gameShark interview says closed beta has already started.

[Blackheart]

this is the part I'm talking about.

Star Trek Online is currently in closed beta. There’s no word on when open beta will begin, though most likely closer to launch date, which also hasn’t been announced. It’s definitely a promising game.

Anyone know about this?

[Sullen]

I just read that, too... no email. :(

[TruthSeer]

If anyone could comment on this they'd most likely be kicked out for violating the NDA. :)

[Zepath]

LOL ... I've pointed that out twice today and no one paid attention to me.

Looks like we didn't get in.

[knightofhyrule730]

and? you are surprised by this? just because you've bought a key doesn't mean you get in first. Rekhan said that they didn't know who was getting in first, although they figured that those who bought in get pretty early. never said they were first.

[Desterion]

beta has started, but it's not for any of us peons. It's for industry insiders only for them to write reviews and rev up a massive PR campaign. But i'm getting very tired of being bounced around to a dozen different sites for a 50/50 chance of new insignificant information

[runrhino06]

this is the part I'm talking about.

Star Trek Online is currently in closed beta. There’s no word on when open beta will begin, though most likely closer to launch date, which also hasn’t been announced. It’s definitely a promising game.

Anyone know about this?

I was just about to post something about the very same thing. I don't have an email either and there's been no official announcement on the start of Closed Beta. My guess is that Gameshark has had a misunderstanding or another definition to "Closed Beta" since the poster described playing the demo version of the game. I choose the misunderstanding explanation but who knows...

[Blackheart]

I know some people that have paid for the 6 month,and life time subs that haven't gotten their e-mails yet.

[Banar]

I was just about to post something about the very same thing. I don't have an email either and there's been no official announcement on the start of Closed Beta. My guess is that Gameshark has had a misunderstanding or another definition to "Closed Beta" since the poster described playing the demo version of the game. I choose the misunderstanding explanation but who knows...

It's very possible they are mistaking Alpha testing for "Closed Beta."

[Zepath]

I was just about to post something about the very same thing. I don't have an email either and there's been no official announcement on the start of Closed Beta. My guess is that Gameshark has had a misunderstanding or another definition to "Closed Beta" since the poster described playing the demo version of the game. I choose the misunderstanding explanation but who knows...

I would imagine that Gameshark jumped the gun as well ... but then I don't remember Cryptic ever telling us that they would announce publicly that closed beta had started.

And they could just as easily deny it and move on.

So it very well could have started and we don't know ... we haven't seen a lot of the regular posters recently (specifically Tamgros) who I expect to get in.

[osena]

I know some people that have paid for the 6 month,and life time subs that haven't gotten their e-mails yet.

yea some of us

[piponolo]

She probably means the closed beta has started in limited capacity. They did say that people outside of Cryptic are playing, but I don't think massive invites for beta have gone out yet.

Beee patient.

[ransomwk]

Well, we already know of a few people who are getting in, either from the CO thing or contests etc...so who among the known soon-to-be beta testers are not posting as often as they used to? Chances are, they're not posting because they're busy playing beta.

[Zepath]

Well, we already know of a few people who are getting in, either from the CO thing or contests etc...so who among the known soon-to-be beta testers are not posting as often as they used to? Chances are, they're not posting because they're busy playing beta.

As I said, Tamgros is one I was watching ... he's completely disappeared from the forums, so I suspect he's playing. And Ol Buzzard is posting once in a while, but nowhere near his normal level, he was another I was watching.

[TruthSeer]

As I said, Tamgros is one I was watching ... he's completely disappeared from the forums, so I suspect he's playing. And Ol Buzzard is posting once in a while, but nowhere near his normal level, he was another I was watching.

Then again, they could have gotten lives. :D j/k

[Zepath]

Then again, they could have gotten lives. :D j/k

Not Tamgros, his life -is- this game.

[Borticus]

The very first phase of Closed Beta is usually Friends & Family, and typically lasts anywhere from a couple days, to a couple months.

