Warhammer Online Goes Open Beta September 7 for Pre-order Customers

August 18, 2008 7:46 AM

In advance of the game's September 18 launch, publisher Electronic Arts has announced that those who pre-order Warhammer Online: Age of Reckoning (PC) from unspecified "select retail participants" will gain access to an open beta on September 7.

EA and developer Mythic Entertainment had previously promised that North American pre-orderers of the Collector's Edition would be granted early open beta access, with participating retailers including Best Buy, GameStop, GameCrazy, Amazon.com, GoGamer.com and EAStore.com.

That pre-order initiative has now been extended to include the standard version of the MMO, with closed beta players receiving open beta access on September 7 as well.

"For three years we have been saying that 'WAR is coming' and the team has been working hard to deliver on this promise," explained Mythic general manager Mark Jacobs. "In just a few weeks, we are going to throw open our doors and invite more players into the game than ever before. They will have a chance to delve into the open beta and see for themselves that WAR has arrived and it is glorious!"

Chris Faylor

Chris Faylor was previously a games journalist creating content at Shacknews.

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Pneum0

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August 18, 2008 7:50 AM

Good timing for this. Let's see if it makes a permanent dent in WoW subscriptions.
- code-e255
  
   reply
  August 18, 2008 7:53 AM
  
  If the world PvP is great and the game isn't buggy, I think it could.
  
  I hope I'll get a beta invite, and if not, then I'm looking forward to some reports on the game.
  - paranos
    
     reply
    August 18, 2008 8:03 AM
    
    game sux I bet.. it's gonna be like AoC only sligtly better :)
    - VictoriouSecret
      
       reply
      August 18, 2008 8:06 AM
      
      Don't slam it until you try it. Pessimist.
  - yAak
    
     reply
    August 18, 2008 8:20 AM
    
    Yeah, I think strong world PvP would pull, and sustain subscriptions from WoW because that's something WoW definitely lacks. However, I'm excited about Lake Wintergrasp.
- deathofrats
  
   reply
  August 18, 2008 8:25 AM
  
  It won't. They should have released it after the next WoW expansion pack. Now people will try it for a few months and then switch back to WoW when it comes out.
  - jlavrenz
    
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    August 18, 2008 9:14 AM
    
    This is my current plan, but I will give WAR a fair chance to convert me. If it is a good game, I will find out from playing it for a few months before WotLK comes out and if I'm having fun with WAR then I'll keep playing it and not pick up the WoW expansion right away. Honestly, coming out before the WoW expansion is probably the way to go, because if I was in the middle of leveling up a new guy in WoW and going through tons of new content I'd have a harder time dedicating lots of time into a new game to give it a fair chance.
    - [7]kami
      
       reply
      August 18, 2008 9:28 AM
      
      Sounds fair. After the AoC burn i'm takin the other route: WoW expansion first, then maybe a new MMO. But only if i burn out on the Wrath of the Lich King.
- [deleted] 1737240303
  
   reply
  August 18, 2008 8:46 AM
  
  [deleted]
  - VictoriouSecret
    
     reply
    August 18, 2008 9:00 AM
    
    I love how nipples replies all over this topic as the WoW fanboi.
    
    Don't trash a game until you have tried it. You really that worried about your precious e-sport?
    - Derringer
      
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      August 18, 2008 9:07 AM
      
      The other side of the fence is that the Lich King alpha is horrible. It feels just like Burning Crusade with mounted combat and vehicles. It's an expansion and not meant to change the game in crazy ways, but it's just too much of a "more of the same" deal. Hit level 80 then rely on boring raid content or play in unbalanced arenas where class make up is way more important than skill of any type.
      
      I am biased against WoW as I got sick of it months ago, and I'm biased towards Warhammer because I love the Warhammer universe, but I'm really enjoying it so far.
    - [deleted] 1737240303
      
       reply
      August 18, 2008 9:13 AM
      
      [deleted]
      - paranos
        
         reply
        August 18, 2008 11:30 AM
        
        I trust this guy for some reason, if I were any of fanboys, I'd say "wait for reviews and general people's recommendations before plunging in and possibly wasting your money on nothing". If people listened to that advice before AoC arrived, it would've saved many fanboy tear dropping on the floor.
        
        Derringer
        
         reply
        August 18, 2008 5:18 PM
        
        My problem with AoC was that levelling 1-40 was so much fun, I loved it. Then the lack of content killed it for me as I dislike mob grinding. If I'm going to have grind mobs, at least give me a kill quest for it.
- Derringer
  
   reply
  August 18, 2008 9:02 AM
  
  I doubt it will have any serious impact on WoW. I just hope they get enough people to keep it running, and judging by the hype it has a pretty good chance.
- Reeves
  
   reply
  August 18, 2008 5:49 PM
  
  I love how everyone is so sure of themselves. Play the game first.