I'm posting to address the discussion and speculation that has been going on in this thread (and this one as well).
To recap, the problem was that people believed that some folks had gotten third year birthday presents/minipets early. Reports of a third year minipet being seen began on 25 April 2008. People were also concerned when they saw more third year birthday minipets appearing on 26 April 2008, when according to the web site, the birthday presents for year three were not due to arrive until 28 April 2008, three years after the game was launched.
Early access for the game for those who had pre-ordered began on 27 April 2005. Those players who had characters created on this date should have received their birthday minis on 27 April 2008. However, the game's code treats one year as 365 days long. 2008 is a leap year. Since it is a leap year, characters created on 27 April 2005 turned 'three years old' on 26 April 2008, which is why people received their birthday minipets 'early.'
What about the appearance of minipets on 25 April 2008? As far as folks here are aware, the only people who had access to the game before 26 April 2005 are developers. If a developer created their character on 26 April 2005, and keeping in mind the leap year issue, this means that their birthday minipet would be available in their inventory on April 25 2008, which would account for a developer's third year minipet being seen on April 25. There is no developer command to create birthday presents or birthday pets. The only birthday pets in the game come from presents automatically generated on the anniversary of a character's creation date.
I hope this clarifies matters.
'Early' Release of Third Year Birthday Presents
Regina Buenaobra
Stormlord Alex
First!
And thanks for clearing the matter up
ly xxx
And thanks for clearing the matter up
ly xxx
IattackU
This clears up a lot, I was kind of confused about the whole thing, but I get it now. Thanks. =)
I MP I
I knew it! There is a logical explanation for everything! Thx Regina.
-Sonata-
Thank you, Regina. It clarifies it for me and I never even had issue with the mismatching of the dates to begin with. Thought the whole thing was just silly to begin with.
However, I still have wagers that the conspiracy theories will still run wild.
However, I still have wagers that the conspiracy theories will still run wild.
slowerpoke
bit redundant, Andrew already took the bullet
but gotta luv the spin
gief us gw2 news as compensation
but gotta luv the spin
gief us gw2 news as compensation
cosyfiep
nice to know that even though things were reset---that reset doesnt seem to remember leap years and such......
doesnt matter to me since my 3rd year bday isnt until the summer, and by then all those minis will be much cheaper
doesnt matter to me since my 3rd year bday isnt until the summer, and by then all those minis will be much cheaper
arcanemacabre
Blu
Thanks for clearing things up.
dunky_g
tbh it was pretty obvious
but was quite funny watching the people spazzing
but was quite funny watching the people spazzing
El Presidente
Quote:
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Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
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Thx, Regina...
Creeping Carl
Yes, a few of us had already worked this out in those threads, but it's always easy for angry mobs to ignore reason.
Dr Strangelove
I liked it more when we were angrily yelling at people for no apparent reason. Anyone have anything else to whip ourselves into a frenzy with?
Tyla
Nice one.
Thanks for clearing it up.
Thanks for clearing it up.
VitisVinifera
so, regina, since you admit that only devs had pets on the 25th, and since their non-dev guildmates were selling these pets on the 25th, are you ok with devs giving their pets as such before the announced 3rd year pet date so that their guildies can command huge cash dividends?
Ekelon
Thanks Regina for giving us some simple logic even sheep could've reasoned!
StormDragonZ
It still doesn't say the one thing I want answered:
Did ANet know about the leap year, or were they too busy with GW2 to notice?
Did ANet know about the leap year, or were they too busy with GW2 to notice?
pamelf
I have absolutely no issue with people getting mini's early...
however...who's brilliant idea was it to program the time period as the number of days, and not the dates given that EVERY four years is a leap year? It's not like this year was just a freak of nature... :S Lol, it's like the mess up with the Y2k issues, just because a programmer was too lazy to program 4 numbers instead of 2.
however...who's brilliant idea was it to program the time period as the number of days, and not the dates given that EVERY four years is a leap year? It's not like this year was just a freak of nature... :S Lol, it's like the mess up with the Y2k issues, just because a programmer was too lazy to program 4 numbers instead of 2.
Savio
This may be just a guess, but I don't think making sure the minipet code checks for leap days is a high priority task.
Mammoth
This issue was cleared up a little to.. perfectly, this must be beginner's luck for our dear Regina 
I mean answering it on the first try! Impressive!
