[gbafan]

I know a lot of you are waiting the release of this fantastic game. I know I am and I've been playing it for months already.

There appears to be a huge "release date" battle going on between Sony (EQ2 publisher) and VU Games (WoW publisher). EQ2 was suppose to release on Nov. 15th and WoW has been pretty much "pending Nov. 15th" for a long time.

There is an article "quoting" a President at VUG (http://www.freep.com/entertainment/v...e_20041024.htm) that the game will be released a week after Half Life 2 (VU's other huge title set for Nov. 15th.)

Most stores have predicted Nov. 15 would be the launch date for "World of Warcraft," guessing that Sony Online Entertainment's behemoth "Everquest 2" would come out on or near the same day. But Phil O'Neil, president, North America, of "Warcraft" publisher Vivendi Universal Games, said the game will actually launch a week after the company's other hot holiday title, "Half-Life 2," which debuts Nov. 16.

Futhermore, EQ2 has been pushed up now to Nov. 8th instead of the 15th. (http://www.ebgames.com/ebx/product/222723.asp)

So what does all this mean for WoW? Hopefully this means the game will release on Nov. 22nd if not sooner. Once open beta hits (which really is just a mini-preview) we should see the game very very soon!

Hooray!

[Turnpike]

I don't know... from playing it, I really can't see them releasing it yet. First week of December, perhaps?

Still seems a little early to me...

[gbafan]

A Blizzard game is never "done". I'm sure Blizz and VU are having some "friendly" discussions right now about the release; I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that conference room

[Horsepoo!!!]

How can it be a Nov 15 or 22 release if the open beta hasn't even occurred yet?

[The Placid Casual]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
How can it be a Nov 15 or 22 release if the open beta hasn't even occurred yet?

I agree, but... I suspect open beta will not be a 'beta' per se, merely a way to get people hooked before release... and heck, 2 days will be enough time to do this, the game is more addictive than hard drugs.

As for release, i have had my pre-order in for a while. Got this email the other day...

Dear Customer,

You have signed up to receive release date changes for:

World Of Warcraft

XXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXXX

Old Release Date - 11/15/2004
New Release Date - 11/16/2004

Thank you for visiting GameStop.com!
The World's Largest Selection of Gaming Products!

NOTE: The product release date is the best estimate as to when the product
will become available. These dates are subject to change at anytime.
GameStop.com is in constant communication with product vendors to provide
you with the most accurate release dates possible.

Also, there are game cards now on Amazon.com, slated for release on the 16/11/04...

Very odd.

[eevyl]

Originally posted by gbafan:
A Blizzard game is never "done". I'm sure Blizz and VU are having some "friendly" discussions right now about the release; I'd love to be a fly on the wall in that conference room

Yeah probably the discussion is along this lines:

Vivendi: "You will release the game on the [insert optimal marketing related date]"
Blizzard: "The game is not ready yet! We need more time."
Vivendi: "You know I pwn you, the game will be released that day, so you better hurry to your hell desk and code."
Blizzard: "But we need to do an open beta!"
Vivendi: "Release a time limited trial just before release, use it as a open beta of sorts."

Or something.

[The Placid Casual]

Originally posted by eevyl:
Yeah probably the discussion is along this lines:

Vivendi: "You will release the game on the [insert optimal marketing related date]"
Blizzard: "The game is not ready yet! We need more time."
Vivendi: "You know I pwn you, the game will be released that day, so you better hurry to your hell desk and code."
Blizzard: "But we need to do an open beta!"
Vivendi: "Release a time limited trial just before release, use it as a open beta of sorts."

Or something.

In all honesty, the game as it stands it amazing, with a long Open Beta or not.

We are only saying it is not finished as we know what has been pushed back from the release, to be introduced later (Hero classes, Battlegrounds, Housing etc)... Other than that, and some ability introduction (Paly and Hunter talents) and balancing, things are looking great.

As it stands, WoW is way better then EQ2, SWG (as it is now) etc etc

I am tester IRL (not games alas), and to be honest I have never seen a release product match the original brief/spec, things always change as release gets closer and timeframes and priorities change...

WoW could very easily be released after the next patch, or even now, and be better than anything else out there...

[Horsepoo!!!]

False alarm. Blizzard hasn't announced anything...except that they are confident they'll ship before the end of the year.

[SLam]

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
In all honesty, the game as it stands it amazing, with a long Open Beta or not.

We are only saying it is not finished as we know what has been pushed back from the release, to be introduced later (Hero classes, Battlegrounds, Housing etc)... Other than that, and some ability introduction (Paly and Hunter talents) and balancing, things are looking great.

As it stands, WoW is way better then EQ2, SWG (as it is now) etc etc

I am tester IRL (not games alas), and to be honest I have never seen a release product match the original brief/spec, things always change as release gets closer and timeframes and priorities change...

