WAR to be released...

[Mrbloodworth]

Very smart. Only allow people who have a vested interest in the game (preorders) beta-test. Doesn't completely tamp down the negative nancies but does skew word of mouth in Mythics favor.

That is in no fashion an open beta though.

Who said only pre-orders will be in the open beta?

Who said thy would not, and if it is open, whats the selling point in that press release again, because it wont be special beta accesses?

[Montague]

Very smart. Only allow people who have a vested interest in the game (preorders) beta-test. Doesn't completely tamp down the negative nancies but does skew word of mouth in Mythics favor.

That is in no fashion an open beta though.

Who said only pre-orders will be in the open beta?

And invitees as well because that makes it an open beta, my bad

[slog]

The second thing. The open beta is level limited for some pretty obvious reasons that have nothing to do with missing content or unfinished zones. .

I guess I'm an idiot.  I have no idea why you would level limit a beta besides trying to hide high level content.

[photek]

IainC is correct, I've followed WAR since start of development and remember Paul Barnett saying they will never have an open beta like "hey everyone come in here". And I'm glad for it. Also level cap is perfectly fine as the first 10-15 or so levels of any game should indicate what the product is about at core, like combat, quests, friends etcetra.

[Mrbloodworth]

IainC is correct, I've followed WAR since start of development and remember Paul Barnett saying they will never have an open beta like "hey everyone come in here". And I'm glad for it. Also level cap is perfectly fine as the first 10-15 or so levels of any game should indicate what the product is about at core, like combat, quests, friends etcetra.

Age of Conan?

(sorry, if it wasn't me, someone else would)

[photek]

I knew someone would say it :) I anticipated it and thought of it the second I wrote the number 10. Yes AoC is different, but it still gives you an overview of the core of the game. The open beta made me purchase it and it was level 13 limit on it.

[Mrbloodworth]

  LOTRO open beta was capped at LVL 15. Again, an exception to a rule.

[Kirth]

Did anyone watch the new podcast on the campaign changes? the other racial pairings city removals make a little more sense now.

[AcidCat]

I'm not willing to pay $50 for the privilege of finding out your MMOG sucks and plays just like EQ/WoW/Everyotherfuckingdikusince1998?

I think it's pretty easy to tell just from publicly released info that WAR plays "just like EQ/WoW/Everyotherfuckingdikusince1998"

The sucks part is what's subjective.

[slog]

I may end up waiting for the free trial.

[Draegan]

Not sure why it's level limited either. Maybe because you don't get to keep those characters in final, and they don't want players to burn out early?

I'd prefer a real open stress-test, but as there obviously won't be any NDA in the preorder beta the buzz will tell whether it's worth picking up.

Well in generic terms because of the NDA I would say that a level restriction is in place to keep people from posting guides, WOWHeads, and all sort of crap before the game is even released.  They want to put into place some mystery for the masses on release day.

[Ingmar]

The one major "duh" reason to keep the beta level limited would be to limit the download size.

EDIT: I mean other than a Hibernia-esque OH GOD IT ISN'T READY TO BE SEEN reason.

[sam, an eggplant]

Well in generic terms because of the NDA I would say that a level restriction is in place to keep people from posting guides, WOWHeads, and all sort of crap before the game is even released.  They want to put into place some mystery for the masses on release day.

I'm pretty sure all fansites have content written and ready to go the instant the NDA is dropped. I know I would.

[MuffinMan]

Boxes came in at Target today. Looked just like a pre-order box, included open beta access, head start, special items etc. You can buy it for $.99 and it includes a $5 coupon for when the game comes out. I'll gladly pay 99 cents to play for a month without having the hassle of canceling a pre-order if I need to and $5 ($4 effectively) off if I do end up buying it.

Edit: $5 off coupon is Target-only.

[KyanMehwulfe]

Did anyone watch the new podcast on the campaign changes? the other racial pairings city removals make a little more sense now.

I'd like to see more devs put out that sort of presentation. (The graphic podcasts, in general I mean.)

[Kirth]

Did anyone watch the new podcast on the campaign changes? the other racial pairings city removals make a little more sense now.

