News
Mists of Pandaria Beta
As reported on WoW Insider Blizzard have now started accepting opt-ins for the next WoW expansion. They have also issued a FAQ to go with it, including details of how Annual Pass members will get invited:
Quote:
Mists of Pandaria Beta Opt-in and FAQ
We're very close to beginning beta testing for World of Warcraft®: Mists of Pandaria™! Over the course of the beta test, we'll be inviting Annual Pass holders, press, fansites, friends and family, and opt-in beta testers to participate. As there's no NDA for this test, you're likely to start seeing lots of screenshots and new video around the web. Please keep in mind that the game is still in development, and what you'll see during the beta test is not necessarily representative of the final game.
If you're wondering how you can help us test Mists of Pandaria, or how the test works, look no further than the paragraphs directly below this one.
How do I opt-in?
Once you've set up a Battle.net account and have attached at least one Blizzard game, you can choose to opt in to our beta tests from the Beta Profile page. You'll need to select which franchises you'd be interested in helping test, as well as download and run the System Check tool to attach your computer's specifications to your beta profile. Once that's complete it's simply a matter of waiting for an invite.
How will I know if I'm selected?
We'll send you an email letting you know when you're selected, but please be aware of phishing attempts. Some unscrupulous individuals send out falsified emails purporting to be from Blizzard, but are in fact meant to steal your login credentials. For more information on how to identify these emails please refer to our Battle.net Security site. One easy way to ensure your invite is legit is to avoid clicking on links in any invite emails you receive, and instead log in to your Battle.net account and see if you have a Mists of Pandaria beta license attached. If there's no license, you can be sure the email you received was not from Blizzard.
I am participating in the World of Warcraft Annual Pass promotion; when do I begin testing?
We're inviting Annual Pass holders in waves over the course of the beta test, and will be ramping up the number of invites we send as quickly as possible. We'll be inviting Annual Pass holders based on several factors, including how long your World of Warcraft account has been active and when you signed up for the Annual Pass. Keep an eye on your Battle.net account and email for your invite to join the beta test.
How many players do you plan to invite to the beta test?
Our primary focus will be ensuring that all of the players who signed up for the Annual Pass are invited over the course of the beta test. The number of additional players we invite will be based on our testing needs. If during the course of testing we determine we need more players to participate, we'll invite more.
Is there an NDA?
There is no Non-Disclosure Agreement for the Mists of Pandaria beta test. Those invited to play are free to take screenshots, movies, or stream the game content. Please be aware that the game is very much still a work in progress, and we appreciate your understanding when you encounter bugs, graphical errors, or other issues.
How long will the beta test last?
We have not determined an exact date for the end of the beta test. We'll post a notice when the beta test is nearing completion.
We're very close to beginning beta testing for World of Warcraft®: Mists of Pandaria™! Over the course of the beta test, we'll be inviting Annual Pass holders, press, fansites, friends and family, and opt-in beta testers to participate. As there's no NDA for this test, you're likely to start seeing lots of screenshots and new video around the web. Please keep in mind that the game is still in development, and what you'll see during the beta test is not necessarily representative of the final game.
If you're wondering how you can help us test Mists of Pandaria, or how the test works, look no further than the paragraphs directly below this one.
How do I opt-in?
Once you've set up a Battle.net account and have attached at least one Blizzard game, you can choose to opt in to our beta tests from the Beta Profile page. You'll need to select which franchises you'd be interested in helping test, as well as download and run the System Check tool to attach your computer's specifications to your beta profile. Once that's complete it's simply a matter of waiting for an invite.
How will I know if I'm selected?
We'll send you an email letting you know when you're selected, but please be aware of phishing attempts. Some unscrupulous individuals send out falsified emails purporting to be from Blizzard, but are in fact meant to steal your login credentials. For more information on how to identify these emails please refer to our Battle.net Security site. One easy way to ensure your invite is legit is to avoid clicking on links in any invite emails you receive, and instead log in to your Battle.net account and see if you have a Mists of Pandaria beta license attached. If there's no license, you can be sure the email you received was not from Blizzard.
