Actual "Launch" Time?

Some have been asking about midnight releases with various retailers, while others, like me, are planning to go pick up our copies as early as the local store opens. (Thank goodness for spring break - one of the perks of being a teacher.)

However, that begs a question:

When will the Defiance servers be ready for playing the retail game? If I pick up my copy at 10 a.m. Eastern, will I be able to play as soon as I get home, or will I be waiting for some arbitrary time during the day when the servers will be ready? Will midnight release customers (assuming anywhere in the U.S. is doing such a release) be able to play shortly thereafter? What's the actual "launch" time as far as servers are concerned?

Yeah this would be a good question to ask Trion or this could backfire easily since people are already canceling their pre-orders over a beta. I can imagine angry posts and threads on this forum for not being able to log X amount of hours before this game releases and threatening to sell or return their copies.

So far, all of Trion's releases (Rift & Rift: Storm Legion) launched at 10am PDT on the launch date. I would expect the same here.

So those picking the game up when Gamestop stores open in the Eastern time zone are basically screwed for the first three hours we own the game. Might as well get some errands done, I suppose.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

So those picking the game up when Gamestop stores open in the Eastern time zone are basically screwed for the first three hours we own the game. Might as well get some errands done, I suppose.

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The way I see it is... there really isn't any progression in the game as far as gear, etc. goes. And there aren't any server first achievements or anything like that. Tbh, I plan on staying up late the night before, waking up, going to the store for snacks/drinks, and hitting Gamestop up at 10am (I'm Central Timze Zone). By the time I get all my "prep" done, I'll be crossing my fingers for a smooth launch :)

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Originally Posted by PsychoHistory

Yeah this would be a good question to ask Trion or this could backfire easily since people are already canceling their pre-orders over a beta. I can imagine angry posts and threads on this forum for not being able to log X amount of hours before this game releases and threatening to sell or return their copies.

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This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper

This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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The worst part of that, is cancelling a pre-order based on playing an unfinished version of the final product. They didn't even wait to experience the entirety of the game and TV show tie in. The TV show itself is going to make the game that much more epic!

my Question is will the beta client update to the retail launch client or will there be a different client to install meaning i should just Un-install the beta ready for launch ?

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Originally Posted by ACReaper

my Question is will the beta client update to the retail launch client or will there be a different client to install meaning i should just Un-install the beta ready for launch ?

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Almost positive that the launch client will be a different launcher.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

So those picking the game up when Gamestop stores open in the Eastern time zone are basically screwed for the first three hours we own the game.

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Yeah, you're totally screwed for those three hours out of owning the game for life.

People really don't understand what "totally screwed" really means.

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Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper

This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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Problems? In a beta? Inconceivable!

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Originally Posted by Jafo

People really don't understand what "totally screwed" really means.

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yeah, I should've said basically screwed.

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Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper

This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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Everytime I've been in a beta I've seen the same thing.

-Game Will be dead in X amount of months/days/weeks/years
-X don't work pre-ordered canceled
-Not what I expected X in game

You really can't please everyone

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Originally Posted by ACReaper

my Question is will the beta client update to the retail launch client or will there be a different client to install meaning i should just Un-install the beta ready for launch ?

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You'll have to install the retail client. They've already stated that the Beta client will not update to release.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

So those picking the game up when Gamestop stores open in the Eastern time zone are basically screwed for the first three hours we own the game.

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When you think about it, it doesn't matter what time they open the servers, there are going to be people somewhere that can't get in right away, or have to wait until they can get their copy from the retailer.

You're not being screwed at all, you're just bummed out because you have to wait.

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Originally Posted by ironhands

Yeah, you're totally screwed for those three hours out of owning the game for life.

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Totally screwed for owning the game? No.

Screwed in the sense that it makes picking it up at first availability rather pointless? Yes.

Those particularly excited for launch day that decide to funnel that excitement into picking it up ASAP will find themselves unable to play, which is a definite downside to the launch time.

No need for sarcastic prickishness.

whether you're waiting for it from now until launch day, or pick it up on launch day and have to wait a few hours until you can play it, it makes no difference. Would you rather they didn't sell it for the few hours until the servers are up? Or would you prefer that they released it an a convenient time for you, and the west coast players won't have access for the first 3 hours because the stores aren't open.

How about everyone in Europe who'll be waiting 6-9 hours longer than you? No matter what, someone will be waiting, it hardly means they're "basically screwed"

I would expect that they would be sure to know when the first copies of their game will hit retail and make sure that the servers are up and ready at that time. By your argument, it would be fine for them to just wait until April 3 or 4 to have it ready to be played because, hey, they should not have to worry about when retail copies go on sale when determining when to have the servers ready.

If there aren't going to be servers ready at midnight on launch day in the earliest time zone in which the game is being sold, then they should not allow midnight release of the game at any retailer, which is certainly something they could do. Or, at the very least, the retailers should be informed as to when the game will be able to be played, so that they can make customers aware of that upon pickup.

