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Guild Wars 2 stress testing continues today
In a surprise move that absolutely no one could have anticipated, ArenaNet has announced another stress test for the soon-to-launch Guild Wars 2. The test will run from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. EDT on Sunday the 12th (today!). Like those before it, the test is open to those who have pre-purchased the game and characters will not have been deleted. As in previous stress tests, the team is advertising that this test is, true to its name, designed to stress the servers. Players might experience features not working as intended, and that's par for the course. Have fun if you make it into the game, and remember that this will hopefully make the real deal a much smoother experience for everyone in a mere 13 days.
ArenaNet announces another stress test for Guild Wars 2
In an ongoing effort to make the Guild Wars 2 servers fit for the teeming masses that will descend upon them at launch, ArenaNet has declared yet another stress test. For those of you who missed out on Thursday's test or just want more time in Tyria, your next chance is this Friday, August 10th, from 7:00 p.m. EDT until 11:00 p.m. EDT. Characters will not be wiped before the stress test, and as always, the test is open only to those who have already pre-purchased Guild Wars 2. In the announcement of the event, the ArenaNet team reminded fans that they "might experience connectivity problems" and that any such issues "are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch."
Guild Wars 2 pops another stress test tomorrow
The mini-stress tests keep on coming for Guild Wars 2 in its final pre-launch days, and ArenaNet has announced another such event taking place tomorrow afternoon. This new stress test will span just four hours, from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT. As with the previous quick stress test, ArenaNet makes no claims as to flawless performance: "We will be actively working on the game during the event, so you might experience connectivity problems or discover features that are not working as designed. Any issues you experience are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch." For those of you who have gotten attached to beta characters, the word is that they will not be wiped for this test.
Guild Wars 2 stress test scheduled for tomorrow
How's the wait coming for Guild Wars 2's launch? Are you suffering from the shakes or uncontrollable outbursts of grief and withdrawal? ArenaNet's got the stuff you want, and it's willing to give you a taste of the beta during a four-hour stress test tomorrow. Anything more than that is going to cost you. This brief stress test will take place on August 2nd from 3:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. EDT. It's uncertain whether players will be able to play characters from previous beta events or there will be a wipe. According to the Facebook announcement, this test will be used for active fine-tuning: "Unlike previous stress tests, we will be actively working on the game during the event, so you might experience connectivity problems or discover features that are not working as designed. Any issues you experience are a result of the rigorous conditions of the stress test, and are in no way representative of the state of the game at launch."
Path of Exile running an open stress test this weekend
Are you in need of a beta test to participate in for the weekend? Would you prefer that beta test to have some Diablo flavoring in there? Path of Exile has you covered, as the development team has just announced that the game will be throwing the doors open for a public stress test over the weekend. Whether or not you're in the closed beta, you'll be able to log in and tool around in the game to your heart's content. The stress test will feature all of the content currently available in the closed beta. Servers will open at 8 p.m. EDT on July 27th and will close up once again at 2:59 a.m. PDT on July 30th. Anyone more interested in playing than in filing bug reports will be happy to note that the focus is just on loading up the servers and seeing how they perform under load. The official FAQ has further guidelines and a link to the client so you can get it downloaded and ready before Friday evening.
Flameseeker Chronicles: What to do when zombies chew your face off
I've been having something of a Guild Wars renaissance of late. Part of it has to do with a few friends getting into the game again (mostly for Hall of Monuments reasons), and part of it has to do with having time to breathe, which means time to play Guild Wars. Mostly, I feel, it has to do with the sound of time's wingèd chariot hurrying near: I know that after Guild Wars 2 releases, the likelihood of going back to the home I've made in Guild Wars is pretty slim. Sure, it'll still be there, and diehards like me will still be logging in, but the stage will have a new star (if, in fact, it doesn't already), and that's kind of sad. So I'm taking what time I have to enjoy Guild Wars as thoroughly as possible. And that's how I found myself dashing madly through the Shards of Orr.
Another Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming this Wednesday
Can't get enough Guild Wars 2 news? Well, ArenaNet has just announced that it will be conducting a stress test toward the middle of next week. Specifically, you're invited to try to crash the servers on Wednesday, June 27th, from 1:00 p.m. EDT to 5:00 p.m. EDT. The invitation is restricted to players who have pre-purchased the game, and ArenaNet says that it wants "to gather additional data on how [the servers] operate under load" before the next beta weekend event. If you've played during a previous testing phase, your characters will be waiting for you since the devs aren't wiping data for the stress test. More info is yours for the reading at the official GW2 website.
