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Beta patch possible today with changes to XP, Storm Peaks, and premade characters
According to Tigole, Blizzard will "try to patch" the Wrath of the Lich King beta today. Storm Peaks will open back up and should not crash the sever. No word yet if Naxx will be introduced in this patch. The servers should be up between 4:30 p.m. PDT and 6:30 p.m. PDT.The XP required to level will also be reduced by 10% this beta patch. Things should go faster for all you playing around with leveling.Finally, there will be a new beta realm opening up named Murmur. Tigole mentioned that the premade characters should not have been made available on the existing realms. He tells us that "they are being removed." There is no indication as to whether or not current premade characters will be moved to the new realm or just outright deleted.
Ask a Beta Tester: Daily quests, skill trainers, and Arthas, oh my!
Another day is upon us -- and that means we've got yet another chance for more questions and answers straight from the Wrath of the Lich King beta. Elizabeth here today, and I'd like to start out with a tiny bit of extra information on a question Alex answered yesterday. Vjax asks... Can you still do level 70 dailies for gold, and do you get XP for doing them?Alex said these wouldn't be worth your while, and he was right. For those of you interested in specifics, though, you seem to get 3g 40s and 9,500xp for your average daily quest in Wrath. On the other hand, you could be doing quests in one of the starting zones of Northrend and getting yourself 4 to 5g and in the 20,000xp range per quest. Executive summary: go to Northrend. Go directly to Northrend. Do not pass Go, do not collect $200.
[UPDATED] More Beta invites to be sent out *after*August 1st
My favorite blue poster in the Customer Service Forums has to be Belfaire. He's always got something smart and funny to say, usually in response to annoying forum trolls and others trying hard to be upset about a game. Besides his witty and crazy remarks, he also likes to drop all of us little bits of information here and there. Such is the case in a post today.Belfy confirmed that the next round of Beta invites will be sent out "around" Friday, August 1st "and on." This is another chance for more people to get into the beta. With some luck you might be able to run around and explore the wonders of Northrend. All previous waves of invites have included both BlizzCon, WWI, and Opt-In people.Check your email on the 1st! And check it often! You might just get one. And if you haven't yet, be sure to sign up for the Beta Opt-In.EDIT: Belfaire has issued a correction: "I need to reiterate there that I'm not confirming an August 1st distribution date. I'm confirming that a wave after August 1st will be the one that incorporates the remaining BlizzCon, WWI, and Dell Beta Club invites."
Around Azeroth: Beta testin'
Despite what you may have heard, the life of a Wrath of the Lich King beta tester isn't always filled with action and excitement. Sometimes it's filled with, gulp, bugs! I can tell you from personal experience that life in the beta involves plenty of "World Server Down" and "Restart in 15:00" messages and some things plain don't look or work the way they ought to. What can I say? It's a beta and it still has some rough edges to be polished out -- that's the whole point of having a beta test! Nowhere is the game's beta state more obvious than in this shot by Ferin of Hakkar, who logged into Stormwind City to find... well, this. I'm pretty sure that this is a graphical glitch and doesn't mean Stormwind City, like Dalaran, has been relocated in Wrath, though I've been wrong before...This image came to us straight from the Wrath of the Lich King beta -- and we'd love to have your beta screenshots, too! If you have anything our readers might like, sharing it is as simple as e-mailing aroundazeroth@wow.com with a copy of your shot and a brief explanation of the scene. You could be featured here next! Remember to include your player name, server and/or guild if you want it mentioned. We prefer full screen shots without the UI showing -- use alt-Z to remove it. And, please, no more sunsets! (Well, okay, maybe if they are some really cool Northrend sunsets, we can consider.)%Gallery-1816%
Wrath storage solutions
By now you have surely heard of the new Achievements system set up for Wrath of the Lich King. While this will finally give collectors an extra incentive and reward, players are a bit worried about their bag space. It was announced recently that non-combat pets and mounts would take up no bag space in Wrath, and instead, the item that currently houses the pet will serve to teach you a spell for summoning the pet, and then disappear. While this is a huge weight off of the shoulders of many players, when reading through the current list of Achievements, one begins to wonder where all of their tabards, battleground tokens, badges, holiday items, epics, trinkets, and the like are going to go. Although we don't have information regarding the storage of every item we'll soon be collecting, Tigole made the following statement:Your bags will be ok. I promise. Pets, Mounts, Heroic Badges, BG Tokens are all getting storage space.I wonder how badges and tokens are getting storage space. Surely, they cannot be turned into spells, and I don't have room for bags specifically dedicated to only one or the other, so I'm definitely interested to know what they have up their sleeves, and if any other collectible items will get similar treatment.
