World of Warcraft Beta To Begin

MrWonton writes "The word is finally out from Blizzard: the World of Warcraft beta test sign-up begins 6:00 PM PST Wednesday, January 28th. No need to rush though, it'll be open through February 4th, and it's not on a first-come first-serve basis. Good luck!" Update: 01/27 16:34 GMT by S : To clarify, Blizzard say "you will be able to submit an application and receive equal consideration anytime during the signup period", but only selected individuals will get into this initial Beta.

Open beta?

[Snowspinner]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't an open beta when they just put the client up and anyone can join?

Re:Open beta?

[simoniker]

I think I'd define it like that as well - article amended. In fact, everyone has an equal opportunity of winning the Beta lottery, in this case :P

Re:Open beta?

[aSiTiC]

It's more like an Open-Application Beta. They did the same thing for Warcraft 3. Basically, during the time period they take in say 300,000 applications. They then choose say 30,000 for the first period of beta. Later on they will let more of the original 300,000 into the beta, after a couple months. They don't take more applications though...

During the Warcraft 3 beta I got in during the first period, one of my roommates got in a month later and then another of my roommates got in another month later.

Re:Open beta?

[DrDoombender]

Slashdot had a article on WOW's alpha, and basically it said that the WOW alpha was more of a highly polished beta. I really think WOW is going to be great. Plus, unlike many MMORPGs, they plan on allowing players to define the world instead of being restrictive (EG: Star Wars Galaxies where they have a very restrictive rules set).

One of the things I'm hoping for is the ability to be a deathknight or blood mage in WOW. I'm so excited about this game!

Re:looking at the races...

[fain0v]

Blood elves are a nonplayable race since they are scattered, corrupt, and mostly on another planet. The Scourge are the evil group of undead led by the lich king (arthas became one with nerzhul to become the super powerful lich king). The playable undead race are undead that have freed themselves from the lich king.

Re:WOO!

[Anonymous Coward]

Here's [earthlink.net] a clickable of the parent's link.

/sigh, I hate when the preview button doesn't work. here's the link that works

Re:looking at the races...

[MMaestro]

Those are very good questions considering what happened at the end of Warcraft 3, the Frozen Throne (the expansion), and the 'Bonus Campaign.' Heres a quick lesson for those who haven't played through it all (or simply want a refresher).

There's a rogue group of Undead who broke away from Arthas (the former prince of Lordaeron who became a death knight) and set up a base in Lordaeron's ruins (which you invade and destroy in the Frozen Throne). Now keep in mind that this same group of Undead tried to kill Arthas (who emerges in the end as two of the big bad guys) so you can see how and why the Undead would be fighting, well, Undead.

As for the Blood Elves not being in the game, thats unanswerable at this point. What IS known is that the Blood Elf leader, Prince Kael, swore alliegence to Illidan (the demon hunter you released and left at the end of WC3). You also see the Blood Elves in the last mission of the last campaign but it is not required for the player to kill them off. Hence you're left with only a few alternatives. 1. The Blood Elves (or most of them) were killed off and are now too few to play as. 2. The Blood Elves are in hiding and will be released in an expansion pack, logical but doesn't explain everything without word from Blizzard. 3. The Blood Elves managed to retreat and remain largely in the Nether World (long story).

As for the Bonus Campaign, theres nothing in it which explain where, when, or why the Undead allied with the Horde (you don't even fight the Undead in it.) I'm assuming that the Undead you play in WoW is allied with a different splinter of the Horde.

Some of you called 'boycott' last year...

[Tom7]

Reminder: Blizzard sues its fans [slashdot.org] under the DMCA. I am staying away from their products.

Re:Some of you called 'boycott' last year...

[Anonymous Coward]

I knew about 85 people playing wc3 on bnetd servers, you know how many actually bought the game? 6 people! I'm sorry when the numbers are like that the legit people are a very small piece of the pie

All Beta slots will be random

[Rexz]

How are beta testers selected? [battle.net]

We have plans to give many beta tests away via contests (I hope to have more information on this next week). All other beta testers will be selected randomly from the applicant database.

This sucks. My Beta test resume is better than my real one.

Blizzard boycott?

[Nimey]

How many of us are sticking to their decision to boycott Blizzard because of the bnetd flap [eff.org]?

/me raises his hand.

Re:looking at the races...

[weaklink]

Why the Undead have joined the Horde is explained in short, on WOW's website in the racial entry for undead. (My assumption is this is a new development after the ending of WC3)

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/wow/townhall/unde ad .shtml

Here is the pertinent excerpt:

To further their dark aims, the Forsaken have entered into an alliance of convenience with the primitive, brutish races of the Horde. Holding no real loyalty for their newfound comrades, the Forsaken have duped them into fighting against their common enemy - the Lich King.