As Zinc said in another interivew though, we are "on the doorstep" of Beta. I expect (aka speculate, heh) less than two weeks before the first round of 'public' invites go out.

[Desterion]

there have been some guys that have vanished over the last 4 days or so

[Sunborn]

Don't most MMOs start closed Beta well before they announce it, if they ever even announce closed beta? I've had a feeling it's been going on. The forums have been rather quite these past few weeks and only seems to be getting quieter. Also considering we are looking at a release date before the end of March, and they said the beta process will be about half of what CO's beta was, it makes sense that it's started, (edit) in some limited capacity anyway.

[eldarian]

If it has indeed started and it's not a misunderstanding about a late alpha insider build, does this confirm that amazons pre-order bonus is for open beta?

[ransomwk]

As I said, Tamgros is one I was watching ... he's completely disappeared from the forums, so I suspect he's playing. And Ol Buzzard is posting once in a while, but nowhere near his normal level, he was another I was watching.

So we know who's PM boxes we should start to flood with questions lol


j/k...if they really are in beta, I say leave them alone so they can focus on picking the game apart so cryptic can make it good.

[Zepath]

Don't most MMOs start closed Beta well before they announce it, if they ever even announce closed beta? I've had a feeling it's been going on. The forums have been rather quite these past few weeks and only seems to be getting quieter. Also considering we are looking at a release date before the end of March, and they said the beta process will be about half of what CO's beta was, it makes sense that it's started.

If it has indeed started and it's not a misunderstanding about a late alpha insider build, does this confirm that amazons pre-order bonus is for open beta?

It doesn't mean either. Some developers announce their beta has started, some have it built into their NDA that people can't tell anyone they are in beta.

As for those that paid for something that assured them beta access ... that was never a guarantee they would be the first into beta. It might take them a week or two to sort through everyone they are going to allow into beta, and they might be doing it in phases.

The winners this week, the CO subs the next week, the PAX people the next week, the Pre-Order people the next week ... and then they may start working on who they want from the forums ... depending on how its going and how much room they have.

[z00t]

As I told the people in my CO SG whom subbed and got keys:

"You will never be the first persons testing. Between conventions, conferences, family/friends, and media related people, there have been people playing for over 6 months now. There is alpha testing, focus tests, scheduled play tests...a lot of these more specific phases of game development have been and are currently in progress as we speak. There will always be select few whom stand out and get the opportunity to externally test before anyone else. This is standard MMO Practice. You aren't getting the shaft, and you have no been lied to by Cryptic.

Upon purchasing your subscriptions you were offered access to ST:O's closed beta. Unfortunately for the majority, most will not realize that in standard MMO practice, Closed Beta access can mean an array of things. There once was a time that "Open Beta" had different meaning, and in turn gave "Closed Beta" a different meaning. The problem is times change, and the terms are now used more as a marketing tactic to draw audiences to their game right before they launch.

I am not speaking for Cryptic, nor do I know for sure when they plan to send out emails. I would not be surprised (Though I highly doubt it, as I was very early-stage CO tester when there was less than a couple of hundred of us, and I'm sure they will follow suit with STO) if subs didn't see their emails to Christmas. This is very unlikely; as I have already said my doubt is high that it will come to that, but even if so, Cryptic will have maintained their end of the bargain if they chose to do it that way.


Now if you want my personal opinion...I don't see us very far off from emails, but if they don't show up there really shouldn't be 50 threads with 50 pages of each saying WHERES MY BETA WHY DID I NOT GET AN EMAIL AND MY FRIEND DID. I am deathly sure that if you friend gets in and you don't, and you both subbed, that its not because he subbed that he got in before you. It's just how the selections are made.

[mufti09]

As I said, Tamgros is one I was watching ... he's completely disappeared from the forums, so I suspect he's playing. And Ol Buzzard is posting once in a while, but nowhere near his normal level, he was another I was watching.