Otherwise, launch day will be filled with people flooding the forum with "why the hell can't I play my game" posts.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

I would expect that they would be sure to know when the first copies of their game will hit retail and make sure that the servers are up and ready at that time. By your argument, it would be fine for them to just wait until April 3 or 4 to have it ready to be played because, hey, they should not have to worry about when retail copies go on sale when determining when to have the servers ready.

If there aren't going to be servers ready at midnight on launch day in the earliest time zone in which the game is being sold, then they should not allow midnight release of the game at any retailer, which is certainly something they could do. Or, at the very least, the retailers should be informed as to when the game will be able to be played, so that they can make customers aware of that upon pickup.

Otherwise, launch day will be filled with people flooding the forum with "why the hell can't I play my game" posts.

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You've missed the point of my statement. If they had the servers up immediately when the first copy is sold in the earliest time zone in Europe, people in the west coast would either be forced to wait until the stores open, or, Trion would have to request that Best Buy, Wal-Mart, Gamestop, and every other retailer to open their doors to sell the game when the servers go up. Trion has absolutely no say in what time of day the stores open, do you expect Trion to pay the retail staff to open the doors just to allow people to pickup their product sooner than normal?

Trion has no control over when stores open, or sell the game, other than the day it happens. A midnight release is done by the retail store itself, not the publisher, they can't force a retailer not to do it.

My argument doesn't go anywhere near suggesting that it's fine to release it days after the fact. I'm talking about hours. No matter how you work it out, someone, somewhere, will either have a retail copy that they can't play for a few hours, or, have access the servers but no physical copy. Realistically, it's probably better for everyone to have their physical copy before the servers go live if they're that hyped on playing the second the servers go up, that way, you're at home, have it installed, and are settled in and ready. Not a good idea IMO though, because everyone jumping on at the same time will create login bottlenecks.

Currently, NOBODY knows when the servers will be made available, it may very well be 8am EDT.

No matter what, someone will post "why can't i play" and "why is my progress from beta wiped".

Honestly Most people are probably canceling, not because of bugs or server issues, But bc it doesn't take an astro-physicist to conclude there is no real depth to the mindless grind and it is NOT AT ALL the game they were expecting. Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with overreacting to beta problems.. retail copy isn't going to have better weapon scaling between raritys, its not going to magically add a end game, its not going to make instances in the least bit relevant.

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Originally Posted by Zeroexit

Honestly Most people are probably canceling, not because of bugs or server issues, But bc it doesn't take an astro-physicist to conclude there is no real depth to the mindless grind and it is NOT AT ALL the game they were expecting. Maybe it doesn't have anything to do with overreacting to beta problems.. retail copy isn't going to have better weapon scaling between raritys, its not going to magically add a end game, its not going to make instances in the least bit relevant.

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Uhh, what grind? There's no grind to force you to max level to be ready for end-game content. Retail copy may not have any different scaling, but to suggest that it won't "magically add a end game" is rubbish, the beta only gives you access to a fixed area, so there's quite a lot of content that will be available at launch, not to mention what will happen post-release via DLC.

Wanna talk mindless grind? Play WoW, Everquest, etc. When you spend hours in the same spot waiting for respawns, you'll know what mindless grinding is.

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Originally Posted by ironhands

Play WoW, Everquest, etc. When you spend hours in the same spot waiting for respawns, you'll know what mindless grinding is.

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Oh the memories!

In all seriousness, this guy is right.

Plus; Isn't the beta content old (even on PC) and haven't they made some updates?
Not to mention that A LOT of the content is locked from what I heard and it'll all be unlocked at final release.

Blah blah blah... Can we get an official time? It'd be nice to know whether taking a bus as soon as I get home from work will be a waste of time.

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Originally Posted by D351

Blah blah blah... Can we get an official time? It'd be nice to know whether taking a bus as soon as I get home from work will be a waste of time.

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+1 I want to get game first thing April 2nd as soon as Gamestop opens if no midnight release.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

So those picking the game up when Gamestop stores open in the Eastern time zone are basically screwed for the first three hours we own the game. Might as well get some errands done, I suppose.

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trion is on the west coast, a small company and likely is unable or unwilling to field a 6am their time team to deal with east coasters (who btw ahve enjoyed viewing actual live telecasts LIVE for 60 years). your life will go on. there is no advantage to ego rating, no auction house to sell stuff you found first on, no reason for that first hour rush to matter.

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Originally Posted by ironhands

Uhh, what grind? There's no grind to force you to max level to be ready for end-game content. Retail copy may not have any different scaling, but to suggest that it won't "magically add a end game" is rubbish, the beta only gives you access to a fixed area, so there's quite a lot of content that will be available at launch, not to mention what will happen post-release via DLC.

Wanna talk mindless grind? Play WoW, Everquest, etc. When you spend hours in the same spot waiting for respawns, you'll know what mindless grinding is.

