What is a Beta Trial?
In order to get useful and realistic feedback from real users, some software companies deliver pre-release software to a select number of users to try it out and report bugs, make suggestions, or just give significant customers clear evidence of the state of the product and dispel rumors of vaporware.
Wrath of the Lich King
0. Wrath of the Lich King Beta Scams | 2007-11-26 17:39 by Nethaera:
Please be aware, there is currently no Beta or beta sign-ups going on for the next World of Warcraft Expansion, Wrath of the Lich King. Should a Beta phase begin, we will post a notice on the official website.
As always, please be careful about giving out account information or passwords.
The Burning Crusade
See The Burning Crusade section of Closed Beta Trial.
World of Warcraft
Before the official retail release of World of Warcraft (where you could actually buy the regular or Collector's Edition box in the store), there was a long Closed Beta Trial, a short Beta Stress Test, and a short Open Beta Trial. During this time, these lucky people got to play the unfinished version (client and server) at various stages as it approached the state Blizzard deemed good enough for release (which is usually a pretty high quality bar knowing their usual standards).