Hello everyone,
My name is Jeremy Dunham (PSN ID: zpr_DunhamSmash), Zipper Interactive’s new Senior Community Manager, and I wanted to share some news regarding our latest MAG beta program that we’re kicking off right now. Starting today, we’ve officially moved into our next Beta phase – Beta 4. We’ve made more than 6,000 changes from our last phase to Beta 4, not the least of which include an increased level cap from 40 to 60, a retooled skill tree and experience curve, and an improved ranking system – all based on the feedback from our diligent testing crew.
We’ve also introduced two new major features to Beta 4. We’ve implemented the oft-asked about “proximity chat” feature that allows you to hear enemies communicating as you get closer, or trash talk them yourself as you punch ‘em full of lead. We’ve also introduced Shadow War bonuses. Depending on which PMCs are leading in the number of contracts owned, the entire PMC will earn different bonuses based on gametype. Leading in Sabotage adds experience points, leading in Acquisition increases leadership aura distance, and leading in Domination decreases tactical strike cooldown time.
Other new additions to Beta 4 include improvements to character hit detection and reactions, skill tuning that sees many of the existing skills amped up, refined Leadership abilities and experience points, and numerous other changes that our eagle-eyed testers have spotted over the last cycle.
Beta 4 is exclusive to GameStop pre-orders, and we’ve moved away from our limited pre-scheduled play times and are keeping the servers open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. With the change in versions and the last phase now at its end, many of the testers who spent their evenings with us over these last weeks are moving on to other pastures. With that in mind, it’s with great respect that on behalf of the entire MAG team, I want to say thanks to each and every one of you who participated for your hard work, patience, and dedication. Just remember, though, you don’t have to say goodbye just yet. If you still want to participate in our current beta that ends on November 20, all you have to do is pre-order MAG at your local GameStop in the USA and EB Games in Canada to get you the exclusive code you need.
Finally, I wanted to take a moment to let you know that over at MAG.com, we’ve launched our developer blog, which will provide an ongoing behind-the-scenes look at MAG over the next few months before the game launches on January 26, 2010.
Thanks again and I’ll see you on the battlefield.
look i have callaed ebgames up here in canada and guess what they dont have it not that there sold out they never got it and im starting to get annoyed and i want to play this game more then anything the day i found out about the beta i tried to preorder and nothing i did not even get my money back i got store credit i dont know if this is you zipper screwing us out of this or its ebgames thats doing it but either fix the post or fix the problem if anyone who knows how to get the beta up here i would love your help but the only ebgames close to me is 30 min drive nexted is and hour and its not worth for the chance they wont have it either please help me.
You were looking for another person with the problem of codes from GameStop. Add one more to the list. This is the reply I’ve been getting: “We don’t have any. We only get a few so call back later, we’re getting merchandise this afternoon”. That’s everytime I ask for it.
P.S. I’m tired of calling back later.
Well looks like you guys will have another pre-order from me. The only thing I didn’t like about the previous beta was the limited schedule. The hours I work does not allow me to play not even for 20 minutes before I either need to sleep or go to work.
Thank god it’s going to be a 24/7 beta, now I can actually play and test. :D
Will people who participated in the beta from september 17th – november 3rd still be able to participate with the current beta installed in our systems or is there a update or a whole new BETA is only for people who pre ordered cause I spent 20 somethin dollars on qore to play with the beta and im hoping qore subscribers can still get in.
Gonna get MW2 at midnight. Mag hasn’t really impressive me yet maybe you should send me a beta.
I pre-ordered a couple of days ago at an EBgames here in Canada and when I asked about beta codes they didn’t know anything about it.
ok i have had the beta since the qore beta released and i used my preorder code deleted the old beta download/installed the new one now if i go to play it says i need to sign out update system and game is this the error you referred to and am i the only on?
Haha… I didn’t know Jeremy Dunham moved to Zipper Interactive after IGN. Congrats on your new position!
Also, I was a poor soul who didn’t get his PS3 Slim quick enough to subscribe to Qore and get into the beta. I know that I can still pre-order the game from Gamestop to get a beta key, but buying the game in order to try it out and see if I like it seems a little backwards. Are there any other ways to get into the beta? At the very least, will there be some sort of demo around the launch of the game?
BEYOND!
OK so I just got off the phone after a 30 minute call with ebgames canada support and she said that the pre order beta is only for Gamestop US customers only!!!! she told me that if you know that canadians are supposed to be able to get access to the beta that you might have a code..
so not to get upset at you Jeremy, but i did get mad at them for telling me to clear up THEIR communication with you.
so please if there is any way that Canadians can get in on the beta it would be much appreciated if I could be contacted as I was in the beta since day one and have noticed the huge improvements and would like to see if indeed the earlier problems have been addresses.
sorry to vent, but have been trying to get clear info on this from EBgames/Gamestop for the last month…I wasn’t too worried as I still had access to the beta up till last week.
You can add another Canadian that is getting the runaround from EB Games Canada. Pre-Ordered on Oct 13th, and still no Beta Code. I really want to get in on the beta.
Pretty messed up you let the people that made the game what it is now out in the cold and then to top it off, you open it up 24/7…..that is not a good thanks.
wow alot of whining. to me thats a good thing for Zipper it shows people liked the game SO much that they Dont want to be left out.
I have been in the beta since 1.2 and can say that with the improvements made in 1.3 1.4 should be a worthy of at least 40$ itself.
I have pre-ordered 3 copies of this game already, but wont be pqart of 1.4 since I gave my pre-order keys to friends and clan mates since I was already in the beta.
but I have no regrets and MW2 is out today. I’m looking forward to setting MW2 on my shelf on putting MAG into my ps3 in january.
The whole “no-beta-keys-for-Canadians” thing is really pissing me off.
If it had been announced as a US only beta right from the start, I wouldn’t mind. But now, on one side, you, Jeremy, tell us that we’re elligible and on the other end, EB Games stores don’t have the beta keys.
There seems to be a communication problem somewhere.
The worst part is that by the time the issue is settled, the beta will have ended.
Mind you, that’s the very same story for Battlefield: Bad Company 2’s beta.
We\’ve definitely taken note of all your comments in this thread about the Canadian EB pre-orders, and I can tell you that EB Canada and SCEA are working to resolve the issue as quickly as possible.