WoW Closed Beta Ends

[Kageru]

If darkfall ever gets released, which from their website looks like a 50-50 chance, I'm definitely going to be reading the boards. That game design should be extremely entertaining in practice.

[Riggswolfe]

Look here. We KNOW these two releases really shouldn't be releasing this early. We know they aren't finished, nor are they in a release state. Both have some serious issues or missing content that should be there in release, in a world in which the industry gave a fuck about its own standards of quality. Are they playable in beta? Sure. So was Shadowbane.

Just out of curiousity what content do you see WoW as missing? It is missing talents for two classes but they are in the next patch. (if they don't show up in the stress test we'll know that was BS) and it is missing 1 or 2 warlock pets.

I also don't see any serious issues in WoW. I can't remember the last time it crashed or did something bad to my computer. Probably early summer.

I just think maybe a bit of your burnout is bleeding over.

EQ2 feels slightly less finished than WoW. However, both of them feel much more complete than alot of other launches I can think of. (EQ1, AO, SWG, I can think of more if I put my mind to it.)

[Masuri]

I also don't see any serious issues in WoW. I can't remember the last time it crashed or did something bad to my computer. Probably early summer.

Golly.

I played a guildmate's account for about the last 8 days and wowie did that sucker crash a ton.  Lots of crashes to desktop, sadly.

As far as bugs go, I didn't really see too awful many things.  However, the one glaring problem I found was a loss of status updates.  I'd stop running but the game thought I was still moving.  I quit fighting but the game didn't realize it.  I was done casting but the game was sure I was still doing so.  And it wasn't confused for a couple seconds, I mean it didn't realize it ever.  Also, mobs warped around a ton due to the same issue, I imagine.  This killed me repeatedly, because the mob would register as having moved past me and I'd get the fateful "The target must be in front of you" message about 4 times, then he'd appear in front of me and I'd be dead.  Not fun.

Mind you, this was as recently as Thursday night.

I hope they aren't rushing this game out.  I had a blast playing my undead mage, I got to level 19 and I liked the quests and the storyline for undead.  I don't know if I will buy this, but if I do, I'd be plenty pissed if this stuff was still an issue.  Maybe it can be tuned during a stress-test, I don't know.  Still, I am underwhelmed by such seemingly basic issues still occuring so late in the beta testing.  Although I've only played a couple of their games, I've always heard Blizzard's titles were tested fanatically and not released until ready - maybe they decided it wasn't worth it to apply the same quality to their MMOG.

--Masuri

[AOFanboi]

So sad yet comforting at the same time: It looks like even the socially inept can find a niche for themselves in this world.

*shrug' It's just "cosplay" related to an MMORPG instead of anime or console RPGs. What's the big deal? Certainly looks more socially "ept" than sitting in front of a computer pretending to be strange people.

[Merusk]

So sad yet comforting at the same time: It looks like even the socially inept can find a niche for themselves in this world.

*shrug' It's just "cosplay" related to an MMORPG instead of anime or console RPGs. What's the big deal? Certainly looks more socially "ept" than sitting in front of a computer pretending to be strange people.

Cosplay gets the same level of respect as furries around these parts.

 "Why?" you ask.

Because of 35 year-old men who weigh 280 pounds and stuff themselves into Sailor Moon outfits.

[esad]

So sad yet comforting at the same time: It looks like even the socially inept can find a niche for themselves in this world.

*shrug' It's just "cosplay" related to an MMORPG instead of anime or console RPGs. What's the big deal? Certainly looks more socially "ept" than sitting in front of a computer pretending to be strange people.

The difference is, I can sit at home in front of my computer and do anything I like and nobody has to know about it. For these folks it's a very public lifestyle.

[Samwise]

So because they engage in their hobby around other people, i.e. in a social setting, they're "socially inept", whereas you who shut yourself in a room alone for your hobby are "sociable"?

Did I miss the memo about it being Bizarro Day?  :P

[Big Gulp]

So because they engage in their hobby around other people, i.e. in a social setting, they're "socially inept", whereas you who shut yourself in a room alone for your hobby are "sociable"?

Not necessarily, but if you feel like dressing up like some queer fucking anime character at least have the decency and good judgement to keep your ass out of public view.

Really, that's just common sense.

[Neph]

So because they engage in their hobby around other people, i.e. in a social setting, they're "socially inept", whereas you who shut yourself in a room alone for your hobby are "sociable"?

Not necessarily, but if you feel like dressing up like some queer fucking anime character at least have the decency and good judgement to keep your ass out of public view.

Really, that's just common sense.

Can we still dress up as medieval people?

BTW most of those costumes were quite well made and was good to see people not going about it half-assed.

