Given that the beta is obviously underway, I am both curious and puzzled as to the decisions made relating to the beta selection process. Ive never been selected for game beta testing in my life (I did apply for the Flight beta), despite writing programs and beta testing them as a profession. I'm not so much disappointed that I missed out (though I admit I am disappointed, as I am retired now and would have had time to do a good job for them), as I am simply curious as to what exactly Microsoft were looking for and what filtering they applied to the applicants.At first I thought it might have been because my age was beyond the target demographic, but I no longer think age was necessarily relevant based upon a post or two I have seen today.Furthermore, I have to wonder why Microsoft would have picked up "regulars" from here anyway, since it has become abundantly clear in the last day that Microsoft are not targeting this game at hardcore enthusiasts, but they are most certainly targeting the game at people like me (who I like to think of as anything from the most casual to semi-serious casual desktop flyers).Had the process merely been random (and I expect they would have received a huge number of applications from all sorts of demographics across the globe), then it seems puzzling the seemingly high degree of representation from people on this forum. I mean, it seems like almost every other person is a beta tester.Anyway, I would really like to know at some stage how they choose the testers.

Edited January 5, 201214 yr by JonP01

Dart board maybe?I too share your questions.

I would say random, with perhaps a bias to existing windows live users that have already purchased games via live or DLC. I think a lot of people here would have applied so it only seems statistically reasonable that a number of them got in. Given what we have heard of the game it did not require any experience with the genre and random would suit well - other than showing you already buy in to DLC which they know from your live account.

They probably had a note from their parents that they could apply for the beta testing. :(

I thought MS said the selection process would be throughout the entire month of January. You're telling me that they have already selected their applicants?

Does anyone know the number of beta testers vs. number of applicants?

I would have assumed a nearly open beta phase since the game is going to be released for free. You'd think they'd want as many beta testers as they could get so they buy the addons later. Perhaps more beta testers will be added, and they are separating them into batches to ease server strain? They probably don't want hundreds (or thousands) all piling on at once to download several gigabytes.

I would have assumed a nearly open beta phase since the game is going to be released for free. You'd think they'd want as many beta testers as they could get so they buy the addons later. Perhaps more beta testers will be added, and they are separating them into batches to ease server strain? They probably don't want hundreds (or thousands) all piling on at once to download several gigabytes.

One single hawaiian island isn't several gigs.... :(

One single hawaiian island isn't several gigs.... :(

True. Its just over 1GB ;)

True. Its just over 1GB ;)

ROFL 1GB per island......Whole world will be terabytes at this rate :(

Its my feeling the selection process was/is purely random.

Yeah, random or maybe first come first serve. Those who signed up a month ago might be in the first batch, and those who got on later will probably be in a later batch. Microsoft is still advertising that the beta is open. If all the candidates were picked, they probably wouldn't bother with that.

ROFL 1GB per island......Whole world will be terabytes at this rate :(

Well, much of that is the core of the game and aircraft.

It's just over 1GB, but remember that that includes the core features that will likely be reused for other areas, such as sky textures, the aircraft, "autogen", etc. Anyhow, I've uninstalled the POS.

WOW... so out of curiosity I did a search in my email... LMAO!!!

Yeah, random or maybe first come first serve. Those who signed up a month ago might be in the first batch, and those who got on later will probably be in a later batch. Microsoft is still advertising that the beta is open. If all the candidates were picked, they probably wouldn't bother with that.Well, much of that is the core of the game and aircraft.

I think it's random!

WOW... so out of curiosity I did a search in my email... LMAO!!!

Yeah, I would check junk folders etc. The spam servers have probably added it to their list by now.