http://eu.aiononline.com/en/news/article/the_aion_faq_has_been_updated

"When will beta testing begin?

In lieu of beta testing, Aion fans will be given opportunities to participate in a small number of Preview events before the game’s release.  In addition to soliciting player feedback, the Preview events will help prepare for Aion’s release, as well as provide a great gaming experience on launch day and beyond.

As with Aion’s release date, the schedule of these Preview events will be announced in coming months.

The chance to secure a spot in these preview events will be given out at the two upcoming media events PAX and Leipzig.

http://www.aiononline.com/us/news/latest_news/aion_exclusive_preview_signups.html

http://eu.aiononline.com/en/news/article/win_aion_exclusive_preview_slots_at_games_convention_2008

The whole thing is just interesting.

First, it says: "in lieu of beta tests"..which means there wont be any.

Second,, though faq talks about multiple events, @ GC we can win a slot to the last one, in 2009?

I'm sure they'll have internal NA/EU closed beta tests not available to the public is my guess of "in lieu"

So basically no open beta if you like in EU or the US? Hm.

This "change" can be bad news for us (EU/US players)  but lets see what kind of events they will lunch.

Originally posted by Jabas

This "change" can be bad news for us (EU/US players)  but lets see what kind of events they will lunch.

I would consider it to be anything else than bad news. I compiled a little blog post about some of the questions received concerning the Preview Events. Check it out. :)

Link: http://eu.aiononline.com/en/community/article/ayase_solves_the_mystery_of_the_preview_events

Originally posted by Ayase

Originally posted by Jabas

This "change" can be bad news for us (EU/US players)  but lets see what kind of events they will lunch.

I would consider it to be anything else than bad news. I compiled a little blog post about some of the questions received concerning the Preview Events. Check it out. :)

Link: http://eu.aiononline.com/en/community/article/ayase_solves_the_mystery_of_the_preview_events

 

Thanks. It's till kind of 'in the air' atm though.

Q: Will we be able to try and play the game before launch?
A: Yes! That’s what the Preview Events are all about. They will help us prepare for launch and offer you the chance of giving Aion a first spin, to get a sneak-peak and warm up!

Q: Do I have to go to an exhibition to do so?
A: No! We have a number of different activities planned in relation to these events, but you will not need to go to one of the conventions we visit in order to secure a slot, nor to participate. There will be opportunities to sign up and also to play from home.

This doensn't tell me a whole lot. If there's 1000 open spots or something, that still doesn't equal open beta, and if these spots are randomed hm..

I just don't know how to look at this because it's very cryptic.

Originally posted by Waterlily
 

 Thanks. It's till kind of 'in the air' atm though.

Q: Will we be able to try and play the game before launch?
A: Yes! That’s what the Preview Events are all about. They will help us prepare for launch and offer you the chance of giving Aion a first spin, to get a sneak-peak and warm up!

Q: Do I have to go to an exhibition to do so?
A: No! We have a number of different activities planned in relation to these events, but you will not need to go to one of the conventions we visit in order to secure a slot, nor to participate. There will be opportunities to sign up and also to play from home.

This doensn't tell me a whole lot. If there's 1000 open spots or something, that still doesn't equal open beta, and if these spots are randomed hm..

I just don't know how to look at this because it's very cryptic.

It seems clear to me. There is no "traditional" open beta. There will be chances for players to try the game and to give personal feedback. Part of that is at conventions but there will be chances that you can sign up to actually try the game at home and give feedback. Sort of like what Guildwars did I imagine where it had the world preview events over certain weekends.

thx for the info, Ayase.

I have some dificults with english, so sometimes i might missunderstand things.

In the info u link is mention that time to time will be "select 200 lucky fans" (source) to try AION events from home.

Is this a OBT? Dont thing so, for me its a CBT for EU/US where Dev's invite a certain number of players to test it.

If i missunderstand the info, forgive me

Originally posted by Jabas

thx for the info, Ayase.

 

I have some dificults with english, so sometimes i might missunderstand things.

In the info u link is mention that time to time will be "select 200 lucky fans" (source) to try AION events from home.

Is this a OBT? Dont thing so, for me its a CBT for EU/US where Dev's invite a certain number of players to test it.

 

If i missunderstand the info, forgive me

The 200 slots given away will be for our Exclusive Preview Events which I explained in the blog post above. :)

Hm as i see its gona be limit howe many ppl can give feed back to ncsoft and what feed back you can give to them i mean thy going OB soon in korea and that is more like to stress test the servers so i cant see were we coming in to say something about the game if we want have something change  in the game. It start to turn out exact same way as it then L2 beta was we hade lots of thing that we wanted to be change but nothing happend. What they said was that it have all ready bean beta testing on it in korea and that was enough. lots of ppl was angry and disappointed so that we got was more like stress test  the servers and some spell corection. Well i really hope that it not turn out to be like that this time.

forgive my bad English.