Warhammer Online Beta FAQ

Rampager · Site Admin Joined: 10 May 2004 Posts: 51

Beta & Release

Q. When will this game be available to the public?
A. Mythic is planning on a 2007 release of the game.

Q. How can I get into the beta test?
A: There are numerous opportunities for you to secure a spot in the Beta Test. If you are a subscriber to the WAR monthly newsletter you have a chance every month to win a Beta spot. Mythic chooses 5 subscribers each month and they'll offer additional opportunities to win spots in the future. Also, keep an eye out for special promotions and contests with gaming magazines and online sites. Dark Age of Camelot players will also have a chance to get into the Beta Test.

In addition, Mythic will be putting together and taking guild beta applications late this summer. Guilds will be judged based on how active their members are in your current game or forum (not necessarily the number of members), the length of time you've been together, your website, and more. Mythic wants a mix of guild types, of course, the best advice for potential guilds is to be who you are with as much style as possible.

Q. How long will Beta Testing last?
A. Ideally, a beta test would last forever, but at the same time these are commercial endeavors. At present it is too early to commit to any sort of timeframe, however sufficient time to test and balance before release is certainly very important to Mythic.

Q. How do I find out more about beta?
A. Signing up for the Warhammer Online Newsletter and visiting the official site are the best ways to keep up to date.

Q. Will we be able to keep our characters after beta on the live servers?
A. No, you will not be able to keep your characters after beta on the live servers.

Q. When will Beta start?
A. Beta testing is scheduled to begin fall 2006.

Q. Will long term beta testers receive rewards after release?
A. Yes, it is entirely likely that as the testers of DAOC did, long time testers of WAR may receive a reward.

Q. Whats the overall schedule for the beta phases?

Alpha: What we are in now. I made the grievous error of calling it a very early beta, for which I am terminally sorry. I will regret that until I die. Alpha does not have anyone playing who does not draw a paycheck from Mythic.

Double Secret Beta: What we will be in "Soon, TM." That is just beyond alpha, and includes people who draw paychecks from Mythic and our partners. Summer 2006

First Stage of Closed Beta (Beta 1): Sometimes called "Friends and Family," somewhat inaccurately, this is a stage where there is actually a game, but it is not usually very complete or even stable for that matter. People who don't work here are in this stage, but usually fewer than a hundred, and they are nearly all such old, old friends that they are often mistaken for employees. Fall 2006

Beta 1.7: After Things Stop Going Boom Every Day: This is the stage you'll start seeing community testers. People who have tested for Mythic for years, or have been otherwise recommended to us as quality volunteer testers, are starting to be included. There is usually a restriction on how many people get in at this point, and often perfectly wonderful people are left out. TENTATIVE DATE: Early 2007

Beta 2: Still closed and covered under NDA, invitees include prize winners, guilds that win the guild contest, and some members of the print and web media - usually the ones we have relationships with. People who work at GW retail shops are getting in here, and we've got some plans for existing Dark Age of Camelot players to be invited to check out their new sibling. There will be up to a thousand people by the end of Beta 2. TENTATIVE DATE: Early Spring 2007

Beta 3: Closed, NDA. This is where Lady Luck will wave her wand. We will be choosing randomly from the giant pool of people who are subscribed to our newsletter. This phase will have thousands of people invited, possibly as many as ten thousand. TENTATIVE DATE: Summer 2007

Final Beta: No NDA. Because there is no NDA, people often refer to this as "open beta." But I wanted to be really clear with you guys - we are not planning the kind of open beta where everyone with internet access can download the game and hop in. That's nutty. Right now, we are tentatively considering having everyone who pre-orders the game invited to this phase of beta. This phase will also invite winners from our big media promotions. TENTATIVE DATE: Summer 2007