I am not going to buy the game if I am not given the free trial.
I think even Funcom said clearly that open beta is not to be considered a trial of the game.
Look for a buddy key, that would be the "correct" way to trial a game. And leave the beta for people that are interested in doing what they are asked for,and by so actually helping the rest of the followers of AoC getting a better game.
I will try to enter the beta. I love how a game feel in beta. I have no problem with bugs or invalances, etc.. other than slowdown, and I like to report bugs to improve things.
If this game is any good, I will buy it, but I need a open beta or a trial to know.
With AO in mind I'll wait 1-2 month until I buy it.
______________________________ The Sceptics, yes they're special but we've need them to.. I guess. And if they're put more effort MMORPG.com can create a 'Team Sceptic' and send them to the Special Olympus.
Yeah, I have to say, so far I'm wary of jumping right in at this point. Guess I'll wait till the NDA comes down and see what people have to say about it before deciding whether to play or not. Might pick up a copy for my son regardless, he's bored with WOW.
LOL, if you wait till NDA is down and listen to the people you are doomed and you will never play a game again. Most people dont have a clue what a bug is. If every NPC has pathing issues then is ONE bug and not 2500. Same goes for a lot of other bugs. Any everone on this forum who is working with software and programming can tell you that the biggest bug is between the keyboard and the chair.
Well, yeah, I'm not new to these forums, and I realize far more negative posts will flood them than positives, because people having fun playing a game rarely take time to make positive posts on forums.
But then again, you can certainly see trends from the posts, and if theres a huge number of people experiencing lag, disconnects and generally not having fun (a la VG) its usually pretty apparent there's a trend going on and might be an indicator to wait for a free trial or something.
Besides, I'll admit I lack motivation right now to play a new game, I'm having a lot of fun in EVE now after almost 11 months of training skills, and now able to fly a wide variety of ships well, so perhaps that adds some to my dis-interest. Truthfully, I'm glad WAR got delayed because I'm not ready for it yet.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Open betas are NOT trials. Betas are process whereby Funcom makes a final attempt at improving the game before going final. If you want to play the trial, at least wait for final release and hope that you have friends giving you buddy keys.
Funcom has not announced any free trials yet, so do not hope for free trial keys falling from the sky any time. That is the decision from Funcom. They have all the rights to decide on how to market their products, in as much as customers have all the rights to wait.
Kcissem, why are you protecting Funcom with your NDA stuff , whats in it for you ? Please don't say ethics because you can't return games. Funcom is beginning to look shady, at least to me anyway.
Well the loudest people are always the people that spew negativity. While the NDA is in effect the people that are enjoying themselves and don't want to lose their account don't breach the NDA, but the people who never had an account in the first place, or the people that judged the game in a state way before launch, or the people that were in technical beta and barely got to see the game at all but judged it anyway are the people who are going around slamming on the game. Half the stuff that they complain about is stuff that has been fixed, or are complaints from an early closed beta period.
So why should the masses be persuaded by these people? Why would any intelligent person not wait for the NDA to be lifted and get feedback from the honest players who may or may not like the game. The ones who honor the NDA even if they aren't happy with the product. Once it's lifted they will voice their opinion at the same time that people who enjoyed the beta voice theirs.
One of the biggest guilds that openly breaches the NDA did the same thing for Vanguard. They all slammed it as many people did but now.. they are all playing it happily while half of them slam AoC in the same way and most of them aren't even in the beta they are just going off of what others have said. I know of one guy that got banned for breaching the NDA and him and all of his friends continue to spew out lies and crap because he wants the game to fail. I just refuse to give any credibility or take anything these type of people say with a grain of salt especially when you mix in all the die hard WoW fans that bash new games just for the hell of it.
The game is going to do what it does with or without people like this slamming on it. That is why 99% of the time their opinions should be flat out ignored. The honest people on both sides of the fence will reveal their thoughts when the NDA is lifted, and after a month of the game being out everyone will know the state of the game.
You make some very good points. I guess the core is an assumption that poeple that break the NDA are only people that don't like the game. My only thought is to question the validity of that statement.
At this point in time about 1 month from release one would also want to consider why the NDA exists. At some point an NDA exists to prevent other companies, competitors from gaining early access to new idea's that they might steal. However a month before release esp with a large beta community that doesn't really hold water anymore. I mean how many companies would be able to do anything with 30 days to steal features from AoC and if they wanted to wouldn't it be likely they already have someone in beta....