I am participating in the World of Warcraft Annual Pass promotion; when do I begin testing?
We're inviting Annual Pass holders in waves over the course of the beta test, and will be ramping up the number of invites we send as quickly as possible. We'll be inviting Annual Pass holders based on several factors, including how long your World of Warcraft account has been active and when you signed up for the Annual Pass. Keep an eye on your Battle.net account and email for your invite to join the beta test.
How many players do you plan to invite to the beta test?
Our primary focus will be ensuring that all of the players who signed up for the Annual Pass are invited over the course of the beta test. The number of additional players we invite will be based on our testing needs. If during the course of testing we determine we need more players to participate, we'll invite more.
Is there an NDA?
There is no Non-Disclosure Agreement for the Mists of Pandaria beta test. Those invited to play are free to take screenshots, movies, or stream the game content. Please be aware that the game is very much still a work in progress, and we appreciate your understanding when you encounter bugs, graphical errors, or other issues.
How long will the beta test last?
We have not determined an exact date for the end of the beta test. We'll post a notice when the beta test is nearing completion.
Well I got an invite for the Wrath and Cata beta tests. Wonder if I'll make it three in a row?
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
It would be interesting to know what proportion of account holders will receive beta invites, compared to last year - especially as they have already guaranteed beta invites to everyone who signed up for the Annual Pass.
If they know that you are a regular multi-boxer/multi-account holder Kath, quite possibility that gives you an advantage (assuming they don't just pluck people out of a hat), because you are more likely to come across problems than someone only playing one at a time (ie, you're more familiar with more roles and classes than a lot of us). After all, at the end of the day a beta is there for Blizzard to road-test their software, find bugs and fix them.
Fingers crossed! Just make sure you have your Battle.net details up-to-date
If they know that you are a regular multi-boxer/multi-account holder Kath, quite possibility that gives you an advantage (assuming they don't just pluck people out of a hat), because you are more likely to come across problems than someone only playing one at a time (ie, you're more familiar with more roles and classes than a lot of us). After all, at the end of the day a beta is there for Blizzard to road-test their software, find bugs and fix them.
Fingers crossed! Just make sure you have your Battle.net details up-to-date
It would be interesting to know what proportion of account holders will receive beta invites, compared to last year - especially as they have already guaranteed beta invites to everyone who signed up for the Annual Pass.
If they know that you are a regular multi-boxer/multi-account holder Kath, quite possibility that gives you an advantage (assuming they don't just pluck people out of a hat), because you are more likely to come across problems than someone only playing one at a time (ie, you're more familiar with more roles and classes than a lot of us). After all, at the end of the day a beta is there for Blizzard to road-test their software, find bugs and fix them.
Fingers crossed! Just make sure you have your Battle.net details up-to-date
Yeah, I'm curious to see if I get another invite because as you say there's a lot of Annual Pass subscribers to take on board this time around.
I don't know how the selection process works but it may also bode in my favour that on previous beta tests I have filled in all the surveys and highlighted problems and issues I've encountered (ya know, cos I like to point out flaws! :P) so maybe that stands me in good stead. I know some people log into the Beta and provide no feedback whatsoever.
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
If they know that you are a regular multi-boxer/multi-account holder Kath, quite possibility that gives you an advantage (assuming they don't just pluck people out of a hat), because you are more likely to come across problems than someone only playing one at a time (ie, you're more familiar with more roles and classes than a lot of us). After all, at the end of the day a beta is there for Blizzard to road-test their software, find bugs and fix them.
Fingers crossed! Just make sure you have your Battle.net details up-to-date
Yeah, I'm curious to see if I get another invite because as you say there's a lot of Annual Pass subscribers to take on board this time around.