Yeah, if he and PF stop posting for more than a couple of days, I think that will be a good sign.

[Zepath]

I wouldn't at ALL be surprised if they don't let the CO Keys and Pre-Orders keys in a week or more before they start the random forums selections. It would just be good business practice to thank those people and make them feel special.

All I can say is ... if you get the email, read it and the NDA, in full, first before you say anything to anyone about receiving it. It will most likely tell you to keep your mouth shut.

[jblancato]

this is the part I'm talking about.

Star Trek Online is currently in closed beta. There’s no word on when open beta will begin, though most likely closer to launch date, which also hasn’t been announced. It’s definitely a promising game.

Anyone know about this?

That's inaccurate. :)

[osena]

That's inaccurate. :)

it was in the game stark interview you did indeed give us link a too

[skrasis]

I think a lot of people need to understand that the term "beta" is thrown around pretty loosely. In the traditional sense of the word STO is not in beta. It's a fine line between alpha and beta especially in MMO world because the game is ever evolving even after launch. To settle things if it is not stated they are in beta by a developer on these boards then I consider it still in development.

[Zepath]

I will take Rehkan at his word ... he could of just not said anything.

There's no need for him to lie to us.

[TSS]

From my experience if closed beta has started, you would hear about it first on the forums. Not a previw on some relatively obsecure game website.

generally the not telling your in rule is broken within the first day. Somebody opens up their trap. But usually, they announce if before anybody has a chance to.

first there's alpha for the dev team, then it's alpha for family and friends, then it's closed beta for the press, closed beta for longtime members/forum people/fan site owners, then it's closed beta for pre-orders (any kind), then it's closed beta for forum people, then it's open beta for everybody who gets a key.

this all goes in waves, some are small, some are big. fastest i ever got into any beta was the 3rd wave of closed beta for city of heroes in late 2003. i had been around on the original forums since januairy 2001.

Also there's the game's populairity to consider. Getting a WoW beta key was like winning the state lottery, while i've seen some games almost paying people to beta test.

all in all, if closed beta is going i'd wager less then 200 people are in it. less then 100 seems unlikely, but possible given crypic really only use a few outlets for their info, most of it is copied.

[eldarian]

That's inaccurate. :)

you guys really live up to the "cryptic" name :)

I know you are hesitant to confirm or deny anything as we tend to overreact to just about everything (this thread being the latest) but could you please confirm which beta the amazon bonus is refering to?

[FINALCUT]

Yes ,I would like to know this also, I bought the Amazon preorder last night. I was gonna buy it from them anyway becuse I have my discount with the Amazon Chase card and all. Then they throw in a Borg bridge officer and a Beta key to seal the deal so it is all good. I would really like to know where I will fit in the Beta lineup with this purchase becuase I can take some time off work to Beta,but I need to know a few days in advance.Thanks.

[Kriss]

...and you lot are surprised about not being told about this why?

Par for the course guys....par for the course.

[Draconianknight]

That's inaccurate. :)

I would tend to believe Rekhan guys, the game may be undergoing play testing by an group outside of Cryptic. Which is a normal phase as I understand it, typicaly I believe these players are payed to test the game, which would be my dream job! But this "phase" is by no means the "beta" that you and I are looking forward to.:cool:

[bobalobabingbong]

That's inaccurate. :)

Good to know. I was worried :P

Yes ,I would like to know this also, I bought the Amazon preorder last night. I was gonna buy it from them anyway becuse I have my discount with the Amazon Chase card and all. Then they throw in a Borg bridge officer and a Beta key to seal the deal so it is all good. I would really like to know where I will fit in the Beta lineup with this purchase becuase I can take some time off work to Beta,but I need to know a few days in advance.Thanks.

I would hope they give us at least a week notice, so I can get the time off as well.

