison said the PSN title would release first then a Blu-ray version later down the road. That could have changed though... like Phil Harrison status in the company.
I'd be surprised if they took that route, to be honest. Retail stores hold enough sway that I think even if they want to, they would pretty much have to release the disc at the same time as the download.

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 12:36 PM

I'd be surprised if they took that route, to be honest. Retail stores hold enough sway that I think even if they want to, they would pretty much have to release the disc at the same time as the download.

Well here is an exact quote on what he had to say about it last year:

"It'll debut on the PlayStation Network. And there will be a Blu-Ray disc release next year."

Then when asked if the disc will have the same content as the downloadable version he said "NO" implying that the best user created levels would make their way onto the disc when it went to retail.

Gorvi

05-08-2008, 12:39 PM

Well here is an exact quote on what he had to say about it last year:

"It'll debut on the PlayStation Network. And there will be a Blu-Ray disc release next year."

Then when asked if the disc will have the same content as the downloadable version he said "NO" implying that the best user created levels would make their way onto the disc when it went to retail.
And that was said, what, at GDC last year? A lot has happened since then, like the release of Warhawk. Things change, and retail has enough influence to pressure them into not taking that route.

We don't live in a vacuum, things change that may make something that was said 15 months ago no longer apply.

Variable Gear

05-08-2008, 12:58 PM

Yeah, as time passed I seriously doubted that Sony would have a beta for this title.

Sure, the potential of user-created levels appearing in the retail version of the game peaked my interest, but I'm not surprised that it turned out to be a false claim.

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 01:46 PM

And that was said, what, at GDC last year? A lot has happened since then, like the release of Warhawk. Things change, and retail has enough influence to pressure them into not taking that route.

We don't live in a vacuum, things change that may make something that was said 15 months ago no longer apply.

Sure, I guess if you wanted to assume things then you are right. But last official word was that it's PSN first, Blu-ray later unless you have an official link that says otherwise.

PsychoticVile

05-08-2008, 01:54 PM

It is a PSN title. I'm getting my PS3 this Christmas and this will be one of the first games I get unless it gets crapped on in reviews.

I think you misunderstood me I mean it looks like more of a $12 have some fun with a few friends title that you download not a full $60 boxed release. I know that it will have online play through the PSN.

PsychoticVile

05-08-2008, 01:58 PM

oldjadedgamer

05-08-2008, 02:20 PM

As an added note since I can't seem to edit posts any more. Gamestop is still taking pre-orders for the $60 retail package with an October release date so I will assume no official statement has been made about it being sololy a PSN release.

If we start believing Gamestops release dates then that means Final Fantasy 13 releases in the US this December.

No one ever said it was solely a PSN release. Current official word from Sony is that it's PSN first, and Blu-ray later.

Justin_Bailey

05-08-2008, 05:07 PM

And that was said, what, at GDC last year? A lot has happened since then, like the release of Warhawk. Things change, and retail has enough influence to pressure them into not taking that route.

I think it says a lot that all mentions of this plan keep going back to that one quote. You'd think if Sony really was planning to make LBP the *biggest* PSN title to date, they'd be shouting it from the rooftops some more.

Johan

05-08-2008, 08:26 PM

I look forward to this title with great interest. :D

TheFlyingOrc

05-08-2008, 08:37 PM

I think you misunderstood me I mean it looks like more of a $12 have some fun with a few friends title that you download not a full $60 boxed release. I know that it will have online play through the PSN.

I'd pay $20 to $30 for it - the graphics are at least better than anything you get in Live Arcade or something.

But $60 for N++? Not gonna happen.
See, Gorvi? I told you I had a great new trolling phrase

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:05 AM

This is such a drag. Yet another Sony promise heads to the shitter. :(

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:06 AM

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 07:21 AM

Like how Gran Turismo Prologue ended up Bluray and retail only? :rolleyes:
Huh? It did come out on disc and as a download. That supports the argument that LBP would be done on both at the same time. What are you getting at, exactly?

