First of all, is this just a beta?

Secondly, well, the rest of my questions depend on whether this is a beta.

anyone?

Well, no... and yes.... and... well, no. But yes.

It is definately still under development. But people are paying for it. But it's cheap! But it's not beta. Because we pay for it.

Okay. So were I to pay for it, I would get the regular version, which is what I assume I am playing as the demo now, and would have access to the various betas?

Also, when is the game going to be "official?" That is, when will this game hit the stores, and hopefully garner a mass following?

And $10 isn't exactly what I'd call cheap for an undeveloped half-beta.

triple post, sorry.

Would there be any bonus to buying the retail version, or should I just use the free download and set up an account?

It's gone 'official' once already, and it's being reworked for a second release, date still pending.

Trial account users are able to access the various beta versions as well - downloads available on the 'news' page, although in order to access the test server, your account needs to have existed for a while; they don't update the account information on the test server regularily.

For a fully-playable, fun, multiplayer interactive game, $10 is cheap. It only gets better from here, but that doesn't mean that here is a bad place to be.

EDIT: The retail version comes with one month free. The only real 'bonuses' are a game system map that is included in the box, and the non-renewing one-month subscription (no credit-card required) which is handy if you want to give the game as a gift.

Of course, if you can find the boxed game for less than $10, you've saved yourself some money.

(please use the edit button to add on to your post rather than creating another post, and have patience on the forums when waiting for a reply)

Thanks. I'm probably gonna look for the retail version, but meh. Anyway, thanks for the help.

One more, is there only one server?

Yes, there is only one server, not counting the test server. No multiple realms nonsense.

The multiple realms non-sense served a purpose. Those servers were based in their respective area's of the country, with did help rather a lot to cut down on lag issues.

That's true. Thankfully, I'm rather close to the servers. :)

Where are the servers located?

Milwaukee, WI, USA.

Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA.

However, proximity doesn't seem to have a great impact. I'm in California and have minimal lag.

Edit: Damn you and your speedy abbreviating, Leber!

The current production version, 1.2.6, is not beta. We have been working on a much-improved client update (which will probably debut as 1.5.0), which will let us extend the game a lot more easily, and hopefully be more user-friendly for newbies. This has been in "beta" for a couple of months. It involved a series of major rewrites, so we had to develop it "offline" to some extent, which then required beta-testing to make sure we had all the bugs cleared up before rolling it into production.

Does that make sense? It's not a beta, but the new version, which is better.. is a beta, until it stops being a beta and becomes the final release. From then on we'll just have normal patches and releases for the forseeable future. Yay confusion!

Welcome to the game, we hope you like it :).

I saw a player yesterday say "How can you play this game... it sucks". He got some help from other players. He's now a paying customer.

What's not to love?

Teh proper question is "who's not to love", on which case there's this rather long list:

[EXPUNGED]

Yay, I'm not on jex's list! (Who's [EXPUNGED] ?) (Oh, I see, he's itani and playing right now - 3:00 PM CST March 21st 2006)

I guess I'll resucribe, if you see me online I'll be ConcernedDragon with the Serco faction.

Hello Galaxy613. I'll be LeberMac of the Itani, the one shooting at you. Oh and hello, finn - did you decide to join our crazy little war we've got going here?