[esad]

So because they engage in their hobby around other people, i.e. in a social setting, they're "socially inept", whereas you who shut yourself in a room alone for your hobby are "sociable"?

Did I miss the memo about it being Bizarro Day?  :P

You missed the relevant point of my post methinks.  The key word there is "social." Society doesn't have to know anything about one, but can know everything about the other.

As far as society at large goes I could be cleaning the kitchen, writing a letter to my mother or watching CSI like everyone else.  Unless I bring it up in a social setting,  it's nothing that society is aware of.

Dressing up like a anime character and parading around the local square is another kettle of fish altogether.

[Ardent]

Yay! YET ANOTHER thread derailed into the furry/dress up/loser debate!

Quick, I think there's a thread on page 3 somewhere that hasn't had this dead ... no, mummified ... horse beaten into submission! Hurry!

[HaemishM]

Look here. We KNOW these two releases really shouldn't be releasing this early. We know they aren't finished, nor are they in a release state. Both have some serious issues or missing content that should be there in release, in a world in which the industry gave a fuck about its own standards of quality. Are they playable in beta? Sure. So was Shadowbane.

Just out of curiousity what content do you see WoW as missing? It is missing talents for two classes but they are in the next patch. (if they don't show up in the stress test we'll know that was BS) and it is missing 1 or 2 warlock pets.

The missing talents will not have proper time to be tested. By some accounts, content for the true catass bastard will run out really quickly. You do not add new things like that to classes in the two weeks before release. It smells of the "supR seKRIt" gold client that is supposed to cure all ills and make everything rosy automagically before release.

In other words, same as it ever was.

[Samwise]

Dressing up like a anime character and parading around the local square is another kettle of fish altogether.

I saw no evidence that any of the people from those photos were parading around the local square.  For that matter, most cosplay nuts seem to confine their activities to gatherings that for the most part consist of like-minded people.

But even if it WERE out in public, I'd say having the cojones to engage in their hobby out in public makes them far more socially capable than someone who locks himself in his basement.  Nine tenths of being "sociable" is self-confidence.

[AcidCat]

 By some accounts, content for the true catass bastard will run out really quickly.

I certainly won't mind if catassers bypass WoW altogether. I like that the game doesn't cater to their obsessive/compulsive playstyle.

[Ardent]

Agreed, AcidCat. One of the appeals of WoW to me is that maximum level is actually achievable in my lifetime.

[Fargull]

The missing talents will not have proper time to be tested. By some accounts, content for the true catass bastard will run out really quickly. You do not add new things like that to classes in the two weeks before release. It smells of the "supR seKRIt" gold client that is supposed to cure all ills and make everything rosy automagically before release.

Haemish,

I see eye to eye in a lot of your posts, but so far with WOW, the only bitch issue is the lack of talents and non-tested raid content.  At least that I have seen, but I have not heard any of the SOE patented lies that have been handed down.  To the best of my knowledge Blizzard has not played the super secret card, they have played the lets be honest and admit what works and does not so far.  Hell the fact the beta has been NDA free for how bloody long is pretty damn remarkable.  So far the only one playing the Sekret Card is SOE.

I do agree that Blizzard should not push the product out the door, but what I saw in the stress was very playable (at least on my box).

[HaemishM]

I'm sure WoW is playable. I've seen it played. I'd like to get in the open beta just to experience it myself. Friends of mine love it. But having watched it, I can't muster one iota of actual interest in it, only wanting to play the beta just to say I've played it.

But EQ2 is playable. And both have what I consider vital pieces that have not been tested yet and can't be tested properly by release. That's one of my main pet peeves with the MMOG industry. I'm not going to pay for a beta that is being called release. From all I know about WoW, talents are a pretty big deal for classes.

[Kageru]

Horizons is playable. If that's the highest and lowest definition of a game it's not a very useful one.

To me the fact that one is incomplete (remaining talents in the next day or two) and one has systemic problems (is this actually fun? what is the the real difference in the classes) and is incomplete puts them in entirely different categories.

No MMORPG, barring unlimited time and budget, will launch with enough content to keep the hard core occupied forever. But they're also the most tolerant of a hamster wheel as long as the pellets are fresh.

[Fargull]

To me the fact that one is incomplete (remaining talents in the next day or two) and one has systemic problems (is this actually fun? what is the the real difference in the classes) and is incomplete puts them in entirely different categories.

Yup Yup, that was the aim of my post.  Horizons was never playable, at least not in what I would term a 'Fun' fashion.  World of Warcraft is fun for me and will have my greenbacks.

[Mesozoic]

Stress test is open for fileplanet subscribers.  The actual OPEN stress test will come later.

