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Eligium using Facebook to start the beta push
Earlier this year, Frogster announced its upcoming new MMO, Eligium - The Chosen One. But before you can test yourself in the game to see if you are in fact the figure of destiny referred to in the title, there's a much more functional test that has to take place. Specifically, the beta test. Yes, the official site has opened up registration with the alluring call of securing your beta access. To help drum up the game on social media, the game's Facebook page is the nexus of the beta push; players who choose to Like the game and comment spurring more beta invitations being sent out. Of course, you can't get invited if you don't register, can you? While the solid details on the gameplay are still a bit sketchy, if you'd like to see what the developer of Runes of Magic is working on this time, you should probably head over to Facebook and start commenting. [Thanks to Piaskowy for the tip!]
The Secret World offering players beta access via the Secret War
In spring of next year, players will get to enter The Secret World and start facing off against all of the horrors lurking just beneath the surface of modern life. But if you're intent on delving into the game as soon as possible, you probably want to be in the beta more or less yesterday. Funcom is giving players a chance to do just that after they sign up for the beta via the Secret War ARG, which will let players explore the factions and start to rise in ranks... and, of course, secure a beta spot. Following the registration process, players will be taken to a portal that offers a personality test to determine which of the three major factions fit their outlooks. (Or said players can pick outright.) From there, the game is on... but in the shadows, as always. You don't need to do anything else, but you can start taking part in your society's efforts to recruit others, and players who reach the highest rank in the chosen society will be granted automatic access to the beta when it goes live. Sounds mysterious and underhanded -- just the sort of thing you'd expect from a game about the dark days ahead.
Star Trek - Infinite Space launches website with stellar promotion
We've been watching Star Trek - Infinite Space ever since eyeballing it at E3 earlier this year, and we're happy to say that Gameforge's upcoming title has taken the next step toward the final frontier by launching the official website for the game. The site is somewhat bare-Bones right now, with a sign-up to receive more information, screenshots, the trailer, and a news blog. What's interesting is that Gameforge is offering players an incentive to enlist in Starfleet by offering the chance to reserve your name, get beta key priority, and receive an exclusive item once you enter your retinal scan (or, y'know, fill out the form). Star Trek - Infinite Space is on display at this week's Gamescom, and we look forward to hearing more about this action-based free-to-play MMO.
Give me my Rift beta FAQ, beta FAQ, beta FAQ -- Trion's beta FAQ ribs!
There have been a lot of antsy players bouncing on their toes outside of Trion Worlds HQ as they await word of any new Rift: Planes of Telara beta news. While all is quiet on the beta front for the time being, Trion CM Abigale posted a pretty useful beta FAQ on the Rift forums to handle the bombardment of commonly asked questions. While some of the information covers the multiple tiers of potential beta testers that we reported a couple weeks ago, Abigale painstakingly covers all the angles. One of the interesting aspects of Rift's beta process is that it will take the form of self-contained "events," and not all beta applicants will be invited to all of the events. In fact, once a non-VIP tester takes part in a beta event, their name goes back in the pool of potential testers and may or may not be redrawn for the next round. Of course all of these queries are overshadowed by a single dominant question: When will beta begin? While alpha has been underway for quite some time, Abigale refuses to place any time frame on this question and simply states, "Beta dates have not been announced yet." You can read the full FAQ over on the Rift forums.
Trion Worlds explains Rift beta sitch
The beta for Rift: Planes of Telara is looming -- looming, people! -- and yet the masses are somewhat confused as to how to get into it. This was made more complicated this past weekend as Trion Worlds posted a Sign Up For Beta Now link on the front page of Rift without sending users to an actual beta sign up. Community manager Abigale posted a lengthy explanation on the forums as to why this happened and how Trion is planning to recruit for the beta. Essentially, Trion Worlds meant to send out an explanation email before the link went live. But now that it is live, Abigale laid out the three tiers of beta invites and access: Guaranteed beta invitees: These are the folks who got their hands on a VIP All Access pass at one of Rift's community events. This guarantees a beta spot in any and all betas. If you didn't get one yet, don't worry -- Trion will be handing out more of these codes in the future! First beta pool: Any fans of the game who have either entered in a code for a chance at beta access or have merely signed up for a Rift forum account previous to October 2nd is now part of a pool of potential beta players. Trion will pull more testers from this pool as the beta events roll out. Second beta pool: Anyone who signs up for a Rift account after the 2nd (which means that if you haven't already, this will be you) is placed into this pool. This gives you a shot at the beta, although not as great as if you were a part of the first pool. You can read the full explanation over on the Rift forums. [Updated: The link to the explanation should be working now. Sorry for the confusion!]
