Metal Gear Online Beta Delayed & Extended

[Psykoboy2]

As most of us know (http://www.evilavatar.com/forums/showthread.php?t=48358) now, the MGS Online beta was scheduled to open today and run through May 5th. Konami has now delayed the start and extended the end. Here's the official word (http://www.konami.jp/mgo/us/index.html):
We would like to thank all players for their keen interest in taking part in the beta test.

However, we regret to inform you that due to extraordinary levels of traffic from all around the globe, we have been unable to run the service to the level we expected.

As a temporary measure, we will be deferring the European public beta test and start it once we stabilize our server.

We would like to apologize for all inconveniences as well as confusion caused.

We would like to add that due to the above reasons, we will be making the following changes to the schedule:

1) Start date: Planned for 04/25/2008 24:00(PDT). While the start is planned for the weekend, it may change due to unforseen circumstances.

3) Beta Test closure: This will now be on 05/11/2008 at 24:00(PDT) rather than 05/05/2008 at 24:00(PDT)

IMPORTANT: Please note that your voucher code will only be valid up until 05/05/2008, so please make sure to register them by then.I didn't edit that quote, so why it goes from "1" to "3", I have no idea.

[Gorvi]

As of this morning I still couldn't even download the update for the beta. Konami needs to fix this mess.

[Norse]

So Konami can't even do ordered lists right? Awesome

[Kamalot]

So Konami can't even do ordered lists right? Awesome

This bodes well...

One... two... five!
Three, sir.
Three! (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOrgLj9lOwk)

[Zanzibar]

It's a Beta, folks. At least they're talking about it.

"Hey, we're glad you've signed up for our Beta to help us find bugs and test our server setup. In the course of the Beta, we found bugs and found out we need to fix our server setup!! Please be patient while we fix the problems you helped us find."

I love the sense of entitlement that Beta testers get.

[Gorvi]

It's a Beta, folks. At least they're talking about it.

"Hey, we're glad you've signed up for our Beta to help us find bugs and test our server setup. In the course of the Beta, we found bugs and found out we need to fix our server setup!! Please be patient while we fix the problems you helped us find."

I love the sense of entitlement that Beta testers get.
To be fair, most of people's problems with the MGO beta don't involve this delay. It's the mess with the Konami IDs (which shouldn't even be there) and the fact that downloading the patch that's been there since day 1 is a chore.

[oldjadedgamer]

To be fair, most of people's problems with the MGO beta don't involve this delay. It's the mess with the Konami IDs (which shouldn't even be there) and the fact that downloading the patch that's been there since day 1 is a chore.

The blame also falls on Sony's shoulders for allowing this crap in the first place. They should have put their foot down and required the PSN log in for ALL online games as to not confuse consumers. This has been nothing short of a clusterfuck. I have not read a single thread on any gaming forum where people are happy about this.

This shows the huge chink in the armor of the online falling on the developer to do what they please. Plus, has a Japanese company ever got online gaming right this gen?

[Gorvi]

The blame also falls on Sony's shoulders for allowing this crap in the first place. They should have put their foot down and required the PSN log in for ALL online games as to not confuse consumers. This has been nothing short of a clusterfuck. I have not read a single thread on any gaming forum where people are happy about this.

This shows the huge chink in the armor of the online falling on the developer to do what they please.
Very true. It's a huge pain in the ass, that's for sure.
Plus, has a Japanese company ever got online gaming right this gen?
Wasn't Lost Planet's multiplayer pretty well done? Other than the annoying falling down animation, that is.

[oldjadedgamer]

Wasn't Lost Planet's multiplayer pretty well done? Other than the annoying falling down animation, that is.

I played a lot of Lost Planet online last year and the falling down thing was more of a game problem then an online problem. The online was decent, probably the best online from a Japanese game I've seen so far and that's not saying a lot. Basically, you just had 4 game types so you searched for one of those and it showed the country from where the people where. Very basic, but it worked.

[Norse]

Very true. It's a huge pain in the ass, that's for sure.

Wasn't Lost Planet's multiplayer pretty well done? Other than the annoying falling down animation, that is.

