That isn't the sort of changes you're supposed to let an alpha influence, and if that example actually happened, you would in fact be dealing with a terrible developer.

The point of an alpha/beta is to have more people look at it to identify issues and possibilities that enhance the original idea - things that the developers may not have thought of. Core design goals are not part of that (but small tweaks to them may be).

In my understanding (and I know I am not alone here) Beta stage is for balance and bugs (in general). Alpha is still design ; features may be missing.

Well said.
Unfortunately time investment to reward for video games is so much higher than those other mediums that I'm not sure if we'll ever hit "sufficiently diverse".
But as tools become more available and skills more prevalent I still have some hope that we'll get there.

Because it is shifting the goalpost. This is about people liking to play games in alpha/beta stages, which do not precluded liking it better or worse than the final product. Adding the "better" makes the whole discussion meaningless and creating a needless dichotomy... If you start shifting the goalpost like this, then everything you do can be polarized in the same way, and we end up with all of us ever doing only one single thing - the one we "like more". The point here is not what we "like more" but what "we like" - so I ask again "if someone likes to play alphas and betas and watch a game develop, should they not be allowed to do so?"

In the end, they may like the end product more than the alpha/beta product, however this is not to say that they did not enjoyed the earlier versions, or in fact that the appreciation of the final product may be increased just to know what it has gone through during its development. Why is it wrong for someone to enjoy this? or even absurd?

Not as long as the game is sold as a alpha/beta. You buy a game as alpha/beta - you get a game in alpha/beta. If the developer stops production, you still got a game in alpha/beta. This is a risk which is inherent in this process, but it is not unethical to do this. If you do not want to take this risk, then just do not buy an alpha/beta. "Caveat emptor" is a principle which applies here also, as with everything you buy.

Alice should make research into what she buys. The same applies to all games, not only alpha/betas. If Alice is not prepared to take this risk, she should not buy a game in alpha/beta stages and rather wait until it is complete. She bought a game in the alpha/beta stage when she did, and it looked attractive to her, and that is what she got.

Alpha/beta s are a risk, and if you do not like it, then don't buy into it. However, I think it is unfair to prohibit those who do like it to do so. I have bought many alpha/betas who have given me tremendous enjoyment, and I do not regret anyone of them. even thous that seem to be failing, I am glad I have the opportunity to try those concepts and games,no matter how buggy, and I do not regret paying the people who made them for it. But - I always look into it before buying, to make sure that it is something I would like playing. (as with all games I by)

Actually, according to some of the developers the Early Access is different from the game. Those who get the early access on steam, can still pick GOG for the final game.
I no longer have the emails that proclaimed this, but I do know D:OS was one that has said that and I believe Wasteland 2 said the same thing.

But I understand your point...if I had the option to choose GOG with my Wasteland 2 early Access, I would have. However, that would require a client like Steam for easy update. The developers like the ability to update the game during the Alpha and Beta. It saves on erroneous error reports from someone playing an old version of the game.

Also, I am enjoying Wasteland 2 pre-release more than any other game I currently have in my arsenal. Part of that is probably due to it being a Beta and a pretty fun game. But having the added bug finding mechanic in with my normal game, is really addicting to me. Maybe, it's just for those types of people that like to correct spelling on forums.
Also, not for those types of people that like to finish a game and put the game back on their virtual shelf proud of themselves for completing a game. If you don't like replaying games, stay away.

yeah, and even if you get a key for a gOg version later on, it makes it actually worse for gOg.

If you buy Wasteland 2 early access via Steam and later get a gOg key - it is Valve who get the 30% sales cut, not gOg. gOg is just left with the costs of bandwidth and maintenance, without the profit from the sale.

Oh, I meant to say I did the Kickstarter. You are probably correct in that, but I can still give GOG a cut, because I supported the KS not the early access. I hope GOG gets a little something. At least it lets the developer know there are people on GOG that would want to play their games.

I sure hope so! :)

To me at least, GOG is the last true defender of DRM-Free gaming out there. The others have been lost to corruption and greed. Sellouts if you wish. GOG is thankfully still around and waging the good fight, and I hope they keep doing so. As long as they do, I'll be a customer here.

Speaking of... it's becoming very difficult to NOT fork out for Banished, although I told myself I should wait a little longer :whistle:

To the comments above about early access...? This is just yet another terrible ploy by unconscionable providers. You are paying to become a beta tester. Yay!

Ask the people who preordered Eador: Masters of the Broken World... To be fair, this was not GOG's fault but the developer's; the reason most games on GOG work without patching is because they have already been out for a while and had had their most critical patches.

So...you do realize I am fully aware that other retailers do in fact sell finished games, and that I was exaggerating the situation somewhat to engage in topical discussion, right? Technically speaking it was more a comment on the current climate in regards to advertising and what people are being influenced to buy.