SpyParty 'Early-Access Beta' sign-ups begin, costs $15 when beta opens

Like Minecraft before it, SpyParty is being made by just one man, and it will cost a nominal amount to access the game's public beta. Creator Chris Hecker announced as much on the SpyParty blog today, detailing the game's $15 beta access -- which will eventually roll over into a full game license when SpyParty officially launches -- and also noting that it will be rolled out in batches "over the next few months" as he expands server capacity.

While signing up to be part of the "Early-Access Beta" program doesn't cost anything, Hecker encourages only serious inquiries to add their email. OS X users should also hold off for the time being, as the beta will be PC-only initially, though Hecker adds "but not forever" in the same breath. Finally, though no specific parameters are given, he says "any 3D graphics card from the past few years" should be sufficient enough to handle the game's visuals.

Wondering what all the hullabaloo about SpyParty is? Catch up with our extensive coverage of the bizarre and endearing two-player psychological strategy shooter right here!

Reader Comments (21)

I still don't get it. With all the hype, I want a reason to be excited about it, but I haven't seen many descriptions about it (other than what's in the upper right-hand corner).

@cantwait2bhome
Also, all of the screenshots make me think of the Sims.

@cantwait2bhome If you mean the general concept: one person plays as a person at the party, while another watches through the scope of a sniper rifle. The partygoer has to accomplish tasks while still blending into the party/the AI characters. The sniper has to pick this person out and kill them. Their targeting dot is visible to everyone, and he only gets one shot at the target. So you have all kind of crazy multiplayer mind games going on, with the "human" trying to blend in with NPCs and the sniper constantly trying to put pressure on the other player to slip up.

I have no idea how it'd translate to a single player experience, but it seems absolutely delicious for multiple people.

@cantwait2bhome

The Concept I think is really cool though.
I'm interested sounds like a lot of fun.

@cantwait2bhome It's a 1 vs 1 mind game, basically.
One is a spy, the other a sniper.
A spy's job is to do a number of objectives, but at the same time blend in with the AI and fool the sniper.
The sniper is supposed to identify who's the human player in the crowd of AI-people. He has to look out for odd behavior, and since the spy can see the sniper's laser sight, they can both use it for their advantage. Does the sniper aim at the spy to scare him, or does he aim at the AI to trick the spy?

It's very psychological. Since you only have one shot, you have to be really careful about what you're doing. I think it's a brilliant concept, and would be very fun to play with friends.

@Once known as Shadsy
and @Digital Viking

Wow, that sounds really cool. I am definitely interested now and can see why everybody is talking about it. I guess I never saw the original "introduction" concerning it.

It's like, a reverse turing test, you're trying to look like a computer-controlled player to blend in, while the other player tries to find you in the crowd.

Signed-up here

okay you fulfilled your "pretending to care about indie games" quota for the year, can we stop pretending this game wont be awful now

@ORTHROK

lol at thinking indie games are awful.

@ORTHROK

Why did you bother to click the link and read the story?

@sicsided i dont think indie games are awful, i just think joystiq is completely disingeniune in its coverage of them, and also that this game is awful

Damnit, I'm not going to pay for a beta!

*starts up New Vegas*

Minecraft was initially free correct? How can you ask for $15 to play a beta when you released such little information regarding it. It might be broke completely, how long will it take to be fixed should you not be able to play it, what if it's just not good? It would be far more ethical if early adopters got free access. If the game is good word will spread and then you can ask for $15 dollars.

Having customers pay you in order to help you fix your game is pretty distasteful in my opinion. Of course nobody is forcing anyone to play it so maybe it's an okay thing to do. Perhaps some will gladly pay the price of admission. I just think it could be a bad sign of things to come. It's bad enough developers use betas and demos as marketing tools these days. Which completely contradicts the idea behind them.

Spy Party definitely intrigues me. I have been interested in it since reading about it almost a year ago. Don't think I am willing to be one of the initial buyers until word of mouth spreads regarding the quality of the game.

@HaVoK308

"It's bad enough developers use betas and demos as marketing tools these days. Which completely contradicts the idea behind them."

Uh, what exactly is a demo for, then?

@HaVoK308

Demo is for promotion.
Beta is not.
Both should be free.

This game sounds cool and all, but the developer is way too self-absorbed to the point of a $15 beta.

@wcarnation
Yeah exactly. It looks bad, looks like the kind of visuals my students would whip up for concept art in the space of an afternoon. The game itself sounds a little too simple. Is there some kind of reward for getting the right kill at the end? Because no it just sounds dull and lifeless. An experiment that has dragged on beyond it's natural life and into absurdity that nobody should care about.

Here's Chris' response to the inclusion of the fee-"There are definitely server costs involved, so that’s part of it, but I’m also hoping this can at least partially fund the game. If not, I’m going to need to take some investment in the future, which always comes with strings attached. So, if the community can help fund it, that would rock because it would allow me to make SpyParty with no comprimises."

@ChaoticracerX
I'm pretty sure Chris Hecker could have got plenty of funds off Kickstarter if he went that route.

I don't think the beta being $15 is an issue as long as he set's up the same deal as minecraft (buy the beta, and you get the game).

I'm still excited about the game but if I'm just paying for beta privileges, I can just wait for the final game.

SpyParty

SpyParty 'Early-Access Beta' sign-ups begin, costs $15 when beta opens

Reader Comments (21)

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:41PM cantwait2bhome said

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:43PM cantwait2bhome said

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:44PM Once known as Shadsy said

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:48PM Jawmuncher said

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:53PM Digital Viking said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:10PM cantwait2bhome said

Posted: May 10th 2011 2:53PM Raffi256 said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:01PM kalmis said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:06PM ORTHROK said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:26PM sicsided said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:44PM HaVoK308 said

Posted: May 10th 2011 6:29PM ORTHROK said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:09PM Da Largest said

Posted: May 10th 2011 3:42PM HaVoK308 said

Posted: May 10th 2011 5:04PM Acosta02 said

Posted: May 10th 2011 5:26PM Batman said

Posted: May 10th 2011 6:00PM wcarnation said

Posted: May 10th 2011 6:10PM Banksyliveraa said

Posted: May 10th 2011 8:29PM ChaoticracerX said

Posted: May 11th 2011 3:41AM Crayola Q Pants ESQ said

Posted: May 11th 2011 8:40AM Codeman said

SpyParty Info

Description

MSRP

Release Date

Genre

Developer

Publisher

Rating

Breaking News

WB conjures up Harry Potter for Kinect this fall

Featured Stories

Weekly Webcomic Wrapup is a stranger in a strange land

Silver Lining: I Am Alive's unfeeling world

Game Of Thrones and the paradoxes of adaptation

Engadget

TUAW

Massively

WoW