testing-phases
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Heroes of the Storm bringing in non-US players in next alpha
While there's been a lot already said about the upcoming Heroes of the Storm, the fact remains that the game is still in alpha. A technical alpha, to be specific, emphasizing the nuts and bolts of functionality. But the next phase of testing will be bringing in more people, including testers from outside the USA, giving an even broader perspective on what's working and what isn't. A recent development blog on the official site explains what's happened so far as well as what's coming next for the game. The short version is that the alpha is going well, but there's still more feedback needed to make the game truly the best it can be. As an early test version, it's still very much a game in development, with the emphasis being on what does or does not work from the technical side. Players who wish to opt in for a potential testing invite should do so via the Battle.net account management page.
Open beta en route for Mythos Europe
If there's been a single unifying thread for our last several beta giveaways for Mythos Europe, it's been a wail of anguish that the keys have vanished quickly. (Like cheap beer on a college campus, if you'd like an analogy.) But while we can't conjure new keys out of thin air, we can console those unable to get one with the news that the open beta is on its way. On April 12th, the servers open to everyone for testing and enjoyment. For the open testing phase, the level cap is being raised to 50, giving players the opportunity to explore new abilities and new zones. The game's third major area, Umbral Peaks, will be accessible in the last testing phase with the raised cap. Current beta players are also in luck, as servers have been added for several languages, including English, French, and Turkish. Mythos is getting closer and closer to launch, and starting April 12th, everyone gets to take part in putting on the final pre-launch testing polish. [Thanks to Blake Linton Wilfong for the tip!]
RIFT announces the second beta event
If you got to take part in the closed beta event for RIFT over the weekend... well, don't tell us about it. Seriously, don't; it breaks the NDA to even say you're taking part. But if you enjoyed it, you'll get another shot at playing the game sooner rather than later. The second closed beta event has just been announced to run between 10 a.m. PST on December 17th to 10 a.m. PST on December 20th. For the second testing phase, titled "Guardians of the Vigil," players will be testing the first 20 levels of the game, presumably on the Guardian side. Reborn as ascended souls of the Vigil, players are tasked with stopping the tyrant Aedraxis, although we suspect many players will mostly be focused on whatever cool tricks their characters can do with another 10 levels. RIFT is still allowing players to sign up for the beta, so if you're interested in the second beta, you might be well-advised to give it a shot. Not that you could tell anyone about it.
Iris Online enters second closed beta
Testing for Iris Online is something that isn't going to float everyone's boat... but one glance at the game's screenshots should make it clear that it will be deeply satisfying to certain people. There's no other game in which you can ride a purple cat with a jester's cap, for instance. If that tickles your fancy, you'll be happy to know that the game's second closed beta test has started, complete with bonuses to both former participants and those who didn't get a chance to test the game the first time around. Beta testers from the previous phase will be happy to find that their prior characters have not been wiped, allowing them to continue playing from where they had left off. Players who weren't in the previous test, on the other hand, will be able to take part in this testing phase, as a beta key is not required for this phase of testing. The client download link is available with the official announcement, so Iris Online hopefuls should take a look now and get to work on earning their purple cat.
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.
