When anyone can go buy the game and log in it's called a RELEASE.

Thank you. that is all.

You are right.  Generally headstart are limited to those who pre-order the game before said date.  Now everyone can pick it up, not a head start indeed, it's a release.

Some people really want a box.

Originally posted by Copeland

When anyone can go buy the game and log in it's called a RELEASE.

Thank you. that is all.

It is called headstart because it is techincally free. The counter for the first free month
does not start until March 1st.

They took a lesson from the WoW launch here. When WoW launched they ended up having to do
lots of partial refunds. It is quite ingenius to do it this way. You have 7 days to sort out
bugs or que issues before subs time even starts.
 

Pretty sure I can't walk into GameStop and pick up a box... just saying =P

Originally posted by Qazz

Some people really want a box.

And they will get their box, but that does not mean that those that pre-order that box cannot play now...

Originally posted by Solude

Pretty sure I can't walk into GameStop and pick up a box... just saying =P

But you will get a code that will let you play until you can pick up your box...just saying.

Nit picking but guys please do notice Feb doesn't have 30 days in it =P  Not the first time I see Feb 24 to Mar 1 = 7 days /facepalm

Not terribly interested in driving down paying and getting code, coming home to sit in a queue, only to go back in 5 days.  Got this thing called patience and other MMOs ;)

---

Originally posted by Solude
Nit picking but guys please do notice Feb doesn't have 30 days in it =P  Not the first time I see Feb 24 to Mar 1 = 7 days /facepalm

---

LOL.

Originally posted by Solude

Nit picking but guys please do notice Feb doesn't have 30 days in it =P  Not the first time I see Feb 24 to Mar 1 = 7 days /facepalm

24 - 1

25 - 2

26 - 3

27 - 4

28 - 5

1 - 6

7 days?

For that matter, the 1st does not count since it is not a day you wait.

5 days...

/facepalm

Originally posted by RiftFan

Originally posted by Copeland

When anyone can go buy the game and log in it's called a RELEASE.

Thank you. that is all.

It is called headstart because it is techincally free. The counter for the first free month
does not start until March 1st.

They took a lesson from the WoW launch here. When WoW launched they ended up having to do
lots of partial refunds. It is quite ingenius to do it this way. You have 7 days to sort out
bugs or que issues before subs time even starts.
 

Exactly. And the type of player ingame right now - the one that preorders AND plays before release - is a lot more forgiving of first-week issues than the rest of the purchasers will be.

Seems well planned so far. The server count has me really interested - are they repeating mistakes of the past or do they really have numbers to indicate this will be in  or above the AOC/LOTRO/EVE range?

---

Originally posted by Loktofeit

---

Originally posted by RiftFan

---

Originally posted by Copeland

When anyone can go buy the game and log in it's called a RELEASE.
Thank you. that is all.

---

It is called headstart because it is techincally free. The counter for the first free month
does not start until March 1st.

They took a lesson from the WoW launch here. When WoW launched they ended up having to do
lots of partial refunds. It is quite ingenius to do it this way. You have 7 days to sort out
bugs or que issues before subs time even starts.
 

---

Exactly. And the type of player ingame right now - the one that preorders AND plays before release - is a lot more forgiving of first-week issues than the rest of the purchasers will be.
Seems well planned so far. The server count has me really interested - are they repeating mistakes of the past or do they really have numbers to indicate this will be in  or above the AOC/LOTRO/EVE range?

---

Isn't that supposed to be called.. OPEN BETA? Used to be :P

Originally posted by Copeland

 

---

Originally posted by Loktofeit

---

Originally posted by RiftFan

---

Originally posted by Copeland

When anyone can go buy the game and log in it's called a RELEASE.
Thank you. that is all.

---

It is called headstart because it is techincally free. The counter for the first free month
does not start until March 1st.

They took a lesson from the WoW launch here. When WoW launched they ended up having to do
lots of partial refunds. It is quite ingenius to do it this way. You have 7 days to sort out
bugs or que issues before subs time even starts.
 

---

Exactly. And the type of player ingame right now - the one that preorders AND plays before release - is a lot more forgiving of first-week issues than the rest of the purchasers will be.
Seems well planned so far. The server count has me really interested - are they repeating mistakes of the past or do they really have numbers to indicate this will be in  or above the AOC/LOTRO/EVE range?

---

Isn't that supposed to be called.. OPEN BETA? Used to be :P

There's often no realistic way to accurately test the load on the billing system, patcher servers, or genuine early player interest from a free open beta period. Also, open beta is often wiped prior to release; when it isn't, the players who do not take part in betas (most mmo gamers) often content there was an unfair advantage for those who did. A headstart allows for seeding of the market  and moving players through the tiers of content to ease traffic and alleviate overcrowding problems.

OB is very different from release in the data you can collect and the player perception of the state of the game.

Exactly. And the type of player ingame right now - the one that preorders AND plays before release - is a lot more forgiving of first-week issues than the rest of the purchasers will be.
Seems well planned so far. The server count has me really interested - are they repeating mistakes of the past or do they really have numbers to indicate this will be in  or above the AOC/LOTRO/EVE range?

---

Isn't that supposed to be called.. OPEN BETA? Used to be :P

It is sort of suprising to see how many people never actually played the Beta. That number is
FAR higher then expected. The registered forum accounts to post was only 178,000, so that
would be people actually interested in posting a review.

A lot of people in game now are asking questions you saw in Beta 1 or 2.

I can't wait to play the game, but it's going to be a nightmae for the first week or so after launch. I know during Beta 3-7 it was a nightmare in the starter zones. I hated camping 1 mob for a quest and I don't really feel like doing it over again =P

~Miles "Tails" Prower out! Catch me if you can!

well us in the EU have until the 4th until everyone else joins us :D ... and i am sure the game will have calmed down by then.

your statement is pointless right up until the 1st of march TBH.

Monthy subscription's don't apply yet, and you can't actually purchase the game at retail yet, only preorder... so yeah, it's still just a headstart.

agree, they should of said get 7 days free.

So basicly you can pre-order off amazon get the code and cancel the pre order and play for a few days for free ?