View Full Version : World of Warcraft Beta Release : Live Coverage
Graeme
03-18-2004, 7:56 PM
Fansite Programs just got their email. As far as I know( taken from a few guys I know at some fansites), it looks something like this:
Thank you for your interest in Blizzard Entertainment and our products. As a valued member of the Fan Site Program we would like to congratulate you on entering the World of Warcraft Beta Test Program and we would like to thank you for showing such an avid interest in the game.
etc. etc.
I'll be posting updates on the release of the beta as we go. Stay tuned folks!
edit:
On the main page ( http://www.worldofwarcraft.com ):
Welcome to the World of Warcraft Beta Test! - DAnthony on 03/18/04
Have a mug of ale in one of our many taverns; adventure the wide world; meet friends or form a guild: the choice is yours.
To those joining us for the first time, we are currently in the middle of our All Alliance push. This means that you may play any of the Alliance races (i.e. Human, Dwarf, Gnome and Night Elf) and can choose one of the following six classes: Mage, Paladin, Priest, Rogue, Warlock & Warrior (as each race allows). More races and classes will become available in the next few weeks.
Please be sure to check the Readme documentation supplied with the download. To further help you get settled in, I've included a few links below to help you establishing yourself in the new World of Warcraft community:
Beta General Forums
Beta Tech Support Forums
Basic Instructions
Last but not least, I wanted to thank all of our Alpha Testers for their many contributions to WoW's development thus far. Your help has been invaluable to the development team! All of your characters are still available; feel free to continue where you left off yesterday.
Thank you all for participating... See you in Azeroth!
Donna "Katricia" Anthony
Community Manager
World of Warcraft
Beta is live for the public (erm, those that get the emails, at least ;)
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 8:19 PM
Holy crap!!!! I was online at the time too and I missed it!
This is so cool!
*hugs Gibb*
(oops sorry)
Exedore
03-18-2004, 8:20 PM
So, did anyone get lucky?
Duddits
03-18-2004, 8:32 PM
Orcs.. serious lack of orcs in there.
Graeme
03-18-2004, 8:47 PM
So, did anyone get lucky?
http://www.battle.net/forums/wow/thread.aspx?FN=wow-general&T=1448491&P=1&ReplyCount=4#post1448491
Bleh, wish I knew. According to this thread it could take days to find out. Since I live in Canada, I'm going to assume we'll be the last batch to get beta :P.
Ah well, I await with great nervousness :P. Man I want this . . .
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 8:53 PM
I hope Mr.Plow and the other warcraft.org staffers visit here so they can answer the questions that crop up!
Graeme
03-18-2004, 9:02 PM
Thought this was rather humourous:
http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/tinydancer.shtml
I also stand corrected about the Korean beta testing. They must've done applications shortly after they did the NA and Canadian applications. Sorry about that Exe ^_^.
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 9:09 PM
Oh Exedore, we're so sorry we ever doubted you *hugs Exedore*
(sorry, it's just one of these days where men can hug men and still be *voice breaks* men)
SoldierPrime
03-18-2004, 9:10 PM
I think I deleted my beta email -_-;
no wait that was just some pr0n. lol
Graeme
03-18-2004, 9:15 PM
I was really scared I got the email and it was corrupted, because I opened up outlook and it yelled at me saying "Blah blah blah, virus, virus, quarantine?", so I said quarantine very sheepishly.
I look into my inbox, quick as I can, and see that it's just a random virus-ridden email from a guy named chris, with the cryptic words,
"This isn't your right name"
I was creeped out! And disappointed that it wasn't the email! All at the same time!
Duddits
03-18-2004, 9:22 PM
Oh yea... This is the next big virus. WoW is just a scam from the evil Google. DO NOT DOWNLOAD IT!! It's teh HaXxorz!
Google is evil. *plays Disturbed-- Down With the Sickness* Oooo AA AAA AAA AA
Mr.Plow
03-18-2004, 9:27 PM
I'm reading :) Downloading now.. it's at 280 megs or so and running at 80KB/s. This is going to be one hell of a weekend:)
So uh..Mr. Plow, ol' buddy, ol' pal, what are the chances that you, uh, give that cd key to your great friend Gibb over at sister site Starcraft.org ;)
haha.. have a fun weekend.. oh, and remember to sleep! :)
Mr.Plow
03-18-2004, 9:35 PM
Haha. Aren't you getting a key too?
