EA publicist Jino Talens says it better in this email:

Squad Deathmatch is a brand new mode to BFBC2, so we're still testing and building it out to the way we want it in the final game. The PS3 beta out now is a general term used in the industry when a game is released early to the public for testing purposes, but the game overall is still in early Alpha.

Glad we got that cleared up. Now I can get back to lusting after tanks.

So sign up now, if you're interested. But only if you would like to beta test the PC version, as Square Enix says "Details regarding recruitment for the PlayStation 3 version will be released at a later date."

And please be at least 18 years old. And have a Square Enix ID account (or sign up for one). And only apply once. Thank you.

Final Fantasy XIV Online Beta Test Application Site [FFXIV.com - thanks, many tipsters!]

Total kills recorded during the beta stand at 45.42 million, according to the Battlefield Blog. Other fun facts include 1.01 million marksman headshots, 380,000 houses destroyed, and more than 12,000 killed by defibrillator.

This isn't the work of 10 genocidal madmen killing 4.5 million each, of course. More than 300,000 are participating in the beta, which closes Dec. 21. Battlefield Bad Company 2 is due for a March 2010 release.

Here's the rest of the stats, according to Electronic Arts:

• 3.43M Vehicles Destroyed
• 1.01M Marksman Headshots
• Total number of points awarded: 10,100,094,360
• Total number of Revives: 2.52M
• Total Repair Tool kills: 15.58K
• Total Knife Kills: 1.69M
• Total C4 Kills: 730.81K

PS3 Beta Update! [Battlefield Blog]

[image via]

The listing (above) comes from Thursday's Child's Play Charity Auction Dinner in Seattle. Bungie donated not only a crate full of games and studio swag, but also a visit to the studio's "top secret lair" and "access to the Halo: Reach multiplayer beta before it goes live to the public." Winning bidder, and up to seven friends, supply their own travel, Bungie provides the network and food and, of course, the game.

"Valid only between 4/8/2010 and 4/28/2010 - any day within that range is acceptable," says the listing.

April 29, 2010 is a Thursday. Perhaps it could begin then. Most likely, "Spring 2010" now means "May 2010."

You know the drill. I've emailed Bungie. They say anything, it goes here.

Update: A Microsoft spokesperson has replied:

We're excited that there is so much interest and enthusiasm for the "Halo: Reach" multiplayer beta coming this spring. We're not able to confirm any details about the exact timing or content of the beta at this time but we look forward to revealing more details in the future.

Reach MP Beta - Date Narrowed Down? [halo.bungie.org, thanks Kaelen H.]

Version 1.13 of Blizzard's nine-year-old action-RPG is now yours for the public testing. Simply opt-in to Diablo II's public test realm on Battle.net, update and you'll be good to go. More detailed instructions are at the Battle.net forums.

So what's changed? Well, the option to respecialize a character for one thing. According to the beta patch notes, 1.13 will give players "1 free respec which can be saved" after completing the Den of Evil quest.

Of course, there are major and minor bug fixes, tweaks to each of Diablo II and Diablo II: Lord of Destruction's seven classes and at least one mystery addition. For the full list of patch notes, click click click your way to Battle.net.

1.13 PTR is LIVE – Patch Notes & FAQ [Battle.net]

The R.U.S.E. beta test program going live today is a positive sign that the real-time strategy game will make its early 2010 release date, but we'll wait patiently for a "going gold" announcement and solid confirmation from the publisher before getting too excited.

For those that did get in, let us know what you think. We've messed around with the game at various events and were generally impressed with the ability to play the thing with an Xbox 360 controller and with its simple on the surface, deep underneath strategic gameplay.

Chief among the changes, according to Jeremy Dunham, Zipper's senior community manager is an increase in the level cap to 60 from 40, a "retooled skill tree and experience curve," and "an improved ranking system." Most interestingly is a "proximity chat" feature that allows you to hear the enemy as you get closer, "or trash talk them yourself as you punch 'em full of lead."

Plenty of other details at Dunham's post on PlayStation.Blog, which concludes with a thank you to all of the other beta players preceding the GameStop pre-order beta.

MAG Beta 4 Starts…Now! [PlayStation.blog via VG247]

Unless of course you are a game journalist like our own Stephen Totilo, who discussed his hands-on time with the game earlier today. Judging by this footage, I find myself a little envious. It looks endlessly entertaining.

The PS3 multiplayer beta kicks off on the 19th. After that, PC players get an open beta in December, and a full multiplayer demo drops everywhere next year. If this is your only taste, savor it!

The scramble started when GameStop published a 24-hour promising deal promising access to the PS3 beta beginning Nov. 19. EA DICE's Twitter shot down the story and the deal was later unpublished.

Then, to Blend Games, EA said: "As for the beta, we'll have more details later this week." So, there you go. While those beta invite emails were bogus, it looks like the beta isn't, and might be coming sooner than we thought.

EA Confirms Bad Company 2 Beta, Details Coming This Week [Blend Games via Blue's News]

Says the Battlefield producer Gordon Van Dyke on the Battlefield Blog:

As of today there is no official Battlefield Bad Company 2 Beta and I wanted to warn people out there of fake/hoax sites perpetrating to have a sign-up for one. We do not have any form of beta sign-ups, nor would we ever endorse such a practice or shady url to do so. Please do not let these e-tards take advantage of your enthusiasm for BFBC2 in their scam and only give them the middle-finger if anything. So, unless you read it here or from our official Twitter page it isn't real.