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not all of the madera missions are in, as evidenced by the 'levelling' guilde someone posted day one of madera. eviction notice: 3 for example is not in the beta.

so once you finished all the missions that are in the beta and you wanted to keep doing ego you worked on what pursuits you could do

however what i dont think a lot of people realize is that arkfalls are not the only random events taht give xp. there are random roadblocks and stuff. do them for quite a bit of xp and working on weaopn skills, getting drops to turn into resources for key fragments and more tier 4 boxes (which give oj/purple weapons).

people say gw2 has a grind. wow is also not a grind as your progression is clearly laid out, going this point to the next point doing quests. real grinds were the games with no quests; most korean clones, everquest, SWG pre NGU, daoc, etc. honestly i think the first quest driven mmorpg to land in the west was city of heroes in march of 2004.

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Originally Posted by Dixa

trion is on the west coast, a small company and likely is unable or unwilling to field a 6am their time team to deal with east coasters (who btw ahve enjoyed viewing actual live telecasts LIVE for 60 years). your life will go on. there is no advantage to ego rating, no auction house to sell stuff you found first on, no reason for that first hour rush to matter.

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Then isn't the obvious solution to simply turn servers on before leaving on Monday evening? Then everyone, no matter their time zone, could play upon picking up their retail copies, even those who are in a location with a midnight opening, presumably.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

Then isn't the obvious solution to simply turn servers on before leaving on Monday evening? Then everyone, no matter their time zone, could play upon picking up their retail copies, even those who are in a location with a midnight opening, presumably.

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it's not that simple. it's likely the entire team will be sitting there on day one monitoring every aspect of the game, with most of the employees working unpaid overtime 12-16 hour shifts. the games industry is brutal to work in and it's likely the company does not have the resources to have a 2nd or third shift.

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Originally Posted by Dixa

not all of the madera missions are in, as evidenced by the 'levelling' guilde someone posted day one of madera. eviction notice: 3 for example is not in the beta.

so once you finished all the missions that are in the beta and you wanted to keep doing ego you worked on what pursuits you could do

however what i dont think a lot of people realize is that arkfalls are not the only random events taht give xp. there are random roadblocks and stuff. do them for quite a bit of xp and working on weaopn skills, getting drops to turn into resources for key fragments and more tier 4 boxes (which give oj/purple weapons).

people say gw2 has a grind. wow is also not a grind as your progression is clearly laid out, going this point to the next point doing quests. real grinds were the games with no quests; most korean clones, everquest, SWG pre NGU, daoc, etc. honestly i think the first quest driven mmorpg to land in the west was city of heroes in march of 2004.

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yup, and xp and ego rating aren`t that important in this game as they are in most other mmos, so i dont know what he was referring to at all

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

Then isn't the obvious solution to simply turn servers on before leaving on Monday evening? Then everyone, no matter their time zone, could play upon picking up their retail copies, even those who are in a location with a midnight opening, presumably.

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the whole team needs to be there incase something goes wrong

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Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper

This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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Maybe they cancelled the console version to buy PC (Steam) Version? :D
They have a very attractive 'tiered rewards' offer. I know several of my friends cancelled and switched to Steam.

I am fairly sure we will aim for a US EST launch. So 9:00pm PDT and midnight EST. This may change, but trust me when i say...

We will make an official announcement.

9 p.m. PST on the 1st, so that it's midnight Eastern? Oh, THAT would be outstanding!

Thank you for answering Sledge!

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Originally Posted by Gradius

The worst part of that, is cancelling a pre-order based on playing an unfinished version of the final product. They didn't even wait to experience the entirety of the game and TV show tie in. The TV show itself is going to make the game that much more epic!

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Well to be fair, it'd be impossible to cancel once the game launches. If they want to cancel, now's the only time to do it.

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Originally Posted by nathanpbutler

9 p.m. PST on the 1st, so that it's midnight Eastern? Oh, THAT would be outstanding!

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Indeed. Sadly, at 9pm Pacific, the folks on the west coast won't be playing. They won't even be able to pick up the game for another three hours at bare minimum, and likely closer to 12 by the time stores open.

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Originally Posted by TheNeoReaper

This game will be pretty much dead after a month. Its sad really because the game is good but there are problems in the beta & there are already people cancelling there reserves based of it. I work at gamestop & 7 people alone yesterday cancelled on my shift alone. 1 pc 4 ps3, & 2 xbox .

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Probably because not a small number of people have been ordering through steam. The preorder tier bonuses are the best bonuses of all the retailers at the moment if any tier gets unlocked. This weekend's beta caused the tier one marker to jump literally from 40%ish range before friday to now around 81% and climbing.

So it isnt necessarily that you're seeing a true decline :P

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Originally Posted by Sledgehammer70

I am fairly sure we will aim for a US EST launch. So 9:00pm PDT and midnight EST. This may change, but trust me when i say...

We will make an official announcement.

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Make sure it is timed to be what the current countdown clock for steam's unlock is too please :P

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Originally Posted by Gradius

Almost positive that the launch client will be a different launcher.

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You can already set it up on steam and yes its a different client from beta and as well from alpha.

If it is 9pm PDT that's a 4am UK start. Time to set my alarm clock