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 9:44 PM
So uh..Mr. Plow, ol' buddy, ol' pal, what are the chances that you, uh, give that cd key to your great friend Gibb over at sister site Starcraft.org ;)
haha.. have a fun weekend.. oh, and remember to sleep! :)
What about -me- Mr.Plow?
(Am I more persuasive with my clothes on or off? I'm kidding!)
Haha. Aren't you getting a key too?
Hold on. I thought StarCraft sites weren't counted? *pees pants*
That's the first I've heard of any of us getting keys, I think Gibb and the other staff are in the same situation.
Graeme
03-18-2004, 9:57 PM
I knew I should've applied my guild site for the fan site program :P. I know a few guild sites that did make fan site program, and we would've had a decent chance :P. Blegh.
No email yet, but I'm still banking on the idea that it will take a while because I'm in Canada.
I suppose we have yet to see. Felicitations to whoever actually got beta thus far. I actually haven't heard of many people with it yet . . . so the major batches of emails may still be queued (hopefully).
Great to see you stop by our humble WoW forums as well Mr. Plow! So are the admins at warcraft.org taking any requests for game info and screenshots? ^_^
Edgewize
03-18-2004, 9:57 PM
In the past, Blizzard hasn't cared what game you cover. I thought all you SC.org guys got in on the Frozen Throne beta?
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 10:03 PM
In the past, Blizzard hasn't cared what game you cover. I thought all you SC.org guys got in on the Frozen Throne beta?
I'll look through the news posts when I get home. I don't believe I saw any news posts on it when I was searching for the original BlizzForums opening message written by Gibb though.
It seems that the line between what Blizzard considers fansites and non-fansites is set quite low.
It's too bad that I'm in a non-beta test country, otherwise I'd take my Tauren Druid for a little spin.
SoldierPrime
03-18-2004, 10:04 PM
Another email!
o...it was just some star wars thing ppffffff
Hey Radlin I'll join your guild if I get bumped up near the consul ^_^ :)
Graeme
03-18-2004, 10:18 PM
Another email!
o...it was just some star wars thing ppffffff
Hey Radlin I'll join your guild if I get bumped up near the consul ^_^ :)
Haha, if only things worked easily like that ;). You'd have to move up a few ranks first, and then apply to be put on the council. After applying, you'd be put through various tests by the head council, in order to see if you're fit for the job.
It may sound complicated, but it's really not. We're just trying to ensure that we don't get anyone that shouldn't be in a position of power, in such a position. I can't just bend the rules for anyone you know ;). Bird-Chaos knows what I'm talking about :tu:.
Anyway, I think I may move onto doing something other than sending/receiving my outlook express for a bit . . . at least just to pass the time. Since that one cryptic letter, I haven't had any other messages :(.
Achelus
03-18-2004, 10:19 PM
I know we got keys for the Legacy sites...
BSTRhino
03-18-2004, 10:29 PM
I know we got keys for the Legacy sites...
Does that include... SCL?
Edit: http://www.blizzforums.com/showthread.php?t=37464
Arrrgggh! It does! *pees pants* Gibb!
Graeme
03-18-2004, 10:34 PM
/me nudges SC.org administration
"Hey, uhhh, if you happen to come across an extra one of those beta passes . . . ;) ;)"
There won't be any -extra- betas, guys.
Sorry. ;)
BSTRhino
03-19-2004, 5:20 AM
Fansites will be holding competitions though... I'm sure I read that somewhere.
My [rhino][NOSPAM][at][star][NOSPAM][craft][dot][org] email hasn't got anything. I don't even know if we're registered for the fansite program, I didn't think we could. Otherwise I would have already nudged Gibb about fifteen million times to register.
I couldn't find any news posts that stated anything about us being in 'The Frozen Throne' beta, but it seems there were a few posts on the WarCraft III beta, but they basically referred everyone to look at WarCraft.org.
[B]Edit: Look at this thread: http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?FN=wow-general&T=1035&P=1&ReplyCount=5#post1035
I'm eligible for the beta! If it's through the Blizzard Fansite Program. *pees pants*
I've peed my pants three times already. I think I've got to start wearing maxi pads.
Mordecai2k
03-19-2004, 6:57 AM
i didn't get lucky :( nooo...
