Having an expansion for an MMO be in early access seems super weird.
I understand the communication that it’s still not as polished as it will be once the community beats it up a little, but the nature of an MMO is to kind of pressure a certain type of player to instantly race through that content. Once it’s available, it “counts”, right? They’re not rolling back outcomes or anything? It’s live?
I think there’s a couple reasons they do it this way.
One is that the pre-order bonus is still available despite the game effectively being out. I imagine they spare themselves some unwanted difficulty or dissatisfied responses from people who otherwise would have missed it.
The other is this very thread. Server issues are common on an expansion pack release. This gives them a convenient excuse to put in the apology announcement. It’s a small thing but who knows, maybe it has some impact.
It’s definitely a silly twisting of words (and their double key system for the pre-order and full purchase only sillier).
Having an expansion for an MMO be in early access seems super weird.
I understand the communication that it’s still not as polished as it will be once the community beats it up a little, but the nature of an MMO is to kind of pressure a certain type of player to instantly race through that content. Once it’s available, it “counts”, right? They’re not rolling back outcomes or anything? It’s live?
it’s not ‘early access’ in that way, it’s just that if you preorder you get access 3 or 4 days early
So if you buy it you get it before if you buy it?
That system is an even dumber one (and not unique to this game).
you also get exp-boosting earrings that work until the max level of the previous expansion, and a unique minion (little pet to show off)
My point is that the “early access preorder” really just means the sale date is 3 days earlier than you’re claiming or whatever.
I think there’s a couple reasons they do it this way.
One is that the pre-order bonus is still available despite the game effectively being out. I imagine they spare themselves some unwanted difficulty or dissatisfied responses from people who otherwise would have missed it.
The other is this very thread. Server issues are common on an expansion pack release. This gives them a convenient excuse to put in the apology announcement. It’s a small thing but who knows, maybe it has some impact.
It’s definitely a silly twisting of words (and their double key system for the pre-order and full purchase only sillier).