Joystiq

Infinite Crisis closed beta begins next week

Jordan Mallory — Wed, 01 May 2013 19:30:00 EST

Turbine Entertainment's DC Universe MOBA, Infinite Crisis, will begin its closed beta testing next week on Wednesday, May 8, publisher Warner Bros. has announced. Folks interested in participating in the testing initiative should fill out an application, provided they - like us - have sufficiently mastered the art of using a gaming mouse while wearing Batman gauntlets.

Warner Bros. also released some new artwork showcasing Infinite Crisis' multiverse variants of Batman and Wonder Woman. Gaslight Batman is pretty cool, we guess, but did you see that robot? She's like if Wonder Woman were a Persona user.

Gallery: Infinite Crisis (Key Art)

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Infinite Crisis closed beta begins next week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 01 May 2013 19:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Hawken closed beta runs Oct. 26 - 29 [Update]

Jordan Mallory — Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST

Despite what plebeians like us may think, shooting giant robots with other giant robots isn't something you can rush into all willy-nilly. In actuality, there are many, many factors to consider: What if this weapon is more effective than originally planned? With if we've accidentally created a deviously cunning artificial intelligence bent on eradicating the cancer that is humanity from the surface of the Earth?

Thankfully, most evil AI issues can be found through a closed beta test, which Adhesive Games' upcoming free-to-play mech shooter Hawken will be conducting from October 26 through October 29.

"The more that we find wrong now; the smoother open beta will go," said Meteor Entertainment CEO Mark Long in a press release available after the break, ~~though no information was given regarding when that open beta will take place~~. Anyone interested in signing up for the closed beta can do so here. Just, you know, study up on your paradoxes.

Update: Meteor Entertainment has contacted us to clarify the statement made by Long in the press release. By "open beta," Long was actually referring to the game's previously announced release date of December 12, rather than an additional testing phase prior to Hawken's release.

Continue reading Hawken closed beta runs Oct. 26 - 29 [Update]

Hawken closed beta runs Oct. 26 - 29 [Update] originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 12 Oct 2012 14:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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New York Times: Steam Big Picture public beta starts Monday

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 08 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST

Last August, we found out that Steam's Big Picture interface would be moving into its beta phase "soon," but we never expected it would be, like, soon. It is Valve after all, and we never figured that Big Picture's public beta would happen in our lifetimes, let alone on Monday, September 10, like the New York Times says.

For those of you who haven't been following this song's bouncing ball, allow us to refresh your memory: Steam's Big Picture interface is a custom UI designed specifically to make Valve's all-encompassing digital storefront more user-friendly on televisions. It's being designed with controller-based navigation in mind and would represent Valve's first formal step into the living room. Whether Monday's testing is truly public or invitation based like its Community beta remains to be seen.

New York Times: Steam Big Picture public beta starts Monday originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 08 Sep 2012 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Closed beta testing for Zynga Bingo begins

Jordan Mallory — Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST

If you love games of chance and stamping cards but hate being around the elderly, know that Zynga is working on a solution for your extremely specific and worryingly ageist dilema. Zynga Bingo has begun beta testing and will be made available to the general public "very soon," according to Shacknews.

The app will join Zynga Poker as part of the Zynga Casino suite and will allow players to score on up to six cards, as well as fill in spots on friends' cards. There will also be power-ups of some kind, which is where we expect to find Zynga's trademark monetization, although that's purely speculation on our part. We also expect Zynga Bingo to post "BINGO!" on your friends' walls every time you win, but we desperately hope we're wrong about that.

Closed beta testing for Zynga Bingo begins originally appeared on Joystiq on Sat, 28 Jan 2012 22:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More Dota 2 beta invites going out this week

Griffin McElroy — Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST

If you haven't already thrown your name in the ring for the Dota 2 beta test, you might want to do so in the next couple ... seconds. Valve has announced that a new wave of beta invites would be sent out this week to select participants who have filled out this Steam survey.

Don't forget: If you get picked to test the game, you'll get two extra downloads of the beta to distribute to your friends. As it stands, your best bet isn't to apply for the beta yourself, but just, you know, be really popular.