On the other hand if the first point is true then there will be a leak of negative information and the NDA is denying positive information from good NDA followers. If this were the case wouldn't it be in the companies best interests to remove the beta now to unshackle all the positive feedback?
Or the last theory would be that the NDA is still in place to prevent a lot of information about bugs and problems with the game which isn't finished. So the NDA is in place to prevent all the beta testers from spewing all over the media about bugs and problems that are in the beta and keeping the lid on things with only the leaks is better cause it will be less negative and when the game is release all the current issues will be gone.
Looking at these possibilities I think your scenario doesn't really hold water.... I think the last option is the most likely one. Which begs the question how many beta's have you been in where a magic patch comes out in the last 30 days and makes the game significantly better? In my experience NONE, not one. In fact I'd say in some games they actually get worse in the last 30 days as the devs start pushing things in that have been turned off in a stuggle to get all the features in even through they are untested and buggy as hell.
So not lifting the NDA is NOT a good sign and people leaking information are likely the tip of the iceburg not the evil minority....
actually, open beta is kind of the chance for potential customers to trial the game before purchasing it. What teh creators get is to pack as many people onto a server as possible to find out how they would cope (also known as stress testing), at this phase there is usually no new patch's/game fix's done (its what they do intend to release).
With them doign this through fileplanet were one would have to pay to download the beta (if there lucky to get in is rediculous), me i wont be blindly jumping into anything that has had some bad word of mouth like this one has had, several times over. I will either hope i get into a form of beta so i can personally see for myself, or, more likely to happen, wait for a couple of months after its release to hear from people who bought the game, though this is a risky move as it could lose potential purchasers to other mmorpg's.
I am just tired of purchasing a game to see that it is a load of utter crap and has that many bug it puts an ant hill to shame.
Any info on when the NDA will be lifted? I'm not so concerned about an open beta, but NDA I am. Release is a month away and there is still an NDA? The closer we get to release with the NDA still in effect the more worried I get about a game. Close to release you should want people talking about the game, if your still holding your cards close...well, something is probably wrong.
Any info on when the NDA will be lifted? I'm not so concerned about an open beta, but NDA I am. Release is a month away and there is still an NDA? The closer we get to release with the NDA still in effect the more worried I get about a game. Close to release you should want people talking about the game, if your still holding your cards close...well, something is probably wrong.
Originally posted by ProfRed
Originally posted by AmazingAvery
Just in case readers missed it. LIKE ARAGORN... Will there be an NDA?
We might keep it up a bit to let the main stresstest rush go by, but it will be lifted way before we launch. Soon everyone can talk about what they are playing instead of what they think they will be playing. We really look forward to this of course! This marks the start of a new chapter for us, and you all, we are now soon moving into live services! Soon everyone
Sit and swivel?? I think so trolls
Once more for emphasis. Make sure to read the bold parts.
NDAs are usually in place until there is a true open beta or the game is released. I for one will play right away because I'm dying for an MMO right now. There hasn't been a good one since 2004.
Even if there were good ones a lot of people's lifespan in an mmo is less than 6 months. Considering we are getting like 2 major MMO's a year to contend everyone should be hoping that they succeed so that there are more choices on the market. I personally hope that every mainstream MMO succeeds and gathers a nice niche market so that there are options as games lose their steam.
I especially hope games like Conan succeed because they are different. Even if I was the most diehard WoW fan I would still hope for Conan's success. Even if I get ridiculously addicted to Conan I will still hope for WAR's success, etc.
@Snowcap - Check the post Official Beta Response - Product Director or something along those lines to see their whole response to open beta. Since he said they may wait till after the initial stress it will probably be the first week, or shortly after the first week of Open Beta at which point they won't be able to do anything about NDA breaches anyway.
Kcissem, why are you protecting Funcom with your NDA stuff , whats in it for you ? Please don't say ethics because you can't return games. Funcom is beginning to look shady, at least to me anyway.
Well the loudest people are always the people that spew negativity. While the NDA is in effect the people that are enjoying themselves and don't want to lose their account don't breach the NDA, but the people who never had an account in the first place, or the people that judged the game in a state way before launch, or the people that were in technical beta and barely got to see the game at all but judged it anyway are the people who are going around slamming on the game. Half the stuff that they complain about is stuff that has been fixed, or are complaints from an early closed beta period.