WoW could very easily be released after the next patch, or even now, and be better than anything else out there...

I played the stress test. It's pretty good. It needs some more balancing (like the Paladin). It's pretty complete. It's a MMORPG, so they can add more stuff after release. I remember beta-testing EQoA. When they released it, it was like beta testing all over again. EQ took 5 years to get to how it is now.

I figure they'll release open beta during the week of EQ2's launch. That should give them some more time and steal EQ2's thunder. The holiday shopping period is just around the corner. They can't miss that.

[gbafan]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
False alarm. Blizzard hasn't announced anything...except that they are confident they'll ship before the end of the year.

Correct, Blizzard hasn't announced anything yet but Blizzard doesn't pay their own bills (although they surely could)

VU is going to get this game out soon come hell or high water.

[gbafan]

...

[Arkham_c]

This game is ready to roll once they get the internal releases out to the beta test and let us bang on it for a week. I think a Nov-15 release is very possible, especially with the auto-update feature.

[The Placid Casual]

Well, the WOW closed beta ends today...

I am just so thankful that I have been involved, it has been great fun, and I hope that my /bug reports have had some use to blizzard! A big thanks...

Looks like release is nearer than we think...

[Horsepoo!!!]

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:
Well, the WOW closed beta ends today...

Maybe that means we might see Adam Betts for the first time in 4 months.

[videian28]

lol, true =p

[The Placid Casual]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
Maybe that means we might see Adam Betts for the first time in 4 months.

I am the same IRL... My friends sent me this email a few days ago:

Hi Marc,

Please delete as appropriate:

I have for the last 4 months:

1. Been working toward world peace and been unavailable.

2. Been abducted by Aliens.

3. Emigrated without telling us.

4. Building a nuclear generator in the shed.

5. Become a recluse, living in sack cloth, sitting in front of a single candle, swaying back and forth, never seeing the sun

6. Become hooked to an online game... (World of WarCrack or something...)

The game is a time sink of *epic* proportions...

I didn't like to say that I was in a sunken temple in the Swamp of Sorrows in the far reaches of Azeroth, trying to kill an corrupted undead dragon, (trapped in the emerald dream), in the vain hope he would drop a Dire Nail of Agility...

Just didn't sound right somehow...

Peace,

TPC

P.S. I am cutting my play time **waaayyy* back when the game goes retail, it is just too much. For the first time in a very long time, possibly since 'Bards Tale' on the Apple ][, I have realised that I have to make a dedicated effort to step away from the keyboard...

[The Placid Casual]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
Maybe that means we might see Adam Betts for the first time in 4 months.

But will AdamBetts as we knew him be back, or will we instead get UnDeadBetts all powerful tormentor of the SouthShore and the Alliance...?

Muhahahahaha!!!

Sorry. I'll be quiet now.

[Horsepoo!!!]

So, umm, when this game ships, we're going to hear more horror stories of Koreans dying in Internet Cafés because they've been too busy fending off the Alliance and forgot to eat and sleep?

[The Placid Casual]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
So, umm, when this game ships, we're going to hear more horror stories of Koreans dying in Internet Cafés because they've been too busy fending off the Alliance and forgot to eat and sleep?

Lol, but alas it is a distinct possibility...

[gbafan]

Originally posted by The Placid Casual:

P.S. I am cutting my play time **waaayyy* back when the game goes retail, it is just too much. For the first time in a very long time, possibly since 'Bards Tale' on the Apple ][, I have realised that I have to make a dedicated effort to step away from the keyboard...

LOL! Oh man, Bard's Tale on Apple ][. Holy mother... I loved that series.

I hear you on the cut down of time. I spent WAY too much time in beta. I couldn't believe it myself. But the game is so good I'm really having a hard time not playing right now

[gbafan]

Originally posted by Horsepoo!!!:
So, umm, when this game ships, we're going to hear more horror stories of Koreans dying in Internet Cafés because they've been too busy fending off the Alliance and forgot to eat and sleep?

Oh man;; I wouldn't be surprised if this happened. I don't think I'd eat or sleep if it wasn't for my wife, kids, and a job.

/shiver

[redJag]

I'm thinking around Nov 23

[gbafan]

Originally posted by redJag:
I'm thinking around Nov 23

So are you saying I was right?

[TheBadgerHunter]

Two questions:

a) There will be a trial version?

b) Can I pay via PayPal

[Arkham_c]

Originally posted by TheBadgerHunter:
Two questions:

a) There will be a trial version?

b) Can I pay via PayPal

a) Nope. You get 30 days free when you buy the game, and you can also get a free trial from a friend who buys the collector's edition.

b) yep. They have said they will accept PayPal.

[Scotttheking]

Thank goodness
a) My Powerbook can't run it
b) There is no linux version
c) I can't afford a Mac desktop