Hortus, the spinning whirly jig wearing gnome, announced on the forms today that the PTR will be closed until further notice. This closure is in order to encourage more people to test out the TTR, which will remain open for the time being.This is important news. First, it signifies that Blizzard is at least comfortable in stopping the testing of PvE content. This might not be the best news for those that were still engaged in PTR activities; or for those that think there are still serious concerns regarding the content and class changes. We might be seeing the Druid Cyclone nerf stay.
Secondly, we can infer that the two stress tests they've held might not have been everything they wanted. If they're asking for more testing we can make an educated guess that Blizzard either did not see the kind of numbers they were hoping for, or they have made additional server changes that warrant additional tests. Judging from the lack luster stress test that went on Wednesday night, I'm leaning towards the former as being the reason for the change.
Of course, the good news in all this is that patch 2.4 will probably be coming out sooner rather than later. We've covered the patch extensively and have lots of great information already available for you to digest on how the patch will change the game. If you were able to get in on the guess the patch 2.4 release date contest, a shiny new 60 day game card might be yours soon! While a majority of you thought that March 18th or April 1st would be the release date, my guess of March 24th is looking pretty good right now – unless of course Blizzard decides to be funny and drop the patch this Tuesday. But I doubt that'll happen.
What do you think of this change? Happy to see the PTR close? Does the TTR need more testing?
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Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
3-16-2008 @ 4:08PM
TonyMotorola said...
Some Sunwell bosses have had less than 3 days of testing by 4 or fewer guilds.
I find it hard to believe they consider the PvE content to be polished and ready.
It's a greater shame that they're pushing PvE content aside to turn this into a game of Counter Strike between elves and orcs.
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3-16-2008 @ 9:43PM
Ryan said...
You write as though external guild-based testing is the only testing this PvE content has gotten. Don't forget that Blizzard undoubtedly has had an army of internal playtesters checking and rechecking encounters, playing them all day and every day for a long time.
3-16-2008 @ 4:11PM
crsh said...
Their TTR-touting "menace" that's been going on for over a week now is kinda funny, are they still trying to figure out why the thousands of players there log on, use premades and deck them out, but don't actually really queue up for arena matches (duels yes, arena matches not so much)?
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3-16-2008 @ 5:20PM
Ted said...
Yessss. No major Shaman changes! I get to spend another patch cycle bitching about lack of dev attention.
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3-16-2008 @ 6:37PM
Xonate said...
Honestly, the way things are going with this patch, I think you really don't want dev. attention....
You: "Hey devs! Over here! Help my class!"
Devs: "Yeah, ok." *Pull out the nerf bats*
WHAM!
3-16-2008 @ 6:32PM
Lunati said...
I wouldn't worry about class changes too much, mostly since the ttr is kinda the perfect place to test how they change in pvp, and how viable they are.
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3-16-2008 @ 7:18PM
Super Guest Man 9000 said...
Yes but for this patch so far we've been seeing changes intended for PvP affecting PvE as well so you'll have to forgive me if I'm a tad wary.
3-16-2008 @ 7:29PM
Druid dude said...
And there you go, its official, the game is now World of Arenacraft.
Either that or 2.4 is done testing.
Or both.
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3-16-2008 @ 8:44PM
Faar said...
The frackin arena is taking up way too much developer resources. Even after 3+ years, bears and crocolisks and hyenas and a host of other hunter pets still have no special skill to call their own, and many of the existing pet species are lacklustre and unattractive.
There's still tons of bugged and/or randomly evading mobs spawning partly or completely inside other objects or beneath the ground, herb and metal nodes spawning in unreachable locations. It's still possible to be feared through walls and end up falling through the world - heck you could just be running around and end up falling through the world...
Why are there so many simple-to-fix problems with this game? It's not as if they haven't had the time, or lack resources. Jesus. WoW is surely the most profitable game EVER MADE.
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3-16-2008 @ 10:19PM
Sl0th said...
What annoys me is that I just copied a new version of my main there to see my new title and finally get around to having a look at MT. Its been pending for four days, and it finally has transfered, and now I can't go on. Oh well, guess I'll just have to wait till its on the realms.
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3-17-2008 @ 2:30AM
Crypt King said...
Don't worry man, we had an entire guild over there and every time we were able to get over there on off raid days when we had finished BT/MH early, trying at a boss, the server would be brought down or the encounters would be locked down.
3-17-2008 @ 2:29AM
Crypt King said...
Hmm maybe the reason there aren't enough people is that there aren't enough people who give a damn about PvP to bother switching. So they take away the content that people are interested in to push this crap.
Sorry son, you can't have the cereal you wanted today, but you can have this bran muffin.
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3-17-2008 @ 7:26AM
Pook said...
Maybe I'm missing something, but why would pretty much any of us care about the TTR.
Firstly basically none of us have a chance of winning anything, the prizes I'm sure will go to the same ppl that won the 5v5 tournaments.
Secondly and more importantly is why are Blizzard doing this, Why spend all this money & time - in order to give more money away to the select few. How does this make good business sence ?
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3-17-2008 @ 1:29PM
Wren said...
The PTR makes me feel like such a Noob. I have been playing wow for almost 3 years and I just decided to try out the test realms w/ the patch 2.4 stuff. I copied my toon and downloaded the client but I couldn't find any instruction on how to get logged on to the PTR. I can't figure out how to get to the test servers. I realize now the PTR is down it doesn't matter but I would like to know for the next patch.
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