So why should the masses be persuaded by these people? Why would any intelligent person not wait for the NDA to be lifted and get feedback from the honest players who may or may not like the game. The ones who honor the NDA even if they aren't happy with the product. Once it's lifted they will voice their opinion at the same time that people who enjoyed the beta voice theirs.
One of the biggest guilds that openly breaches the NDA did the same thing for Vanguard. They all slammed it as many people did but now.. they are all playing it happily while half of them slam AoC in the same way and most of them aren't even in the beta they are just going off of what others have said. I know of one guy that got banned for breaching the NDA and him and all of his friends continue to spew out lies and crap because he wants the game to fail. I just refuse to give any credibility or take anything these type of people say with a grain of salt especially when you mix in all the die hard WoW fans that bash new games just for the hell of it.
The game is going to do what it does with or without people like this slamming on it. That is why 99% of the time their opinions should be flat out ignored. The honest people on both sides of the fence will reveal their thoughts when the NDA is lifted, and after a month of the game being out everyone will know the state of the game.
You make some very good points. I guess the core is an assumption that poeple that break the NDA are only people that don't like the game. My only thought is to question the validity of that statement.
At this point in time about 1 month from release one would also want to consider why the NDA exists. At some point an NDA exists to prevent other companies, competitors from gaining early access to new idea's that they might steal. However a month before release esp with a large beta community that doesn't really hold water anymore. I mean how many companies would be able to do anything with 30 days to steal features from AoC and if they wanted to wouldn't it be likely they already have someone in beta....
On the other hand if the first point is true then there will be a leak of negative information and the NDA is denying positive information from good NDA followers. If this were the case wouldn't it be in the companies best interests to remove the beta now to unshackle all the positive feedback?
Or the last theory would be that the NDA is still in place to prevent a lot of information about bugs and problems with the game which isn't finished. So the NDA is in place to prevent all the beta testers from spewing all over the media about bugs and problems that are in the beta and keeping the lid on things with only the leaks is better cause it will be less negative and when the game is release all the current issues will be gone.
Looking at these possibilities I think your scenario doesn't really hold water.... I think the last option is the most likely one. Which begs the question how many beta's have you been in where a magic patch comes out in the last 30 days and makes the game significantly better? In my experience NONE, not one. In fact I'd say in some games they actually get worse in the last 30 days as the devs start pushing things in that have been turned off in a stuggle to get all the features in even through they are untested and buggy as hell.
So not lifting the NDA is NOT a good sign and people leaking information are likely the tip of the iceburg not the evil minority....
This was a really good post, and I think some people will be surprised at the end result. It really isn't that hard to find leaked beta info on the game if you are really curious.
There is a reason people say negative things a good percentage of the time, disreguarding trolls. While their gripes may not be a problem to you, they could well be a problem to a large percentage of the gamers.
Pretty much I suspect the game to be slightly better than decent and will prob be the best option for what I'm looking for in a MMO. I imagine a majority of the players will feel the same, it will just be the best option at the time. Well if you are looking for a more interactive game. Pretty much anything beyond that, is gonna be run of the mill.
You make some very good points. I guess the core is an assumption that poeple that break the NDA are only people that don't like the game. My only thought is to question the validity of that statement. At this point in time about 1 month from release one would also want to consider why the NDA exists. At some point an NDA exists to prevent other companies, competitors from gaining early access to new idea's that they might steal. However a month before release esp with a large beta community that doesn't really hold water anymore. I mean how many companies would be able to do anything with 30 days to steal features from AoC and if they wanted to wouldn't it be likely they already have someone in beta.... On the other hand if the first point is true then there will be a leak of negative information and the NDA is denying positive information from good NDA followers. If this were the case wouldn't it be in the companies best interests to remove the beta now to unshackle all the positive feedback? Or the last theory would be that the NDA is still in place to prevent a lot of information about bugs and problems with the game which isn't finished. So the NDA is in place to prevent all the beta testers from spewing all over the media about bugs and problems that are in the beta and keeping the lid on things with only the leaks is better cause it will be less negative and when the game is release all the current issues will be gone. Looking at these possibilities I think your scenario doesn't really hold water.... I think the last option is the most likely one. Which begs the question how many beta's have you been in where a magic patch comes out in the last 30 days and makes the game significantly better? In my experience NONE, not one. In fact I'd say in some games they actually get worse in the last 30 days as the devs start pushing things in that have been turned off in a stuggle to get all the features in even through they are untested and buggy as hell. So not lifting the NDA is NOT a good sign and people leaking information are likely the tip of the iceburg not the evil minority....
