http://www.justpushstart.com/2014/02/elder-scrolls-online-will-skip-open-beta/

So?

Good. Open betas have long since stopped being developer tools and have transitioned into being marketing tools, solely.

But they say everyone who signs up will get to beta the game at some point... that's pretty open to me.

He is providing information. Don't be an ass.

I agree. Many games now provide an almost completely finished game as a 'beta' in the hopes that it will drive sales forwards. It's a pretty shameless ploy to call it a beta really; just call it what it is, a marketing exercise.

LOL, and this is a bad thing?

Woah, that's pretty solid confidence in their product. Well, I guess it helps that not much of the mechanics are new, but the scenery is great!

everyone that signed up will get into the beta. its pretty much a controlled open

The only bummer is less chance to play the game before it goes live.

Without an open beta would there be any reason to believe that the NDA will remain till the first day of live play...or close to it?

You guys seem to be missing this bit, which I take to be awesome news:

"We will be holding several very large beta sessions that include beta key giveaway promotions before the game launches."

Several? O.O

Who wants to group up and hit lvl 11 next session, FREEDOM!!

Large? Weekend session +100ks playerbase. It counts!

So, I confirm 3. It counts!

http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/several

adjective \?sev-r?l, ?se-v?-\

They don't want to allow everyone to join up to the game, they want to use.....how can I put it...... some type of filter where only people excited/reviewers get to the game and not "just passing by" type of people. In the end it will be a "open" beta, as in, it will be large and accessible to virtually anyone, and in reality mostly those who care will join, limiting the damage of bad publicity due to bugs in a beta.