Issue 16 Closed Beta Coming Soon

I wonder if those of us not lucky enough to be invited inside will be able to sign on as far as the character creator like in previous betas.

Check the test server forum for another, more up to date discussion. Non-testers have been locked out and Castle confirmed this, then went on to say "Let me explain why" and didn't. He did mention that they're also testing a server queue feature for future implementation on heavy server-load times, but also pointed out specifically that if you're not invited to beta, you can't even log in to character creator.

Bad move devs. BAD move.

"The game client was unable to connect to the login server. This may be due to a local network issue such as a firewall block, or may be because the login server is down for maintenance. Please check your network settings and try again, or check http://www.cityofheroes.com/servers/index.html for current server status."

If that's what non-beta testers are gonna see for the next 2-3 weeks, can you change it to something a little more informative? Like "This account does not have closed beta access."

Everyone is getting that right now. They put up the patch then took the servers down to implement the "Lock Everyone But Beta Out" patch. Special.

That's not the point though. Alot of people were excited to try out the character creator so we could see the customization first hand, but then they implemented this block when anybody just walking around comic-con could try it out, whether they played COX or not. Now those of us who have been loyal players and weren't able to drop everything and fly across the country to go to the convention aren't being given the same courtesy. Not to mention the videos and pictures that everyone has seen by now, so it's not like they're hiding anything. It's just poor judgement and completely cowed the excited mood that everyone had about the beta.

I think they should've made it open beta straight away just like they did with i15.

I agree, a bit of a tease would be much better than slamming the door shut.

Devs didn't expect anyone to "drop everything and fly across the country to go to the convention," especially when passes to the event had sold out months in advance. They have a game in the genre and wanted a booth there for everyone to see, not just "loyal players."

I think we all expect to have a good, bug-free issue when it goes to live, and if closing stuff off during closed beta is a part of that, so be it. It's probably something they wanted to implement since closed betas started, but didn't have the tech to do so until recently.

Please get over your sense of entitlement. It will be ready when it's ready - hence closed beta.

[sarcasm]Yes, I agree. The Closed beta isn't for anything other then marketing their new shinies to us. The fact that it's on the "test sever" is only because they never got around to changing it's name to something more appropreate. Like. "Pre-server" or even better "Preview server"

There's no reason for the test server to exist but to do just that. Provide a preview. If the Devs wanted it tested. They should test it on their own time! Besides. It's not like locking out the players actually DOES anything other then alienate their player base. Having thousands of people hammering the already weaker test sever for hours durring the testing time. All of them using the new updated costume creator to see the new colors and animations without the actual ability to go in and /bug things or provide any useful information to the Devs. While at the same time lagging and perhaps damaging the ability of the actual Beta testers to DO their work. [/sarcasm]

Edit: Dangit, how do you work these new board tags?

I'm not saying I'm entitled to something I'm not, I just don't think it's very fair that they had it sitting out for anyone to walk by and play with at comic-con (which I would have been at if not for scheduling black-outs at work for back to school season) and then they shut it down for those of us who've been chomping at the bit for just a peek at what the customization will entail. That and the fact that BaBs tweeted "Yeah, everyone should be able to access character customization" and then ten minutes later "GTFO if you're not beta" with no explanation at all.

BaBs just gave us said explanation to point out that the creator is apparently suffering quite a few crash bugs and other known issues and they didn't want to open the floodgates on that, which was what alot of us had inferred, but at least they did us the courtesy of letting us know. That works for me, it's all I was after, either access to creator or a reason we were being denied it after being told we wouldn't. Trust me, I'm not alone in this. Test forum was buzzing with irritation, I guess I was the only one who strayed into discussions to bring news.

Holy Crap! Beta today! N I'm not in the first wave! All my hopes n dreams shattered! lol not really, but it would have been cool to help set up the next issue, but to avail.... ^^" Ah well, thanks for more supporters to my ideas, I thought peeps would have done the same as before.... XD But I would settle just for a look that the character creater! my Claw/Electricity scrapper will rise from the Earth! >:-} Go Beta Testers go! fix this issue up so we all can view the beauty that is Electricity!

OH YEAH !!!!

This has been on my if only list for a long time.

Looking forward to getting into see it. If not closed it'll open up soon...sigh

I lie plz closed must see 1st hand

I've been around since the beginning, participated in closed betas before...and really helped out each time.

So pick meeeeeeeeeee!!! Puleeeeeese!

Sorry if I missed this in the sea of other posts, but here's a question:

While the boards were down there was a news item stating that players who had 60+ months paid would get a chance to get into the first wave of closed beta. Now, a timeframe of August 15 - November 15 is mentioned (expected time the game will be in beta?) According to PlayNC, I'm due to tick over to 60 months on August 18th. Would I still be eligible to get into that first wave of beta invites?