I'd like to see more devs put out that sort of presentation. (The graphic podcasts, in general I mean.)

You should go back though the other newsletters if you haven't. But keep in mind that the early ones may contain systems that have since changed.

http://www.warhammeronline.com/newsletterarchive/index.php

[UnSub]

If you have to preorder to get into the open beta, IT'S NOT A FUCKING OPEN BETA NOW IS IT?

Open wallet Beta!

They should call it closed release, for the sense that term makes.

[UnSub]

Well anyone who puts down cash for a pre order can get in.  So you actually control getting in to beta.  Which is better than before I suppose.

You guys are frothing to much on this whole open beta/nda thing.

Call it experience.  Limited level beta with still no NDA = Reasons to be suspicious

Keeping the NDA up keeps us interested in WAR if we haven't been in the beta. As soon as the NDA comes down, we get to learn a lot (which, if F13 history is any guide, will be "OMG this game is grate!" followed 28 days later by "OMG this game is meh..."). Anticipation of WAR is a good thing for Mythic to play off.

[lamaros]

Maybe be for some. But for others (like me) it just means we hardly give a shit, and when we do give a shit it is just to assume that the game will suck.

[Fordel]

Maybe be for some. But for others (like me) it just means we hardly give a shit, and when we do give a shit it is just to assume that the game will suck.

This has pretty much been my reaction. "Still under NDA, releasing when?  " usually followed by "Sweet, I can't wait to try that in WoTLK".

[Kirth]

Latest newsletter just got dropped in my inbox:

This Month’s Newsletter Headlines

    * WAR’s Launch Date Announced – September 18th Declared a Day a Reckoning!
    * Subscription Pricing Revealed
    * Pack Art Unveiled
    * Pre-Order Program Begins 
    * EA Mythic is Once Again Mythic Entertainment
    * E3 Coverage – Best PC Game of the Show!
    * Digging into Dungeons, and so much more!

Not really much new information, maybe the sub prices that i saw a rumor about but haven't seen it confirmed.(14.99US/month, with 1$/month off for a 3 month block, and 2$/month off for a 6 month block). Nice overview of Gunbad, the podcast is the one i referred to above. Dunno if everyone got the same problem but it looks like the content starting at gunbad overview got left out of the larger red block so you have to scroll down a ways to see it, but its there.

[amiable]

I think there are some folks in this thread who are pretty invested in the "if the NDA doesn't drop/if the open beta is level limited/if the open beta doesn't let anyone in it probably sucks" meme.  I suspect no matter how good/bad the game is at launch those people are not going to be satisified because it doesn't play into their pre-conceived notion of "how things should work."

If you don't like the way Mythic is handling pre-release don't purchase the game.   I'm sure there will be enough information released as soon as the NDA drops that will allow you to make an informed decision on whether or not the game fits your playstyle, but I think harping on Mythic without information one way or the other at this point is just pointless.

[Simond]

Funniest conversations I've seen recently about WAR go as follows:
"What's the endgame like?"
"Well, there's city raids, and the battlegrounds, and..."
"Yeah, but what about the PvE stuff?"
"No, pvp is the endgame"
"Yeah, but what about the PvE stuff?"
Repeat ad nauseam.

 

[Kirth]

Funniest conversations I've seen recently about WAR go as follows:
"What's the endgame like?"
"Well, there's city raids, and the battlegrounds, and..."
"Yeah, but what about the PvE stuff?"
"No, pvp is the endgame"
"Yeah, but what about the PvE stuff?"
Repeat ad nauseam.

 

Funny, I was just reading a thread on FoH that continues for a while exactly like this.

[slog]

If you don't like the way Mythic is handling pre-release don't purchase the game. 

That's what I'm trying to figure out.  If it's safe to purchase or not.
If funny how people attack you here for asking questions.

[kildorn]

The one major "duh" reason to keep the beta level limited would be to limit the download size.

EDIT: I mean other than a Hibernia-esque OH GOD IT ISN'T READY TO BE SEEN reason.

Man, what's wrong with empty flat green and the residents huddling under fucking mushrooms for shelter.

God, Hibernia. I'm trying to remember the other issues it had. Was something amazing like no itemization for the last 10 levels or some shit.