Wrath Beta patch notes: Balance Druids
Now that the Wrath of the Lich King Beta is live, and the patch notes are up, we have some solid information on Druid talents as they're being tested. Here is what the patch revealed:Balance treeIf you were to invest three points into your Brambles tier three talent, you will not only have the current 75% boost to damage caused by Thorns and Entangling Roots, but your Treants will have their damage boosted by 15%. In addition, all damage caused by Treants, and any attacks done to you while Barkskin is active, have a 15% chance of dazing the target for three seconds. Actually, Force of Nature, which summons your Treants, is having its cooldown reduced from three minutes to two. This will be a nifty talent for Moonkin in battlegrounds and arena, although it won't be enough to convert all of those Restoration druids to the ways of the Giant Chicken.
WotLK Beta test begins to ramp up
var digg_url = 'http://digg.com/pc_games/World_of_Warcraft_Wrath_of_the_Lich_King_Beta_Is_Starting'; The beta test is beginning to ramp up. Tonight we have word that the beta downloader is in action and delivering data to those that have access to it (via WotLK Wiki). This is an obvious indicator that Blizzard has switched over to the beta testing phase, and that they are getting ready to send out invites.Additionally the beta page at beta.worldofwarcraft.com now shows beta information and activity. If you do get a beta key, you can use this page to sign up and gain access to the client files. It would be a good time to start keeping and eye out for a real beta invite, and let us know if you get one if you're one of the first lucky few. However at the same time, please be very careful not to fall for any beta scams.WoW Insider will keep you posted throughout the evening on this breaking news.%Gallery-5525% Hungry for more Wrath of the Lich King Beta news? WoW Insider has a slew of articles for you including a walkthrough of the new Achievement system, the new Death Knight Runeforging skill and maps of Northrend. Keep checking the site for more class analysis and insights to the changes.
Square Enix wraps up Concerto Gate's US closed beta
Concerto Gate is being developed by Ponsibic and Square Enix. The Concerto Gate trailer debuted last month which showed no in-game footage and was somewhat unusual. The game will be a sequel and is a successor to Crossgate, which has had a run of seven years in various regions in East Asia but unfortunately shutdown in Japan late 2007. The embedded video above displays actual combat gameplay from the beta. The battle system is similar to other JRPG attack time battle systems that feature random battles. An even more interesting concept in Concerto Gate is the 'terra-generating' system. Depending on certain player actions the world landscape will morph and deform. This includes the ramifications from activities like mining and deforestation. If the world is non-instanced and persistent such dynamisms would bring a world uniqueness not experienced in many other MMOs. OnNet USA will be publishing the title in the States, and the beta wraps up tomorrow. Concerto Gate will be free-to-play title and sustain development costs off an alternative business model. The open beta date still has not been announced yet.
Breakfast topic: Why should you be in the Beta?
Not long ago Blizzard opened up the expansion content to selected friends and family. We've had a few days to sign up for the Wrath of the Lich King beta test. Blizzard has made it clear that assignment in the Beta test that aside from a better chance of selection among* World Wide Invitational attendees, the beta testers will be selected by a random lottery. But what is it that makes a good beta tester? I've entered twice for the Beta, as I have two accounts. I'm not sure how many participants will be selected, but I really hope I get in. If I wasn't with WoW Insider, I probably would avoid the beta. I'm rather in favor of delicious surprised once the expansion is actually released. Recent iterations of the Public Test Realm have invited everyone to come and play. Many have taken that challenge to see nifty, new gear and test new mechanics. Blizzard has proven open to feedback through progressive testing.
