You can download the WoW open beta client right now

[Indecisive]

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/downloads/protected/world_of_warcraft_open_beta_installer_downloader.e xe

gogo

[MrPaul]

:love: Can't be long now. Time for me to see what the hype is about.

[EarlyDawn]

10 hours =/

[Mannequin]

Wait what? Open Beta? or is this just a leak?? :confused:

[Gryphon]

Wait what? Open Beta? or is this just a leak?? :confused:
Wait what? Have you been dead to the world?

[Giovanni]

Thirteen hours... I'm gonna clean the appartement I think.

[Salazar]

http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/downloads/protected/world_of_warcraft_open_beta_installer_downloader.e xe

gogo

:love:

[Infernus]

I'm a gonna wait... it seems like everyone is dling it right now... it was saying it was going to take 4 days...

[Giovanni]

Inf... it's bittorrent you probly got a bad seed.

Anyways... how do we sign up? My WoW page has no indication on how to sign up for the open beta eh.

[Angel_of_Death]

Well I had no idea this open beta client was coming, but whatever I'll take it. Time to check out the hype indeed.

[Mannequin]

Wait what? Have you been dead to the world?

well I figured there would be a huge ass banner on main site.

[Doop]

z0mg!

Finally, I'm tired of all this signup email beta acceptance bullsnap.
Ack, 2.5gb. Ah well, it should be good.

[Indecisive]

Right now, the client is only supposed to be avaliable to CB testers. Fortuantly, someone forgot to set the right permssions on the torrent file, so now everyone can direct link to it.

We are still waiting for the site to update and settle down (its still spazzing pretty bad) and waiting for them to announce something.

The signup page will be signup.worldofwarcraft.com when they do go up, its it not, as of right now.

[Mannequin]

Well that would explain why I keep getting The operaton timed out when attempting to contact signup.worldofwarcraft.com :(

[Indecisive]

Official from http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/thread.aspx?fn=wow-general&t=496203

What is the open beta?
As World of Warcraft gets closer to completion, we need to conduct another phase of beta testing for final balancing and bug fixing. This phase of testing is the open beta. Many final aspects of the game are being implemented in their most complete form in the open beta, and we will need this time to test these elements as rigorously as possible to ensure that they are completed for the game’s launch.

Will you charge people to play the open beta?
No, the World of Warcraft open beta is absolutely free. Blizzard is not charging a fee for you to play the open beta.

Will I have full access to the World of Warcraft game?
Since our goal is to have as much of the game balanced and tested as possible, you will be able to play the most current version of World of Warcraft. However, because the game is still being optimized, you may experience some lag and performance issues. Please bear with us and remember that although you will be playing a version that seems very polished and complete, it is in fact a beta and will not always play optimally.

Do I have to play in the final stress test if I want to play the open beta?
No, you do not have to play in the final stress test to participate in the open beta. However, if you wish to play in the open beta, you will have to wait until its start is announced, and then visit www.worldofwarcraft.com to begin downloading the open beta client and creating an open beta account.

I don’t want to sign up for the final stress test. Can I sign up for the open beta now instead?
Once the open beta starts, Blizzard will make an announcement on www.worldofwarcraft.com. At that time, you will you be able to download the World of Warcraft client and begin the account creation process. Once that is completed, you can start playing the open beta.

How is the open beta different from the final stress test?
The open beta will begin after the conclusion of the final stress test and will be the most complete version of the game available to date. It will include the content from the closed beta and final stress test, as well as additional features that are slated to appear in the final version of World of Warcraft.

Do I need to go through FilePlanet to get into the open beta?
FilePlanet does indeed have a role in hosting the open beta, and it has a number of open beta accounts to award. However, the majority of open beta accounts will be distributed by Blizzard directly. Once FilePlanet’s accounts are given away, all further accounts will be awarded only through Blizzard. So, if you visit FilePlanet and are told that no more open beta accounts are available there, please go to www.worldofwarcraft.com to secure your open beta slot.