[amiable]

If you don't like the way Mythic is handling pre-release don't purchase the game. 

That's what I'm trying to figure out.  If it's safe to purchase or not.
If funny how people attack you here for asking questions.

1.  I wasn't necessarily referring to you.
2.  It wasn't meant as an attack.
3.  Whether or not it's "safe" to purchase can only be determined if and when:
     A.  You get into Beta and experince the game for yourself
     B.  When they drop the NDA and you can hear from informed sources about the quality (or lack therof) of the game.

No one on this site who is playing is going to break the NDA to tell you how the game is (even if they do the mods would scrub the language and then probably ban the leaker).  So you are just going to have to be patient or find a more nefarious source for your information.

[cevik]

I'm sure there will be enough information released as soon as the NDA drops that will allow you to make an informed decision on whether or not the game fits your playstyle, but I think harping on Mythic without information one way or the other at this point is just pointless.

My complaint is only that Mythic won't allow information out about their game with only, what, 5 weeks left to go and counting.  I'm certainly not cheering for the game to suck, in fact I want it to succeed.  I'm predicting the game will suck based on the limited information available and the fact that Mythic seems to be afraid to give me more information about the game, which the past has taught me is never a good sign.  Hell even Mark Jacobs himself said it's not a good sign, but I digress, my prediction is not a desire to have the game suck, I really want it to be good, I'm very interested in playing it and have been very interested for quite some time now.

You keep confusing "history has taught us that games that try to keep as much information from the players as possible prior to release tend to suck" with "HA HAHA HAAHA HA I HAET MYSTYIC AND UI WANT TEH GAEM TO FALE!11!", which are two entirely different statements.

[Kirth]

I'm sure there will be enough information released as soon as the NDA drops that will allow you to make an informed decision on whether or not the game fits your playstyle, but I think harping on Mythic without information one way or the other at this point is just pointless.

My complaint is only that Mythic won't allow information out about their game with only, what, 5 weeks left to go and counting.  I'm certainly not cheering for the game to suck, in fact I want it to succeed.  I'm predicting the game will suck based on the limited information available and the fact that Mythic seems to be afraid to give me more information about the game, which the past has taught me is never a good sign.  Hell even Mark Jacobs himself said it's not a good sign, but I digress, my prediction is not a desire to have the game suck, I really want it to be good, I'm very interested in playing it and have been very interested for quite some time now.

You keep confusing "history has taught us that games that try to keep as much information from the players as possible prior to release tend to suck" with "HA HAHA HAAHA HA I HAET MYSTYIC AND UI WANT TEH GAEM TO FALE!11!", which are two entirely different statements.

To be fair, Mark Jacobs said he will explain the length of the NDA after it drops. I'm looking forward to that explanation honestly.

[cevik]

To be fair, Mark Jacobs said he will explain the length of the NDA after it drops. I'm looking forward to that explanation honestly.

I am looking forward to the explanation too, I hope it has something to do with steak and fine wine vs. McDonalds.

[JWIV]

To be fair, Mark Jacobs said he will explain the length of the NDA after it drops. I'm looking forward to that explanation honestly.

If by explanation you mean spin, sure.   

[Draegan]

How are people really starving for information?  Use google.

[Triforcer]

To be fair, Mark Jacobs said he will explain the length of the NDA after it drops. I'm looking forward to that explanation honestly.

I am looking forward to the explanation too, I hope it has something to do with steak and fine wine vs. McDonalds.

That should be quite the explanation.  The only explanation that would work is "well, systems X Y and Z sucked, so we wanted to make sure you saw them in their good form, they are great now!"  But when you do that, you still have to say that X Y and Z did suck and beta testers are still going to remember what the game was like for the year preceding the two-day-old patch and still bitch accordingly. 

[Triforcer]

How are people really starving for information?  Use google.

Er...yeah.  If you want all patch notes, skill lists, and developer notices to beta testers an hour after they come out, its extraordinarily "not" hard to find them.   Anyone Internet-savvy enough to be on this site can know anything they want to know.   

[Mrbloodworth]

I'm hoping to hear some constructive testimonials.