Square/Enix's Concerto Gate moves into closed beta
The folks at Gamescampus sent along word that Concerto Gate, the latest MMO from Square/Enix, is now moving into a Beta test period. It's going to be a short one, running just from today through the 14th of the month. We've previously discussed the game on the site, checking out an extensive preview and the game's first (CG) trailer. The announcement touts the game's "terra generating" system, which will morph and deform the worldscape based on player actvities. If you're interested in participating in the Beta test, head in the direction of FileFront, which will be playing host to the client.
Huxley enters open beta (in Korea)
Webzen published a press release today announcing the start of Huxley's open beta test phase in South Korea. No word yet on when gamers in other regions will be able to participate. There have been hints that Webzen is backing away from the North American market, but today's press release reiterates the company's dedication to releasing Huxley "in markets around the world." This comes after an announcement that portal NHN will be distributing the game in North America and Europe, so we're pretty sure things are good.The press release is full of not-quite-true statements that Huxley is the very first game to combine the FPS and MMO genres. PlanetSide and Neocron come to mind right away, and there have probably been others. Still, we're watching Huxley with curiosity. Its production values are sky high (just look at the recent cinematic trailer) and its Unreal Engine-powered graphics are impressive. Webzen plans to release the game in Korea in 2009, so we'll be waiting a while yet.[Via Big Download]
Earthrise newsletter introduces dev team and their influences
Masthead Studios has released the second newsletter for their upcoming sci-fi MMO Earthrise. As with their first newsletter, it's full of hyperlinks to images and audio related to the game, however there are a few new additions this time around. We've read about the game itself in recent months, but until now little has been known about the people behind the scenes who are working to make Earthrise a reality. The newsletter features an introduction to the members of the Earthrise development team at Masthead Studios in the form of a short Q&A for each developer. Each of the devs discusses what brought them to work on the project, their influences, and what they do at Masthead Studios to further the creation of Earthrise. There's also screenshots of a new area on Enterra called The Nest and a hyperlinked recap of Earthrise's media coverage in the last month. But the real focus of the Earthrise newsletters is on the community, and a number of issues are showcased in the latest iteration.
Testers summoned to Wizard101 Beta
Back in late May, Massively presented an in-depth look at Wizard101, the new family-friendly MMORPG from KingsIsle Entertainment, in which players take on the role of novice wizards studying spellcraft at the Ravenwood School of Magical Arts. Notable for its emphasis on suitability for young people, Wizard101 uses an innovative card game based system to resolve combat and features several addictive mini-games. We loved the doodle-style illustrations, too - reminiscent of the Order of the Stick. The free beta test has now started, so prospective sorcerers can get in line and wait to build up their decks of spells. You can also use the online character creator on the Wizard101 website to find out which school of wizardry you ought to belong to: Fire, Ice, Myth, Storms, Life, Death or Balance.
Funcom addresses Age of Conan beta concerns
Age of Conan Product Director Jorgen Tharaldsen spoke with MMORPG.com's Jon Wood, exploring the numerous rumors and issues that have come up surrounding the Open Beta. According to Tharaldsen, the persistent rumor that the Open client is older than the Closed one is not entirely accurate. It sounds like it was a slightly older client than the Closed one, but the problems people are experiencing can be chalked up to ambition more than anything else. According to the Director, the Open launch was delayed a few hours as they added a few last minute fixes to the client. Issues they hadn't anticipated arose, and as a result many players have had very mixed experiences.The article discusses a number of issues surrounding the last week-or-so event: public perceptions, expectations for the game's actual launch, their rationale behind making the game such a graphics-heavy title, and their hopes for game performance by May 20th. It's quite thorough, and well worth a read for anyone who's been tearing our their hair since last weekend.