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:25 AM

Huh? It did come out on disc and as a download. That supports the argument that LBP would be done on both at the same time. What are you getting at, exactly?

Sorry. Thought you were arguing that the game wouldn't be released as a download.

Sony needs to stop making promises they can't keep. The whole thing is easy... until they are ready to act on something, don't discuss it. They can still show off the videos for Little Big Planet, but just don't discuss timeframe or delivery method.

Then, when they have their ducks in a row about when and how the title will launch, make the announcement. It isn't difficult to do, and will help prevent them from being fucking liars.

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 07:30 AM

Sorry. Thought you were arguing that the game wouldn't be released as a download.

Sony needs to stop making promises they can't keep. The whole thing is easy... until they are ready to act on something, don't discuss it. They can still show off the videos for Little Big Planet, but just don't discuss timeframe or delivery method.

Then, when they have their ducks in a row about when and how the title will launch, make the announcement. It isn't difficult to do, and will help prevent them from being fucking liars.
Wow. Overreact much? They announced plans. Plans changed.

TheFlyingOrc

05-09-2008, 07:34 AM

Wow. Overreact much? They announced plans. Plans changed.
Seriously. Kam clearly likes Nintendo, and they aren't exactly legendary for their ability to release things on time, and they have even canceled several releases they announced at the Wii's creation.

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:38 AM

Wow. Overreact much? They announced plans. Plans changed.

I could announce plans to my kid to get them a pony for their birthday. When their birthday comes, I'd better have a pony for her, or I'm a liar. Same thing goes for any industry. If I make claims that my car will get 100 miles to the gallon, it better do that.

This is Sony's M.O. Talk big, constantly change plans. Every time an executive speaks, it is a commitment they are making. It isn't hard to avoid. All they have to say is, "We haven't yet determined the delivery date or method of Little Big Planet." - Problem solved. Don't make commitments you can't keep.

I work with people, and let them set their own deadlines. You tell me something is going to be done on Friday? Awesome. I build the plans around it. Don't get it done on Friday? You fail in upholding your commitment. Make a practice out of failing on your commitments, and I fire you. This isn't fucking rocket science, it is common sense.

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 07:40 AM

I could announce plans to my kid to get them a pony for their birthday. When their birthday comes, I'd better have a pony for her, or I'm a liar. Same thing goes for any industry. If I make claims that my car will get 100 miles to the gallon, it better do that.

This is Sony's M.O. Talk big, constantly change plans. Every time an executive speaks, it is a commitment they are making. It isn't hard to avoid. All they have to say is, "We haven't yet determined the delivery date or method of Little Big Planet." - Problem solved. Don't make commitments you can't keep.
Did you just equate a company exec announcing plans for a title to a parent making a promise to their child? Man, you do take this too seriously.

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:44 AM

Seriously. Kam clearly likes Nintendo, and they aren't exactly legendary for their ability to release things on time, and they have even canceled several releases they announced at the Wii's creation.

Would I be pissed if Nintendo promised an open beta for Mario Kart and pulled out of it? Yeah. I'm pissed at Nintendo at not selling the DVD playback capabilities for the Wii also. Liars.

Would I be pissed at Microsoft for claiming that every system would ship with a hard drive, and then pulling out of said commitment? Hell yes! Fucking liars!

Does that give any one of the companies a free pass for making bold claims that they can't reach? No. Not at all.

violentp

05-09-2008, 07:49 AM

Did you just equate a company exec announcing plans for a title to a parent making a promise to their child? Man, you do take this too seriously.

I read it too. Just ignore it. Here, listen to some Bach.

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 07:50 AM

Did you just equate a company exec announcing plans for a title to a parent making a promise to their child? Man, you do take this too seriously.

Each is a commitment. Each ends in disappointment (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showpost.php?p=1437458&postcount=2).

When the fall 2007 target date for a LittleBigPlanet demo came and went we were sad, but when we heard the full game had been bumped from spring 2008 to September, we were downright despondent. Thankfully, the Sony staffer in this video is there to comfort us, promising that a public beta for the game is still in the works and that it will arrive early enough before the final product so that changes can be made. (What does that feel like to you? Late spring? Early summer? Yeah, we're thinking something along those lines.)