Do I have to be a FilePlanet subscriber to sign up for the open beta at FilePlanet?
No. Anyone with an Internet connection in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States can visit FilePlanet or Blizzard on the day the open beta begins to try to acquire an open beta account. Please note that FilePlanet has a number of open beta accounts to award, but if it exhausts its allotment of keys, you will still be able to visit www.worldofwarcraft.com for a chance to join the open beta.

If I was in the stress test beta, will I get to reuse my old account and characters?
Because we are testing a new version of the game and account-creation process, we will need you to create a new account and new characters to play in the final stress test. Additionally, because the final stress test is a new version of the game, all accounts and characters from the first stress test beta would have been incompatible with the final stress test and were thus deleted.

If I am in the final stress test, will I get to transfer my account and characters from there to the open beta?
Yes, you will be able to use your account and characters in the open beta. You do not need to take any action. Instead, when the final stress test ends, you will be able to continue playing by logging in to the open beta servers.

Will I get to keep my characters from the open beta?
We are still formulating our plans for the characters from the open beta and will provide more information in the near future.

When does the open beta start?
The open beta will begin immediately after the final stress test ends. An exact date is undetermined at this time; however, we expect the open beta to begin approximately five to seven days after the start of the final stress test.

What do I do exactly to get started in the open beta?
Once the open beta starts, visit www.worldofwarcraft.com for further instructions and information on the open beta.

How do I get the open beta if I signed up through FilePlanet?
If you go to FilePlanet to sign up for the open beta when it begins, you will be given an authtentication key and instructions to download the World of Warcraft client from FilePlanet. Please note that FilePlanet has a limited number of keys to award.

What do I do after I download the World of Warcraft client?
After you install World of Warcraft onto your computer, launch the program to be taken to the account-creation site. During the account-creation process, you will be prompted to enter the authentication key that will have been provided to you. After you successfully create your account, you can re-launch World of Warcraft and begin playing in the open beta.

How long will you leave the World of Warcraft client up for download?
Once we have achieved the maximum number of players for the open beta, we will remove World of Warcraft from download. So, if you wish to play in the open beta, we recommend that you download the client and create an account as soon as the open beta begins. After we have reached the maximum server population we need, we will no longer be accepting people into the World of Warcraft open beta.

Will there be a limit to the number of people who can play the World of Warcraft open beta?
Yes, we will have to limit the number of players. However, a maximum number of players has not yet been determined. At this time, we simply recommend that if you wish to play in the open beta that you download the game and create an account as soon as the open beta is ready. Once we fill our servers to capacity, we will remove the World of Warcraft downloader and account-creation pages.

How will I know if I get into the open beta?
If you can download the client and create an account, then you are in the World of Warcraft open beta. After creating an account, you must enter the account name and password you had chosen during the account creation process at the World of Warcraft login screen to play the game.

How long will the open beta last?
There is no predetermined duration for the World of Warcraft open beta. As long as we need to conduct further testing, we will maintain the open beta.

Will I be able to start playing right away?
Yes. When we announce the beginning of the open beta, you will be able to download the game immediately. After creating an account, you will be able to play World of Warcraft.

Will I need to connect to the Internet to play?
Yes, you need to connect to the Internet to take part in the World of Warcraft open beta.

Will there be a Mac version of the open beta available?
Yes. The final stress test and open beta test are for both Mac and PC users.

Who can participate in the final stress test and open beta test?
The final stress test and open beta are available for players in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

Why can’t players in other countries participate in the final stress test and open beta test?
The final stress test and open beta test are being conducted for the North American launch servers. We will eventually be conducting open beta tests in Europe and other regions in which we have announced the game’s upcoming availability.

I’m having issues with the Blizzard downloader. Whom do I contact?
If you have issues with the Blizzard downloader, please visit the tech support page at http:// www.worldofwarcraft.com/support .