BSTRhino
03-19-2004, 8:19 AM
"People are actually moving to New Zealand just to be thanked." - Billy Crystal
"People are actually moving to America just to get WoW betas." - BSTRhino
Just something stupid I thought of.
Myst has a connection over at Blizzard (IndoFlaven, designed the current SC.org layout and now works for Blizzard, known as MHein), that's how we got Frozen Throne.
I'll have Myst talk to Indo and see if he can do anything about it. Myst told me that he is getting a copy of the beta...grrr...i'll see what i can do :)
ChairsSobD
03-19-2004, 10:26 AM
You know you're my best friend, right BST? =]!
FRIENDS FOREVER!1111
BSTRhino
03-19-2004, 3:18 PM
Myst has a connection over at Blizzard (IndoFlaven, designed the current SC.org layout and now works for Blizzard, known as MHein), that's how we got Frozen Throne.
I'll have Myst talk to Indo and see if he can do anything about it. Myst told me that he is getting a copy of the beta...grrr...i'll see what i can do :)
lol, Mr. "Your sound card works perfectly." (See his sig at the official Battle.net forums if you're wondering what I'm on about)
It's not a big deal. Well, it is, but it's not. I haven't been expecting to get any beta for ages now, so it's not going to be a big blow if we don't.
Graeme
03-19-2004, 3:54 PM
Hey, well, Rhino, if you don't want it, I can always take it ;). Anyone hear about the dude with 11 beta keys, selling 8 of them for min $50 US? I'd like to have beta, not that desperate though :P.
Anyway, congrats to everyone for getting this thread to be the largest thread in this WoW forum :D (finally hit the second page at 30 for me :D).
When did they send the email. I hope my email system was lagging on the email forwarding!
BSTRhino
03-20-2004, 4:48 AM
Hey, well, Rhino, if you don't want it, I can always take it ;). Anyone hear about the dude with 11 beta keys, selling 8 of them for min $50 US? I'd like to have beta, not that desperate though :P.
Anyway, congrats to everyone for getting this thread to be the largest thread in this WoW forum :D (finally hit the second page at 30 for me :D).
Whoa 11 beta keys? How'd he do that?
Achelus
03-20-2004, 9:44 AM
No one person gets 11 keys, I'd be highly suspicious of him. If you know someone at Blizzard, however, you can probably pull off one.
If you guys have any specific questions, other than how to get you a beta, I can answer them.
Also, there are going to be fan site giveaways of cd keys, at least that's what Blizz planned on previously. They are also considering allowing "sharing" again.
PirateFace
03-20-2004, 2:35 PM
I got the beta, then again I've only been advertising that since beta signups started :bigsmile:
But anyways yea, all the Legacy guys got the beta, which are XG3, Redcloak, Eman myself and someothers.
I don't suppose I can say to visit Warcraft Legacy for all your WoW beta info? Anyways I'm proabably the only guy that's doing real progress/work with WoW beta, i'm already sitting at Lv11 and I've gotten off the NE island and onto the mainland (Kalimdor).
Graeme
03-20-2004, 6:03 PM
The person with 11 keys is in fact serious about it. He sent in 200+ applications with phony addresses and various different emails, etc.
I'm very excited to hear about these give-a-ways. I'll have to look into those!
Congrats to your quick progress PirateFace, what are your first character's tradeskills and class?
BSTRhino
03-20-2004, 7:02 PM
He was a female Night Elf rogue last time I checked.
Imagine that, 11 CD Keys. It's amazing what some people do for a simple game.
Graeme
03-20-2004, 9:19 PM
It's funny, I just finished reading a thread about the amount of cheaters in the WoW beta application. This guy here wrote it out rather well, in my opinion:
http://www.battle.net/forums/wow/thread.aspx?FN=wow-general&T=1483859&P=1&ReplyCount=55#post1483859
He has a point, though you can tell his opinions, along with the opinions of the people that agree with them, are built primarily on the fact that they're bitter that they didn't get in :tu:.
Alas, I'd love to see a reply from Blizzard on the thread. One guy had a great idea, saying that applicants should have to provide a cdkey from Blizzard's most recent game (ie. The Frozen Throne) to be able to apply to the beta testing. He went on to say that it would show support for the company, and severely decrease the number of fraudulent applicants.
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