Q1 release date = false?

[Yuyi]

Im starting to doubt the release of this game in Q1. I mean I want them to take their time to make the game which is fine with me. Just saying if they haven't started Beta yet, April or march sounds too short of a beta to me.

[SpaceDrake]

From what I've seen, it looks to me as though they're wisely doing ALL of their feature testing in-house with paid beta testers. This means they only have to get the servers sorted out. While do I agree that from now to March 11 is an awfully short time, we'll just have to see. We don't HAVE to have the game on pre-order, you know.

[glsauron]

OK, Im thinking e-mails go out Feb 1, with exclusive starting Feb 8 (week for CDs to go out). 4 weeks of testing any/all aspects and they can start mass replication of Gold CDs.

While CD's/Boxes retail packs going out, they can set up a limited map and stuff open beta CD package for anybody who wants them to stress test the server.

BTT open is done, retail is ready and they can do the release. Mid March to End march. Release April 1?

Hurried but provides all the time they need.

[Yuyi]

4 weeks of beta? I seriously doubt it.

[Hamma]

I Don't doubt the release date, the team was confident in that - and I feel pretty confident in it.

Dont forget, beta testing for a game like this is nothing like beta testing of an RPG or somthing.

[�io]

Yeah but still it's gonna be tight, unless the closed beta is in progress but they are keeping it secret. I mean closed beta for bugs and open beta for bandwidth in less than 2 months? Kinda tight schedule.

[Hamma]

Don't forget, internal beta has been going on for months

[RabidPlatypus]

yeah but wouldn't they find bugs much more effectively in a public beta? Just about 500 people or so would help tremendously, I don't see why they don't, which is why I have a feeling the game will be delayed.

[SandTrout]

exclusive public beta would find a lot of the networking glitches. open public beta would be for fine-tuneing balance of the weapons and true stress-test of the servers.

[Zatrais]

why bother whit a closed beta? put up 2 servers and let people download the game...

more variance in systems, more people finding bugs (make a small auto bug sending program to get the bugs + theres gonna be more serious testers aswell). So what does closed beta offer over open beta?

[Furio]

Supposedly open beta is soon. They might want to get stuff almost finished before open beta so open beta testers wont say "this sucks im not buying this game when it comes out."

[Mopo]

Its not false at all. If I remember correctly last dev letter said "Anyone claiming a release date is wrong. But I can assure you that it will come out no later than Q1 2003" or something like that. The end of Q1 of 2003 is the end of March. If anything at all, beta is next month.

[Sputty]

Yeah, it's surprising but they've been for that date for a while now. It seems they're prepared for that date. I had some thoughts but Hamma's right. This isn't a huge RPG with skills galore and bilions of monsters

[Vash]

To be honest, I've been slightly worried about the release date too. But then, the only MMG beta experience I have is with RPG's which are a bit more complex.

So I guess if the dev team still feels confident about the release date when it's this close, there's no need to worry <crosses his fingers>

[CleaR]

Well Dave G is running it, so I wouldn't be surprised in a game release delay. :o