EQuinox, EQ2 : RoK Beta Testing, The Asterix, and You

[NetherFinch]

<p>Pre-ordering EQinox doesn't mean you're automatically in the beta for Rise of Kunark. You still have to apply, and no, it won't make your application stand out in any way, shape, or form. Same old SOE methinks. Oh well, I'll just have my bank knock off the bill and show them a printed version of the actual pre-order page before they added the double-asterix section that says there was no gurantee, when really, there was. It's kinda cute I think how you pay to play a game, yet your the one being played....</p>

[Talz]

They should just let people pay $5 to read the beta board.  People sign up for the leet beta infoz.  Closed beta is when the only meaningful testing happens.

[Rastaah]

Yes trust me, this is a shady marketing ploy that I thought SOE was above.     

[Terrius]

<p>We haven't gone into specific beta schedules yet, but the idea is pretty simple:It depends entirely on volume and how we have to batch people in due to the number of applicants and purchasers.  However, we don't have anything lame like a "one day, last minute" magazine-special beta or anything like that planned.  Promise. There will be smaller, focused closed betas of course, but the idea is to make sure that both standard applicants and folks who get in because of the magazine are taken care of as equitably as we possibly can once we get beyond the very-small closed beta phase.- Scott</p><p>~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~</p><p>I'll trust Scott, and I'm willing to bet there are legal reason for that fine print. Just wait and see.</p>

[Rastaah]

Terrius, thank you for posting that. Yes we will see then.   While I would buy the magazine normally, I would not have pre ordered it.

[Terrius]

NP hehe, aye I wouldnt have pre-ordered either if a beta invite hadnt been attached. guess we just wait and see, and beg Scott until he posts confirming or denying it <img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[ke'la]

<cite>NetherFinch wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>Pre-ordering EQinox doesn't mean you're automatically in the beta for Rise of Kunark. You still have to apply, and no, it won't make your application stand out in any way, shape, or form. Same old SOE methinks. Oh well, I'll just have my bank knock off the bill and show them a printed version of the actual pre-order page before they added the double-asterix section that says there was no gurantee, when really, there was. It's kinda cute I think how you pay to play a game, yet your the one being played....</p></blockquote><p>You mean this Double Asterix?</p><p><i>**Pre-order and release dates for the EQuinox magazine and the beta program for EverQuest II Rise of Kunark are subject to change at SOE's sole and absolute discretion. EverQuest II Rise of Kunark is rated RP (rating pending) by the ESRB. EverQuest II is rated by the ESRB T for Teen with Suggestive Themes, Use of Alcohol and Violence.</i></p><p>All I see here is that they date that EQuinox will be released and the date the Pre-Order period will end are subject to change(wich they did).</p><p>It also says the Date of the start of Beta will be subject to change(sence they have not even said a date yet, this currently is pointless but once a date is set it will then have meaning)</p><p>It says nothing about your ablity to join beta once it starts, or anything like that. It only refures to that date that Beta starts.</p>

[gravemo]

<p align="center"><img src="http://newsletters.station.sony.com/images/equinox/background.jpg" border="0" alt="" width="600" height="1086" /> </p><p>This is my copy of the email I got. My understanding from the wording of the email is that by pre-ordering, I'm automatically invited into the beta when it happens, whenever that is. BUT, when I actually get to PLAY in beta, is random just like anyone else's chances. </p>

[BarrowBott]

<p>I believe that the confusion is being caused by the condition of beta program registration at the end.  You need to agree to the NDA and the Terms and Conditions of the Beta (as in all Beta tests) in order to be successfully registered.  Pending successful registration, you will be able to take part in the Beta.</p><p>They need to put lines like that one in for legal purposes.  All of you armchair-lawyers are driving yourselves insane over nothing.  There is no shady marketing ploy going on here, Sony needs to legally cover their own butts.</p><p>Sit back, relax, wait for the external beta to start.</p>

[Vonotar]

<cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I believe that the confusion is being caused by <b>the condition of beta program registration at the end</b>.  You need to agree to the NDA and the Terms and Conditions of the Beta (as in all Beta tests) in order to be successfully registered.  Pending successful registration, you will be able to take part in the Beta.</p><p>They need to put lines like that one in for legal purposes.  All of you armchair-lawyers are driving yourselves insane over nothing.  There is no shady marketing ploy going on here, Sony needs to legally cover their own butts.</p><p>Sit back, relax, wait for the external beta to start.</p></blockquote>What beta registration?Still waiting for magazine, received no email, you telling me that people are registering somewhere for the beta?

