Early Access & Retail Access - Guild Wars Forums

Wind · Apr 25, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46

Now, this kind of confused me. On the GW main site, it says that Early access starts on the beginning of the 27th and ends at the end of the 28th, and it also says that retail begins at the start of the 28th. Does this mean that Retail and Early access are going to be two different "worlds"? It doesn't make sense for Early access to end 24 hours AFTER retail starts, shouldn't it be a direct transition from early access to retail?

Nascent · Apr 25, 2005, 08:55 PM // 20:55

Nah they're just going to overlap.

Early Access Starts, then 24 hours later Retail opens, then 24 hours later early access ends. Aka, you NEED a retail key by the end of the grace period to keep playing.

Lifire · Apr 25, 2005, 08:57 PM // 20:57

As far as I know, preorders get 48 hours of early access, which means retail only won't be playing during early access (hence the name). It hits the shelves on the 28th but you cannot play until 12:01 AM on the 29th if you only have retail. There are lots of posts on this.

Wind · Apr 25, 2005, 08:57 PM // 20:57

Quote:

Originally Posted by Nascent

Nah they're just going to overlap.

Early Access Starts, then 24 hours later Retail opens, then 24 hours later early access ends. Aka, you NEED a retail key by the end of the grace period to keep playing.

Ah, that makes sense. So basically it's just a free day with another one tagged on the end for people who can't pick up the game right away.

Freyas · Apr 25, 2005, 08:58 PM // 20:58

If you pre-ordered Guildwars(have a pre-order key linked to your account: friends keys won't work), you will get to play GW starting 12:01 AM on the 27th. You can play during the Early Access period(until 11:59 PM on the 28th) using only your pre-order key. In order to access the game after that point, you'll need to enter the retail key that you get with your copy of the game. Basically, the Early Access period is a bonus day for those who pre-ordered the game: when the 28th rolls around, you'll be playing in the same world with everyone else who bought the game- you'll just have a 1-day head start. The Early Access period ends since it's based only on pre-order keys, and you'll need to buy the game in order to keep playing.

edit- Wow, 3 replies while I was typing up this post.

Atum · Apr 25, 2005, 08:58 PM // 20:58

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wind

Now, this kind of confused me. On the GW main site, it says that Early access starts on the beginning of the 27th and ends at the end of the 28th, and it also says that retail begins at the start of the 28th. Does this mean that Retail and Early access are going to be two different "worlds"? It doesn't make sense for Early access to end 24 hours AFTER retail starts, shouldn't it be a direct transition from early access to retail?

It does make sense, it gives those people whose pre-order is delivered late, a little time to carry on playing until it arrives. Everyone will be in the same world, whether they are playing with a pre-order key or a retail key.

Wind · Apr 25, 2005, 08:59 PM // 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifire

It hits the shelves on the 28th but you cannot play until 12:01 AM on the 29th if you only have retail..

You sure about that?

Quote:

The servers will open for retail access keys at 12:01 am PDT (8:01 am GMT) on Thursday, April 28th.

Bgnome · Apr 25, 2005, 08:59 PM // 20:59

http://www.guildwars.com/community/f...-friday42.html

Quote:

What are the hours of the Early Access period? When do the servers go live for release? Will I be able to play the retail version early if I get my copy before a given start time?

Early Access will begin at 12:01 am PDT on Wednesday, April 27th which is 8:01 am GMT. It will end at 11:59 pm PDT on Thursday, April 28th which is 7:59 am GMT on April 29th The servers will open for retail access keys at 12:01 am PDT (8:01 am GMT) on Thursday, April 28th. While you may have a copy before that time, that is the official "go" time, and that is when all retail keys will be activated in order for you to play.

please refer to the appropriate sticky for further information.

Weezer_Blue · Apr 25, 2005, 08:59 PM // 20:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lifire

As far as I know, preorders get 48 hours of early access, which means retail only won't be playing during early access (hence the name). It hits the shelves on the 28th but you cannot play until 12:01 AM on the 29th if you only have retail. There are lots of posts on this.

nope... wrong.

They overlap. Perhaps you didn't notice that the early access period will not be whiped.

On the 27th, only early access can play. On the 28th, both can play, on the 29th, only people with the game can play.

Apr 25, 2005, 08:46 PM // 20:46	#1
Wind Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Apr 2005 Profession: W/Mo	Early Access & Retail Access Now, this kind of confused me. On the GW main site, it says that Early access starts on the beginning of the 27th and ends at the end of the 28th, and it also says that retail begins at the start of the 28th. Does this mean that Retail and Early access are going to be two different "worlds"? It doesn't make sense for Early access to end 24 hours AFTER retail starts, shouldn't it be a direct transition from early access to retail?

Apr 25, 2005, 08:58 PM // 20:58	#5
Freyas Champion of the Absurd Join Date: Jan 2005 Guild: Spirits of War Profession: Mo/W	If you pre-ordered Guildwars(have a pre-order key linked to your account: friends keys won't work), you will get to play GW starting 12:01 AM on the 27th. You can play during the Early Access period(until 11:59 PM on the 28th) using only your pre-order key. In order to access the game after that point, you'll need to enter the retail key that you get with your copy of the game. Basically, the Early Access period is a bonus day for those who pre-ordered the game: when the 28th rolls around, you'll be playing in the same world with everyone else who bought the game- you'll just have a 1-day head start. The Early Access period ends since it's based only on pre-order keys, and you'll need to buy the game in order to keep playing. edit- Wow, 3 replies while I was typing up this post. __________________ Freyas- Spirits of War ~The best lack all conviction, while the worst are full of passionate intensity

Apr 25, 2005, 08:55 PM // 20:55	#2
Nascent Frost Gate Guardian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Calgary, Alberta, Canada Guild: The Shi Mai	Nah they're just going to overlap. Early Access Starts, then 24 hours later Retail opens, then 24 hours later early access ends. Aka, you NEED a retail key by the end of the grace period to keep playing.

Apr 25, 2005, 08:57 PM // 20:57	#3
Lifire Academy Page Join Date: Apr 2005	As far as I know, preorders get 48 hours of early access, which means retail only won't be playing during early access (hence the name). It hits the shelves on the 28th but you cannot play until 12:01 AM on the 29th if you only have retail. There are lots of posts on this.