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No Uninstallation with Beta

What is it with gaming companies making beta releases of their games that don't include uninstallations?

I try to beta test as many games as I can because I think it's exciting to try out games before anyone else and I enjoy trying to make a game I'm anticipating get released in the best playable state possible. As a Software Engineer, I take great pains in making my software as bug free as possible and I expect nothing less from others. But it really agitates me when companies put out a beta release of a game that has a complete installation function but lacks uninstallation features.

You took the time to make a fancy update/patch system. You installed a Start menu folder (without asking, another no-no). You added a desktop icon (see adding a Start menu folder). You filled my registry's HKEY_LOCAL_MACHINE tree with entries up the wazoo. Why can't you undo it all?

Now, I understand it's a beta. Trust me. I understand betas better than most people. They're incomplete. They're buggy. Most of the time, the installation is just a stub since the final file structure isn't complete and the art for the installer is worthy of being attached to the refrigerator with a magnet. But the least you can do is help me keep my hard drive and registry clean. Windows doesn't always add that nifty item in the Add/Remove Programs dialog, ya know?

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This page contains a single entry from the blog posted on September 10, 2003 9:37 PM.

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