There will be no normal closed beta for NA\EU?

[DemonXaphan]

If you care to look at past posts CB/OB was never officially promised nor confirmed but just an idea that could be. It was only said that they would look into it and decided on a proper way to let people play before the mmo came out.

[gerrykeen19]

Originally Posted by DemonXaphan

If you care to look at past posts CB/OB was never officially promised nor confirmed but just an idea that could be. It was only said that they would look into it and decided on a proper way to let people play before the mmo came out.

Was more than just an idea, it was " there will most certainly be an EU/NA beta"

Yes it technically absolves them from any sorta responsiblity, but it sort of annoys me when people defend it on a similar basis to your post that it wasnt confirmed, promised, and debunked as "just an idea"

It was clearly more than that.

Just seems like that in order for them to get an early 2009 release , they have to for-go our beta and simply give us these preview builds once open beta is finished in korea so that all we are essentially doing , is giving very minor feedback most likely based on small fixes like translation errors.

I think we need to be realistic, and i hope the ncsoft people here dont give more false hopes by suggesting we will be giving any real important feedback (debateable) other than those listed above.

Yes we will be playing Aion in 2009, but we will have little impact the development , since thats already done / being done in Korea right now.

This doesnt bother me too much, but im sure these builds and not a real beta have ****ed off a few people here.

[Kyuzo]

wtb english translator.

[[PhiberOpticks]]

We need to go to one of these conventions to secure a slot. Well, you're being just-plain mean. Mucho escuela is needed to be had on my end! At least throw some of us a bone here. With SYS, we've practically drowned you with suggestions. I won't call it feedback because we haven't been fed >.<

Hell, you could throw me on the localization team if you'd like. I ain't got seven years of Latin under my belt for no reason!

[Calindor]

Originally Posted by Ayase

Well, let's see here. This is just a quick reply before I head to bed, just to clear a few things up!

There hasn't exactly been a quick 'change in plans'. We have for some time been working on a model that works for us in terms of showing the game before launch as well as gathering feedback. The Preview Events were the end result of that. Bear with us now, because we're still shaping them.

I can't give you an answer for all the things that seem to be unclear, simply because it's partly true - we don't know everything yet. It's too early to say whether we will have trial versions at launch and if so, how they would look. We are still working on the Business model and can't therefore possibly announce anything definite on that matter. I can however give you answers on some of your questions.

Is there going to be an "Open Beta"?
We won't have anything that goes by the specific name 'Open Beta' in the EU/US, but the Preview Events we are to hold next year will allow you to play the game (from home) and help us prepare for launch as well as give feedback. The game has been going through a good amount of testing already, and that in combination with the Preview Events and other future tests will ensure that Aion is a good and solid product by launch.

How will we select participants for the Preview Events?
We will be selecting players in several different ways. This is something we're looking into right now. GC2008 and PAX will be the first chances to secure slots. But there will be plenty of other ways yet to be announced. Once we are ready to expand on our plans we may also be able to give you more information on the scale of the events.

What countries or languages are the Preview Events going to be in?
The Preview Events will be available to players from the territories we support at NCE and NCA. English will definitely be supported, but I can't say yet whether French and German will also be in there.

If there is no beta, how will NA/EU players be able to have any input in the game?
As is the nature of most MMO's, development is perpetual, meaning that the importance of feedback does not stand or fall with the limited time period of 'beta testing' - a facility used to discover glitches and bugs in preparation for release. Development is ongoing and feedback will accordingly be required on an ongoing basis. The Preview Events are an excellent opportunity for us to ask for this community feedback on parts of the game and major issues, and they will also help us to stress test the servers and otherwise prepare for release day.

We know what the game is good for and can't wait to show it off to a broader audience with the help of the Preview Events. We're working frenetically to get the game entirely ready for this and as I've said before - it's a bumpy road we're travelling. It takes some time to get there. Just as Rome wasn't built over a night, neither are the preparations we are going through right now. What you can count on for sure, however, is that we will keep informing you whenever we have new things to report or if something for some reason would take a turn. That's why we're here and that's why we'll remain here.

What good is our feedback on a game thats being developed half way across the world, that will have been released already by the time we get to "test" it, and most likely the first expansion will already be in development?

I appreciate the response, but "preview events" are useless unless anybody who wants to can download and try out the game.

And there was nothing posted to clear up any problems that might be between NCSoft Seoul and Austin+Eu..like are we getting a translated version of the Korean game with absolutely no say in development? Is it going to be Lineage 2 again?...Forgive the Skepticism, but this is NCSofts third game, and second one to be launched in the western world...and I dont think anyone needs to be reminded of Lineage 2's problems...What I've seen as of late seems that Aion is going in the wrong direction, but that might just be me.

And not knowing how the beta will be done, if it will have micro transactions, if it will be P2P or not...are all kind of frightening to me.

