Originally posted by Drega http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/world-of-warcraft/542708p1.html "Remember, sign-ups right now are limited to FilePlanet subscribers. If you aren't a subscriber, sign up to get the hookup! " "you had to be a paying member when they first released the keys. They later changed to all membership." I never said the keys werent eventually free, but paying fileplanet memebers got the stress test keys first. "SOE shot my dog, killed my parents, stole my wife, and kiddnapped my lawn gnome."
I have to disagree there again. I got my beta key for the stress test on the first day it was available and again I have the basic "free" membership. The non-subscribers were limited to a certain number of keys on a first-come, first-serve basis (although towards the end of the ST they opened it to everyone).
The subscribers (paying members) were guaranteed a spot through the initial ST signup period on File Planet. The other benefit to them was better download severs.
Regardless...I dont see any point to paying for a beta - game-in-progress. I know...some might argue the retail version of a game is still-in-progress. However on the retail version, you aren't forced to start over after a period of time (like end of beta). And if you are a serious tester, you are actually doing a service for the game developer. The only game I know of that charged a fee was UO and that was to cover S & H as they actually mailed a CD to their testers. Something like that is understandable - selling keys to your advertisers is not in my opinion.
I am pretty sure that's the page I saw originally. But it wasn't true (when I saw it anyway). I got my key on 8/28 (5 days before ST began)... but maybe paying subscribers got it on 8/2 and got to wait a month. -shrug-
Not much of a gift for subscribing if that was the case.
This time it does look like you have to be a subscriber to even get a chance at it.
Originally posted by sliver They know what they are doing with EQ2, they have taken all these things into consideration. They are in it for the long term. If you have paid any attention to the development of the game, you can certainly see that they are willing to give up a few launch subscribers in order to make the game more appealing in the long run. They have made the games graphics highly detailed in order to compete in the future. The graphics are also highly upgradable, along with the rest of the game. They put in place a system that would allow them to potentially raise the level cap up to 200 in the future. They have appropriate money sinks and have a well thought out, long term economy. They are in it for the long run. I dont want to compare it to wow, but It seems I must. Wow's graphics are outdated NOW, how are they going to hold up in the future? The engine was not designed with upgradability in mind. Does wow have enough depth to keep players for years like EQ has? Or will it be fun casual gaming for a couple months, like city of heroes? I cant wait for release, I hope they stay on schedule.
Please do tell how you know WoW was not designed with upgradability in mind? You the lead designer? The engine designer? Inquiring minds would like to know. Plus a game that requires the newest version of direct X 9.0c (both games require it) in order for some of its graphical features to actually run I wouldn't call outdated, far from it. Your opinion may be that the graphics are not as good as EQ 2, and I'd agree there in most instances, but it gets annoying that everyone thinks they know every technical aspect of a game and post what they say is fact is just a twisted opinion.
Plus, neither game has shown us what their endgame will REALLY be like yet, so how do we judge end game depth for long term playability? We can't...
Originally posted by iceseraphOriginally posted by Dregahttp://pc.gamespy.com/pc/world-of-warcraft/542708p1.html "Remember, sign-ups right now are limited to FilePlanet subscribers. If you aren't a subscriber, sign up to get the hookup! " "you had to be a paying member when they first released the keys. They later changed to all membership." I never said the keys werent eventually free, but paying fileplanet memebers got the stress test keys first. "SOE shot my dog, killed my parents, stole my wife, and kiddnapped my lawn gnome." I have to disagree there again. I got my beta key for the stress test on the first day it was available and again I have the basic "free" membership. The non-subscribers were limited to a certain number of keys on a first-come, first-serve basis (although towards the end of the ST they opened it to everyone). The subscribers (paying members) were guaranteed a spot through the initial ST signup period on File Planet. The other benefit to them was better download severs. Regardless...I dont see any point to paying for a beta - game-in-progress. I know...some might argue the retail version of a game is still-in-progress. However on the retail version, you aren't forced to start over after a period of time (like end of beta). And if you are a serious tester, you are actually doing a service for the game developer. The only game I know of that charged a fee was UO and that was to cover S & H as they actually mailed a CD to their testers. Something like that is understandable - selling keys to your advertisers is not in my opinion.
When the stress test beta began the keys were free by then, sign ups begain some number of weeks before. But, regardles nothing else I say or show you will sway your opinion. The fact is Blizzard allowed their stress test beta keys to be 'sold' on fileplanet like SOE, and WB, before allowing the general masses acceptance into the stress test. Im not arguing that being a subscriber is in any way a real benefit or saying "OMFG GO GET A SUBSCRIPTION NOW!!!!", just pointing to the fact this is somthing in practice by even 'gamer friendly' companies like Blizzard.
"SOE shot my dog, killed my parents, stole my wife, and kiddnapped my lawn gnome."
This place is full of tree-huggers and tofu fartn' faeries...
I dont want to compare it to wow, but It seems I must. Wow's graphics are outdated NOW, how are they going to hold up in the future? The engine was not designed with upgradability in mind. Does wow have enough depth to keep players for years like EQ has? Or will it be fun casual gaming for a couple months, like city of heroes?