Pretty sure EA's seen copies and sent them to their corporate security team, but If anyone's gotten one of these bogus sign-up come-ons, let me know. I'm curious what information it wanted, whether it was Steam ID and password or what.

Fake BFBC2 Beta Signup Sites! [Battlefield Blog via Blue's News]

For the rest of you, check your Xboxes, update your dashboards—if you can—then Tweet and Facebook your little heads off. Then, tell us if you're liking the new additions, or if you think that Twitter is the devil and steals your soul 140 characters at a time.

It's the triumphant return of the Xbox Live Preview Program, and everybody is invited! Invited to apply that is, but Major Nelson says they are searching for multiple thousands of participants to test out the latest Xbox Live features, and you're just a brief application away from being considered. You can visit the Xbox Live Update Preview page right now to apply, but make sure you've got your Xbox 360 serial number handy, because they're gonna ask for it. I told you to keep it on a card in your wallet, but did you listen?

Xbox LIVE Preview Program: Zune, Facebook and Twitter [Major Nelson]

Tomorrow night at the Penny Arcade Expo, Sony's MAG finally achieves its full potential, showing off the massive, 256-player action gameplay that gave the game its name. In honor of the event and for the sake of the MAG fans that couldn't make it to PAX, Sony and Zipper have come up with a little trivia contest that could score several lucky players a spot in the beta test for the game.

Sony will be posting four MAG-related questions today on the official PlayStation Twitter account. The first six people to respond with the correct answer to each question to @SonyPlayStation will score beta access. Note that this only applies to U.S. residents, and you'll be agreeing to an NDA in order to play.

I hope everything goes well. While I'll be at PAX, tomorrow night is NCsoft's Aion launch party at the Space Needle, so I will be otherwise occupied.

MAG Meet-up at PAX Tomorrow Night! [PlayStation Blog]

The trailer, much like the frozen treats trailer previously released, is full of carefully distilled win. A blonde woman walks through a playground at night; a mysterious creature appears; awesome ensues. It doesn't tell us much more about the game, but that's where the Dark Days are Coming website comes in. A link has appeared on the site with a personality quiz that rates your suitability for one of three game factions - the untamed Illuminati, the holy Templars, and the manipulative Dragon. Completing the quiz and filling out your name and email qualifies you for game updates, a package of wallpapers and avatars, a chance at beta access, and an exclusive in-game item once the MMO launches.

Incidentally, I fit the Dragon clan, as my Facebook profile now indicates. Why set the world on fire when you can make others do it for you? Look at me. The game is nowhere near complete and I'm already roleplaying.

Blir «The Secret World» en våt konspirasjonsdrøm? [Dagbladet.no -thanks Lars!]

Steve Perlman, OnLive founder and CEO, announced the beta today on the service's official blog. Beta registrants who signed up early should keep an eye peeled for an e-mail, but latecomers interested in testing the streaming games service should still take the opportunity to sign up.

OnLive beta hopefuls should ready some "general information about your ISP, your computer configuration and your location" so that the company can determine your worthiness as a beta tester. You'll also be asked to run a "performance test" to doubly verify your beta usefulness.

Then you'll be able to see just how well the service works, if assurances that OnLive "will work" despite doubts of latency potentially ruining all the fun.

Let us know how it goes eh? Curious to see if the public experience is on par with the behind-closed-doors experience.

OnLive Opens the Beta Program [OnLive Blog]

Here's the announcement:

Water is coming to LittleBigPlanet as part of an exciting new kit!

It's not just a saying you know - We really do need to test the water to make sure the new features all work as planned, and we need your help to do it! How would you like to dive on in to the crystal clear waters and enjoy some splish-splashing about before everyone else? Get out your rubber rings people, this is gonna be one hell of a pool party!

If you're interested, you just need to be 18, have a PSN ID, and promise not to ever never never ever never share what you see with those who write about video games. Have fun!

LittleBigPlanet Beta Sign-Up [site, thanks Bob-a]

Some fun facts to go along with the news: the download is just under 2.5GB, and like some other betas, it has limited opening hours, namely between 1000-1300 and 1700-2000 PDT, Monday through Friday.

Kind of limiting, we know, but hey, at least you could do some proper beta work with those times; Sony need help demoing the game at GamesCom this week to those on the showroom floor, so from Wednesday through Sunday people logging in around midnight might find themselves in the unpaid service of Sony Computer Entertainment Europe!

Players who want a taste of the action, which combines skill-based gameplay with that of an FPS, plus a real premium on crafting, need only sign up at FilePlanet begininning Friday at 1 pm U.S. Eastern time.

The game is set in the Grand Canyon in the year 2156, and players either protect and control resources for themselves and their towns, or use them for more perfidious ends.

There's also some pre-order premiums through Fallen Earth's preferred digital distributor. More info at the official web site.

Battle Begins Aug. 17 in Open Beta [Fallen Earth site, via Blue's News]

Zipper Interactive's Massive Action Game has already been beta testing for a select few, but it appears this round of invites is going out to a much much larger group—the kind needed to test those 256-player battles in a more accurate setting.

The potential bad news is the warning that "registration does not guarantee participation," which means some MAG hopefuls may remain just that.

Thanks to everyone who sent this in!

There's been a closed beta for the Korean MMO/FPS hybrid running on Fileplanet for a little while now, but that's not of interest to you. You probably weren't part of it. You can, however, be a part of an open closed beta (bear with me), which is now seeing anyone and everyone in North America with a Fileplanet account (not a subscription, just an account) given access to the beta.

If you're in Europe or Australasia? Sorry.

Huxley Beta [Fileplanet, via Massively]