City of Villains Beta Test Begins

[bean19]

The beta for City of Villains (http://www.cityofvillains.com/) has officially begun (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=villains&Number=3507718&bodyprev=#Post3507718) today.

Currently subscribed members of City of Heroes (http://www.coh.com) who have 12 months or more total subscription time are being given priority entry into the beta along with winners from various contests. However, if you do not meet this criteria, you can still get into the beta by pre-ordering (http://www.cityofvillains.com/pre-order/). Entry to beta for preorder buyers will be lowest priority (red-headed stepchild, mouse with the scraps, back of the bus, etc. priority) and will probably commence after the bulk of testing is completed and Cryptic decides to bring up multiple test servers that are built to accomodate this "beta as a marketing tool" tactic.

In interviews, CoV developers stated beta would begin by late July or early August. As you can tell, beta has begun later than expected but still inside the August window; however, it appears unlikely that they will meet retailer's expectations of an early November release as this would only allow for 2 1/2 months of beta-testing.

Pretty interesting to see what would be an expansion for a different game coming out as a completely new game (with enough content to support itself). Any tech types care to comment on whether this will lead to a shorter beta? You know with techie language and reasons and stuff.

[GrinR]

Woot I'm in!

[Evil Avatar]

Woot I'm in!

Bastard.

(The message you have entered is too short.)

Rat Bastard.

[bean19]

EvAv - You aren't getting a press account?

Can I get your press account? :) I usually have a good connection to get in, and I should get a legitimate 12 month subscriber account, but I got screwed on this round.

[Tricky Thumb]

Bastard.

(The message you have entered is too short.)

Rat Bastard.

Can't you use the website to steal his information? I mean, it's not THAT illegal... I want in.

[Heretic Machine]

*shrugs a bit* Bought the game when it came out... played for 6-8 months... played off and on since then. Still no invite. Hopefully they'll give me one before it's over, otherwise I'm not buying... I'm quite hesitent about this game, as the PVP in CoH sucked giant donkey balls. Trying it out before hand is pretty much a requirment for me at this point.

[Kefkataran]

I'm in. I think it's because I played in the CoH beta, and word was CoH beta participants would have a better chance. Of course I only played for one week in CoH beta, but whatever...

*shrugs a bit* Bought the game when it came out... played for 6-8 months... played off and on since then. Still no invite. Hopefully they'll give me one before it's over, otherwise I'm not buying... I'm quite hesitent about this game, as the PVP in CoH sucked giant donkey balls. Trying it out before hand is pretty much a requirment for me at this point.

Honestly, I'm not concerned about PvP at all. The thing that excites me is that the new/somewhat changed classes all appear at least somewhat more combat-orientated, so hopefully the gameplay will be more fast and fun for all classes. We'll be seeing.

[Heretic Machine]

I'm a bit angsty about that game right now because one of the devs finally said that the epic Winged AT would never happen, and that it was impractical.

[Kefkataran]

I'm a bit angsty about that game right now because one of the devs finally said that the epic Winged AT would never happen, and that it was impractical.

That's more CoH-related, since CoV is a different (thought obviously connected) dev team. But that's odd, I hadn't heard that. Who said it and what makes it impractical?

[Savok]

No winged epic AT? Link me!

[bean19]

No winged epic AT? Link me!

Yeah. . . I keep my ear pretty close to the CoH world and this is news to me too.

[Heretic Machine]

Dunno... one of my guild mates told me about it. Said it was in one of the dev diaries.

[bean19]

Dunno... one of my guild mates told me about it. Said it was in one of the dev diaries.

Yeah, I hate when I quote an unreliable source and can't back a rumor up. Sucks when you're called out as a hopeless, ignorant gossip.

[Heretic Machine]

Yeah, I hate when I quote an unreliable source and can't back a rumor up. Sucks when you're called out as a hopeless, ignorant gossip.

...Ya, cause I don't want to look through a year's worth of dev diaries, that makes it gossip. Go do some research for yourself.

[Bushido]

I dont even know what the hell you guys are talking about! WInged AT? I played COH for a while and I gotta say the grind and lack of cool customization....not including 5mins at character creation..leaves very little to enjoy. Not much game there at all really.

[bean19]

I dont even know what the hell you guys are talking about! WInged AT? I played COH for a while and I gotta say the grind and lack of cool customization....not including 5mins at character creation..leaves very little to enjoy. Not much game there at all really.


When was the last time you looked at it Bushido? It is really well supported with free Issue updates. I'd synopsise it for you, but there really is a crap-ton added.

You can look at the additions here (http://www.cityofheroes.com/features_update.html). Use the drop down menu at the top to look at the older Issues. They are about to come out with the 5th free expansion.

Then again, if you don't care for it, that's cool. I don't want to set myself up as a CoH fanboy because I definitely have my problems with the game (I just like more stuff than I dislike).

[PantherModern]

I'm in!

Downloading Now!

[Savok]

...Ya, cause I don't want to look through a year's worth of dev diaries, that makes it gossip. Go do some research for yourself.
Well I did, even though I had far better things to do then check your information.

Devs never said shit, it was a post by guy who heard Statesman speak at Origins, he was then corrected (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Board=general&Number=3201411&Forum=f13&Words=wings&Searchpage=0&Limit=25&Main=3179040&Search=true&where=bodysub&Name=&daterange=1&newerval=1&newertype=y&olderval=&oldertype=&bodyprev=#Post3201411). Basically, no wings outside of the epic AT, it's long been suggested that we should get energy wings (think End of Evangelion) among other wing like things, basically that isn't going to happen. A pity, but these aren't capes, each set of wings would move very differently from the next.

