I have good things to say about all these BETA patches, and I have a few bad things to say about them.
Pros:
[*]They are putting time and effort to improve their product and make it more enjoyable for the consumers (at no additional cost to us).
[*]BIS is keeping the community involved with all these new upgrades by having "Public BETA" with their patches. Â Many other game developing companies keep BETA patches private, but BIS seems to be taking a "work with the consumers, for the consumers" aproach.
[*]This really lets us know they are working fast and hard to improve their product for the consumers and OFP fans.
[*]Since so many people are using the BETA Patches in many different ways in a short amount of time, what bugs there are become apparent fast.
Cons:
[*]The Online Community is not as strong as it would be if there was an official upgrade (people are divided since a few use this patch and others use another, etc.).
[*]A good amount of time has passed with no Official Patch, thinning out the community over a wide area as more time passes.
If you are not close to an Official Patch, then make a "stepping stone" official patch, so the servers waiting for an offical upgrade can upgrade, and so that a good portion of the online community can get back together. Â It would show a great acomplishment for the work already done.
Unless the head BIS Boss incharge of this patching effort has said that "there will only be one Official Patch at the end of this project", how could it really hurt to make an official one now, and if more work still needs to be done, make another later?
And to BIS,
Thanks for the great work, and the great game. Â Everything is looking great so far with all the hard work you have put into it. I cant wait for an Official patch. Â Â