What I think should happen is that open beta testers could get a small token of appreciation from Blizzard. I haven't played the game at all so I don't know what would be the best gift, but something that shows you were in beta would be nice.
There are always people saying "I've played the beta, i'm l337". And if WoW is successful, years later there will be annoying people who brag they started in beta, and the true ones will have something to show for it.
Or it could be an item that gives players a slight advantage, but not a enormous one.
I am going to consider entering the final stress test, and if not, absolutely will try to get in on the open beta.
They are opening up the beta at a good timing, since EQ2 is due out next week, and people will have the chance to try WoW before EQ2, and get hooked on it if they like it. Then EQ2 loses their business. Smart move by Blizzard.
On the otherhand, EQ2 seems like they rushed the release in order to get some people hooked on EQ2 before WoW comes out, so I've heard there's lots of bugs... but never played either. Knowing SOE... and the SWG launch... I fear for the worst.
Anyhow, I'm going off topic. I just think Blizzard should give players something to show for their participation, with something cool, not necessarily giving them an advantage over other players (I don't like the lvl 20 cap, or carrying over of characters).
Originally posted by Parn What I think should happen is that open beta testers could get a small token of appreciation from Blizzard. I haven't played the game at all so I don't know what would be the best gift, but something that shows you were in beta would be nice. There are always people saying "I've played the beta, i'm l337". And if WoW is successful, years later there will be annoying people who brag they started in beta, and the true ones will have something to show for it. Or it could be an item that gives players a slight advantage, but not a enormous one... I just think Blizzard should give players something to show for their participation, with something cool, not necessarily giving them an advantage over other players (I don't like the lvl 20 cap, or carrying over of characters).
Are you even thinking about what you're going to say before you sit down and start typing away? Since when did being in Beta become such a chore? Hold on a second, are you saying that the testers who:
a) Getting to play the game for several months and experience all that awesome content.
b) Actually having a say in what gets changed (to a small extent) in the patches, etc.
c) Not being bored out of their minds trolling WoW forums all the time.
are somehow worse off than we are, that they're performing some sacred duty for which they should get even more of a jump on the rest of us? OMG, I can see how it must be so rough for them! Tell you what, since I'm a true homie, I offer myself up in their stead. I will shoulder this enourmous burden for them so they can relax and not have to be so downtrodden...lol
I don't know when beta testing went from being a priviledge and an honour to being some sort of a free game-play experience, but it needs to stop. To any beta testers out there who "don't see the point of levelling up a character that's just gonna get wiped come retail", please feel free to let me take your place, I'd be more than happy to actually test out the game.
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
Ok, I think you kinda read into what I was saying in a different way.
I didn't say the playing the beta is a chore, that people should be compensated.
I said that if Blizzard did something to show appreciation for the players who spent hours playing/testing their game, it would be cool. I do not want people to carry over their characters.
Anyways, that was pretty hostile.... Have you been sitting in front of your comp all day long trying to get a housing spot in the new UO expansion? Cuz I know I have... and it's aggravating.
I thought of another idea. Let the beta testers keep their char's names. That doesn't give them any advantage, and will help in people carrying over their identity established in the beta.
IF Blizzard doesn't wipe there will be a lot of angry ppl. but, it won't be as difficult to kill stuff in noob zones. If blizzard does wipe there will be a lot of angry ob and cb players. However, they'll have a distnct advantage.
Heh, sorry, all my posts are usually pretty nasty unless you're agreeing with me. I don't mean it to sound that way, but it usually does. Might have something to do with me working a 12 hour shift tonight though...
Either way, what I'm saying is that the very fact that they are getting to test the game and play before the rest of us should be WAY MORE than enough thanks for their time. Their reward is that they're getting to beta test, that should be plenty for them, I know it would for myself as well as several thousand others.
Also, I completely disagree with you on them being allowed to keep their character names. Again, they've gotten way more hooked up than the rest of us thus far. They know all the best xp, gear, etc. They know all the skills, what they do, how to build a mean character. That's not enough?
Have you every joined up in a game a few months after release, only to find that the names you usually use are all taken? Can you imagine that on the first day of WoW? To some it's no big deal, but I have a rep from several other games and I keep the same names as much as possible so people can readily identify me. Besides, I just like to have it that way, I don't know about yourself.
