I'm just a kid with questions.

Given the proximity of the Darkfalls’ imminent ’08 release – Shouldn’t there be a bit more news, a few more official posts, some solid facts about gameplay, a FAQ that isn’t years old?

Almost 2 weeks ago they said they were going to an Electronic Sports Cup and posted some measly new screenshots. I don’t know what the hell EWSC is, but I know it doesn’t seem very news worthy – Especially considering that it isn’t until next month and the San Jose EWSC featured gaming gems like:

COUNTER-STRIKE
QUAKE
WARCRAFT 3
TRACKMANIA
COUNTER-STRIKE WOMEN

They say they are hosting a DF event, but DF isn’t even on the schedule

Moreover...

2008 ends in like 70 days. Given printing and distribution shouldn't the game go Gold in 50 days, give or take?

They set the 08 date, so I'm just wondering when they will start talking regularly and when they will start listing specifics.

...and maybe more importanly - Why they haven't yet.

If I'm reading right, as of 8/1/08 they don't have a publisher for N. America. While I know they don't technically need one, they need one. The game isnt listed at Ebgames either.

The whole thing just strikes me as odd. I'm not asking you to explain for them - I'm just saying it seems strange and from reading teh DF forums nobody really seems worried or curious about it.
 

Even i was baffled..Dont they have a beta to get going? Why in the world would they even think of going there?There were 2 great places they could a went..One was in Germany and the other was in Asia.This was a perfect time to show off there so called prize possession and expanded even more.Even  "probably", could get a few investor to help with there game.I don't understand there logic or there reason.But  my gut feeling on this,it don't look to good.

here you go

There's also an announcement out about an ESWC international event we're organizing in Athens in October. We're partners with the ESWC and we've been promoting e-sports and hosting events in Greece for a few years. There will also be other tournaments, like the ESL Pro Series, a lot of gaming, and a Greek game developer conference. All this is happening during the Athens Digital Week. We're using this opportunity to host a Darkfall event and it's the reason we're taking the time to arrange all this. Details on this event will be posted when they become available.
 

so location Athens - makes sense becqause they are based in Greece

and  this is the link www.eswc.com/document/30.html

and this is what there is being said about the developers on that page

About Aventurine SA:

Aventurine SA is an independent computer games developer located in Athens, Greece. The company is fueled by passion for gaming and game technologies, which motivates and guides all activities. Aventurine’s main project is Darkfall Online, a groundbreaking game launched in 2008. Darkfall is a massive multiplayer fantasy role playing game featuring a fun-oriented and real-time fast paced combat system, massive battles, clan warfare and empire building. Darkfall combines Role Playing, Action, and Strategy gameplay. In August 2008, Aventurine entered into a cooperation agreement with Audiovisual Enterprises SA to release Darkfall in 50 countries. Through our commitment to gaming and Greek online communities, Aventurine hosts the Electronic Sports World Cup in Greece since the 2006.
Press contact: Tasos Flambouras (info@aventurine.gr)

thanks for investegating and good luck

Eh, doesen't take more than a few hours to get everything done...takes awhile to get it prepared and all that but in truth...70days is alot of time to get all that...if you're in a hurry of course...which they are....so ya I'm almost positive it won't be sold at something as public at EBGames...this game seems like it's an 'Underground' kind of game...something much people won't pay much attention to...but anyways no point in worryin' I'm sure it'll be done before Christmas...even though I probably won't be buying....

you can try the game before you buy. aint that something nice

Originally posted by dembar

you can try the game before you buy. aint that something nice

Eh? But at release their certainly won' be a free trial...right? If so I reserve one! Someone go buy it (Wherever it is being distrubited, maybe by the Government for all I nkow) and get me a key!

And if not I'm not waiting 2months, I think you guys can call that fair, you wait 8yrs I wait 2months...but no seriously I wont wait for somethign as long as 1week

yes you get a something like a 2 weeks trail if you like it you buy it. if not then dont. you dont need to pay money and see that you got the short end of the shaft like you sometimes do when buying games.

I figured i do some searching ...Taken from Wiki...Notice the dates and what was being said.How can anyone really believe these people? Pay attention to the Beta starting..Back in 2005 then in 2006 in 2007 they said they have a FULLY functional  AND Stable beta and 2008 Darkfall is now Feature-Complete..What is there next excuse for 2009?