[Resvrgam]

I mainly found that WoW wasn't a giant "potential" of fun but actually delivered in most regards.  I didn't find myself trying to level so I could actually enjoy the game (as made blatant in EQ2) and liked the pace and overall straight-forward gameplay.

 I did run into the occasional mob that seemed to fly past my avatar and out of hitting range and I really hope that gets fixed before release but, if that's the only game-shattering flaw I encountered in a stress test (several weeks ago), that's not half as bad as the corrupt TCP/IP problems, non-highlighting gates in Freeport, crashes, broken quests, missing people & aimless instructions I encountered in EQ2 (which is due to ship in less than a week).

I feel more confident in WoW's stability and overall superior game design over SOE's LevelQuest 1.5 w/ the shiney that runs and looks like arse on high-powered systems.

[Merusk]

Stress test is open for fileplanet subscribers.  The actual OPEN stress test will come later.

Heh.. file planet is broken.  I've got a sub and I went to download it, and I can't I can't even login. I keep getting a "server is too busy message."

[Shannow]

Stress test is open for fileplanet subscribers.  The actual OPEN stress test will come later.

Heh.. file planet is broken.  I've got a sub and I went to download it, and I can't I can't even login. I keep getting a "server is too busy message."

The irony overwhelms me.

[Signe]

Evidently, Fileplanet has 'broken' their customer support also.  People were complaining that clicking their support link to find out where their final stress test email is directed them to a blank page.  I tried it and that's what I get, too!  heh.

I don't know if you need the email to direct you to the download (I can't remember!) but I assume you would.

[Merusk]

Evidently, Fileplanet has 'broken' their customer support also.  People were complaining that clicking their support link to find out where their final stress test email is directed them to a blank page.  I tried it and that's what I get, too!  heh.

I don't know if you need the email to direct you to the download (I can't remember!) but I assume you would.

I finally got through.. when you get all signed-up the next page says that keys will be released shortly, and in batches.  When your batch is released you will get an e-mail, but not before that.

  Since Fileplanet has broken from all the people trying to access it (Good god they must be making a mint off of this) a lot of people are probably timing-out before reaching this page.

[ajax34i]

x * 100k * $8 or $16 = mint, yes.

On the other hand, same x * 100k * 2500 MB = huge bandwidth costs.

[Signe]

Thanks, Merusk.  I went ahead and signed up and got through right away.  They must have a ton because they still seem to be available.  I thought that contest was a different thing altogether but it looks as if you are automatically entered when you sign up for the stress test.  I don't really fancy having an NPC named Signe around... it would confuse me.

I'm pretty sure that everyone who wants a key will get one, or already has one by now.  I might be able to hold on to this one for a change.  Although if schild or Haemish need it for another write up, I don't mind.

[trias_e]

Well one thing is for sure:  As of now, Blizzard's forums fucking suck.

[Kageru]

no... that would be blizzards forums continuing to suck.

[Signe]

"Embrace teh suq!"

Oh wait... wrong game.

[Morfiend]

no... that would be blizzards forums continuing to suck.

At least with the forums sucking so badly, its ONLY the forums sucking. Not the forums AND the posters.

Any first time WoW people need any questions answered, you can ask me or PM me, I have been playing quite a while.

[Liquidator]

Screw BitTorrent.  Fileplanet servers for teh win.  If you go back to Fileplanet and "re-apply" for the Stress Test, it will issue your key immediately on the page and provide a download link on the same page as well - at least it just did for me, and this is after saying that it would be issuing keys in waves via e-mail.  I'm getting 380kb/sec from the server... definitely beats the 80kb/sec I was getting from BitTorrent.

[Signe]

Screw BitTorrent.  Fileplanet servers for teh win.  If you go back to Fileplanet and "re-apply" for the Stress Test, it will issue your key immediately on the page and provide a download link on the same page as well - at least it just did for me, and this is after saying that it would be issuing keys in waves via e-mail.  I'm getting 380kb/sec from the server... definitely beats the 80kb/sec I was getting from BitTorrent.

Strange... I'm getting on Fileplanet what you got on BitTorrent.  Slowest I've ever seen it.

[geldonyetich]

I downloaded from the "undercity" server on Fileplanet at about 350kbps.  No complaints here.

Zip file is 2.5 GB.  Unzips to a 4 GB installer.  Delete the zip file after it's unzipped, you won't need it.   The installer says the installed game is at 6.6 gbs, I think.

Well, signup server is lagged to snot.  Might have to wait until late this evening or early this morning in order to actually register an account.

[Kairos]

The very fastest I've been able to get from Fileplanet is a steady 60 kB/s. Which, unfortunately, is superior to what I was getting on BitTorrent.

Oh, well.