[BarrowBott]

<cite>Vonotar@Butcherblock wrote:</cite><blockquote><cite>BarrowBottum wrote:</cite><blockquote><p>I believe that the confusion is being caused by <b>the condition of beta program registration at the end</b>.  You need to agree to the NDA and the Terms and Conditions of the Beta (as in all Beta tests) in order to be successfully registered.  Pending successful registration, you will be able to take part in the Beta.</p><p>They need to put lines like that one in for legal purposes.  All of you armchair-lawyers are driving yourselves insane over nothing.  There is no shady marketing ploy going on here, Sony needs to legally cover their own butts.</p><p>Sit back, relax, wait for the external beta to start.</p></blockquote>What beta registration?Still waiting for magazine, received no email, you telling me that people are registering somewhere for the beta?</blockquote>No, no, no.  Not yet.  Once the beta is prepared to go public, and the magazine invites go out, we will need to register; just like any other beta participant.  Pending that registration, we will be able to play.  We are guaranteed an invite.  If you don't register based on that invite (fill out the form and agree to the NDA), you won't be playing.

[MAXDAMAGE]

I pre-ordered the magazine for the enjoyment of the info that it brings, I will enjoy the beta to BUT, the info and such is what I'm looking forward to the most. Thanks SoE for making our game the best !!! Kindly sad to see people have to throw cold water on it.

[HeiligHangranate]

<p>As Barrow pointed out, a lot of it is legal maneuvering.  If you were SOE, would you invite someone who's been banned for hacking the program?  How about someone who no longer has an active account?  What about someone who doesn't bother to register?  Yeah, you have to register for beta even though you bought the magazine.  You have to go through the process where they see what hardware you have so that when you submit a bug report, they can correlate it with your equipment.  So, yeah, buying the magazine isn't an absolute guarantee that you'll make it into the beta.  It shouldn't be.</p>

[Zehl_Ice-Fire]

Does anyone else feel a little shafted.... It sounded like $12.99 for a magazine (which silly me assumed was a subscription becuase you don't normally buy one magazine), which pre ordering gets you in beta. Then you go to buy it and surprise, it is shipping from the UK and shipping is about $4 more. So I just paid almost $18 to allegedly get in beta, and for ONE "magazine" which while pretty and fairly interesting to read, is ONE ISSUE... am I wrong?

[evhallion]

<p><cite> When asked about having to register for beta if you ordered the mag in the orginal Equinox thread this was the SOE response:</cite></p><p><cite>Grimwell wrote:</cite></p><blockquote>If you preordered Equinox, we already have you matched to your Station ID and will be bringing you into the Beta when we are ready for the Equinox folks. So there is nothing you need to do to make sure that happens. Y'all just have to wait pensively while we get the beta set up and rolling so it's ready for the public. <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY<img src="/smilies/3b63d1616c5dfcf29f8a7a031aaa7cad.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />" width="15" height="15" /></blockquote>Many are reading more into things than there is. If you ordered you <b>will</b> get an invite. However you should of just got the mag cause you wanted it not just for an invite.

[Josgar]

This is what i understand:Your account is flagged as preodering it... be it visible to you or not.After the beta actually starts, they will wait a while, and towards the end they will send invites out to yall so you can join in.

[MAXDAMAGE]

<p>I hate starting new threads, So I looked back on this subject, So I could ask a question. Hope thats cool.</p><p>Question is  When will the next release be of this magazine? Since RoK not heard of any more and waiting so I can order the next issue. Its a very cool and awesome eq2 info. Any help please thanks</p>

[Elorah]

I dont think that anyone has heard anything about it lately....But it is always better not to necro post as a lot of people who like to poke fun of it <img src="/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" />

[Lethe5683]

<cite>Elorah wrote:</cite><blockquote>I dont think that anyone has heard anything about it lately....But it is always better not to necro post as a lot of people who like to poke fun of it <img src="/eq2/images/smilies/9d71f0541cff0a302a0309c5079e8dee.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" /></blockquote><p>Yep, let me be the first.  <img src="http://forums.station.sony.com/eq2/images/smilies/283a16da79f3aa23fe1025c96295f04f.gif" border="0" alt="SMILEY" width="15" height="15" /></p><p><img src="http://lethe5683.com/Cat/Pictures/Other/ThreadNecro.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></p>