How do you feel about the lack of early-access plus the cost of the preorder kit?

I'm curious as how you guys feel when it comes how Nightfall is handling its launch. I'm under the impression after reading the stickies about the preorder and the launch is that you won't be able to play until you add the retail key to your account. Previously, you could use your preorder to play for the one day that the early access event was going on before having to input your retail key. Hell, I beat Factions during the early access event and posted it first here to GWguru which was before I even had my own retail key... Now, there is no early access event and I can't find any information or a clear answer to how they're going to handle the launch.

Basically, I find it curious that the previous pre-order kits (Bonus kits, whatever you want to call them) were all either free with the preorder or came seperately for $1 (I bought my Factions bonus kit off Amazon since it didn't come with my preorder) - I suppose an additional slot is nice but I've much rather have the ability to play right away instead of waiting for my retail key to come in the mail. I guess I could always go pick it up from a local store but that's a problem of having the time to do so.

All that being said, what do you guys think about the whole way they're launching Nightfall? Also, could someone clarify how they're handling the launch? I mean if it's possible to play at least the first day with a bonus key I think I wouldn't have any problems with it at all.

I myself pre-ordered the collectors and will take the 30minute drive to go get it on october 27th, hell I didnt even play during the preview event...It doesnt matter to me if I get to play it one day early...as long as that day comes around (the 27th). Ill still get to play and enjoy the game just as much...

I liked the special Tengu masks, but I can live without a special event I suppose. I think one of the reasons there is no early access is that some retailers ship the preorder box along with the full game so you didn't have your preorder key until the event was over.

I don't have any problem with the launch plans. My impression is you can play once you add the retail key; don't think the bonus pack gives a day or two of play. But it has been confirmed that Nightfall will be promptly added to the ingame store.

On the note of past traditions coming to an end; Gaile said in her latest chat on sunday that Nightfall characters will likely have divine aura (if you have Prophecies CE) even though they weren't present in the WPE.

regardless of whether you already own the software ...

http://www.guildwars.com/support/faq/nightfall-faq.php

I don't care, it's not like I'm missing out on something.
The bonus pack contains a free extra slot, wich is better than early access IMO.

Exactly... free slot?! Hey, I can create my own parties with that.

I think that once we start playing the game we'll forget about not having an early launch or other trivialities anyhow.

an extra day or two doesn't really matter to me. I'll be playing the Nightfall for the next couple months so an extra day or two means very little.

As for the cost of the pre-release pack, $5 for a character slot worth $10 is a great deal, especially since I was going to buy one anyways.

i don´t care about early access, what i found unpleasant is fact, that GWN will be in shelves at Monday (i am gonna to run for my CE ) in my country... so i will find possibility to be able to play Nightfall using preorder key during weekend very useful :P

There's isn't an early launch event because Halloween will be taking place the next week.

Charging for the PBP made me decide to purchase the PBP, and not preorder the game from any retail outlet. I will purchase the game the moment it's available in the Guild Wars Online Store, I've never even used the CDs and although I liked the booklets that came with the games I can just download the PDF of Nightfall's and I wont be missing anything :P

If they want to charge for something that Anet gave them free, they can go without my purchasing dollars for the actual game. Either they can make a profit off of selling the game to me, or they can make a profit off selling me the PBP, but not both. (Of course some stores offer the PBP free to people who preorder, even the store where I got my PBP, however I had already made up my mind before I got the PBP and I stuck with/stand by that decision.)

As for the one day early access, I enjoyed it but I can say that I won't die without it, I'll get my access at 12:01PDT the moment the servers go live if I can purchase it from the online store then.

Glad there isn't any 'early access' - don't need more crap to carry along and decide all my characters day/week 1.
Considering the mess that was Factions availability and the CE a joke, nice to see it wont clog the boards up this time.

Also I'm a lot less into GW given to the fact I found Factions to be an obstacle more than a game.
I enjoyed some enemy AI improvements, but there was a stupid amount of patrol overlap and pop-up.
Anyways without beating that horse to death I'm a lot less on the edge of my seat than I used to be.

So frankly the pre-order kit was nice as I've already devoted a slot to muling given well stated storage woes, and I'll get the game when it comes in via mail-order, and won't have to worry if I catch the 'safari mask of mojo' quest.

It allowed me to get the best deal IMO (39.99 and free s&h) while I got the pre-order for $5. And yeah if I get some BS (backordered, sideordered, want some fries with that while you wait? :b) I'm not gritting my teeth.

Well, we got the pre-order for free so thats great value for money

Still would have bought it if it was $5 for me but my wife doesnt need the extra slot so we'd have only gotten one then.

I don't mind at all about starting the same day as everyone else, even though I got the prerelease pack. I'm more than happy about getting an extra slot than get in-game 1 day early

I also got the prerelease pack free since I preordered... don't know if it was a mistake or mixup or what but that's how it worked at the GameStop here.

Slot > Event.
Enough said.

A pre-order event is a oneshot. A slot is permanent. Which pays of more in the long run? The slot will. Plus it is not rigidly bound to a date like the pre order event used to be.
You can enjoy it 3 days after release or 20 days or a year. Doesn't matter. Whereas the Tengu Day, well... release day was allready too late.

I hadn't decided whether to purchase the prerelease, but when I went into the mall store recently where I reserved my Nightfall copy, they just handed me one for free.... free $10 slot. I'm happy.

I understand and read that before, but my question is will you be able to play if you haven't received your >>>retail<<< CD key when the game goes live.

As for the extra slot, it's nice even if you can't activate it yet. I don't really care about the events but I'd rather have the ability to play a few days in case the retail box gets lost in the mail.

NO

gameplay will be available upon the addition of a valid Nightfall account key and not one minute before.

ALSO THIS RETAIL PRERELEASE PACKAGE IS NOT A PREORDER

There's only really one thing that makes me mad about the way nightfall will be released and that's that the retail version will be released on the same day the servers go live.
I already have the bonus packs etc and I like the extra slot but.....

I don't see any reason why they can't drum up more excitement by putting the game on the shelves a week early - put a big sticker on the box saying "buy it now and be among the first for servers to go live on the 27th!"

The reason is because I've ordered online and it'll take a few days to get here. If the retail was available early then everyone would have it the day of release!


Everything is controlled from the server side, it streams any updates etc - so it's no biggee to Anet.

Same here. People complained about early access being unfair; they were heard. I liked the PBP for $5 - I'd buy another if I could...

The reason they are morethan likely not doing it is alot of Retailers (like Gamestop and EBgames) wait and send the bonus packs when the game comes out, so alot of people end up missing the events and thats bad PR...