More Dota 2 beta invites going out this week originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 02 Nov 2011 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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More SWTOR 'Beta Test Weekend' invites sent out

Richard Mitchell — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST

That disturbance in the Force you feel isn't an exploding planet, it's a horde of Star Wars fans rushing to their computers to see if they've made it into the Star Wars: The Old Republic beta. BioWare has announced that the second SWTOR "Beta Testing Weekend" will begin on October 7 and run through October 11.

Invites for this weekend have already been sent, and new testers have been pulled from the US, Canada and European launch countries. In other words, Sith and Republic hopefuls may want to check their inboxes.

Anyone feeling left out can sign up for future beta tests right here.

More SWTOR 'Beta Test Weekend' invites sent out originally appeared on Joystiq on Wed, 05 Oct 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bleszinski: Gears 3 multiplayer has to be good, or 'the franchise is dead'

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST

Not only are we excited about the prospect of joining the Gears of War 3 beta next month because, you know, of all the dude-sawing -- we're also hopeful that the tests will prevent a rough start-up for the full game's multiplayer experience. In an interview with IGN, Epic Games design director Cliff Bleszinski acknowledged (the beta test-less) Gears of War 2's less-than-optimal online offerings at launch, saying the developer "can't afford to make that mistake twice."

The outspoken developer explained, "if we release Gears 3 and it has the same launch as Gears 2 online then the franchise is dead." He later added, "to be fair, over the course of the six title updates, we got Gears 2 in a very good position. And we need to take it to great. And that's what this will help do." We've got another suggestion for making the game "great" -- two chainsaws. One on your gun, and another one on your chainsaw.

Chainsawsaw.

Bleszinski: Gears 3 multiplayer has to be good, or 'the franchise is dead' originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 10 Mar 2011 21:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Bungie enlisting beta testers with chance to get in on secret project

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST

Look, it's likely that Bungie's next game is going to be a casual, monster-collecting/kart-racing/trivia/MMA fighting game. Don't you want to get in on that -- on the ground floor? You could be among the first to try Bungie's upcoming, unannounced opus by signing up to become a "Bungie Beta Tester" on the studio's forums. Enlisting in this manner makes you eligible to participate in playtests, surveys and -- as the title suggests -- alpha and beta tests, but Bungie notes, "Not all who enlist will be selected."

Signing up for a chance to participate in a beta test for a game that hasn't even been announced yet may sound kinda odd, but it's a much saner idea than becoming a "Bungee Beta Tester," which is better suited for crash test dummies and other human-shaped things.

Bungie enlisting beta testers with chance to get in on secret project originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Over 8,000 updates and bug fixes in latest MAG beta update

Griffin McElroy — Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST

Looks like a certain beta testing community hasn't neglected its duties as a stalwart lookout for bugs, errors and other unsavory in-game snafus. This morning, Zipper Interactive launched a patch for the MAG beta client which includes over 8,000 updates and bug fixes. The patch will be automatically downloaded and installed next time you hop into the Shadow War.

A brief synopsis of the important changes can be found after the jump. We elected to not include the full list of 8,000 updates, as it would have delayed this post until mid-April, at which point it would have been fairly useless to you.

Continue reading Over 8,000 updates and bug fixes in latest MAG beta update

Over 8,000 updates and bug fixes in latest MAG beta update originally appeared on Joystiq on Thu, 22 Oct 2009 11:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Media Molecule taking beta applications for LittleBigWater

Griffin McElroy — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST

We only have so much anticipation that we can distribute between this year's big titles -- however, we've had to move a considerable portion over to an unexpected release: The addition of water to LittleBigPlanet. We know, it's not even a game so much as a new game mechanic, but it should breathe new life into the title's million-level-strong homebrew community.

Fortunately, we might not have to wait much longer for this digital precipitation to accumulate -- Media Molecule is now taking applications for a beta version of the water-infused LBP kit. You better believe we'll be there with bells on -- only, you probably won't hear them, because bells have an awfully hard time ringing underwater.

Media Molecule taking beta applications for LittleBigWater originally appeared on Joystiq on Fri, 21 Aug 2009 12:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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