Battlecruiser Millennium Beta Testing Registration

BetaNews was sent word that the beta testing for the new Battlecruiser Millennium game has just opened. To get the beta of the game you must purchase it on CD from the BMT Micro Store front in the upcoming weeks when it opens. The game is about 250MB large, and "has built-in
serialization for security reasons."

Here is what the press release had to say:

BCM BETA TEST REGISTRATION NOW OPEN!

You can register for the Beta test from the Beta Test Home page. (http://www.3000ad.com/gnn/)

Couple of things to note, before you apply:

Not everyone from the general public will be approved.

If you are not a member of the existing BC community or the press, your chances of getting approved are significantly reduced. But, you are welcome to try - we can do with a bunch of Red Shirts on the multiplayer servers, from time to time.

The Beta build of Battlecruiser Millennium will not be available for download.

For one thing, the Beta build is roughly about 250MB and has built-in serialization for security reasons.

It will be available on CD-ROM only, which can be purchased via the BMT Micro store front once it goes online within the next few weeks.

The total charge for the Beta CD-ROM will be approximately $15 and includes the cost of the CD-ROM as well as shipping and handling worldwide. This fee is non-refundable even if you are kicked off the Beta program. When in doubt, read the NDA on the Beta test page before agreeing to it.

However, when the product goes live, because your purchase record will be in our database, you will have the option to upgrade your Beta CD-ROM to the full Final version at a discount off the retail price. There may an upgrade path to the boxed Final version due out in Q1 2001, but this will depend on the publisher and whether or not 3000AD retain the rights to sell direct.

Note that while the Beta is a full version, it will not be compatible with the Final version, nor is the final Beta likely to reflect the Final retail version, especially as it pertains to multiplayer. So, if you decide not to upgrade to the Final version, you will still be able to play the Beta version if you have been downloading the sequential Beta upgrades.

The Beta and Final versions will be different in a lot of aspects, so, your purchasing the Beta version does not warrant that you will have access to the Final version. You've been warned.
The Beta is not a demo nor is it crippled in any shape or form apart from work-in-progress features, lurking bugs, play balancing, compatibility issues etc. There will be a free public demo based on the final version and with the usual feature crippling, just before the Final version goes Gold.

If this sounds familiar, it is. Back to the good old days of try before you buy shareware.
Even if you are not in the Beta program, you've got three months, plus the demo, to make up your mind based on what you read about it from those playing it or writing articles about it. Ignorance is not a plausible defense when it comes to buying games these days.

And if you don't want to pay for Beta version, don't register.