I’m having issues with the game. Whom do I contact?

Please use the support options located at http://www.worldofwarcraft.com/support .

What are the system requirements?

Windows® System 98/ME/2000/XP OS:


* 800 MHz or higher CPU.
* 256 MB or more of RAM.
* 32 MB 3D graphics card with hardware Transform and Lighting, such as GeForce 2 or better.
* 4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
* DirectX® 9.0c or above.
* A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.



Mac® System OS X 10.3.5 OS:


* 933 MHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
* 512 MB RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
* ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 32 MB VRAM or more.
* 4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
* MacOS X 10.3.5 or newer.
* A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.


Unfortuanlty, the forums are down, so I cant check the validity of it.

[Indecisive]

I battled my way past thousands of bnet kiddies to discover that the above, and the below are indeed valid:

World of Warcraft® Final Stress Test FAQ

What is the final stress test?
The final stress test is an additional phase of testing that the developers have deemed necessary in order to prepare the game for open beta. Those who play in the final stress test will be helping to finalize the game code so that it is ready for deployment in the open beta phase.

Will I have full access to the World of Warcraft game?
The version of the game in the final stress test will be very similar to the closed beta version, and will include nearly all of the content that will be in the game for the open beta. However, because the game is still being optimized, there may be some lag and performance issues. Please bear with us and remember that although you will be playing a version that seems very polished and complete, it is in fact a stress test and will not always play optimally.

If I was in the first stress test beta, will I get to reuse my old account and characters?
Because we are testing a new version of the game and account creation process, we will need you to create a new account and new characters to play in the final stress test. Additionally, because the final stress test is a new version of the game, all accounts and characters from the first stress test beta would have been incompatible with the final stress test and were thus deleted.

Are you charging people to play the final stress test?
Blizzard is not charging a fee to play the final stress test or the open beta. However, to help defray the costs associated with distributing a large number of files and to keep our focus on finalizing World of Warcraft, we have partnered with FilePlanet for the distribution of the final stress test client, which is only available to FilePlanet subscribers. Subscription to FilePlanet carries with it a nominal fee.

Once the final stress test is over, will I be able to play in the open beta?
If you participate in the final stress test, your account will automatically be carried over to the open beta. You do not need to take any action. Instead, when the final stress test ends, you will be able to continue playing by logging into the open beta servers.

Will I get to carry my characters from the final stress test to the open beta?
Yes. If you play in the final stress test, your characters and account will simply transfer to the open beta.

Will you charge people to play the open beta?
No, the World of Warcraft open beta is absolutely free. Blizzard is not charging a fee for you to play the open beta.

What is the open beta?
As World of Warcraft gets closer to completion, we will need to conduct one last phase of beta testing for final balancing and bug fixing. This phase of testing is the open beta. Many final aspects of the game are being implemented in their most complete form in the open beta, and we will need this time to test these elements as rigorously as possible to ensure that they are completed for the game’s launch.

When does the World of Warcraft final stress test begin?
The final stress test begins on November 1, 2004.

How will I know if I get into the final stress test?
You will be contacted by e-mail letting you know that you do indeed have a spot in the final stress test.

How long will the final stress test last?
The exact duration of the World of Warcraft final stress test is undetermined, but we expect that it will last for approximately five to seven days.

Do I need to sign up for the final stress test before it starts?
No, there are no early signups. When the final stress test begins, signups for it will open at the same time.

Can I sign up for the stress test if I am not a FilePlanet subscriber?
The final stress test is only available to FilePlanet subscribers. However, the open beta phase will begin shortly after the final stress test ends, and is available to anyone with an Internet connection.

Will I be able to start playing right away?
Yes. After you sign up, you will receive an email confirmation soon thereafter containing your authentication key and instructions for downloading the World of Warcraft client and creating an account. After you follow those steps and create an account, you can log into the game and begin playing.

