Beta 2 - pre-order charging date

Beta is expected in 1-2 weeks on a thursday. My experience was that they charged me the same day of the release.

Thank you kind sir, that is good news for me (and bad news for my poor student wallet)!

Just sell a pint or 2 of blood, and you can afford the other games too 

I guess I hate to say this, but it's only fair that I do: even when the extremely awesome Beta 2 with its full graphical capabilities hit, it won't really be fun! It's still an unfun beta that will make you cry (but this time, only little tears) so if you're in the market for a game, you may want to pick up a finished game.

I am fully counting on it - I am not expecting a polished experience, nor even fun at this point of the development process. I pre-ordered simply to commit money to the game early on while I still have them (because otherwise they might end up being spent on something else).

wait we can pay to get into the beta?

Yes, SD beta are only open to people who have preordered to ensure that only people REALLY interested in the game are participating since there are lots of bugs, it is unpolished and doesn't indicate the quality of the final product. It is really different from others companies betas as input from beta testers can alter some important aspects of the game.

If you preorder but don't want to play the beta, you won't be charged yet.  You are charged as soon as you download it (it's no extra cost, they are just taking your payment for the game early).

I may be wrong but I fear it is the other way: you are charged, you get a serial Id and are able to download the game. If you don't want to be charged, you shall not preorder. I think that all preorders will be processed (and charged) when the next windows for new beta testers will open.

I'm with Peace Phoenix on this one; I think I even read it somewhere here on the forums?

I would LOVE to be wrong, since that shiny new Command Ops: Battles From The Bulge looks great, but I'm not going to cancel my pre-order just because of that.

Yep, Peace Phoenix is indeed right. Citing the almighty "Elemental for Dummies" thread, section on pre-orders:

The way that the system works is that you need a serial key registered in order to download. That's how people with it (be it preorder or final) are distinguished from those without. If you have an uncharged preorder, it's not even linked to your Impulse account in any way yet, it's just queued up in sales. When the beta is opened, all pending preordeers are charged through and those people are issued their serials so they can have access. Those steps (buy, get/register serial, granted access) are inseparable because there's no differentiation between a beta key and a final key.
If you do not wish to tie up your money at such an early stage or want to try the game before doing so, Stardock'd advise against preordering. They usually do a demo after final if that's more your thing, and you can still propose ideas and such on the forum based on others' comments without having the beta yourself.

Speaking as someone who has done multiple Stardock preorders (including Elemental beta 1), this is correct. If you pre-order, you WILL be charged the full cost of the order as soon as the next beta phase opens.

"pre-order" isn't really a good term, some of us prefer to use "pre-purchase", since that's really what you're doing. If you don't want to buy the game until its at retail, do NOT pre-order.

(It's also worth mentioning that it's not a demo. If you pre-order and then download the beta, you won't get a full refund if you cancel the order unless some kind of technical problem prevents you from running the game. If your goal is to try the game to see if you like it, wait for a demo.)

ok im about to pre order. So let me get this right.

i want the standard edition. Which says i get both box and i can downloard the game as well?

And even though the message says " Beta access is currently closed. We will open the beta for
access with the next major beta release later this spring"

Means if i preorder the regular edition, ill get into Beta 2 once it opens up on this week or next?

Yes if you buy it on the Stardock/Impulse store. You will be able to download the beta when the preorder will be processed. And when the retail game ships, you wil get your boxed version. 

will i be able to get into beta 2 with the pre order. Or is that "filled". I imagine Beta 3 will be like the following month. Will there be more open slots for Beta 3 if b2 is closed?

You will most likely get into Beta 2, which should start soon, as discussed in the beginning of the thread. There will be no Beta 3, as any subsequent betas will be merged with Beta 2 as continuous updates, from what I've read. (Someone please correct me if I'm wrong.)

When beta 2 is released, all pre-orders will be charged, and everybody will get access. It's not full, if you order now you will get in.

"Beta 3" is now what "beta 4" was going to be (tactical combat), and beta 4 is what beta 5 was going to be (modding). There will be a beta 3, there wont' be a beta 5.

Thanks for clearing that up, Tridus!

Between the fun of playing the beta game  (so far) and the fun of playing the forum beta-tester 'game', pre-purchasing last Sept. was one of my better game buying decisions.  Odds are you'll be glad you jumped into the beta now.