It isn't like the talk of a beta was a one-off, a slip of some executive's tongue. It was a corporate decision, discussed (http://www.gamepro.com/sony/ps3/games/features/104768.shtml) on many occasions and consistently reaffirmed (http://www.joystiq.com/2008/01/16/littlebigplanet-public-beta-still-coming/).
29684
The ESPECIALLY disappointing portion is the knowledge that player feedback from the beta was to be used to improve the game.

I'm glad you think it is okay for people to make promises they can't keep.

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 07:53 AM

I read it too. Just ignore it. Here, listen to some Bach.
That's the plan, there is no reasoning at this point.

I'm listening to Gridlock's Formless album, just as relaxing as Bach can be, just in an ambient electro style.

violentp

05-09-2008, 07:58 AM

That's the plan, there is no reasoning at this point.

I'm listening to Gridlock's Formless album, just as relaxing as Bach can be, just in an ambient electro style.

New Nine Inch Nails over here. Fantabulous.

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 08:07 AM

Some people can't take the truth.

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/goodavatar/noEvil.jpg

Blind fanboys with their fingers in their ears...

...don't like the news? Take the thread off topic.

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 08:08 AM

New Nine Inch Nails over here. Fantabulous.
Hmmm. Not an NIN fan, but glad you're enjoying that.

Did you hear something?

Kamalot

05-09-2008, 08:28 AM

Hmmm. Not an NIN fan, but glad you're enjoying that.

Did you hear something?

Hee hee

Here I have proof that they went back on a big commitment to the game's development process AND a commitment to gamers themselves. It is bad for both the game and consumers. Rather than ignoring me with the built-in ignore function, you prance about changing the subject and acting like a child.

I could see this kind of response from immature nitwits who can't fess up to when their favorite company screwed up, but I expected more maturity from you Gorvi.

Priceless

violentp

05-09-2008, 08:37 AM

Hmmm. Not an NIN fan, but glad you're enjoying that.

Did you hear something?

I really don't know what the argument is about but usually when one resorts to using terms like fanboy to validate the lack of mutual understanding, I tend to change the channel.

Variable Gear

05-09-2008, 08:37 AM

http://i203.photobucket.com/albums/aa55/goodavatar/noEvil.jpg
Awesome! There is, Kikazaru (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harman_Smith#Kikazaru), Mizaru (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harman_Smith#Mizaru), and Iwazaru (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Harman_Smith#Iwazaru). It's Killer 7 celebration day today, if anyone was wondering.

Gorvi

05-09-2008, 08:39 AM

Hee hee

Here I have proof that they went back on a big commitment to the game's development process AND a commitment to gamers themselves. It is bad for both the game and consumers. Rather than ignoring me with the built-in ignore function, you prance about changing the subject and acting like a child.

I could see this kind of response from immature nitwits who can't fess up to when their favorite company screwed up, but I expected more maturity from you Gorvi.

Priceless
The difference, Kamalot, is that you take this a hell of a lot more seriously than I do. You see these things said by these companies as strict commitments and then get all bent out of shape when those "commitments" aren't held to.

You fail to realize two things: 1) Whatever they say are plans, which are subject to change and 2) I just don't care about it as much as you, it's not that big a deal to me.

If what any company plans to do doesn't come to be, it just doesn't. Will I be disappointed if I was looking forward to it? Sure. Will it bother me enough to go around calling them "fucking liars"? No.

Unforseen things happen that change intended plans, no matter how well they're layed out. Games get delayed, features get cut, things don't happen the way they were thought to. This goes for all companies, game companies or not. I don't hate Nintendo because they have a hard time sticking to release dates. I don't hate Sony because they've been pushing back a lot of games recently. I don't hate Microsoft because their promised user created content sharing hasn't come to be in nearly the way they'd hoped.

It's just a fact of life that things don't always go as planned. If you spend so much time getting all worked up over plans changing with game companies, I feel bad for you.