It will be the same price.
Beta testers get the game early and get to help influence it. You want more?
I appreciate the opportunity to provide feedback and help shape a game I'd like to play, I'm just surprised Beta testers don't get any sort of discount. My rationale for the discount is:
1. Signing up now vs. signing up right before the first Beta is released has no financial incentive with it since it won't be delivered for quite some time.
2. Beta games, while fun to provide input, will be less stable, more buggy, and incomplete. While Beta testers for SD aren't under any obligation to help fix the game (which is nice), there is a lot of investment in time in addition to money from the testers themselves.
3. Having people help test the game should result in a better game, which should result in more sales for SD. Why not pass along some of the financial benefit to those whom are helping to indirectly produce the game, too? They'll also likely be the same ones to help provide support in the forums and purchase any future expansion packs.
4. I've seen SD have a reduced rate for Beta testers for other games (I know at least Gal Civ 2 and Demigod). Why should Elemental be different? Or will Elemental actually sell at a higher price than $50?
It's really not a big deal, I just was surprised to see this "fixed" by increasing the pre-order rate, but then again, it's only $5.
