Final Fantasy XI beta edition factory sealed?

I wonder why they gave a beta a retail package and seal ?

 

Just how it was really. Full package would have the harddrive and everything as well

 

This was probably for those people registered at PlayStation Underground. Lots of online games had public beta tests prior it's release.

What i found is that:

Final Fantasy XI [PS2 Beta Disc1] had the serial code: SCUS-97271
Final Fantasy XI [PS2 Beta Disc2] had the serial code: SCUS-97272

And the final retail
Final Fantasy XI [Disc 1] had the serial code: SCUS-97266
Final Fantasy XI [Disc 2] had the serial code: SCUS-97269

But in this case the outer package shows it this way: SCUS-97266/97269

Info found here:
http://www.sonyindex.com/Pages/PS2_US_Serial.htm

PS: All their public beta test games have their own serial code. Try searching for "public test" and see for yourself.

PS@2: Never knew that GT4 had online tests in the USA: HERE. Anyone have that disc? h:

 

I remember wantonly signing up for that beta back in the day and not getting it. Of course I didn't own a PS2 at that time .

 

PS@2: Never knew that GT4 had online tests in the USA: HERE. Anyone have that disc? h:[/QUOTE]

What does the disc look like?

 

All i found was this:

http://forum.redump.org/topic/3827/addedps2-gran-turismo-4-online-public-beta/

The post by iR0b0t, shows the japanese version (that i have)

The next post, by robbot, shows 4 pics of the US online version. The disc looks very similar the normal US GT4 release.

See:

 

Yeh FFXI had a public beta, nothing terribly interesting really.

I had a Everquest Adventures public beta #3, not terribly interesting either sadly.

 

There was also a beta for Xbox 360 which was a full game basically. It expired once the retail version hit the shelves. Most of the UK guys should remember it well.

 

Here in the states that got put out with OXM at the time. Used to have a copy and installed it at one point. It wouldn't update to the latest software and run so it was essentially useless.

 

Found Jak X

Did these all come factory sealed in retail style cases?

 

Apart from FFXI beta, i doubt it. Most were just like that JakX, plus a small manual.

 

buyatari, i was online tester for PAL online games for ps2, games were sent out that ran on normal retail ps2s (looked like promo-versions, but instead with blue printing on it, the printing was red)

i have games such as:

jak x combat racing
metal gear solid 3 (the online portion)
fifa
s.l.a.i.
everybody's golf

what you show off in the picture supposes that american beta's actually got a color-print on their discs.

i have dozens more, i don't have them all in my head. nothing actually to wonder about. talking about sealed final fantasy xi beta: they produced it at the official production site for ps2 games so it got this treatment.

about gt 4 online, this is actually quite known, IGN even previewed the online mode:

http://ps2.ign.com/articles/711/711082p1.html

you'll find plenty of screens there, should be a blessing for every GT-fan how doesn't know about this yet

 

Yes, even Public Beta discs were color-printed in the US.

As for GT4 Online (Us version) i knew they were beta testing, and i remember that IGN hands-on (that talks about the japanese version that i have), but i really did not remember knowing it had a public beta testing in the US. Maybe i forgot.

Anyway, thanks for the link :thumbsup:

 

I can see beta testing FF or GT but Jak X? Why bother?

 

selfmade seal?

 

No that is original. There is a fat manual on the outside which is why the seal that you see doesn't look standard. However, there is a standard seal complete with the security sticker under that seal on the game box.

Came from a guy in the industry who holds anything out of the ordinary for me.

him -> Hey you want this?
me -> Sure looks cool I'll take it.

 

SCEA/SCEE did beta testing for all their games with online-components.

including everybody's golf, jak x combat racing etc... was just a matter of politics i guess. as for the FFXI beta, a few hundreds were produced at the official production site for ps2 games, so, as i said, it got the full treatment. print, seal, etc

 

The Everquest Online Adventures beta came in a cardboard sleeve for shipping and had a simple paper envelope with a clear plastic front to see the disk through. A small manual came with it that was printed double sided on a single sheet of paper.

Nothing special, just functional.

 

The North American beta of Final Fantasy XI came with the HDD and the necessary utility disc (then, the version 1.0 from 2001)

At the end of the beta test period the users were expected to return their hard disks to Square Enix. That would allow they to receive a new drive or something like that. I am not sure of the details.

The retail kit came with the hard disk pre installed and the utility disc version 1.01 which contained updated DVD driver (3.0U) and some anti modchip fixes.

The hard disk updates the PS2 browser and add a few functions like USB keyboard and mouse on the PS2 browser screen.

Back on topic. Since few of these were made and even less must exist now factory sealed I'd say it's pretty rare stuff. Useless but indeed rare

 

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