[emery0]

Yes ,I would like to know this also, I bought the Amazon preorder last night. I was gonna buy it from them anyway becuse I have my discount with the Amazon Chase card and all. Then they throw in a Borg bridge officer and a Beta key to seal the deal so it is all good. I would really like to know where I will fit in the Beta lineup with this purchase becuase I can take some time off work to Beta,but I need to know a few days in advance.Thanks.

That would be for open beta which will most likely be 1-2 weeks before it goes live and they will hype it. :cool:

[Gfischer]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

[Archangelwoghd]

Thank you Wishstone and Rekhan, you guys are great!

:D

[TheRealNaveed]

Indeed, thanks for the clarification!

[sgtinvincible]

Thanks beloved reps!

[Arokh72]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

Actually I prefer my cookies hot out of the oven.

[Tamgros]

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

First off, you are depriving yourself of some amazing goey cookie goodness!!

I believe I've told you my cookie searing strategy... You should have been taking notes!

As I said, Tamgros is one I was watching ...

Not Tamgros, his life -is- this game.

Second off, HEY! LoL, this really made me laugh actually. You made me picture myself with some sort of STO neural implant...

But STO isn't my life, taking part in the STO community is just one intriguing facet of my life :) I was on so much before because some research I'm doing required about 10 hours of data entry a day... which takes place on a computer... with internet. I guy needs a break!

Now, classes have started, and I have a job on top of it. I leave my place at 7 AM and get back around 9 PM ever night... But, it's really a good time, can't complain, it just leaves a lot less for STO stuff.

Luckily my grad program found some extra money for me, so I won't have to work as much. I hope they release which day(s) will be open for beta testing soon so I know which days to ask off. I kind of doubt I'll ever stop posting here anyway. I only need 6 hours of sleep a night, I need something to do :)

[bobalobabingbong]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

Thanks WishStone!

[Zandtar]

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

Can I have the beaters?

[BaakCha]

Can I have the beaters?

u has to fights me for them!

[Pyrceval]

So...if I were to send you some christmas cookies, you would give us our STO?


mmmmmMMMmm....cookies....


MMmmmmMMMmmmmMMMMm...STO! :)

[qoona]

if you let cookies stay too long in oven they are tough and burned <_<

[booster42]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

I really hope that's not a "Cryptic" reference (pardon the pun) for the time closed beta (as we know it) will begin. He could have just said "cookies". Why did it have to be "Christmas cookies", as both come out of the oven when they are ready, cooled, etc? :cool:

I know, I see clues and conspiracies everywhere...I've been re-watching my "Lost" DVDs too much lately. :D

[onesoul1982]

I rrreeally think people read too much into this sort of thing.

Just,sit back and enjoy the ride :P

[vegetta]

I think they mean like a friends and family closed beta has started....
If people on the forums were invited I'm sure we would see a ton of posts here saying that invites are going out..

[The.Grand.Nagus]

There is one sure fire way to know exactly when the closed beta starts: the Devs/Mods will post a sticky/warning on the main forums telling anyone who is testing not to post any information from beta, and directing them to the beta forums. Until you see such a post, the closed beta has not started.

[radbytrade]

It's bittersweet, on the one hand Beta going on now would mean "Woohoo! Game's coming soon(ish)!" On the other, it would have meant I didn't get accepted as a beta tester. :P

I'm so excited for STO (beta and otherwise) I've already canceled any OTHER MMO subscriptions I may have had. I am refraining from naming them so as to not give them power.

[Loekii]

Yes ,I would like to know this also, I bought the Amazon preorder last night. I was gonna buy it from them anyway becuse I have my discount with the Amazon Chase card and all. Then they throw in a Borg bridge officer and a Beta key to seal the deal so it is all good. I would really like to know where I will fit in the Beta lineup with this purchase becuase I can take some time off work to Beta,but I need to know a few days in advance.Thanks.

Well two things to consider here.

1 - Unless the Amazon deal says CLOSED beta, it probably only means OPEN beta, which is usually only a month before release.