What do I do with my authentication key?
Your authentication key is needed to verify your acceptance into the final stress test. You will be asked to provide this key during the account-creation process.

Will I need to connect to the Internet to play?
Yes, you need to connect to the Internet to take part in the World of Warcraft final stress test.

Will there be a Mac version of the final stress test available?
Yes. This final stress test is for both Mac and PC users.

Who can participate in the final stress test and open beta test?
The final stress test and open beta are available for players in Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.

I’m having issues with the game – whom do I contact?
Please use the support options located at www.worldofwarcraft.com/support.

I’m having trouble with my authentication key. Whom do I contact?
If you are having trouble with the delivery of your authentication key, please contact the FilePlanet Customer Support Team. If you are having trouble setting up the World of Warcraft stress test beta, make sure you are entering your key correctly. If you are having any trouble with the game, please contact Blizzard Technical Support.

What are the system requirements?

Windows® System 98/ME/2000/XP OS:
# 800 MHz or higher CPU.
# 256 MB or more of RAM.
# 32 MB 3D graphics card with hardware Transform and Lighting, such as GeForce 2 or better.
# 4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
# DirectX® 9.0c or above.
# A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.


Mac® System OS X 10.3.5 OS:
# 933 MHz or higher G4 or G5 processor.
# 512 MB RAM or higher. DDR RAM recommended.
# ATI or NVIDIA video hardware with 32 MB VRAM or more.
# 4 GB or more of available hard drive space.
# MacOS X 10.3.5 or newer.
# A 56k or higher modem with an Internet connection.


Which means time to stalk fileplanet yayay.

[Indecisive]

Just to reiterate:

When does the World of Warcraft final stress test begin?
The final stress test begins on November 1, 2004.

So anyone with fileplanet will be playing to day, and those without will be playing in 5-7 days.

[Salazar]

WOOT! Fileplanet subscriber!

[Indecisive]

Indeed, indeed.

[Salazar]

Check out this pic of an Orc in footman armor (this picture comes when you go to an error page) lol

http://forums.worldofwarcraft.com/images/404.jpg

[OfaLoaf]

Whoa. Open Beta's that soon? Shit, could I just D/L the patches from my old Stress Test one?

[Indecisive]

They have a link up, im getting errors.

[FearTheAtlas]

In 12 hours and 18 minutes my social life is offically over :groovy:

[Giovanni]

Cancel that... unless you have a fileplanet account you won't be in stress test. Open beta is going to come after stress test wich might be from 6 to 7 days most probably. After the stress test, open beta will be open and a massive wave of kiddies and homeless people (don't ask) will rush the site to sign-up.

[Salazar]

Link to download please? nothing on FP or site with a link.

Edit: I got it now.

[Infernus]

I was in closed beta, I can wait til later.

edit: fuck this is Jetraiden, i guess inf was still logged in on my computer.

[Indecisive]

http://www.fileplanet.com/files/140000/147141.shtml

[Rbstr]

DAMN MY FUCKIGN MOBO OF FUCKING RETARDEDNESS

i wana play WoW but i can't on the two sucky ass comps i have access to :(

[Salazar]

4 hours, and 12 min to go :D

[Indecisive]

If you dont have fileplanet, but want the file ahead of time at apx 350 kbps, try this:

http://x65.fileplanet.com:28900/^229109281/102004/worldofwarcraftopenbeta.zip

It will become inactive after a few minutes though.

[EarlyDawn]

Well, this is retarted. Despite my active paid account, it's refusing to acknoledge that I should be able to download it. Won't let me just get the frigging file, despite that I have a CD key.

This is idiotic.

[Indecisive]

The servers are spazzing, I had that problem too, have some pactience.

[Salazar]

Go check your email you signed up with, that has a download link.

[EarlyDawn]

Go check your email you signed up with, that has a download link.They didn't bother to send one. And yes, I did give them the correct email. :mad:

[Salazar]

Is anyone else having a problem creating an account? After I put in my
authentication key and press enter, I get an error, is anyone else getting this?

http://signup.worldofwarcraft.com/

Edit: Nevermind, got thru.