Funcom has stated that the NDA Will be lifted well before release,
Here's the quote
Will there be an NDA?
We might keep it up a bit to let the main stresstest rush go by, but it will be lifted way before we launch. Soon everyone can talk about what they are playing instead of what they think they will be playing. We really look forward to this of course! This marks the start of a new chapter for us, and you all, we are now soon moving into live services! Soon everyone
How do you know spellweaving is not in the game, hmmmmm? Search a few "websites" and you might find something that surprises even you. Ohh, and I am a founder member at fileplanet and by being a member I have participated in A LOT of betas. As far as the negative posts are concerned after NDA drops, I also think you should search the "web" a little bit and see what you can find!
I am a forum troll hunter. Be afraid trolls, very afraid!
I guess I can only wait for a buddy key to truely try this game out...
__________________________________________________ In memory of Laura "Taera" Genender. Passed away on Aug/13/08 - Rest In Peace; you will not be forgotten
Uhm, you guys are aware that you can sign up for the open beta without subscribing to fileplanet right? Why would you pay money now and then if you don't get picked, you just wasted whatever you spent on a sub. Wait to see if you get selected, if you do, then get a sub and register.
I preordered. I see where everyone is coming from, but the potential benefits outweigh the risk for me. Whether or not the NDA is lifted or there is an open beta matters little to me, and I think to the majority of players. People want some kind of guarantee of playability and/or quality before they plunk down their credit card, and I certainly understand that. However, there is very little in life that comes with such a guarantee. If you want in on a poker hand, you have to ante up and see what cards you get.
For me, the fun of being among the first to see new zones, quests, monsters, etc., outweighs any potential disappointment. Opening the box, installing the software, and logging into the world the first time will be, simply, fun (unless it's a total joke, which I'm betting against). If I get a week's worth of play out of it, it will cost less per hour than any bar, rock show, amusement park, or camping trip.
When I bought Fury, I was in no way prepared for the lagfest and lame pvp that followed. I stopped playing after 2 weeks and will never play again. But I still enjoyed that new-game smell and exploring the game (when it was working). I liked jumping off the platform and not dying when I landed. I liked getting shiny epix (for awhile anyway) and progressing through the ranks (for awhile, anyway). Cost: $60. Time played: maybe 20 hours. That's a bargain, even if there was no long-term value to the game.
Forum bitching is its own reward, I know. I come to gaming forums expecting to read criticism and debate, and they help temper my blind enthusiasm for new titles (I'm an easy sell). But after awhile, you exhaust the real points of debate. All the questions that can be answered without physically playing the production version of the game have been answered. There are certain people that would hate AoC even if it included a coupon for lifetime backrubs and sandwich making from Jessica Alba. They say "I won't pay a cent for it unless they let me play for free first and make sure it meets my expectations." Only in the world of MMORPGs is such an entitled attitude taken seriously. But it still makes a fun read, I guess.
Uhm, you guys are aware that you can sign up for the open beta without subscribing to fileplanet right? Why would you pay money now and then if you don't get picked, you just wasted whatever you spent on a sub. Wait to see if you get selected, if you do, then get a sub and register.
It doesn't work that way. They notify subs and members when the event begins, and subscribers can then click a link to enter the list. The first 50k get a key, the rest get "thanks for your money, now go home".
If you wait until the event begins to sub, while you are paying your 7.90 / 15.00, the rest are already entering the list, so you're buggering yourself.
The only way to actually have a chance is to pay up front.
Nice scam, eh?
The really funny thing is all the viral marketing going on over at the official AoC forums by Fileplanet.
People complain about having to pay for a chance to get in, and some FP employee will post a list of "reasons why a fileplanet subscription is worth every penny", complete with bullets, catch phrases, and links.
