GuildWars Final Beta in January

On Fileplanet, subscribers can now get a beta key for the final Guildwars beta, which will start on January 7th. Some thoughts:

• Fileplanet has become the major access path to MMORPG betas. Of course some people object to having to pay for a beta. But if you were having a subscription anyway, for downloading PC games demos and other files, the MMORPG betas are a nice added bonus.


• Often you don't need Fileplanet to get into a beta, it only provides preferential access. I'm pretty sure the Guildwars Final Beta will not be limited to Fileplanet subscribers only.


• Announcing a final beta for January means that GuildWars will probably be released by February or so. Official release date is "early 2005".


• GuildWars was highly playable already in the "world preview event", but you started the game at level 15 then and could only level up to 20. I wonder if the final beta goes all the way from level 1 to high level, and how this larger level range is balanced.


• The main claim to fame of GuildWars is being the only MMORPG without a monthly fee. It will be interesting to see how that business model works out. Is it really the monthly fee that stops MMORPG from greatness, or is it the nerdy gameplay?

- posted by Tobold @ 9:12 AM Permanent Link