Ah well, it's all fine and good now... Good job on that one Regina... Good job indeed!
I mean answering it on the first try! Impressive!Ah well, it's all fine and good now... Good job on that one Regina... Good job indeed!
Creeping Carl
Quote:
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Originally Posted by flubber
Ha. it's easy for someone to say they worked it out, after the fact.
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So yes, it's easy for people to say they had it worked out, especially since they sort of did. Heck, you worked your way up to it yourself as well at some point.
arcanemacabre
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Creeping Carl
So yes, it's easy for people to say they had it worked out, especially since they sort of did. Heck, you worked your way up to it yourself as well at some point.
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Kashrlyyk
Quote:
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Originally Posted by arcanemacabre
Exactly, yet Regina still posted that incorrect info on her talk page. I wouldn't care in the slightest if she posted this 3 days ago instead of the spin that was actually posted. Hell, a simple "I don't know, let me find out" would have been much better.
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pumpkin pie
I don't care if the mini pets birthday present came out one day earlier. I just want a uber cool one this time instead of the "necrid horseman" of the third year birthday present :P~
arcanemacabre
Quote:
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Originally Posted by Kashrlyyk
The sad part is, that maybe that was the information she got, when she tried to find out.
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Free Runner
Quote:
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Originally Posted by VitisVinifera
so, regina, since you admit that only devs had pets on the 25th, and since their non-dev guildmates were selling these pets on the 25th, are you ok with devs giving their pets as such before the announced 3rd year pet date so that their guildies can command huge cash dividends?
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Motoko Chika
I saw the new minis early sat. morning like..4-6am( I believe so).. eastern time. Gaile even showed up in Kamadan 0.0 she took out her frog, hehe. Said she came to see the new Minis. No 3rd year for me for a long time..in the mean time need to keep farming for my own Buny
Longasc
It is really good to see that the new Community Manager can set things straight in a few lines in just one posting. Much better than overly sentimental frogtalk lacking clear information, often being ambiguous or misleading.
I pwnd U
Thanks for clearing it up Regina, even if it is a day or two late. Better late then never I guess.
Better late then never I guess.
beanerman_99
Can someone explain the screenshots in the Closed thread of the mini Margonite and the mini Devonna? Are these real? If so, who has them and how?
dunky_g
im guessing faked.
maby not..
.. i dont care but would be intresting to know
maby not..
.. i dont care but would be intresting to know
MarlinBackna
The only people that were willing to buy for that much were: A) People filthy rich that they have literally nothing else to spend it on or B) A person who buys gold through RMT or a duper. They are just dumbasses, really, because the mini's worth is only going to go down. The people that care about this are the same jealous people that eye the filthy rich and their toys and bitch about how much they are poor. BTW, I am not rich by any means, but I know that complaining about my economic status won't make me richer or happier.
garethporlest18
Well I don't care if anyone got them early. Hell they could have given them out back in March, because that means I'd have mine now. I don't mind. I have a hard time spending 1.5k on a lockpick, so you won't find me buying a mini even if it's one I want. Therefore I couldn't care less! As long as I get my pet I'll be happy.
Now you can continue this useless bickering.
Now you can continue this useless bickering.
cthulhu reborn
Well the explanation is quite clear. It is however unfortunate that it was needed. Why would anybody care?
Let's be honest, in a game world (like any other) where people are trying to scam you (remember the armbraces) I think any player would like to know that when they fork over the huge amounts of cash for the early mini's that it's legit.
It's important that Anet clarifies ahead of time what the deal is so people don't have to worry about scams quite as much. A half truth is more dangerous than a lie at times.
Again the explanation is good and clear but it would've been wise to indicate that some people might get it early for said reasons. Not a great deal of effort to avoid some scam fears.
Let's be honest, in a game world (like any other) where people are trying to scam you (remember the armbraces) I think any player would like to know that when they fork over the huge amounts of cash for the early mini's that it's legit.
It's important that Anet clarifies ahead of time what the deal is so people don't have to worry about scams quite as much. A half truth is more dangerous than a lie at times.
Again the explanation is good and clear but it would've been wise to indicate that some people might get it early for said reasons. Not a great deal of effort to avoid some scam fears.
Inde
Thank you to anyone who actually managed to stay on topic. Closed for flaming, bickering, insults, conspiracies, etc.