Uhm, you guys are aware that you can sign up for the open beta without subscribing to fileplanet right? Why would you pay money now and then if you don't get picked, you just wasted whatever you spent on a sub. Wait to see if you get selected, if you do, then get a sub and register.
It doesn't work that way. They notify subs and members when the event begins, and subscribers can then click a link to enter the list. The first 50k get a key, the rest get "thanks for your money, now go home".
If you wait until the event begins to sub, while you are paying your 7.90 / 15.00, the rest are already entering the list, so you're buggering yourself.
The only way to actually have a chance is to pay up front.
Nice scam, eh?
The really funny thing is all the viral marketing going on over at the official AoC forums by Fileplanet.
People complain about having to pay for a chance to get in, and some FP employee will post a list of "reasons why a fileplanet subscription is worth every penny", complete with bullets, catch phrases, and links.
Pathetic.
sounds like business to me. I'm kinda glad they are doing it this way. The extra hurdle of of signing up to Fileplanet and paying may help to keep the beta gene pool a little less contaminated.
any way. Ive preordered and I don't regret it. AoC cant be any worse than what available now and its new so that alone will keep me entertained for a while.. more than worth the money
Watch your thoughts; they become words. Watch your words; they become actions. Watch your actions; they become habits. Watch your habits; they become character. Watch your character; it becomes your destiny. Lao-Tze
no company is ever obligated to allow you to try before you buy, demo's and trial periods for games are just a priviledge/marketing tool they give you.
There will eventually be a trial period for AOC so just wait for it, could be a month, few months or a year after release, see you then
Comments
I think even Funcom said clearly that open beta is not to be considered a trial of the game.
Look for a buddy key, that would be the "correct" way to trial a game. And leave the beta for people that are interested in doing what they are asked for,and by so actually helping the rest of the followers of AoC getting a better game.
I'm so broke. I can't even pay attention.
"You have the right not to be killed"
I will try to enter the beta. I love how a game feel in beta. I have no problem with bugs or invalances, etc.. other than slowdown, and I like to report bugs to improve things.
If this game is any good, I will buy it, but I need a open beta or a trial to know.
With AO in mind I'll wait 1-2 month until I buy it.
______________________________
The Sceptics, yes they're special but we've need them to.. I guess.
And if they're put more effort MMORPG.com can create a 'Team Sceptic'
and send them to the Special Olympus.
LOL, if you wait till NDA is down and listen to the people you are doomed and you will never play a game again. Most people dont have a clue what a bug is. If every NPC has pathing issues then is ONE bug and not 2500. Same goes for a lot of other bugs. Any everone on this forum who is working with software and programming can tell you that the biggest bug is between the keyboard and the chair.
Well, yeah, I'm not new to these forums, and I realize far more negative posts will flood them than positives, because people having fun playing a game rarely take time to make positive posts on forums.
But then again, you can certainly see trends from the posts, and if theres a huge number of people experiencing lag, disconnects and generally not having fun (a la VG) its usually pretty apparent there's a trend going on and might be an indicator to wait for a free trial or something.
Besides, I'll admit I lack motivation right now to play a new game, I'm having a lot of fun in EVE now after almost 11 months of training skills, and now able to fly a wide variety of ships well, so perhaps that adds some to my dis-interest. Truthfully, I'm glad WAR got delayed because I'm not ready for it yet.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Open betas are NOT trials. Betas are process whereby Funcom makes a final attempt at improving the game before going final. If you want to play the trial, at least wait for final release and hope that you have friends giving you buddy keys.
Funcom has not announced any free trials yet, so do not hope for free trial keys falling from the sky any time. That is the decision from Funcom. They have all the rights to decide on how to market their products, in as much as customers have all the rights to wait.
Well the loudest people are always the people that spew negativity. While the NDA is in effect the people that are enjoying themselves and don't want to lose their account don't breach the NDA, but the people who never had an account in the first place, or the people that judged the game in a state way before launch, or the people that were in technical beta and barely got to see the game at all but judged it anyway are the people who are going around slamming on the game. Half the stuff that they complain about is stuff that has been fixed, or are complaints from an early closed beta period.
So why should the masses be persuaded by these people? Why would any intelligent person not wait for the NDA to be lifted and get feedback from the honest players who may or may not like the game. The ones who honor the NDA even if they aren't happy with the product. Once it's lifted they will voice their opinion at the same time that people who enjoyed the beta voice theirs.