They're already gotten most of the goodies, why should they get even more and the rest of us be left out in the cold cos we weren't lucky enough to test/acquire free knowledge of the game/play for free for several months/etc. Like I said, you should seriously give this some though, cos it's pretty f-d up, man.
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
I don't see why beta characters can't be rolled over into the test server. That way you have diverse characters right from the start--ready to test all levels of content additions and changes post-launch. It wouldn't affect anyone else on the retail servers, which would be new servers with isolated economies. Then beta testers have the bonus of keeping their characters they worked so hard on and the risks of playing on a test server that they are already used to ...
In short i think that is a good idea...to roll over to test server only. If youve been playing since day one, lets assume you actually submitted bugs and have experience at it. It only makes sense from Blizzards point of view to use the pool of tried and true bug testers on the test server...i dont have a problem with this idea at all. If they are allowed on normal servers though, then i have a VERY serious problem indeed...but considering im only ever gonna be a casual/semi-hardcore player at any stage of the games life, it wouldnt particularly bother me to see a lvl 35 walk around while im lvl 1....if the economy is stuffed though from the start, it will stuff the game badly and i probably wouldnt subscribe..
I honestly don't really know how I feel about Beta characters being rolled over into a Test Server. I suppose that's fine, I've never once in my life actually hopped on a test server. I'm not really into paying to test stuff out and it ruins the suprise when the rest of the servers actually get the patches. Can't really say I have a problem with them going into a Test Server.
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
Alot of very good points here I think. Imo they should delete the cb, ob and stress test char before release. I am in wow stress now and happy enough to have the edge like alot you guys and gals said. Knowing the zones, camp spots and farming loot spots that is good enough for me. Dont need a 60 lvl or even close to that. The cb were lucky enough to get in nothing special. I have seen alot of peeps in cb thinking they should get something for there time and effort like keep there char in release. GET OVER IT CB BE HAPPY YOU PLAYED FOR FREE. All that time and complain what do i get for my time in this game.
Originally posted by Otto_Manic I honestly don't really know how I feel about Beta characters being rolled over into a Test Server. I suppose that's fine, I've never once in my life actually hopped on a test server. I'm not really into paying to test stuff out and it ruins the suprise when the rest of the servers actually get the patches. Can't really say I have a problem with them going into a Test Server.I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie) DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
That is exactly why I think it would be a good idea to roll beta chars over to the test server. Few play on them because most don't want to start over again in a test environment. Beta players are already in that frame of mind (they didn't have a choice, because the test environment is all that existed when they started). However, very few of even them will start over in a test environment unless they already have a vested interest in that test environment. Rolling their beta chars over to it would serve that very purpose.
Those of you worried about unfair competition from higher levels, just play on a retail server. Everyone starts at level 1 on those! If you DO play on a test server with established higher levels, your priority should be testing, not competition with other players.
Personally, I don't particularly care either way, because I pay to play a game, not test it, like another poster said. I wouldn't even touch a test server, and if my character was transferred I would still make a new one on a retail server. But in the interest in fair and objective opinion, regardless of whether it affects me or not, I still say, "Why the hell not?" Let the beta players have their characters, but make them accept the same conditions as they already excepted during beta: Their characters can be wiped and/or manipulated in any way the devs see fit in the name of testing. I bet most would accept that nominal risk to keep playing established characters and the devs benefit from having them.
As a closed beta tester(53 mage, 52 warrior,43 priest,39 priest,37 rogue,16 shaman), there is no doubt in my mind that Closed beta chars will be wiped, and I definitely support that.
When I heard blizz was considering carrying chars over from OB to retail, I was also firmly against it. But after playing a bit, I have changed my mind, here's why...
I started a UD priest on pvp server 4(East coast), it was about 8-9pm eastern, and when I logged in, I was shocked....
We had well over 80 undead new guys running around...and ALL of the lowbie quest mobs were camped to say the least. (They have adjusted the dynamic spawn, which may fix this problem in the upcoming patch) But, long story short, it took about 75% longer due to the enormous amount of people all trying to do the same quests.
Now, at level 17, I still bump into the same problems (I am a bit ahead of the majority of players, but I see them all the time as I cross old quest areas.) but not as much.
Now picture this....first day of retail...do you want 300 odd people trying to do the exact same line of quests your on? or only a 100? That's the choice which blizzard has to decide on. Do they allow some people a 2 week head start, and all which that entails? or do they just start with a clean slate and have a massive bottle neck of players all Kill stealing and shouting? (One player called me some not-so-nice names because I was tapping the mobs before he could.)
