A lot of games in the market have strategies of conducting alpha and beta tests in order to get valuable feedback from their prospective audience and execute improvements on the game's launch. Rare takes a step further by involving as many individuals in the conceptualization phase of "Sea of Thieves."
As per the "Sea of Thieves" official website blog post, Rare is launching an Insider Programme that endeavors to get as many people as they can to provide feedback on how the game should be and what they wish they could see. This is a bold move considering this is rarely done, as the said program happens even before a game is produced.
The advantage of signing up is that those who register gets first-hand information on how the development is progressing, and they can actually suggest anything they want to happen to the finished product. Player feedback will definitely be of huge importance, as the game aims to be as relatable as possible to its potential subscribers.
As such, those who register will be assigned badges to use in the private forums, making the players' voices heard in a systematic way. Regular communication will also be sent to update them of how their feedback is being used in the creation of the game.
Announcing our #SeaOfThieves Insider Programme! Help steer the game and get exclusive insights and updates from us! https://t.co/ijNk1ec4OJ pic.twitter.com/SFiiDiTTFy
— Sea of Thieves (@SeaOfThieves) November 22, 2016 " data-caption="null" data-credit="Twitter/ Sea of Thieves">The most enticing perk of it all is that the members of the Insider Programme get first dibs for future alpha and beta testing. From the moment the game is conceived until a prototype is made, members will have the advantage of always being in the loop.
Interested individuals can sign up on the game's official website. Upon signing up, there will be a series of questionnaires and surveys meant to understand the player's gaming habits and preferences. Furthermore, there will be no right or wrong answer, as the developers want to get a variety of respondents for the said program.
"Sea of Thieves" is a pirate-themed game that allows players to explore an open world without having to follow a linear story. Design director Gregg Mayles explained, "We know some players will be happy to sail around and have a good time, spot things like shipwrecks, go find washed up things on beaches to take advantage. But we also know many players will want some kind of known goals - who will want things to do and quests to go on," Eurogamer has learned.
"Sea of Thieves" will be released on Xbox One and Microsoft Windows platforms in 2017.