I don't know how the selection process works but it may also bode in my favour that on previous beta tests I have filled in all the surveys and highlighted problems and issues I've encountered (ya know, cos I like to point out flaws! :P) so maybe that stands me in good stead. I know some people log into the Beta and provide no feedback whatsoever.
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
I've today received my beta invite (squeeeee!) ... the email you receive comes from "wowmopbeta" and tells you to log into your Battle.net account (and doesn't provide a link to click for that) - so be aware that there will be plenty of fake Beta invites floating around as well. To be sure, never click on a link in an email, always go directly to your Battle.net account page.
Once you're on your Battle'net account summary, if you have received an invite, it will show up under "World of Warcraft". I don't know if it makes a difference, but it appears to default to North America/English (US) - I've changed mine to "English (EU)" by selecting the "more" option.
The download appears to be around 17Gb.
I'm curious, seeing as I've never participated in a WoW Beta Test.......is it separate from the main game, where copies of your toons can play the new content, or do you get assigned random stuff?
It's a separate specialised client with a slightly different UI than the usual one. You can make copies of characters from your main account to the Beta the same way you would if you were participating in the PTR or you can create your own character and play through it normally - this will be important for those wanting to sample the Pandaren starting zone and it was very important in Cata beta because of all the revamped questing areas.
The reason for the separate client is because there's a lot of prompts to fill in information about your experiences with different aspects of the game, any bugs you have encountered and the like which Blizzard will use to fine-tune the game prior to release as well as seeing what is popular in Beta and what is not very popular. This is largely why the Beta usually goes on for several months and content that is in the Beta can be removed prior to the official launch.
In previous Betas you have had to do without quite a lot of addons although not being part of this one (yet! ya never know...) I cannot comment on whether the functionality for addons is enabled or whether the addon creators are making them.
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
It's a separate specialised client with a slightly different UI than the usual one. You can make copies of characters from your main account to the Beta the same way you would if you were participating in the PTR or you can create your own character and play through it normally - this will be important for those wanting to sample the Pandaren starting zone and it was very important in Cata beta because of all the revamped questing areas.
The reason for the separate client is because there's a lot of prompts to fill in information about your experiences with different aspects of the game, any bugs you have encountered and the like which Blizzard will use to fine-tune the game prior to release as well as seeing what is popular in Beta and what is not very popular. This is largely why the Beta usually goes on for several months and content that is in the Beta can be removed prior to the official launch.
In previous Betas you have had to do without quite a lot of addons although not being part of this one (yet! ya never know...) I cannot comment on whether the functionality for addons is enabled or whether the addon creators are making them.
Guest Post Rules are In Effect for this Post
You download a very small launcher programme, which then starts the process of downloading the Beta proper. It installs it as a completely different game - different location, etc.
It is similar to the normal loader, in that it tells you how much space it is going to use, and also a bar that tells you when you can start playing, even though it hasn't finished downloading (I'm on a 5Mb download connection, started this morning around 9am and it is currently 70% complete - but I could start playing it from around 10%).
I've not tried any addons yet.#
I have been involved in Test Realms before, and those often had very obvious and easy reporting - you had an extra icon/button in order to report any problems. That was quite some time ago, and so far I've not actually found any way of reporting problems in-game (other than opening a ticket) - but some in the general chat have been suggesting that certain functionality of the game is often missing until you get the full download complete. For example, some fight animations and various graphics seem to be missing when you first start to play, but as it continues to download, it improves.
I've not really noticed anything different about the UI at all in this case (other than obvious game ones, such as the ability to track "wild battle pets")
You have the option to import up to 5 characters (including pre-made ones - I assume max level) - I've set 3 of mine to be imported, but that part doesn't appear to be activated yet. Also, there are only pre-mades available for the PvP realm.
It appears that all servers are actually based in America .. one is called an American Server, one is EU, one is Hong Kong, and there are one or two others, including one PvP server.
Somehow mine defaulted to the HK server .. but it doesn't make much difference because it appears a lot of other EU people also ended up on that server. And the bonus is, for those who came in a bit later and had a choice - they obviously chose EU, which last time I looked was fairly full!