Yes, some people will be a higher level then you, but over all, your enjoyment of the game will be vastly increased because you don't have to put up with 2x the population doing the quest your on. If I were locked out of the beta, I would have the same views as most of you, but speaking from experience, I can see that you will get more enjoyment from the game if they do not reset all the players.(In open beta, CB players are bye-bye )
Well, that's my 2 cents worth.
*Also makes you wonder if this system of letting people into the beta is not a system to manage the flow of new players into the game?
Final stress test - 3 weeks from rls. Open beta - 2 weeks from rls. 1 week shut down period(which seems to be the norm for alot of games)- 1 week from rls. Release - 0 weeks from release. *
Hopefully they will wipe. I think they will have to wipe to some extent, since some closed beta testers will still have dwarf mages, which aren't in the game anymore.
I don't want the test characters to be on test server or anything. Then you have all the people who have played for months complaining that every class needs changes, and the rest of the community won't even have a say in it before Blizzard starts nerfing things.
Also I just don't like knowing that there is a level 60 character in the game already(regardless of whether he is on my server or not).
And of course the people who have level 50+ characters at release will be quick to answer any thread with a "n00b! you don't know anything, mages pwn in PvP, they need to be nerfed! I'm level 60 I know all!"
----------------------------------
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, chairman of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
----------------------------------
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home." -- Ken Olson, chairman of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
Originally posted by PolarBearD AsNow picture this....first day of retail...do you want 300 odd people trying to do the exact same line of quests your on?
Yup I sure do, I would rather have it this way then 200 LVL 60's already running around or some higher lvl people comming in Power leveling there low lvl friends, or some lvl 1-10's running around with the best gear made possible by there guild mate who has a high lvl char, or I could go on and on...PVP would take the biggest hit, here I am a LVL 15 with no guild, all the guilded players would have a insane advantage since most likely they would have the best gear possible on.
No wipe would be a foolish mistake by blizzard, even on there beta site the majority or testers are asking for it..
One last point as well, the open beta is going to have limited slots so what of the people who get left out? Its bs and not there fault that they dont get a slot.
Dont be foolish BLIZZARD wipe them damn servers..
------------------------------ You see, every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with their surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You spread to an area, and you multiply, and you multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet.-Mr.Smith
I highly doubt that everyone will have their same characters in retail. As some have already stated in this post, it would leave a HIGHLY unfair advantage to those who are just joining WoW. Plus, those who have high level characters would have bacially played WoW for free for several months if their characters are transfered over, while the rest have to pay.
As to Blizzard not saying weither or not characters will be transfered over to retail, I think they will not, but do not want to state that to keep people coming as well as to stay in WoW. I've already seen a couple of posts where some people have said that they will leave WoW if their character is not transfered over to retail (pathetic). All I have to say to that is "see ya". Nothing in this day and age is free except the air you breathe.
Comments
What I think should happen is that open beta testers could get a small token of appreciation from Blizzard. I haven't played the game at all so I don't know what would be the best gift, but something that shows you were in beta would be nice.
There are always people saying "I've played the beta, i'm l337". And if WoW is successful, years later there will be annoying people who brag they started in beta, and the true ones will have something to show for it.
Or it could be an item that gives players a slight advantage, but not a enormous one.
I am going to consider entering the final stress test, and if not, absolutely will try to get in on the open beta.
They are opening up the beta at a good timing, since EQ2 is due out next week, and people will have the chance to try WoW before EQ2, and get hooked on it if they like it. Then EQ2 loses their business. Smart move by Blizzard.
On the otherhand, EQ2 seems like they rushed the release in order to get some people hooked on EQ2 before WoW comes out, so I've heard there's lots of bugs... but never played either. Knowing SOE... and the SWG launch... I fear for the worst.
Anyhow, I'm going off topic. I just think Blizzard should give players something to show for their participation, with something cool, not necessarily giving them an advantage over other players (I don't like the lvl 20 cap, or carrying over of characters).
