It's official kiddies, the Non Disclosure Agreement has been lifted, as announced on the official site today by Mythic Studio Head Mark Jacobs:
Folks, The NDA portion our North American Beta Testing Agreement has been lifted. Feel free to talk amongst yourselves
With the release date for Warhammer right around the corner, I am sure all the non beta testers planning on getting the game are anxious to know what the testers have thought thus far! So if you are a tester, start talking! I myself have beta tested the game and, for better or for worse, here are my thoughts and opinions on the game in beta:
The experience of WAR can be summed up in two words: WOW Clone. Everything, from look and feel (graphically a cross between WOW and Mythic's previous hit, Dark Age of Camelot) right down to the gold exclaimation points above quest givers' heads screams World of Warcraft. Like most MMOs nowadays, it feels unready for its upcoming release and unrefined, with many of the key gameplay elements originally promoted not making the debut. However, if you began playing MMORPGs post WOW this will be nothing new to you as it seems every developer since WOW has rushed the release of the game in order to get it out on the market (Vanguard, Age of Conan come to mind). I would think they are releasing in September as opposed to the holiday season (which would allow for more refinement time) in order to better contend with Blizzard's latest installment, Wrath of the Lich King. But don't fret if you are both a WOW player and a prospective WAR player, as you will have no problem capping out in level and getting bored with WAR before WoTLK is even released.
Sorry if it sounds harsh, but its just the truth. As a diehard player of MMORPGs, I cannot help to become disheartened with each subsequent release of yet another unrefined, unfinished game that ignored all the promises it originally made. Mythic would've been better off sticking with it's original gameplay and context of Dark Age of Camelot rather than putting out something they felt the market wanted in the form of a game very similar to the biggest MMORPG to date. I am sure it will have niche appeal for those looking for massive scale pvp, however I just wouldn't count on that feature being fully functional on release. Now don't get me wrong, I like WOW and I even play it, but when it comes to new releases I expect something to be vastly different, something original to play and enjoy. As they say, nothing is better than the original, so I do not see how these developers seek to pull WOW players away with more of the same they are already paying to play.
Release is Sept. 18th
However, if you are still looking to play the game at release,be sure to pre-order, as you get the following benefits:
- Open beta admission: Pre-order customers can experience the glory of battle and the thrill of WAR by participating in the open beta test.
- Head Start program: Players can begin their adventures in the Age of Reckoning before the games official launch.
- Bonus in-game items: Players can equip their characters with two bonus in-game items by pre-ordering from select retail partners.
- Universal Fighting System Battle Deck: The Emperor Karl Franz and Tcharzanek, dread Champion of Tzeentch, go head-to-head in this exclusive collectible card game from Fantasy Flight Games. (Available in a limited supply from select retailers.)
Participating pre-order partners include Amazon.com, Best Buy, Circuit City, Direct2Drive, EAStore.com, EB Canada, EB Games, Frys, Futureshop, GameCrazy, GameStop, GoGamer.com, and Walmart.com. (Pre-order offers will vary by retailer.) The European pre-order program is scheduled to begin in late August.
Are you a beta tester? How do you feel?