Blizzard launches new online store
The new and improved Blizzard store opened recently, and it's definitely worth a look. It has a very clean layout, making finding what you want pretty simple. They carry everything from the Blizzard games to the Warcraft action figures to WoW game time. Their apparel selection isn't very large due to that primarily being handled by Jinx, but the store is still worthwhile.Plus, registering for the Blizzard store comes with another perk. You can register for the Beta Test lottery, which is a chance at being chosen for upcoming beta phases of various games. Wrath? Starcraft II perhaps? All of the above? Who knows! I've been considering getting into the WoW TCG, so if I get a shot at a beta test out of it, too... hey, why not?Edit: The Blizzard EU store is not yet live, but I imagine it will be soon. Sorry, Europe!
Gaia Online borrows a trick from Willy Wonka
Gaia Online, the virtual community that boasts over 5 million players, will be present at this year's New York Comic-Con, from April 18th to the 20th. They're encouraging both existing members and people who've never played before to drop by their booth and take a chance at winning a golden ticket, good for early entrance to the beta test of their upcoming casual MMO, as yet unnamed.They're also offering other prizes, such as an in-game Angelic Halo, Gold cards (worth varying amounts of Gaia currency), and a limited-edition ring for use in the MMO to attendees of the Gaia Panel at 5:00PM on Saturday, April 19th. Full information at their site.If they manage to convert their existing playerbase to their MMO, they could be seen as a serious contender for size, right out of the gate. We'll keep our eyes open and our ears to the ground for more info on this as it gets released.[Source]
WAR Q&A posted on the Warhammer Herald
The Warhammer Herald is the Warhammer Online dev journal. It's always an entertaining read, but the latest post is also chock-full of great information, specifically surrounding the North American beta test.Reading more like a Q&A/FAQ than a simple letter, the post talks about how to get into the beta, why you haven't gotten in even if you think you should have, people who have won slots in the test who haven't been playing, and more. If you're at all curious about how the process works, give it a read.[Thanks, Yulian!]
The Daily Grind: Should beta testers be allowed to keep their characters?
This is a pretty loaded issue, as it turns out. Obviously, the benefits to keeping your characters are manifold -- you start the live version of the game at a higher level than the rest; you likely have vastly better gear; you've already been through most of the lower-level quests, so can concentrate on the more lucrative epic lines, or just work on your PvP skills. But aside from the fact that you might find that this diminishes your enjoyment of the game, having already seen so much of it, is it fair to the new players?It's somewhat demoralizing to log in for the first time and immediately see high-level players goofing around, talking trash, and trading or selling the epic loot they have in abundance. It destroys the feeling that you're entering a strange, exciting new world, and reminds you that you're just playing a game, and people have already well-trod the ground you've never even seen. MMOs shouldn't be about racing to get to higher levels, but in a beta, it's easy to exploit early class imbalances to advance. In this case, the goal and the journey have become muddled, and for many, the traveling is just as important as the arrival.Some games do wipe their player bases when they're ready to release. Is this frustrating, or is it a good practice?
HDPC-20 to be used in DirecTV Media Center beta test
Trust us, you all aren't the only ones wondering what the status is on DirecTV's HDPC-20 PC tuner. After assuming that it was closer to (beta) release than ever after a mysterious signup made the rounds late last month, along comes the confirmation we've been yearning for. Numerous readers have received hardware agreements as part of the DirecTV Media Center Beta test, and sure enough, it very plainly states that the HDPC-20 is the item that will be tested. Hailed as a "dual satellite DirecTV tuner (black case) including two BBC modules connectors, a DC power cable and a USB cable," those lucky enough to get in on the action may also receive a Media Center Remote, IR receiver and TV tuner card. And we all know what happens after beta testing is over, right?
Unofficial Huxley videos released, feature lots of running
All right we admit it -- they also feature a good amount of NPCs and a very pretty cityscape, but we can only take so much endless running before our attention wanes. The first video was five minutes of running and after that we figured, "The next video will have something else, obviously." Well -- obviously -- we were wrong, because it was another four minutes of running around, looking at some static NPCs, trolley cars passing by and smokestacks. Now don't get us wrong, we definitely appreciate Huxley-Evolved for the high quality videos of the game engine doing its thing -- we guess we're just really anxious to see this game in action. Huxley is of course being developed by Webzen and is currently scheduled for a released date sometime later this year. Be sure to check out the second video after the break, if you want to see more Huxley footage.