One of the biggest guilds that openly breaches the NDA did the same thing for Vanguard. They all slammed it as many people did but now.. they are all playing it happily while half of them slam AoC in the same way and most of them aren't even in the beta they are just going off of what others have said. I know of one guy that got banned for breaching the NDA and him and all of his friends continue to spew out lies and crap because he wants the game to fail. I just refuse to give any credibility or take anything these type of people say with a grain of salt especially when you mix in all the die hard WoW fans that bash new games just for the hell of it.
The game is going to do what it does with or without people like this slamming on it. That is why 99% of the time their opinions should be flat out ignored. The honest people on both sides of the fence will reveal their thoughts when the NDA is lifted, and after a month of the game being out everyone will know the state of the game.
You make some very good points. I guess the core is an assumption that poeple that break the NDA are only people that don't like the game. My only thought is to question the validity of that statement.
At this point in time about 1 month from release one would also want to consider why the NDA exists. At some point an NDA exists to prevent other companies, competitors from gaining early access to new idea's that they might steal. However a month before release esp with a large beta community that doesn't really hold water anymore. I mean how many companies would be able to do anything with 30 days to steal features from AoC and if they wanted to wouldn't it be likely they already have someone in beta....
On the other hand if the first point is true then there will be a leak of negative information and the NDA is denying positive information from good NDA followers. If this were the case wouldn't it be in the companies best interests to remove the beta now to unshackle all the positive feedback?
Or the last theory would be that the NDA is still in place to prevent a lot of information about bugs and problems with the game which isn't finished. So the NDA is in place to prevent all the beta testers from spewing all over the media about bugs and problems that are in the beta and keeping the lid on things with only the leaks is better cause it will be less negative and when the game is release all the current issues will be gone.
Looking at these possibilities I think your scenario doesn't really hold water.... I think the last option is the most likely one. Which begs the question how many beta's have you been in where a magic patch comes out in the last 30 days and makes the game significantly better? In my experience NONE, not one. In fact I'd say in some games they actually get worse in the last 30 days as the devs start pushing things in that have been turned off in a stuggle to get all the features in even through they are untested and buggy as hell.
So not lifting the NDA is NOT a good sign and people leaking information are likely the tip of the iceburg not the evil minority....
---
Ethion
actually, open beta is kind of the chance for potential customers to trial the game before purchasing it. What teh creators get is to pack as many people onto a server as possible to find out how they would cope (also known as stress testing), at this phase there is usually no new patch's/game fix's done (its what they do intend to release).
With them doign this through fileplanet were one would have to pay to download the beta (if there lucky to get in is rediculous), me i wont be blindly jumping into anything that has had some bad word of mouth like this one has had, several times over. I will either hope i get into a form of beta so i can personally see for myself, or, more likely to happen, wait for a couple of months after its release to hear from people who bought the game, though this is a risky move as it could lose potential purchasers to other mmorpg's.
I am just tired of purchasing a game to see that it is a load of utter crap and has that many bug it puts an ant hill to shame.
Any info on when the NDA will be lifted? I'm not so concerned about an open beta, but NDA I am. Release is a month away and there is still an NDA? The closer we get to release with the NDA still in effect the more worried I get about a game. Close to release you should want people talking about the game, if your still holding your cards close...well, something is probably wrong.
Once more for emphasis. Make sure to read the bold parts.
NDAs are usually in place until there is a true open beta or the game is released.
I for one will play right away because I'm dying for an MMO right now. There hasn't been a good one since 2004.
Thanks for the info profred. "way before launch" is quite subjective so there really isn't a date yet. Hopefully it is soon.
Even if there were good ones a lot of people's lifespan in an mmo is less than 6 months. Considering we are getting like 2 major MMO's a year to contend everyone should be hoping that they succeed so that there are more choices on the market. I personally hope that every mainstream MMO succeeds and gathers a nice niche market so that there are options as games lose their steam.
I especially hope games like Conan succeed because they are different. Even if I was the most diehard WoW fan I would still hope for Conan's success. Even if I get ridiculously addicted to Conan I will still hope for WAR's success, etc.