Your SG mate is full of shit, to be expected really.

[Moatman]

I'm pretty excited about city of villains, but also with it coming right on the heels of issue 5(at least on test) I'm also a bit frustrated. The dev team has been pretty good, they've made a couple mistakes here and there, but mostly have tried to communicate well with the players and try to adjust things if enough people complained, that's a serious issue with most mmo dev teams.

Recently, I've begun to lose faith in the dev team, they've pulled a Mythic(mythic said their expansion trials of atlantis would have no impact on rvr, cryptic said they would not nerf powers in pve to balance pvp) The latest update nerfs about 75% of the characters in the game, maybe more. And these aren't minor nerfs in most cases, they are serious, game-changing nerfs that will cause all of these people to play quite a bit differently.

I can see 2 main reasons for this, expanding game content so people don't fly through it so quickly and also to balance the game for City of Villains, since they've seen with the arena that pvp isn't quite balanced for some classes. You want to nerf everyone, you really should do that within the first couple months of your game(unless you are saga of ryzom...) so people don't have a chance to get used to the status quo before you rip the rug from under their collective feet.

I love the game, really enjoy the combat when I'm in a group, and the world has a ton of flavor and detail. I'm damned excited about City of Villains(and damned jealous of everyone who got into the beta before me, been active since pre-release beta of coh, so hopefully soon...) I do feel the game needs some work here and there, and I hope that this issue 5 stuff is just a one-time issue, that they'll finally stop trying to do an across-the-board balancing act with their eyes closed, but it's still a darn spiffy game.

[Savok]

PvP isn't the issue, tanks (even some scrappers) herding half the damn mission map is. Cotrollers being able to hold that herd for an indefinate period is also a problem. The PvP issues are a side effect of the real problem, the game realies way too much on defence rather then offence, they are now fixing that.

[bapenguin]

Hmmm....to install....to not install.....I do miss playing. Do we still have an Evil Avatar supergroup?

[Kefkataran]

Ya, cause I don't want to look through a year's worth of dev diaries, that makes it gossip. Go do some research for yourself.

When you can't back up something you've heard and you've only heard it through other people, yes, that does make it gossip and hearsay. Since you bitched about it, burden of proof is on you. :)

Hmmm....to install....to not install.....I do miss playing. Do we still have an Evil Avatar supergroup?

Lots of new stuff, as others have said. I say it's worth giving it another shot to prepare for CoV. :) Meet me on Guardian!

[Heretic Machine]

When you can't back up something you've heard and you've only heard it through other people, yes, that does make it gossip and hearsay. Since you bitched about it, burden of proof is on you.

I don't even think I have access to the dev diaries, are they part of the message boards? Because I couldn't find them anywhere on the site, and since the forums are appearently part of your subscription, I no longer have access.

EDIT: Oh, and get this! My sub is paid up until the 24th, I can still get in game, but no the forums! Oh no, not the forums:

Your account has been banned or locked: Game account is set to deactivate

Please use your back button to return to the previous page.

[Savok]

And yet I've never actually logged into the forums to post. Clean out of your cookies, your computer is trying to log into a locked account.

[Cha-Ka]

I don't even think I have access to the dev diaries, are they part of the message boards? Because I couldn't find them anywhere on the site, and since the forums are appearently part of your subscription, I no longer have access.

Your account has been banned or locked: Game account is set to deactivate

Please use your back button to return to the previous page.

Wierd. I check the CoH forums all the time without logging in, so I'm unsure what area you're being restricted from. Are you checking the Dev Digest (http://boards.cityofheroes.com/showflat.php?Cat=&Number=312062&page=0&view=collapsed&sb=5&o=&fpart=1#312062) or some other Dev Diaries that I've never encountered?

[Kefkataran]

I don't even think I have access to the dev diaries, are they part of the message boards? Because I couldn't find them anywhere on the site, and since the forums are appearently part of your subscription, I no longer have access.

Yeah, I've never logged into the forums to post too. You can still browse them without logging in, or I've always been able to.

That said, I have no idea what these dev diaries you refer to are. Never seen them on the forums or the site. I'd definitely be interested in reading them if anyone has any idea though.

[Heretic Machine]

There was a link in the post above you Kefka... As for the whole blocking thing, I simply assumed that if they wouldn't let me in logged in, and they surely wouldn't let me in without logging in. You'd think they'd just revoke my posting priveledges.

[jpublic]

I officially hate you all. I'm green with envy.

Damnit, *I* was in the CoH beta (given, I was like the second last phase, but still). I've been paying my dues for 16 months or so.

Nothing.

What really butters my toast is that I'm so soured on CoH with those insane I5 changes I was hoping to get into CoV Beta sooner rather than later to keep me interested.

Meh. Back to trying to finish M&M7 Light Path.

[Kefkataran]

I was in CoH beta for about a week. But don't worry, Public, you'll more than likely get in in later rounds. Not like it's super-great right now with the really restricted playtimes anyways.

Oooh, you meant the Dev Digest, Perigon. I guess I haven't kept updated on that lately, but I used to read it daily. I'll dig around and see if I can confirm anything.

[A Lusty Alien]

I got my City of Villains Beta invite yesterday.

<achoo> <sniffle> <hack> <achoo> <cough>

Oh dear. I may be coming down with something. I don't feel at all well. Maybe I should stay home and rest.

[Kefkataran]

Heh. I just FINALLY got the program working all right today, but again missed the testing time. I should make it tomorrow night though, thankfully. Stalker, here I come.