[Indecisive]

I keep getting errors >_>

[Hamma]

I'm sure somewhere around 9389349384983 people are trying to download it.

[Indecisive]

Yay for pasty Bneters!

>_>

[DaShiznit]

10 KBPS. Ouch. I think I'll just wait to see what everybody's hyping about.

[Sputty]

Heh, I have an fp key coming in, hopefully, soon. Until then I'm dling it from the provided link, for extra slowness
18 kbps

omg this roolz
http://knollsoft.com/sputty/sadnet.jpg

[Lonehunter]

We're so sure you're gonna love being part of FilePlanet, we've put together an irrestistible offer. Sign up for only $16.90 and you'll also get FilePlanet exclusives for 90 days plus no ads on the entire GameSpy Network!

You'll get all this with your FilePlanet quarterly subscription:

* Instant access to over 330,000 game-related files
* No waiting in line to download
* Exclusive subscriber-only betas, demos & movies
* Surf completely ad-free on FilePlanet and the entire GameSpy Network


Subscribe to FilePlanet for only $16.90 & get everything you've been missing


(O) Yeah! And I want to enter the World of Warcraft Final Stress Test!

(O) No thanks, I'm not interested in the World of Warcraft Final Stress Test. I just want ad-supported FilePlanet.


If I pick the second option it brings me to my account info, wich says I'm not varified, so I go to my e-mail and click on the varification link again, and get this



Subscription Confirmation

There is no member with that email address and member ID requiring confirmation.

You may have already confirmed your subscription, or the link you clicked may be incorrect.


Questions or problems? Please contact us!


FUCK! It broked, damn it.

[EineBeBoP]

...nooo you NEED a subscription to get in. its required.

The UNOFFICIAL {BOHCIA} server is test 4 (east PvP)
(subject to change, as clan leaders are on vacation.)

[Hezzy]

Anyone else having problems downloading it from FIleplanet?

[Salazar]

What faction will everyone be? Maybe we can all get together.

(Remember, on PvP servers, you can't play both factions)

[Lonehunter]

...nooo you NEED a subscription to get in. its required.
Do you mean a payed Subscription?

[Salazar]

Yup, you need to be a subscriber.

[FearTheAtlas]

...hmm..overnight...and it's at 4%.

I think I'll wait. :huh:

[TheN00b]

Overnight, and I'm at 32%... Broadband for teh win!

[EineBeBoP]

Woot. I'd forgotten how much this game pwns. I was so bored this weekend becasue i couldn't level. I'm so happy now :)

Another thing that pissed me off about EvE after a while, was that I didn't really take part in gaining new skills. I just told it what to work on, and then went off to bed. Never really felt like i was working twords anything in that game. Now I activly take part in leveling, and <3 it.

[Diviant]

Fileplanet sends the keys out in groups, you don't get it right away. N00bs, read the fine print.

[EineBeBoP]

.....who implied that they didn't?
Theyre just downloading the game now, so that they can get in game all the faster when they get their cd key.

Took me nearly 3 hours to get mine yesterday.

[Infernus]

I was in closed beta, I can wait til later.

edit: fuck this is Jetraiden, i guess inf was still logged in on my computer.


:rofl: :rofl: Oops... sorry forgot to log out.

I accidentally made a post as you yesterday.

[FearTheAtlas]

This is the error I get when I double-click the Installer.exe in the WinZip window:

No installer data could be found. If this problem persists, please contact Blizzard Technical Support.

Looked on the fourms and no installation error threads.

Downloaded this TWICE, and it dosen't work.

Help :confused:

[Salazar]

Extract to program files, then run the installer in the WoW beta folder.

[FearTheAtlas]

Hmm, extracted it to the Program Files, didn't have a folder...hope it works

EDIT: Have my baby, Salazar.