Guild Wars 2 nets 500K Facebook likes, releases Destiny's Edge art to celebrate
ArenaNet continues to roll out the rewards for being well-liked this week. Guild Wars 2 crossed the half-million Facebook like barrier, and as a result, the studio released a new epic piece of art for its fans. The picture is of Destiny's Edge, the adventuring group that features so prominently in Guild Wars 2, facing a rather fearsome foe: The Shatterer. According to the Facebook page, this is actually an in-game screenshot that's been "embellished" by ArenaNet artist Daniel Dociu. As with the other pictures that it has released, ArenaNet has made this image available as a high-resolution version as well. This art release comes at an auspicious time, as Guild Wars 2 is diving into a seven-hour beta stress test starting today at 2:00 p.m. EDT.
Brace yourself: The Guild Wars 2 stress test is coming
The ArenaNet team is rallying the troops for a Guild Wars 2 stress test this coming Monday. While the existence and details of the test were already known, Rubi Bayer has added a note to participants to the game's Facebook page. The goal of the stress test is to see how the servers handle concentrated activity, so she gave a few tips on how best players can help the company during the short test. No simulation or prediction can ferret out as many problems as letting thousands of players loose on a game, so Rubi encouraged players to pile on the servers, find bugs, and be patient as they, well, find bugs. The test will run on Monday, May 14th, from 2:00 p.m. EDT to 9:00 p.m. EDT, and will be available to pre-purchasers only. One nice treat is that although the company has mentioned character wipes between beta weekend events, players will still have their darling creations from BWE1 to run around with. Get ready to flood the servers on Monday. Cry havoc and let slip the dogs of war. Fly, my pretties!
Mike O'Brien: Guild Wars 2's beta weekend 'overwhelming'
Mike O'Brien said that the result of Guild Wars 2's initial public beta weekend was "overwhelming in more ways than one." ArenaNet's president took the time to write up a short blog post reflecting on the outcome of the past beta weekend and the reasoning behind this coming Monday's surprise stress test. According to O'Brien, while the feedback from the event was quite positive, the team had to struggle with unexpected demand for the game. Even after the management temporarily turned off the ability for players' ability to pre-purchase the title through ArenaNet, the game's 48 servers couldn't contain the influx of testers and beta tourists. It wasn't just a PR stunt, however. "This was definitely a real beta, designed to find problems, gather player input, and learn what work still needs to be done before we ship the game," O'Brien stated. The team is anticipating a bigger crowd with the next beta weekend, which is why it's running a seven-hour stress test on May 14th to test new changes.
Guild Wars 2 hosting a surprise stress test next Monday
Are you in withdrawal after the last Guild Wars 2 testing weekend? Feeling the need to get back in the game, even if it's just for one night? If so, you're in luck, as the team has just recently announced that the game will be performing a surprise stress test on Monday, May 14th between 2:00 p.m. EDT until 9:00 p.m. EDT. It's a chance to log back in, play for a bit, and get more of a taste for the game over those seven hours. Worth noting is that the stress test is only for pre-purchasers, but beyond that there are no specific test requirements -- you can continue using the characters you created during the beta weekend. Players may experience some slight performance issues, since the purpose is to try and alleviate issues before the next beta weekend rolls around. So if you've pre-purchased the game, get ready to head back to Tyria in less than a week's time.
Diablo 3 beta pulled 300K simultaneous players into its special little hell
Diablo 3's weekend beta went about as smoothly as a hamster in a ball rolling down an erupting volcano – which is to say it was completely normal for a high-profile beta test. Saturday saw a peak of 300,000 concurrent players, Blizzard community manager Micah Whipple (Bashiok) tweeted, reporting the full number of testers for the weekend was "a lot."Testers reported login and server errors as early as Friday, and a few complaints centered on the skill UI and other tweakable usability issues. The beta hit its main points, allowing people to play the full demo, leveling their characters to 13 and fighting the Skeleton King. All testing data will be wiped and players will start fresh when Diablo 3 launches on May 15.
Diablo III roars into an open beta weekend
Flex those mouse-clicking fingers, compadres -- it's demon-hunting time! This weekend, Blizzard is blowing the doors off Diablo III's beta, allowing any and all (well, those with a Battle.net account, that is) to come try out this upcoming action RPG. The open beta weekend begins at 3:00 p.m. EDT today and lasts until 1:00 p.m. on Monday, April 23rd. During the beta, all five classes will be available, but players will be limited to a level 13 cap as they give the game a whirl. To access the Diablo III open beta, you'll need a valid Battle.net account and a BattleTag. Despite playing in the open beta, participants won't be able to post in the beta forums and won't receive Beta Bucks to spend. Asian players in Korea, Taiwan, Hong Kong, and Macau will be part of not this stress test but rather a separate invitation-only closed beta test starting on April 23rd.
LG unveils flexible plastic e-paper display, aims for European launch next month
LG has made no secret of its fondness for flexible e-paper, but those dreams became a reality today, with the announcement of a six-inch display that promises to "revolutionize the e-book market." The malleable plastic display sports a resolution of 1024 x 768 and can bend at an angle of up to 40 degrees. At just 0.7 millimeters thick, it's about one-third thinner than similarly-specced glass displays, and weighs in at 14 grams -- about half the weight of its glassy competition. LG also claims that the display is super durable, as evidenced by a series of successful drop tests from a height of 1.5 meters. The plan going forward is to supply the display to ODMs in China, in the hopes of bringing final products to Europe by "the beginning of next month." For more details, check out the full press release after the break.
