Cataclysm Friends & Family Alpha

[gavion]

My two cents, as will be shared in our podcast later this week...

With everything else Blizzard has going on, and with the problems they have had in the past with the F/F Alpha (leaked clients, info, etc), and with how fast official information is coming out... I would bet this is first round beta. Adjusted slightly, so it's just Friends, Family, and maybe some exceptional players or what not chosen specifically by employees. But still, a beta build of the game. All signs point to it being a beta.

That's not to say it's coming out sooner, but...

May 4th - F/F Beta Test begins
July 6 - "Second Phase" Polished Beta Begins
July 6 - Aug 3rd: Opt-Ins Allowed in Waves
August 3rd - "Open" (As open as they make it, possibly just the opt-ins)

Friday Oct 21'st - Opening event coinciding with Blizzcon, possibly when Deathwings makes his emergency

Tuesday October 26th - CATACLYSM

[Deleted]

Cataclysm Friends & Family Alpha
The Cataclysm Friends & Family Alpha just started. The banner below was taken from the official site where people eligible for the alpha can already copy their character. Let's roll.

Important: The Friends & Family Alpha is restricted to employee's friends and family, the only way to enter this phase of the alpha is to have a Blizzard employee request a key for you personally. Any mail you receive about a potential Cataclysm beta is a scam.

What's up with Garfield all the time?

[lagmoose]

Woo about time. These leaks better be coming soon.

<3 Dragon Cave. My girlfriend got me hooked on that. lol

[Buckwald]

So close Boub! SO CLOSE!

[Panoramixe]

What's up with Garfield all the time?

He's clearly conquering the forums.

[klaps_05]

comic - story of my life

[stalkerzero]

So who wants to bet Kungen gets a key/disc and GC's sister and mother don't?

Exciting news. Not half as exiting as how possibly close SC2 is.

[Deleted]

Honestly? I still think that May 6th (Activision-Blizzard press conference, with Mike Morhaime) the Beta will be announced. They are just opening the character copy for the press that signed back those weeks ago.

[Baobot]

Woop!

[Revengica]

Woooo! About time...I really want a Beta Key! NAO

[Deleted]

My two cents, as will be shared in our podcast later this week...

With everything else Blizzard has going on, and with the problems they have had in the past with the F/F Alpha (leaked clients, info, etc), and with how fast official information is coming out... I would bet this is first round beta. Adjusted slightly, so it's just Friends, Family, and maybe some exceptional players or what not chosen specifically by employees. But still, a beta build of the game. All signs point to it being a beta.

That's not to say it's coming out sooner, but...

May 4th - F/F Beta Test begins
July 6 - "Second Phase" Polished Beta Begins
July 6 - Aug 3rd: Opt-Ins Allowed in Waves
August 3rd - "Open" (As open as they make it, possibly just the opt-ins)

Friday Oct 21'st - Opening event coinciding with Blizzcon, possibly when Deathwings makes his emergency

Tuesday October 26th - CATACLYSM

The cata world event would start a month before the release as stated by blizzard already.

[Shrouded]

Tauror's guess seems pretty good to me. But at least the EU press invites haven't been sent out -yet- at least.

[Metian]

Honestly? I still think that May 6th (Activision-Blizzard press conference, with Mike Morhaime) the Beta will be announced. They are just opening the character copy for the press that signed back those weeks ago.

Highly possible.

[Seitan]

Bit worried... logged in just for the hell of it. Would Blizz consider that hacking and ban?

[chir0n]

Roughly the same time of the year as WotLK F&F alpha.
Does that mean we will see beta in July and Novemver release?

[Shrouded]

Don't worry Seitan, you won't get banned. :P

[Metian]

Roughly the same time of the year as WotLK F&F alpha.
Does that mean we will see beta in July and Novemver release?

No.

[Deleted]

Bit worried... logged in just for the hell of it. Would Blizz consider that hacking and ban?

Don't worry, you just logged on your Battle.net page.

[Rhiz]

My two cents, as will be shared in our podcast later this week...

With everything else Blizzard has going on, and with the problems they have had in the past with the F/F Alpha (leaked clients, info, etc), and with how fast official information is coming out... I would bet this is first round beta. Adjusted slightly, so it's just Friends, Family, and maybe some exceptional players or what not chosen specifically by employees. But still, a beta build of the game. All signs point to it being a beta.

That's not to say it's coming out sooner, but...

May 4th - F/F Beta Test begins
July 6 - "Second Phase" Polished Beta Begins
July 6 - Aug 3rd: Opt-Ins Allowed in Waves
August 3rd - "Open" (As open as they make it, possibly just the opt-ins)

Friday Oct 21'st - Opening event coinciding with Blizzcon, possibly when Deathwings makes his emergency

Tuesday October 26th - CATACLYSM

I like the thinking behind this, but I'm fairly confident that they'll wait and save an announcement as to the official release date FOR BlizzCon, so we probably won't see it for a few months after that..

[Raith]

We need the torrent again, if they downloader is available that is.