@Snowcap - Check the post Official Beta Response - Product Director or something along those lines to see their whole response to open beta. Since he said they may wait till after the initial stress it will probably be the first week, or shortly after the first week of Open Beta at which point they won't be able to do anything about NDA breaches anyway.
the only reason im waiting a few weeks is because
i dont wanna friggin camp the starting zones with millions of other ppl , trying to get that special kill everyone is chasin......
Well the loudest people are always the people that spew negativity. While the NDA is in effect the people that are enjoying themselves and don't want to lose their account don't breach the NDA, but the people who never had an account in the first place, or the people that judged the game in a state way before launch, or the people that were in technical beta and barely got to see the game at all but judged it anyway are the people who are going around slamming on the game. Half the stuff that they complain about is stuff that has been fixed, or are complaints from an early closed beta period.
So why should the masses be persuaded by these people? Why would any intelligent person not wait for the NDA to be lifted and get feedback from the honest players who may or may not like the game. The ones who honor the NDA even if they aren't happy with the product. Once it's lifted they will voice their opinion at the same time that people who enjoyed the beta voice theirs.
One of the biggest guilds that openly breaches the NDA did the same thing for Vanguard. They all slammed it as many people did but now.. they are all playing it happily while half of them slam AoC in the same way and most of them aren't even in the beta they are just going off of what others have said. I know of one guy that got banned for breaching the NDA and him and all of his friends continue to spew out lies and crap because he wants the game to fail. I just refuse to give any credibility or take anything these type of people say with a grain of salt especially when you mix in all the die hard WoW fans that bash new games just for the hell of it.
The game is going to do what it does with or without people like this slamming on it. That is why 99% of the time their opinions should be flat out ignored. The honest people on both sides of the fence will reveal their thoughts when the NDA is lifted, and after a month of the game being out everyone will know the state of the game.
You make some very good points. I guess the core is an assumption that poeple that break the NDA are only people that don't like the game. My only thought is to question the validity of that statement.
At this point in time about 1 month from release one would also want to consider why the NDA exists. At some point an NDA exists to prevent other companies, competitors from gaining early access to new idea's that they might steal. However a month before release esp with a large beta community that doesn't really hold water anymore. I mean how many companies would be able to do anything with 30 days to steal features from AoC and if they wanted to wouldn't it be likely they already have someone in beta....
On the other hand if the first point is true then there will be a leak of negative information and the NDA is denying positive information from good NDA followers. If this were the case wouldn't it be in the companies best interests to remove the beta now to unshackle all the positive feedback?
Or the last theory would be that the NDA is still in place to prevent a lot of information about bugs and problems with the game which isn't finished. So the NDA is in place to prevent all the beta testers from spewing all over the media about bugs and problems that are in the beta and keeping the lid on things with only the leaks is better cause it will be less negative and when the game is release all the current issues will be gone.
Looking at these possibilities I think your scenario doesn't really hold water.... I think the last option is the most likely one. Which begs the question how many beta's have you been in where a magic patch comes out in the last 30 days and makes the game significantly better? In my experience NONE, not one. In fact I'd say in some games they actually get worse in the last 30 days as the devs start pushing things in that have been turned off in a stuggle to get all the features in even through they are untested and buggy as hell.
So not lifting the NDA is NOT a good sign and people leaking information are likely the tip of the iceburg not the evil minority....
This was a really good post, and I think some people will be surprised at the end result. It really isn't that hard to find leaked beta info on the game if you are really curious.There is a reason people say negative things a good percentage of the time, disreguarding trolls. While their gripes may not be a problem to you, they could well be a problem to a large percentage of the gamers.
Pretty much I suspect the game to be slightly better than decent and will prob be the best option for what I'm looking for in a MMO. I imagine a majority of the players will feel the same, it will just be the best option at the time. Well if you are looking for a more interactive game. Pretty much anything beyond that, is gonna be run of the mill.
ya wont buy this game until i get access to a free trial
Funcom has stated that the NDA Will be lifted well before release,
Here's the quote
Will there be an NDA?
We might keep it up a bit to let the main stresstest rush go by, but it will be lifted way before we launch. Soon everyone can talk about what they are playing instead of what they think they will be playing. We really look forward to this of course! This marks the start of a new chapter for us, and you all, we are now soon moving into live services! Soon everyone
here's the link to the whole thing
forums.ageofconan.com/showthread.php
How do you know spellweaving is not in the game, hmmmmm? Search a few "websites" and you might find something that surprises even you. Ohh, and I am a founder member at fileplanet and by being a member I have participated in A LOT of betas. As far as the negative posts are concerned after NDA drops, I also think you should search the "web" a little bit and see what you can find!
