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The Repopulation looks back on December and Early Access
For the first time in testing, The Repopulation didn't quite keep pace with its normal biweekly update schedule for the test client. Why, you ask, were the developers being such lazy bums? Because of the holidays? Or was it because the game was busy launching on Steam as an early access title, thus requiring extra work by the team to make sure that previous backers and newcomers alike were having fun? Mostly the latter, as it happens; not so much with the lazy bums. Of course, a slight schedule slip doesn't change the fact that the team was hard at work on the game, with the biggest focus being bug fixes (as the new influx of players has resulted in many more bug reports). There are also improvements to the game's missions, with a focus on more challenging variations and the possibility of random fitting rewards from clearing them. Check out the full recap for a picture of everything that's been added or improved over the past month.
Pathfinder Online ends its stress test and preps for early enrollment
The bad news is that if you had hoped to do nothing but strain the Pathfinder Online servers over your holiday, you were denied that option. The good news is that the test ended because the servers passed the stress test with flying colors, and that means it's time for the development team to move on to the next phase of access. Yes, early enrollment is just around the corner. Of course it hasn't kicked off just yet, as the developers behind the game are human beings who would like to actually spend some holiday time with their families. But it's coming soon. The change will mean that players who have alpha access via friends & family options or are normally slated to enter during open enrollment can no longer log in; so if you want to keep jumping into the game you may wish to upgrade your account. For those already happily waiting for early enrollment, nothing else remains to be done other than continuing to wait. Not much longer now.
WildStar discusses the state of the beta and big changes to come
Beta testing is like reviewing the first draft of a story. You read, offer suggestions, and then the writer gets a chance to make the story better for another draft. With WildStar's latest phase of testing at a conclusion, creative director Mike Donatelli sat down to explain some areas where WildStar will be changing mechanics based on feedback from both players and the community. Some of these might be a little more familiar, and some are more unique. Donatelli explains that the team hasn't been happy with either incarnation of the Milestone system and has assembled a new system for future testing. Players in testing had complained that neither of the previous incarnations was successful at giving players control over the development of their characters. Kill quests are also going to be changed with the removal of a set count and implementing a sliding progression scale based on overall experience earned. For a more thorough breakdown and a deeper look at beta feedback, take a look at the full community address in this WildStar Wednesday.
Final Fantasy XIV's Yoshida on PvP, chocobos, and mobile apps
The recent Final Fantasy XIV press event in San Francisco didn't just mean a chance to sit down and play the game amidst a lushly decorated room, although that was certainly on the agenda. It also meant a chance to ask director and producer Naoki Yoshida some questions about the game going forward and the plans for development down the line, diving beyond what we see and into more fine details about the game's mechanics. While players will have access to a sizable chunk of the revamped game when the beta goes live on February 25th, there's still a lot that's hidden behind a veil of secrecy. Yoshida's answers help illuminate more details about what's going on in Final Fantasy XIV that might not be playable right now but will be in the near future. And even beyond the foundation that's visible from the beta, the promise of more expansion only adds to the game's overall quality.
The Daily Grind: Do character wipes kill your enthusiasm for betas?
When I first got my hands on Neverwinter at PAX East 2012, I happily proclaimed it to be the game of the show. Unfortunately, even if I were eligible to test at the moment, I don't know if I would, simply because I know that anything I do now will be wiped before the game goes live. It's not a question of whether or not I want to play the game, it's a question of whether or not I want to play the game in perpetual preview mode. Obviously, testing is meant to be about finding bugs and balance issues rather than progressing. But there's also the question of whether or not you want to repeat content that you've worked through the first time around when the game actually goes live, burning out on a title before it even reaches launch. So do character wipes kill your enthusiasm for betas? Would you be happier to test and find bugs if you knew that your hard work would stick around? Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
The Daily Grind: When do you break the NDA?
If you're testing an MMO, you're going to have to agree to an NDA, which is essentially a not-even-verbal contract between the tester and the company. As a tester, you agree to not talk about what you're seeing during the testing phase, and in turn the company decides to trust you enough that you can see behind the scenes and into the inner workings of the game. With most testing phases, this is broken within minutes. But not necessarily through a major leak. Many people will break the NDA in private by telling a friend what it's like in the latest Final Fantasy XIV test. Maybe you've been testing Marvel Heroes and you're not posting about it in forums, but your family members are watching you play even though they never agreed to an NDA. At the same time, some people will remain strict to the letter of the NDA until it's lifted, and some others will ignore the whole thing and post whatever they want. So what about you? When do you break the NDA and why? (Or more accurately, when would you, since obviously anything you're testing now you would never break the agreement on.) Every morning, the Massively bloggers probe the minds of their readers with deep, thought-provoking questions about that most serious of topics: massively online gaming. We crave your opinions, so grab your caffeinated beverage of choice and chime in on today's Daily Grind!