Vindictus rolls out the next phase of beta testing September 15th
There has been no shortage of player interest in Vindictus, the upcoming action-MMO from Nexon. And it's not hard to see why -- the game been pushing forward some interesting mechanics, on top of beautiful graphics and high-energy gameplay. The first closed beta recently came to a conclusion, but there's good news for hopefuls, as the game is starting the newest round of open beta testing on September 15th. Although the official line is that the beta is open, the development team seems to be using the term in the sense that the game isn't closed off behind an NDA. That being said, all testers from the first round of the Vindictus beta will be granted two codes to offer any friends interested in playing, and Nexon plans to distribute codes to more outlets. With the next wave of testing just under two weeks away, players should keep their eyes open -- and maybe make a few friends with former testers.
Funcom offers prizes for friends and followers
Tis the season for getting cool things -- and for making new friends. Funcom obviously agrees, as they've got a contest going where they'll be giving away some pretty nice prizes for people who become friends, fans, or followers on their various Facebook and Twitter accounts. The idea is pretty simple: for every one of the Funcom accounts you link up with, you'll be entered in the drawing for prizes. So, with two accounts each for Age of Conan, Anarchy Online The Secret World, as well as for Funcom in general, there are 8 different ways you could land some sweet swag. Among the prizes for this giveaway are free game time; beta access to Age of Conan's next expansion, Rise of the Godslayer; a guaranteed spot in hotly anticipated The Secret World beta test; in-game items for Age of Conan and Anarchy Online; and "much, much more" according to their information. With Rhode Island and Florida excluded from the ranks (that pesky "must buy a bond for your prizes" thing we're sure) most everyone else can enter for a chance to score some sweet Funcom goodies. If you're looking for where exactly to link up your accounts, they've even listed the links on the Age of Conan site, making the clicky-clicky that much easier. Just make sure you've joined up before January 4th, 2010 when the contest ends. Good luck!
September Qore heads to Skywalker Ranch, subscribers get MAG beta
September's episode of Qore features a view from Skywalker Ranch, as the soundtrack to Naughty Dog's Uncharted 2: Among Thieves is mixed and mastered at George Lucas' famous estate. Qore also sits down with gear head Jay "Retired for 10 Seconds" Leno and talks about his involvement with PSP's long-in-development installment of Gran Turismo. But, the real meat of this month's episode is access to the upcoming MAG beta -- for gamers not lucky enough to have been invited already.Users are automatically entered into the beta test -- set to begin later this month -- if they are Qore subscribers. If you're thirsty for large-scale online battles, users who subscribe to Qore on or before September 17 will also be invited. Sadly, purchasing September's episode alone will not net you the beta access. Even sadder, we're used to having to pay our way into these exciting bonuses.Check out a preview for this month's episode after the break.
Wrath of the Lich King maps
Wrath of the Lich King information is really flooding in. For the latest bit, let's take a look at some of the new maps in the game. These were obtained through a variety of sources and are 100% real, all right from the beta. Click through our gallery to see them all – including nice high res versions. You'll notice three maps missing - The Storm Peaks, Icecrown Glacier, and Dalaran. Those maps are not done yet. There are some composites that other sites have put together via the mini-map from the data files, but they're neither finished nor "normal" maps.I like the Stormwind Harbor one the best, if only because the Stormwind map hasn't changed in all these years and it's odd to suddenly see it different. The one I enjoy the least is the Borean Tundra, the color scheme doesn't sit well with me. It looks like...well...I'll let you all draw your own conclusions.Enjoy the maps! And stay tuned to WoW Insider all weekend, we've got some great content lined up for you. %Gallery-28087%