I am a forum troll hunter. Be afraid trolls, very afraid!
I guess I can only wait for a buddy key to truely try this game out...
__________________________________________________
In memory of Laura "Taera" Genender. Passed away on Aug/13/08 - Rest In Peace; you will not be forgotten
Uhm, you guys are aware that you can sign up for the open beta without subscribing to fileplanet right? Why would you pay money now and then if you don't get picked, you just wasted whatever you spent on a sub. Wait to see if you get selected, if you do, then get a sub and register.
And here we go, old beta leaks and reports screwing up the game already.
Love it how the same people who talk about that miss completely how the game has been improving steadily (and in HUGE steps) lately. Sigh.
I preordered. I see where everyone is coming from, but the potential benefits outweigh the risk for me. Whether or not the NDA is lifted or there is an open beta matters little to me, and I think to the majority of players. People want some kind of guarantee of playability and/or quality before they plunk down their credit card, and I certainly understand that. However, there is very little in life that comes with such a guarantee. If you want in on a poker hand, you have to ante up and see what cards you get.
For me, the fun of being among the first to see new zones, quests, monsters, etc., outweighs any potential disappointment. Opening the box, installing the software, and logging into the world the first time will be, simply, fun (unless it's a total joke, which I'm betting against). If I get a week's worth of play out of it, it will cost less per hour than any bar, rock show, amusement park, or camping trip.
When I bought Fury, I was in no way prepared for the lagfest and lame pvp that followed. I stopped playing after 2 weeks and will never play again. But I still enjoyed that new-game smell and exploring the game (when it was working). I liked jumping off the platform and not dying when I landed. I liked getting shiny epix (for awhile anyway) and progressing through the ranks (for awhile, anyway). Cost: $60. Time played: maybe 20 hours. That's a bargain, even if there was no long-term value to the game.
Forum bitching is its own reward, I know. I come to gaming forums expecting to read criticism and debate, and they help temper my blind enthusiasm for new titles (I'm an easy sell). But after awhile, you exhaust the real points of debate. All the questions that can be answered without physically playing the production version of the game have been answered. There are certain people that would hate AoC even if it included a coupon for lifetime backrubs and sandwich making from Jessica Alba. They say "I won't pay a cent for it unless they let me play for free first and make sure it meets my expectations." Only in the world of MMORPGs is such an entitled attitude taken seriously. But it still makes a fun read, I guess.
If you wait until the event begins to sub, while you are paying your 7.90 / 15.00, the rest are already entering the list, so you're buggering yourself.
The only way to actually have a chance is to pay up front.
Nice scam, eh?
The really funny thing is all the viral marketing going on over at the official AoC forums by Fileplanet.
People complain about having to pay for a chance to get in, and some FP employee will post a list of "reasons why a fileplanet subscription is worth every penny", complete with bullets, catch phrases, and links.
Pathetic.
we want to try before we buy
thats all
bye
If you wait until the event begins to sub, while you are paying your 7.90 / 15.00, the rest are already entering the list, so you're buggering yourself.
The only way to actually have a chance is to pay up front.
Nice scam, eh?
The really funny thing is all the viral marketing going on over at the official AoC forums by Fileplanet.
People complain about having to pay for a chance to get in, and some FP employee will post a list of "reasons why a fileplanet subscription is worth every penny", complete with bullets, catch phrases, and links.
Pathetic.
sounds like business to me. I'm kinda glad they are doing it this way. The extra hurdle of of signing up to Fileplanet and paying may help to keep the beta gene pool a little less contaminated.any way. Ive preordered and I don't regret it. AoC cant be any worse than what available now and its new so that alone will keep me entertained for a while.. more than worth the money
Watch your thoughts; they become words.
Watch your words; they become actions.
Watch your actions; they become habits.
Watch your habits; they become character.
Watch your character; it becomes your destiny.
Lao-Tze
There will eventually be a trial period for AOC so just wait for it, could be a month, few months or a year after release, see you then
thats all
bye :P