2.1 What is the purpose of beta testing EverQuest II?

Beta testing helps the development team find bugs in the game and fix them before release. It should not be seen as an opportunity to try the game before you buy it; beta testers provide a valuable service - they report bugs and playability issues in the crucial last stages of a game's production.

2.2 How do I become a part of the beta program?

Beta sign-ups began on May 3, 2004. If you have not signed up yet, visit the beta application page at http://everquest2.station.sony.com/beta.jsp. European players that want to participate in the localized beta program may sign up on June 1st, 2004.

Everquest Legends subscribers and those who have fulfilled the terms of the Lords of EverQuest™ special offer need to make sure their contact information is correct so they will be able to participate in the EverQuest II beta phase. You will be contacted in May.

2.2.1 How long will registration be open?

Beta applications are now CLOSED.

2.3 Do Legends subscribers and people who took advantage of the Lords of EverQuest beta offer need to apply?

No. Those who qualify for these offers will be contacted in the coming weeks via e-mail and will be informed how to register for beta.

It is very important that Legends subscribers and those who qualified for the LoE offer have their current e-mail address on file so that Sony can contact everyone who is eligible. You can verify your e-mail address by signing into the Station at http://www.station.sony.com/.

2.3.1 How long do I need to have been an EverQuest Legends subscriber to qualify for the beta invitation?

You must have become a Legends subscriber prior to February 3, 2004 and you must have maintained your Legends subscription from that date until the beta program to qualify for this invitation. Your Legends account must also be current and in good standing while you are participating in the beta program.

2.3.1.1 I qualify for the Legends offer but have not gotten an email about it, what gives?

That's because we haven't sent them out yet. We will not be doing so until the email issue is rectified. You will be notified via email shortly before your beta phase starts and not before then. No date will be given for this, so again, don't ask. You don't need to apply normally - you will be given instructions on how to apply as an Legends applicant later.

2.3.2 I qualify for the Lords of EverQuest beta offer but have not gotten an email, what gives?

This is just due to the database email problem Sony is experiencing. LOE applicants will be given a way to contact Sony to confirm their eligibility at a later date. This date has not yet been set, so don\'t ask them about it. You don\'t need to apply normally - you will be given instructions on how to apply as an LOE applicant later.

2.4 When does beta begin?

The first phase of external beta will begin in July of 2004.

2.5 Can more than one person from the same household or IP address apply?

Yes. We will not be restricting the number of applications from a single residence or IP address. However, duplicate applications from the same person will be deleted.

2.6 How will the EverQuest II client be distributed?

We will make the client available for download, and may have other distribution options as well.

2.7 Can I discuss my experiences in beta with other players?

There will be official beta message boards accessible to those in beta on which they can interact with other players and report issues. But those in the beta program will be under a non-disclosure agreement (NDA) that prohibits them from discussing the game outside the official beta forums.

2.8 What is the purpose of the NDA (non-disclosure agreement)?

The very nature of the beta program means game features and balance issues will be changing on a daily basis. Beta testers must understand that this is part of the process, and the design team needs the freedom to be able to make changes that are in the best interests of the game. Without an NDA, we would be spending precious time reacting publicly to issues that would very likely change again anyway.

2.8.1 How long will the NDA be in effect?

The NDA is in effect until Sony announces that it is lifted. They aren't giving a specific date at this time.

2.8.2 Will the NDA apply to people outside the US?

The NDA will apply to everyone who enters the beta program.

2.9 Will beta testers receive any special rewards?

They get the satisfaction of helping us make a better, more stable game. There will be no in-game rewards or any other consideration given to those who participate in beta.
2.10 Will beta characters be wiped after beta ends, or will they carry over into the live game?
Beta characters will be wiped at the end of the beta program, and likely at various points during the beta itself.

2.11 Will sending e-mail or private messages to SOE staff members like Moorgard increase my chances of getting into beta?

Private messages sent to SOE employees regarding beta will not be responded to, so they will not help you get into beta. In fact, they will likely hinder your chances of becoming a beta tester.

2.12 Will my computer hardware affect my chances of being accepted into beta?

We will consider all applications that meet the minimum hardware requirements. We want to test the game on low-end systems as well as high-end ones, so don't be afraid to apply just because your computer isn't state of the art.

2.13 I didn't apply at the computer I intend to use, will it affect my chances?

Don't worry, your DXdiag information will have no bearing on whether you are accepted into the beta program. Sony collects that information to match against future bug reports. If we need you to submit a new DXdiag later, they will ask for one at that point. The same goes for the scan the beta does on your computer. You have just as much chance as anyone else at getting into the beta.

2.14 What kind of beta testers are you looking for?

We will be looking for many different types of players to help test a variety of systems within the game. Some applicants may be better suited for certain phases of beta than others. We plan on inviting a wide variety of player types into our beta during these different phases. Your best chance to be accepted into beta is to answer all of the questions on the application as honestly as you can, even if you have never been a beta tester before.

2.15 Is beta limited to the United States?

Citizens of any country are free to apply for the EverQuest II beta, with the understanding that the beta will be conducted in English.

2.15.1 Will there be betas localized in any region other than the US, or will players of all languages play on the same server?

Sony's distribution partner, Ubisoft, will be conducting international beta tests on localized servers in languages other than English. Those betas will be managed by Ubisoft, and they will make all announcements regarding the timing of localized beta programs.

2.16 How many beta phases will there be, and what order will they be in?

Sony will have multiple phases of beta ranging from small, focused phases to larger, more general ones. Legends subscribers and those who qualify for the Lords of EverQuest offer will each be invited to an early phase. Sony is not releasing specific dates yet.

2.17 I'm not a Legends subscriber, nor did I take advantage of the Lords of EverQuest offer. Do I have any chance of getting into beta?

Absolutely. The Legends and LoE offers represent only a small portion of the number of people who will be accepted into beta. The vast majority of beta testers will come in through the normal application process.

2.18 I signed up for the beta, is there ANYTHING that will help my chances of getting in?

Long term EQLive subscribers will be given preference in the beta process, but must apply normally. No details will be released regarding the specifics of how this works, sorry.

2.19 I applied more than once, does this mean I have twice the chance to get in?

Duplicate applications will be deleted, but we will leave one in the database. You may not choose which application remains, as this is done automatically.