testing-events
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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.
Next beta weekend for The Secret World announced
If you enjoyed the first peek into the secrets of Funcom's upcoming game, you'll be happy to know that The Secret World's second beta event has already been announced. The next weekend event starts on May 18th at noon EDT and runs until May 21st at 3:00 a.m. EDT. Several European sites will be giving away keys for this particular beta, but players who have pre-ordered the game beforehand will automatically have access to this event. The new event will feature a number of new areas, quests, and storylines. Players can learn more about the residents of Kingsmouth who have held out despite the town's current state as well as meet representatives of the Orochi Corporation observing the dark occurrences. Plus, all of the previous weekend's content will be available, so if you didn't get a chance to take part in the last test, you'll have plenty to explore within the horror-filled world.
The Daily Grind: Are beta weekends a good timeframe for testing?
The big problem of betas, of course, is that they aren't launched games. That means that every quest you complete, every enemy you kill, and every level you gain is just going to have to be re-done at launch. For some people, however, the testing environment before launch is something they want to take part in, even knowing that they won't be able to take it with them once the game goes live. Prior to launch, RIFT used a series of beta weekends to give players a chance to test, and Star Wars: The Old Republic has been following the same footsteps. On the one hand, this is enough time to get a feel for the game and test it out without letting you get too invested in your accomplishments. On the other hand, it also means that it's hard for players to really level past a certain point, thus leaving the higher levels more difficult to test -- if not impossible. So what do you think? Are beta weekends a good trend, or is it too little time? 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!
Immortal King launching open beta on September 22nd
Have you lain awake at nights wishing that you could take part in testing an MMORTS themed after ancient Greece? If so, you've got some rather specific issues, but you're also in luck. Immortal King, a browser-based MMORTS, is entering the open beta phase on Thursday, September 22nd. And as with many open betas, it's giving players a chance to take part in a variety of special events during the testing phase. Players who travel to the official site will be given an opportunity to obtain a special "Newbie Card" to get started in the game easily, and high-ranking players in factional duels also have the opportunity to earn in-game gold. There are also forum events, encouraging players to contribute to the game's knowledge base for more in-game rewards. There are only a couple of days left until the open beta goes live, so if you've been staying up late, you can take heart that your oddly specific sleepless nights are soon to end. [Source: Press release]
Beta test weekends are set for Star Wars: The Old Republic in September
If you're one of the many eager players of Star Wars: The Old Republic jumping all over this morning's pre-order, there's more good news on the way. According to TOROcast, an investor report from Electronic Arts shows that the game will be opening up special "beta weekend" events for players to get a glimpse of the game starting in September. This looks like the perfect opportunity for players to start jumping in and playing in advance of the launch date (which presumably would not be until at least a little after September, naturally). While the report doesn't say if these tests will be open or closed, they certainly bring to mind the beta weekends that RIFT popularized, with a limited number of players, but a great deal of freedom in access. Seeing as how these will be tests, however, it's unlikely that this will constitute the early access set forth in the pre-order bonuses -- so if you're looking forward to the game, ordering now is still advisable.