Frogster planning TERA Europe stress test today
Ready for another TERA Europe beta test? You're in luck because Frogster is hosting one later today (at 2:00 p.m. EST, to be exact). The Velika server is being stress-tested, and Frogster is raising the player cap in order to see what happens when large numbers of people attempt to log in at once. TERA Europe community manager Raven says that "you might experience lag or other issues" and that "this test is not intended to offer you a normal gameplay experience." If you're OK with that -- and you feel like volunteering your time -- head to the official forums to learn more (and set your alarms accordingly). If you're wondering about TERA's American client, En Masse Entertainment sent word that last night's pre-test dress rehearsal "went swimmingly."
RIM wrecks its own devices, so you don't have to (video)
Bend, drown, drop and zap? No, that's not your mnemonic device for surviving a fire, it's actually RIM's protocol for destroying their own products. In a trio of behind-the-scenes videos released today, the company's pulled back the curtain on its Hardware Support Lab's process, giving users a peek at the rigorous testing involved with any of its pre-market releases. Designed to keep that pricey kit functioning in top form, these various tests replicate everyday foibles, so when you actually do drop your phone in the toilet, it'll (hopefully) still work. Wondering what sort of travails and pitfalls have been perpetrated upon Waterloo's own portfolio of gadgets? For starters, there's something called a "Moisture Ingress Test" which gauges the quality of a device's seal by dropping it into dyed water -- repeatedly. Or a series of durability tests, that simulate the crushing weight of your posterior upon a defenseless BlackBerry, amongst other potentially embarrassing scenarios. It's the stuff of standard gadget abuse, as well as a panacea for the worries of the accident prone. Click on past the break below to engage in a brief bit of rubbernecking.
WAKFU releasing February 29th, stress test coming this weekend
It's a big weekend for WAKFU fans. The free-to-play fantasy sandbox from Ankama has announced the worldwide release date (February 29th) in a posting on the game's official website. The team picked the leap year date on purpose as a way of cementing WAKFU's reputation for doing things "that little bit differently." The devs have also released a new video diary focusing on the game's monsters and PvE gameplay. Finally, there's a stress test going on this weekend to help Ankama prepare for the upcoming launch. Make sure you log in on Saturday and Sunday to help out (and to get your apprentice cloak bonus item)!
SWTOR beta participants log one meeeeellion hours of testing
If it seemed like everyone and their dog got in on last weekend's Star Wars: The Old Republic beta event, well, they did. BioWare invited tens of thousands of Star Wars fans to the TOR testing party, and probably a few Star Trek fans and the blue glowy spirits of dearly departed Jedi Knights as well. The mass invites are designed to strain the servers prior to the game's December 15th launch date, and BioWare co-founder Greg Zeschuk says this is just the beginning. "One crazy number is we had over a million hours of testing over the weekend. It was a huge test, and there are even bigger ones coming. The key thing is for us to take those learnings, apply them and make the service really stable. We're happy with the game," Zeschuk told Eurogamer. Zeschuk and his BioWare cohorts aren't exactly raising pinkies to lips like an overconfident supervillain, though. "Everyone's cautiously optimistic. We're all very paranoid," Zeschuk said, before going on to explain how BioWare will carefully control TOR's launch availability to ensure a smooth experience.
Meet Patty, Microsoft's Surface 2.0 stress test robot
Locked behind a gated fence and unseen by the public until now, lives Patty, Microsoft's Surface 2.0 stress test robot. Designed to see just how much Gates' touchscreen can take, this lady bot uses 80 compressed air-driven probes, six motors and a robotic moving head to apply maximum stress to the display. It works as such: by giving Patty a command, engineers can move probes across the screen at 25 inches per second -- mimicking the movement of fingers, hands and whatever else it might encounter IRL. With so much multitasking, it's no wonder she comes with a giant red emergency stop button -- just in case. See Patty do her thing by hitting the source link below.
ASUS Eee Pad Transformer resists Canadian coins, does not survive slings and arrows (video)
ASUS hasn't really had to twist consumers' wallet-carrying wrists to get its Eee Pad Transformer off retailers' shelves and into homes -- the tablet practically walks itself. Which makes the company's latest attempt at viral marketing come off as more of an exercise in unnecessary bragging, than a straight, feature-touting webmercial. The video, made for the hardware maker's college-focused Campus Life website, walks viewers through a brief description of the Gorilla Glass coating that gives the Honeycomb-based tab its damage-resistant properties, before putting the slate through a series of stress tests. While we've always been told sticks and stones would break our bones, apparently keys, Canadian change and screws won't harm the Transformer. The sole chink in this popular pad's ion exchanging armor? Archery, of course.