Capcom has been good at adapting to the western markets. Judging by Konami's online efforts in Pro Evolution Soccer, Metal Gear Online will never work like it should.

[oldjadedgamer]

Capcom has been good at adapting to the western markets. Judging by Konami's online efforts in Pro Evolution Soccer, Metal Gear Online will never work like it should.

Not only that, they shut down the Metal Gear Solid 3 online not even a year after the game came out.

[Kamalot]

Not only that, they shut down the Metal Gear Solid 3 online not even a year after the game came out.

This bodes well too...

[Gorvi]

Not only that, they shut down the Metal Gear Solid 3 online not even a year after the game came out.
That's a bit of a different situation, as the online portion was only in the rerelease of the game after the vast majority of people had already purchased and played the game.

[Norse]

This time they shut it down before it even started.

[Zanzibar]

To be fair, most of people's problems with the MGO beta don't involve this delay. It's the mess with the Konami IDs (which shouldn't even be there) and the fact that downloading the patch that's been there since day 1 is a chore.

That sounds an awful lot like the Halo 3 MP Beta issue with the Crackdown CD. In the end, they kept the servers up for several days beyond the scheduled cutoff time to make up for it.

Okay, that's a fair point, if the beta itself isn't the problem, it does indeed suck that it's the signup process that's the culprit.

[51|RandoM]

"our server"

Surely that being singular has to be a translation error or a typo.

[Ix Quantum xI]

I don't know why they had so much trouble, the online in MGS: Portable Ops and Subsistence was fine. I think they tried to do the Konami ID thing because they wanted feedback on the game and wanted current email addresses.

Also does that mean it starts 4/25 or 4/26?

[KidCactus]

"our server"

Surely that being singular has to be a translation error or a typo.

Or it would explain a lot. :D

[asimonk]

"our server"

Surely that being singular has to be a translation error or a typo.

At least its a dedicated server, hey?

[Zanzibar]

"our server"

Surely that being singular has to be a translation error or a typo.

...and don't call me 'Shirley'.

[Gorvi]

...and don't call me 'Shirley'.
Shit! How did I miss that?! :p

Anyway, I'm curious if they'll address the issues that have been happening with this in their "Metal Gear Mondays" post on the blog today.

[KidCactus]

Anyway, I'm curious if they'll address the issues that have been happening with this in their "Metal Gear Mondays" post on the blog today.
I'd say they HAVE to do that, they can't just sweep it under the rug.

[Purple Santa]

What happens if you delete the download? Can i use the same code to redeem? Or is there a way to undelete something you deleted? In my desperation (ok stupidity) to figure out why my PS3 suddenly wouldn't read a disc (it happened after installing) I deleted the download, any suggestions?

[KidCactus]

any suggestions?
Go to you download list and see if you can download it from there.

Edit: Yes, start up the store and click View Downloads at the top, and you should see the beta in your list.

[SubversiveJustin]

Dumb question- how would I go about getting into the MGO beta?

[Psykoboy2]

I don't think EvAv lets me post that much text in one reply.

[cp#]

1. New start date
2. ???
3. New end date (profit?!)

[Purple Santa]

Dumb question- how would I go about getting into the MGO beta?

All you have to do is pre-order MGS 4. Just head into your local game store of your choice...there should be plenty of copies of Metal Gear Saga Vol. 2. The beta code is in there. Now downloading and getting the ID is another story...but you can come back later for that festival of fun...

Edit: Thank you Kid Cactus...

[Chainblast]

I'll agree that Konami's decision to handle all MGO online operations in-house has thus far not proven a good idea and should have never been done in the first place. On the other hand Sony has positioned the PS3/PSN as an open platform, and so if Konami wants to do it this way it's up to them. And while this may demonstrate a downside of such a system, there are many other positives in existence, such as UT3 mods. It's not a simple or good idea to hold a double standard here, either the system is closed or open.

The blame and onus is completely on Konami, and targeting other parties is really kind of foolishly silly. And you never really know what stipulations exist to keep MGS4 PS3 exclusive (at least for the foreseeable future). Konami, and only Konami, dropped the ball on this one.