2 - IIRC, people in the CO closed beta, said testing was only 2 nights a week, for a few hours. In SWG closed beta, their sessions were likewise just a few hours once a week, with the servers being down most of the week. It usually isnt until Open Betas that the server is up for a full day(s).

[lordpenquin]

I was in earth eternal's closed beta. they were only up for a few hours three nights a week. Then they expanded it to all weekend long. Then the servers were up all the time just before open beta. As the client becomes more stable and the server loads balance out more access is provided. I don't suspect closed beta to be untii mid november.

[BaakCha]

2 - IIRC, people in the CO closed beta, said testing was only 2 nights a week, for a few hours. In SWG closed beta, their sessions were likewise just a few hours once a week, with the servers being down most of the week. It usually isnt until Open Betas that the server is up for a full day(s).

CO was the only beta I was in that was set up like that. During any other beta the server was persistent, only going down for maintenance, updates and crashes.

[NeoWolf]

When Cryptic say in interviews people outside of thier offices are already testing the game, and then some Cryptic folks state on twitter that they have just finished a three day press coverage period.. and SUDDENLY new interviews start appearing regarding thier experiences "with! the game.

Then I am assuming that that is what Cryptic are indeed referring to.

They said those with the CO deal thats offered access to the STO Closed Beta, would be some of the first into the beta test, and as I am one, and I am not currently in the STO beta test..that that is ebcause it has indeed not begun as far as NON press are concerned.

[NeoWolf06]

oh this is becoming a joke now lol
we've waited long enough.

[wolfing]

You should send the invites soon, give us time to tell if the chocolate chips are overpowered or if the description on the macadamia nuts don't correspond with the flavor! And we would tell you that the brown cookies (Klingons) are undercooked!

[Zepath]

Beta is far from a joke, and the only thing they should be doing at this point is making sure the game is solidly to a point where starting beta is beneficial to the quality of the game.

We've waited years for this ... another month, or even two, to make the best game they can, is trivial.

[willriker09]

That's inaccurate. :)

Makes sense, maybe she doesn't know the difference between alpha and closed beta :confused:

[Caladwen]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D


Christmas Cookies??? there better be milk with those!

[dzieckox]

some have it built into their NDA that people can't tell anyone they are in beta.




i don't know what think ...

some people wrote that According to NDA people are in beta but they can't tell about that - some people wrote that beta hasn't yet started.

I'm worry because IF Beta Started I didn't yet get invite for Cryptic Beta but I have to be in beta because I took 6 month fee CO ( it include BETA for sure ) SO it mean that IF beta Started and people and Dev dond't want tell us that started I never know it ...

Simple I will request GHive money back for CO if I don't get invite when Beta start .

I really Hope that it hasn't yet started but it start soon beacsuse if Beta already started CRYPTIC Did already VERY VERY VERY VERY VERY Big mistake and is not a good start

[Zepath]

You guys need to stop worrying about it. Rekhan said closed beta hasn't started. So it hasn't started.

We've always known there was a friends and family beta going on ... every game does that (thank God). And there may have even been some people in the forums that have been moved into the friends and family beta.

We can expect the press to get a sneak peek ... and we can expect that it will take some time to phase in those that are going to get into closed beta.

But as I've said before ... the majority of us are not going to get into closed beta unless you bought the CO subscription or won a key somehow ... you need to prepare yourselves for that.

[The.Grand.Nagus]

You guys need to stop worrying about it.

If by "worrying" you mean "talking", then you are "worrying" about them "worrying" by replying about it :o

[Elta_and_Zletha]

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

I don't understand what the hell this means.

Are you saying that Beta (cookies) has come out of development (oven) and you're waiting for it to cool off before people start getting in? :confused:

[The.Grand.Nagus]

I don't understand what the hell this means.