I've had problems with Facebook today, plus I've spent a lot of this afternoon in the hospital - eldest son decided to intercept a football with his arm and broke a bone! .. I have uploaded some photos to our page tho, and will do more as and when I get them.
There are some screenshots of the new character selection screen, which looks really nice - although obviously not complete (or perhaps wasn't downloaded at the time).
www.facebook.com/Darkwolves.eu
It is similar to the normal loader, in that it tells you how much space it is going to use, and also a bar that tells you when you can start playing, even though it hasn't finished downloading (I'm on a 5Mb download connection, started this morning around 9am and it is currently 70% complete - but I could start playing it from around 10%).
I've not tried any addons yet.#
I have been involved in Test Realms before, and those often had very obvious and easy reporting - you had an extra icon/button in order to report any problems. That was quite some time ago, and so far I've not actually found any way of reporting problems in-game (other than opening a ticket) - but some in the general chat have been suggesting that certain functionality of the game is often missing until you get the full download complete. For example, some fight animations and various graphics seem to be missing when you first start to play, but as it continues to download, it improves.
I've not really noticed anything different about the UI at all in this case (other than obvious game ones, such as the ability to track "wild battle pets")
You have the option to import up to 5 characters (including pre-made ones - I assume max level) - I've set 3 of mine to be imported, but that part doesn't appear to be activated yet. Also, there are only pre-mades available for the PvP realm.
It appears that all servers are actually based in America .. one is called an American Server, one is EU, one is Hong Kong, and there are one or two others, including one PvP server.
Somehow mine defaulted to the HK server .. but it doesn't make much difference because it appears a lot of other EU people also ended up on that server. And the bonus is, for those who came in a bit later and had a choice - they obviously chose EU, which last time I looked was fairly full!
I've had problems with Facebook today, plus I've spent a lot of this afternoon in the hospital - eldest son decided to intercept a football with his arm and broke a bone! .. I have uploaded some photos to our page tho, and will do more as and when I get them.
There are some screenshots of the new character selection screen, which looks really nice - although obviously not complete (or perhaps wasn't downloaded at the time).
www.facebook.com/Darkwolves.eu
Quote:
blimey!! poor guy that must have been some kick or just really unlucky, hope he is doing ok and it doesnt hurt, im sure once his cast has settled in and got customised by him it will be better, I recall being very proud of my cast when i was a kid i wanted to keep it when they took it off!
Pass on my best wishes to him (and give him a knitting needle or something to scratch with...iches can be a killer when you cant get to it)
plus I've spent a lot of this afternoon in the hospital - eldest son decided to intercept a football with his arm and broke a bone!
blimey!! poor guy that must have been some kick or just really unlucky, hope he is doing ok and it doesnt hurt, im sure once his cast has settled in and got customised by him it will be better, I recall being very proud of my cast when i was a kid i wanted to keep it when they took it off!
Pass on my best wishes to him (and give him a knitting needle or something to scratch with...iches can be a killer when you cant get to it)
Thanks, will do :-) We're back there tomorrow morning for his proper cast to go on - apparently he will have a choice of colour - I'm hoping they have more than just pink!
I'm also hoping that he will be okay to be back at school next week - it is not only his "gaming arm", but also his writing hand. Luckily Easter break is just around the corner.
From the sound of it, he probably wasn't paying attention (for a change) - someone make an attempt on goal, missed and hit him instead.
He was really upset at one point .. but when our youngest starting looking after him, you could see his eyes lighting up .. suspect he will be milking it in no time!
I'm also hoping that he will be okay to be back at school next week - it is not only his "gaming arm", but also his writing hand. Luckily Easter break is just around the corner.
From the sound of it, he probably wasn't paying attention (for a change) - someone make an attempt on goal, missed and hit him instead.
He was really upset at one point .. but when our youngest starting looking after him, you could see his eyes lighting up .. suspect he will be milking it in no time!