Are you even thinking about what you're going to say before you sit down and start typing away? Since when did being in Beta become such a chore? Hold on a second, are you saying that the testers who:
a) Getting to play the game for several months and experience all that awesome content.
b) Actually having a say in what gets changed (to a small extent) in the patches, etc.
c) Not being bored out of their minds trolling WoW forums all the time.
are somehow worse off than we are, that they're performing some sacred duty for which they should get even more of a jump on the rest of us? OMG, I can see how it must be so rough for them! Tell you what, since I'm a true homie, I offer myself up in their stead. I will shoulder this enourmous burden for them so they can relax and not have to be so downtrodden...lol
I don't know when beta testing went from being a priviledge and an honour to being some sort of a free game-play experience, but it needs to stop. To any beta testers out there who "don't see the point of levelling up a character that's just gonna get wiped come retail", please feel free to let me take your place, I'd be more than happy to actually test out the game.
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
Otto!
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
Ok, I think you kinda read into what I was saying in a different way.
I didn't say the playing the beta is a chore, that people should be compensated.
I said that if Blizzard did something to show appreciation for the players who spent hours playing/testing their game, it would be cool. I do not want people to carry over their characters.
Anyways, that was pretty hostile.... Have you been sitting in front of your comp all day long trying to get a housing spot in the new UO expansion? Cuz I know I have... and it's aggravating.
I thought of another idea. Let the beta testers keep their char's names. That doesn't give them any advantage, and will help in people carrying over their identity established in the beta.
Heh, sorry, all my posts are usually pretty nasty unless you're agreeing with me. I don't mean it to sound that way, but it usually does. Might have something to do with me working a 12 hour shift tonight though...
Either way, what I'm saying is that the very fact that they are getting to test the game and play before the rest of us should be WAY MORE than enough thanks for their time. Their reward is that they're getting to beta test, that should be plenty for them, I know it would for myself as well as several thousand others.
Also, I completely disagree with you on them being allowed to keep their character names. Again, they've gotten way more hooked up than the rest of us thus far. They know all the best xp, gear, etc. They know all the skills, what they do, how to build a mean character. That's not enough?
Have you every joined up in a game a few months after release, only to find that the names you usually use are all taken? Can you imagine that on the first day of WoW? To some it's no big deal, but I have a rep from several other games and I keep the same names as much as possible so people can readily identify me. Besides, I just like to have it that way, I don't know about yourself.
They're already gotten most of the goodies, why should they get even more and the rest of us be left out in the cold cos we weren't lucky enough to test/acquire free knowledge of the game/play for free for several months/etc. Like I said, you should seriously give this some though, cos it's pretty f-d up, man.
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
Otto!
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
Anyone who is facing an upcoming character wipe should feel privileged.
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# of deleted posts thus far: 1
I don't see why beta characters can't be rolled over into the test server. That way you have diverse characters right from the start--ready to test all levels of content additions and changes post-launch. It wouldn't affect anyone else on the retail servers, which would be new servers with isolated economies. Then beta testers have the bonus of keeping their characters they worked so hard on and the risks of playing on a test server that they are already used to ...
Why the hell not?
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In short i think that is a good idea...to roll over to test server only. If youve been playing since day one, lets assume you actually submitted bugs and have experience at it. It only makes sense from Blizzards point of view to use the pool of tried and true bug testers on the test server...i dont have a problem with this idea at all. If they are allowed on normal servers though, then i have a VERY serious problem indeed...but considering im only ever gonna be a casual/semi-hardcore player at any stage of the games life, it wouldnt particularly bother me to see a lvl 35 walk around while im lvl 1....if the economy is stuffed though from the start, it will stuff the game badly and i probably wouldnt subscribe..
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
Otto!
I'm looking for some friends that I lost contact with over the years...
EQ: Horlain (Firiona Vie)
DAOC: Kaizur (Guinevere)
That is exactly why I think it would be a good idea to roll beta chars over to the test server. Few play on them because most don't want to start over again in a test environment. Beta players are already in that frame of mind (they didn't have a choice, because the test environment is all that existed when they started). However, very few of even them will start over in a test environment unless they already have a vested interest in that test environment. Rolling their beta chars over to it would serve that very purpose.
Those of you worried about unfair competition from higher levels, just play on a retail server. Everyone starts at level 1 on those! If you DO play on a test server with established higher levels, your priority should be testing, not competition with other players.
Personally, I don't particularly care either way, because I pay to play a game, not test it, like another poster said. I wouldn't even touch a test server, and if my character was transferred I would still make a new one on a retail server. But in the interest in fair and objective opinion, regardless of whether it affects me or not, I still say, "Why the hell not?" Let the beta players have their characters, but make them accept the same conditions as they already excepted during beta: Their characters can be wiped and/or manipulated in any way the devs see fit in the name of testing. I bet most would accept that nominal risk to keep playing established characters and the devs benefit from having them.