[lyankyj]

Originally Posted by Ayase

Wall of text

Based on this, I should really complain more

[Endrance]

Amboss said that we will get our chance to play the game before launch, but exclusive preview events are nothing else than a closed beta test based on a game that's already been tested through beforehand and the pronunciation of all that seems to imply that there isn't going to be any open beta test for NA/EU players at all (so no, not everyone gets to test the game). Also, this sounds just as if EU/NA are going to get what koreans already had. World-wide simultaneous release? I laugh at that. Everything seems to be getting nearer and nearer to Lineage II... gay.
But may I ask why there isn't going to be an open beta test for european players? I mean, who cares if koreans have already tested their version of the game through? Also, I want to get to play the game before I buy it and exclusive preview events aren't really a global solution for all players.

[Wicked_Edge]

Originally Posted by Aion-Quebec

I don't why it cannot be considered as beta. In my opinion, making people play and gathering their feedback is a beta test. I could imagine why they called it that way in the point of view of the ''objective'' thing in a matter to let the player play as a preview but again, a preview doesn't have gathering feedback on major issues as objective.

Sorry i would like to express my opinion better but i'm not english

Let me put it this way. A closed beta is where u are essentially "hired" to find bugs/problems and then as a secondary trait u get to enjoy the game.

These ncsoft preview events are exactly the opposite. They only last a week or weekend. They're meant to be for people to enjoy the game pre-release while as a secondary trait they are also meant to further gather opinions and further find minimal bugs/problems with the game.

I hope that explains it for ya.

[MrDarkey]

Originally Posted by Mark

I was talking about strapping people into chairs with VR sets over their heads and forcing them to play Aion to see if they went into comas. Don't know where you got beta out of that. :S

rofl... clasic ;D

[Fleiva]

Originally Posted by Endrance

Also, I want to get to play the game before I buy it and exclusive preview events aren't really a global solution for all players.

What makes you think so? Just because they are exclusive it doesn't mean you won't be able to test the game.

Im quite sure there will be a lot of chances to test the game before buying it, wait for the buddy passes or the free trials if you aren't lucky enough to get in these exclusive events, if you can't wait, buy the game, but this "I want a free ride and I want it now" sounds childish and impossible considering the high expectations behind this game.

Open beta concept is dissapearing, other than for stress test, since the MMORPG market is becoming mainstream, you better get used to that

[Mygo]

Aion is korean -> EU/NA people need proofs of his qualities.

Aion need beta & open beta (especially OB), or you can be sure to miss a large proportion of customers.

And more... it's like an admission of failure for the US/EU market.

It's the best way to be the laughing stock of others game communities.

[Cynthe]

Originally Posted by Fleiva

Open beta concept is dissapearing, other than for stress test, since the MMORPG market is becoming mainstream, you better get used to that

Yep, if I see a new game offering open betas freely at their site for anyone to grab, I'll be very surprised. What do you want? Some chances to grab a preview/stress test key for free, or having to pre order for the privilege of open beta or a fileplanet membership? Because these days that is all the options we are getting. WAR not only is pre order based for their OB I think it counts to say that they will not have an official forum.... Dun dun dun...

Player feedback is an awesome way to see things in a different light and make sure you do things that pleases your clients. However, I do believe some of us, in large numbers, have abused to privilege and now we are reduced to this. Or maybe it's simply because of the large influx of people over the last 5 years or so that has caused it, but you can bet that this is most likely to be the norm.

For people calling out on the global release, you're a bit late on the news..

[Kaycy]

Originally Posted by Cynthe

WAR not only is pre order based for their OB I think it counts to say that they will not have an official forum.... Dun dun dun...
If I see a new game offering open betas freely at their site for anyone to grab, I'll be very surprised.

Lying is not good. I am in the Korean WAR beta and I only had to fill in an email. I'm also in the english beta and I didn't preorder anything. Nothing "dun dun dun".


Today we sent out an unprecedented amount of new invites to the WAR beta. We'll see you in Warhammer soon!


This is email:

[Caedes]

Kaycy and your post proofs what? You applied for the English closed beta and got approved, then you are lucky thats all. It seems that the Korean Provider has a open hand, how he manage the Beta program. There will be no real OB (aka everyone can sign in and get a key) for NA/EU WAR and that was the point of Cynthe's post.

[Kaycy]

Originally Posted by Caedes

Kaycy and your post proofs what? You applied for the English closed beta and got approved, then you are lucky thats all. It seems that the Korean Provider have open hand how he manage the Beta program. There will be no real OB (aka everyone can sign in and get a key) for NA/EU WAR and that was the point of Cynthe's post.

She said there was no WAR beta unless you pre-ordered. I proved her wrong because I got into both the Korean and English with a simple email like thousands of others have.

She says she doesn't believe MMO give beta's through their site. I proved her wrong because that's exactly how WAR and tons of other MMO do it.

DURRRRR!! Seriously, should I make it easier to understand for you?