In October 2002, Aventurine SA was founded in Greece, ostensibly to develop and commercialise Darkfall. The Razorwax team was integrated into Aventurine, and five other developers from Norway were hired into the company.[17] When the Razorwax team and the Aventurine team had their first meeting in Athens, a member of one of the teams joked that Razorwax should relocate from Norway to Greece due to the lower taxes and cost of living in Greece. Eventually, the two teams realised that this idea actually made very good business sense,[18] and by December 2002,[19] the relocation of Razorwax was finalised.
In September 2005, the signup for a closed clan beta began. The first Darkfall gameplay video was released on February 2006 [20].
Aventurine did not have a publicly playable version of Darkfall available at E3 2006, however various people were shown a standalone demonstration version of the game [21]. In June 2006, just after E3, the Darkfall team began releasing bi-weekly Questions and Answers through Warcry.
An announcement on July 11, 2006 stated that preparations were being made to begin beta [22]. An interview with the developers on August 25, 2006 indicated that Aventurine did not have a publisher for Darkfall, and were considering the possibility of self-publishing the game.[23]
On January 17, 2007, Aventurine announced that a fully functional and stable beta build is running on remote servers and that the game is being shown to prospective partners, distributors, publishers, technology providers, etc [24].
On January 30, 2007, Aventurine released a video containing about one minute of ingame footage, showing melee combat, mounts (including mounted combat), spellcasting and naval combat [25]. The developers have stated that the combat will be similar to that of Mount and Blade [26].
On May 31, 2007, Aventurine's 9th Developer Journal responded to some of the recent beta inquiries, and announced that their internal target date for beta was summer 2007 [27].
On August 2, 2007, Aventurine stated that although the game is technically ready for beta, beta will not start until negotiations with possible publishers are completed [28].
On September 13, 2007, updated public beta information added to Darkfalls forums stating "Solo player beta applications will be taken soon. Please watch the news forums" [29].
On February 22, 2008, they released a "location test video" depicting various player-crafted city locations in the game. "For today's update we put together a medley of location test videos, from in and around clan cities and racial outposts" [30].
On April 11, 2008, Associate Producer Tasos Flambouras announced Darkfall was now feature-complete.[31]
On May 9, 2008, a WarCry developer journal stated that "... launch date will be inside 2008, with the public beta preceding it by a few weeks. This is official and internally we're a lot more specific, but pending an announcement, we cannot say more at this time." [32]
On June 30, 2008, Aventurine confirmed they have signed with Greek company AudioVisual Enterprises to distribute Darkfall in Europe. [33] AudioVisual later made a stock market announcement to this effect.
On August 29, 2008, The official beta was announced as the final scene of a 17 minute gameplay video, which demonstrated numerous aspects of the game, such as small and large group PVP, including small and large group mounted combat, ship sailing and naval combat, magic and archery, and vehicular combat, creative use of in-game physics and magic, crafting, banking, 3 different PVE encounters demonstrating mob AI, and city building and sieging.
 

There's no way Darkfall will come out this year. Three months to go and no beta yet. Nonsense.

they anounced beta yes and they started beta with paid beta testers. now again there is a beta anounced for 2008 ( probably starting oktober) and this is the final beta and its only ment to stress test the servers.

get your facts straight

Yeah I am a fan and all, but I've been let down 3 times earlier with DF beta promises. So I don't allow myself to be too excited until it actually happens.

Current October beta is just as vague as all the previous ones have been. They havent actually stated a actual date yet.

I do cross my fingers.

My personal opinion is that if they fail to start public beta and launch this year or at least start public beta and launch in early 2009 it will be disastrous for the company and it will be the final end of any chance Aventurine ever had of gaining mainstream credibility within the industry, the media and the gaming community.

The fanatical followers will obviously continue to support them whatever they do, as they always have, or the ones that lose the faith will just be replaced by new converts, as they have been over the last 7 years.

But they will finally be condemned to be a tiny marginalized community indefinitely , the majority of the gamming community and the gaming industry and its media already consider Darkfall and Aventurine a joke or regard it as inconsequential or disreputable, they have this one last big chance to prove all the nay Sayers and skeptics wrong.

I’ve been following the game quite closely since the 2001 announcement and they have failed to meet many vague and ambiguous as well unequivocal previous beta and launch dates as well as numerous other types of schedules for updates or information releases over the years.

But this time its different in my opinion because of a combination of many factors including

the new pre launch promotional video says “coming 2008”

Tasos has officially announced they are launching “within the year”

he has repeatedly assured us they have encountered no serious problems so far

he has stated that Darkfall is feature complete and is currently in internal beta testing using “professional” testers

that Darkfall public beta will be short and fun to play and will be an opportunity for everyone to test the game for free before buying it

They said they would not announce another release date until they could meet it

they said they would only release the game when it was ready

they said they would not make any compromises to their “vision” for the game

Aventurine have started a 3rd beta sign up with only 3 months left to launch

Aventurine have an agreement with AVE to publish/distribute Darkfall in 50 countries

they have an agreement with GNi to launch Darkfall using their hosting services

They are co hosting the Greek ESWC and are going to demonstrate or showcase Darkfall publicly at the event.

So in my opinion this is it, after 7 years of promises and claims they are going to be finally totally vindicated over they next 3 months or they are going to be revealed to be something else entirely.

I still personally think all things considered this will probably be just another in a long line of catastrophic failures by an inexperienced small over ambitious developers or at best might be a mediocre disappointment that will oinly maintain a small following.
 

But according to the developers its only 3 more months left till we find out the truth, In my opinion I don’t see the point of arguing about it anymore when we are so close to actually seeing and playing Darkfall for ourselves, or not of course depending on whether or not the developers are up to their old tricks or not.