Are you saying that Beta (cookies) has come out of development (oven) and you're waiting for it to cool off before people start getting in? :confused:

The quote itself doesnt make sense, but I think he simply meant "its ready when its ready" :o

[vorpalmalice]

How many others signed up for the beta before cryptic took over? I was at PAX gaming convention and got to play the game a little. It is freaking awesome, they let me sign up for the beta there and said most likely I would get in.

Anyway, do you think that if you signed up for it before cryptic took it over, that cryptic kept the information of people who had signed on? If so I would wonder if they would have priority.

[The.Grand.Nagus]

How many others signed up for the beta before cryptic took over? I was at PAX gaming convention and got to play the game a little. It is freaking awesome, they let me sign up for the beta there and said most likely I would get in.

Anyway, do you think that if you signed up for it before cryptic took it over, that cryptic kept the information of people who had signed on? If so I would wonder if they would have priority.

I think your confused. There was never a workable game being demoed from Perpetual(the company who was making STO before Cryptic). If you played a demo of this game, then it was from Cryptic.

[Aelendris]

CO was the only beta I was in that was set up like that. During any other beta the server was persistent, only going down for maintenance, updates and crashes.

^ Agree with this one :) I was in the Wrath of the Lich King beta, servers were up almost all the time

[vorpalmalice]

I think your confused. There was never a workable game being demoed from Perpetual(the company who was making STO before Cryptic). If you played a demo of this game, then it was from Cryptic.

Oh no no, I know that. I first found out about STO when I went to a site called betawatchers. I clicked on the link to sign up for the beta that would have been made by Perpetual at that time assuming they didn't bomb. Then Cryptic took over. I just wonder if Cryptic took the info for the people who originally signed up when Perpetual was in charge.

[The.Grand.Nagus]

^ Agree with this one :) I was in the Wrath of the Lich King beta, servers were up almost all the time

And yet, CO was made by Cryptic, and the Lich King wasnt. So the practices of the CO beta are more likely to reflect on what STO's will be like than what other MMO's betas were.

[TFO_KillSwitch]

Oh no no, I know that. I first found out about STO when I went to a site called betawatchers. I clicked on the link to sign up for the beta that would have been made by Perpetual at that time assuming they didn't bomb. Then Cryptic took over. I just wonder if Cryptic took the info for the people who originally signed up when Perpetual was in charge.

probly not . you may want to refill out a new app

[BaakCha]

And yet, CO was made by Cryptic, and the Lich King wasnt. So the practices of the CO beta are more likely to reflect on what STO's will be like than what other MMO's betas were.

If this is the case, the beta testers will never get a chance to scour for bugs. The immensity of this game cannot be tested efficiently four hours a day, two days a week; there's just too much to the game for that.

[CaptainRAVE]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

Thanks for keeping us updated :). You guys are great!

[Aethilgar]

We announced when CO went into Closed Beta. I do not see why we should change this when STO is headed into Closed Beta.

Sorry, guys, but as with christmas cookies: They come out of the oven when they are ready and cooled off a bit. :D

Alas, we smell the cookies baking. And we wants them. We're hungry for the cookies, my precious...

(and I'd be more than happy to juggle a hot cookie and nurse a burnt tongue to get a taste, so to speak!)

[Elta_and_Zletha]

As the new online community rep replacing Awen, I can tell you guys that beta is sooner than you think ;)
The proverbial foot of beta is in the door.

[Pyrceval]

As the new online community rep replacing Awen, I can tell you guys that beta is sooner than you think ;)

Nah, come one...tow the Cryptic line properly...


It will be here "soon" (TM)(R)

[Zoberraz]

Wasn't that StormShade?

Elta & Zletha, I'm rather fond of you... but I'm rather skeptical of that claim and even if it's a joke, it's one I'm afraid might be a bad one - wasn't it bad to pose as Cryptic employees?

You might not want to jest about that, even flippantly.

[Tribbler]

Many advertising avenues repeat or say what another one has said.

[Swordopolis]

As the new online community rep

Wait, what.....