Just because WoW's graphics are not the same caliber as EQ2 does not mean the game has no long-term marketability. Look at AC1....the game has probably some of the most outdated graphics of any MMO but yet has continued to retain a quite respectable player base for the last 4-5 years. Content in the end is what makes a game.
As much as I am looking forward to EQ2, I think WoW may be a good option and very successful if done right and it appears they are heading in the right direction so far.
Lordie, I can't wait for both these games to be released if for no other reason than to tone down the constant bickering and battle the MMO community insists on maintaining about these two games.
EQ2 and WoW are like two kids in the playground who just want to go about their business while the entire schoolyard of gamers chant "Fight Fight Fight Fight" purely because they enjoy the spectacle.
Originally posted by Fitzle Lordie, I can't wait for both these games to be released if for no other reason than to tone down the constant bickering and battle the MMO community insists on maintaining about these two games. EQ2 and WoW are like two kids in the playground who just want to go about their business while the entire schoolyard of gamers chant "Fight Fight Fight Fight" purely because they enjoy the spectacle.
What else is there to do?
Play Morrowind. Again?
You can't expect people to go outside. They could get skin cancer, you know. Or lung cancer from all the smoke in the bars. Or hit by a drunk driver, or a plane falling out of the sky.
Originally posted by Fitzle Lordie, I can't wait for both these games to be released if for no other reason than to tone down the constant bickering and battle the MMO community insists on maintaining about these two games. EQ2 and WoW are like two kids in the playground who just want to go about their business while the entire schoolyard of gamers chant "Fight Fight Fight Fight" purely because they enjoy the spectacle.
Excellent analogy.. I'm getting tired of it myself but it's fun in a sick and twisted way.
Plus, there are very few new things in the world these days... MMOGs are one of the newest things around, and this is an epic battle of sorts in the MMOG arena... so how could people not have discussions about it?
Comments
I have to disagree there again. I got my beta key for the stress test on the first day it was available and again I have the basic "free" membership. The non-subscribers were limited to a certain number of keys on a first-come, first-serve basis (although towards the end of the ST they opened it to everyone).
The subscribers (paying members) were guaranteed a spot through the initial ST signup period on File Planet. The other benefit to them was better download severs.
Regardless...I dont see any point to paying for a beta - game-in-progress. I know...some might argue the retail version of a game is still-in-progress. However on the retail version, you aren't forced to start over after a period of time (like end of beta). And if you are a serious tester, you are actually doing a service for the game developer. The only game I know of that charged a fee was UO and that was to cover S & H as they actually mailed a CD to their testers. Something like that is understandable - selling keys to your advertisers is not in my opinion.
I am pretty sure that's the page I saw originally. But it wasn't true (when I saw it anyway). I got my key on 8/28 (5 days before ST began)... but maybe paying subscribers got it on 8/2 and got to wait a month. -shrug-
Not much of a gift for subscribing if that was the case.
This time it does look like you have to be a subscriber to even get a chance at it.
Please do tell how you know WoW was not designed with upgradability in mind? You the lead designer? The engine designer? Inquiring minds would like to know. Plus a game that requires the newest version of direct X 9.0c (both games require it) in order for some of its graphical features to actually run I wouldn't call outdated, far from it. Your opinion may be that the graphics are not as good as EQ 2, and I'd agree there in most instances, but it gets annoying that everyone thinks they know every technical aspect of a game and post what they say is fact is just a twisted opinion.
Plus, neither game has shown us what their endgame will REALLY be like yet, so how do we judge end game depth for long term playability? We can't...
When the stress test beta began the keys were free by then, sign ups begain some number of weeks before. But, regardles nothing else I say or show you will sway your opinion. The fact is Blizzard allowed their stress test beta keys to be 'sold' on fileplanet like SOE, and WB, before allowing the general masses acceptance into the stress test. Im not arguing that being a subscriber is in any way a real benefit or saying "OMFG GO GET A SUBSCRIPTION NOW!!!!", just pointing to the fact this is somthing in practice by even 'gamer friendly' companies like Blizzard.
"SOE shot my dog, killed my parents, stole my wife, and kiddnapped my lawn gnome."
This place is full of tree-huggers and tofu fartn' faeries...
Lordie, I can't wait for both these games to be released if for no other reason than to tone down the constant bickering and battle the MMO community insists on maintaining about these two games.
EQ2 and WoW are like two kids in the playground who just want to go about their business while the entire schoolyard of gamers chant "Fight Fight Fight Fight" purely because they enjoy the spectacle.
What else is there to do?
Play Morrowind. Again?
You can't expect people to go outside. They could get skin cancer, you know. Or lung cancer from all the smoke in the bars. Or hit by a drunk driver, or a plane falling out of the sky.
Excellent analogy.. I'm getting tired of it myself but it's fun in a sick and twisted way.
Plus, there are very few new things in the world these days... MMOGs are one of the newest things around, and this is an epic battle of sorts in the MMOG arena... so how could people not have discussions about it?
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Waiting for WoW, will play until something with new gameplay arrives
"The philosophy of a corporate entity umbrellas all activities. Obviously, SOE has a flawed way of doing business."
-Crabby, MMORPG Boards
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Looking forward (cautiously) to: Age of Conan, Dark Solstice, Armada Online.
Will soon try: Guild Wars
Overall: Amazed and bewhildered at the current sad state of the artform of gaming.