Try it yourself

Makers of 'Halo Reach' want you to help test its all new avatar.

Bungie, whose latest game in the Halo series generated $200 million sales during its first 24 hours, is looking for alpha and beta testers to help with its next game.

HT Image

'Halo: Reach' was released on Xbox 360 in September, but Bungie has since concluded its publishing deal with Microsoft, instead agreeing to terms with Activision for a brand new franchise that is expected to debut on consoles and computers. Willing guinea pigs can indicate their enthusiasm for the program by signing up on

Bungie.net

and allowing the network to send them updates on becoming a Bungie Beta Tester.

Beta testing has emerged as a way for players to give feedback on games ahead of release while affording developers the chance to stress-test their servers for multiplayer sturdiness. Their popularity has grown so much that they are often offered as promotional sweeteners tied to pre-orders or to other purchases.

The Medal of Honor special editions came with a beta test code for the undated Battlefield 3, Splinter Cell: Conviction pre-orders had one for 2011’s Ghost Recon: Future Soldier, and members of the PlayStation Plus scheme were granted access to Assassin’s Creed: Brotherhood’s October multiplayer beta.