As a closed beta tester(53 mage, 52 warrior,43 priest,39 priest,37 rogue,16 shaman), there is no doubt in my mind that Closed beta chars will be wiped, and I definitely support that.
When I heard blizz was considering carrying chars over from OB to retail, I was also firmly against it. But after playing a bit, I have changed my mind, here's why...
I started a UD priest on pvp server 4(East coast), it was about 8-9pm eastern, and when I logged in, I was shocked....
We had well over 80 undead new guys running around...and ALL of the lowbie quest mobs were camped to say the least. (They have adjusted the dynamic spawn, which may fix this problem in the upcoming patch) But, long story short, it took about 75% longer due to the enormous amount of people all trying to do the same quests.
Now, at level 17, I still bump into the same problems (I am a bit ahead of the majority of players, but I see them all the time as I cross old quest areas.) but not as much.
Now picture this....first day of retail...do you want 300 odd people trying to do the exact same line of quests your on? or only a 100? That's the choice which blizzard has to decide on. Do they allow some people a 2 week head start, and all which that entails? or do they just start with a clean slate and have a massive bottle neck of players all Kill stealing and shouting? (One player called me some not-so-nice names because I was tapping the mobs before he could.)
Yes, some people will be a higher level then you, but over all, your enjoyment of the game will be vastly increased because you don't have to put up with 2x the population doing the quest your on. If I were locked out of the beta, I would have the same views as most of you, but speaking from experience, I can see that you will get more enjoyment from the game if they do not reset all the players.(In open beta, CB players are bye-bye
)
Well, that's my 2 cents worth.
*Also makes you wonder if this system of letting people into the beta is not a system to manage the flow of new players into the game?
Final stress test - 3 weeks from rls.
Open beta - 2 weeks from rls.
1 week shut down period(which seems to be the norm for alot of games)- 1 week from rls.
Release - 0 weeks from release.
*
Hopefully they will wipe. I think they will have to wipe to some extent, since some closed beta testers will still have dwarf mages, which aren't in the game anymore.
I don't want the test characters to be on test server or anything. Then you have all the people who have played for months complaining that every class needs changes, and the rest of the community won't even have a say in it before Blizzard starts nerfing things.
Also I just don't like knowing that there is a level 60 character in the game already(regardless of whether he is on my server or not).
And of course the people who have level 50+ characters at release will be quick to answer any thread with a "n00b! you don't know anything, mages pwn in PvP, they need to be nerfed! I'm level 60 I know all!"
----------------------------------
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, chairman of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
----------------------------------
"There is no reason anyone would want a computer in their home."
-- Ken Olson, chairman of Digital Equipment Corp, 1977
Yup I sure do, I would rather have it this way then 200 LVL 60's already running around or some higher lvl people comming in Power leveling there low lvl friends, or some lvl 1-10's running around with the best gear made possible by there guild mate who has a high lvl char, or I could go on and on...PVP would take the biggest hit, here I am a LVL 15 with no guild, all the guilded players would have a insane advantage since most likely they would have the best gear possible on.
No wipe would be a foolish mistake by blizzard, even on there beta site the majority or testers are asking for it..
One last point as well, the open beta is going to have limited slots so what of the people who get left out? Its bs and not there fault that they dont get a slot.
Dont be foolish BLIZZARD wipe them damn servers..
------------------------------
You see, every mammal on this planet instinctively develops a natural equilibrium with their surrounding environment, but you humans do not. You spread to an area, and you multiply, and you multiply, until every natural resource is consumed. The only way you can survive is to spread to another area. There is another organism on this planet that follows the same pattern. Do you know what it is? A virus. Human beings are a disease, a cancer of this planet.-Mr.Smith
I highly doubt that everyone will have their same characters in retail. As some have already stated in this post, it would leave a HIGHLY unfair advantage to those who are just joining WoW. Plus, those who have high level characters would have bacially played WoW for free for several months if their characters are transfered over, while the rest have to pay.
As to Blizzard not saying weither or not characters will be transfered over to retail, I think they will not, but do not want to state that to keep people coming as well as to stay in WoW. I've already seen a couple of posts where some people have said that they will leave WoW if their character is not transfered over to retail (pathetic). All I have to say to that is "see ya". Nothing in this day and age is free except the air you breathe.