VSoH Beta Application Update

[Asystole]

Looks like VSoH Beta is moving right along.

Hey all!

I just wanted to let you know that we have completed sending the applications to all of those who were registered on our Forums as of October 12th to the email addresses on file at that time. We are now in the process of sending them to updated email addresses and those who registered for the Forums after that date.

When we have completed sending these applications, I will let you know. Only then will we be able to address individual issues regarding lost emails, etc.

Please keep a few things in mind:

* We will not check on your application to make sure it was sent until we have completed the process of sending out all of them. Please do not contact us to confirm that yours was sent until we let you know that we have finished sending them all.

* Writing to any member of the team to tell us how badly you want to be in Beta or telling us why you will be a better tester than others does not help you. In fact, it hurts your chances. We have been seriously discussing making up a list of everyone that emails us like this and never allowing them into Beta. We are getting through this process as quickly as we can and sorting through hundreds of emails like these only slows things down.

* Once you have submitted your application, your name is added to the pool of qualified Beta testers. Applicants are chosen according to the needs we have at any particular time. You may be selected immediately or it may not be for several weeks or months. We will be constantly adding groups of people as we need them from now until release.

* Please keep in mind that the purpose here is for us to find Beta testers. It is not a popularity contest, a reward or a right. We need people to help us test our game. It makes the most sense to choose those testers from among the people that have been supporting our work and anticipating our game. But we will choose people according to what we need to test.

* Unfortunately, not everyone will get into Beta at the stage they think is appropriate. And if my inbox is any indication, a number of you are offended that you have not already been invited. But I am afraid that’s just the way it goes. We are doing the best we can to be fair to everyone in the community. But again, our priority is getting the testers we need into Vanguard.

We will let you know when we have completed sending this new batch of applications. Then we will let you know what to do if you still have not received yours.

We really appreciate your support and enthusiasm. And we will do our best to get as many of you into Beta as we can as soon as possible.

So be patient. And chill a little.

Beta will be over before you know it and we’ll all be playing Vanguard instead of just talking about it.
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Cindy Bowens
Senior Manager, Community & Events
Sigil Games Online
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[Ijs]

Who is VSoH?

[Asystole]

March 16, 2004
Joint Microsoft® Game Studios and Sigil Games Online Inc.
EverQuest Creator Announces New MMORPG, "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes"

REDMOND, Wash. - March 16, 2004 - Microsoft® Game Studios and Sigil Games Online Inc. today announced that "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes," a next-generation massively multiplayer role-playing game (MMORPG), is currently in development for the Windows® platform. Brad McQuaid, one of the game industry's most renowned designers and co-creator of "EverQuest," is leading a star-studded team of MMORPG veterans to create the next evolution in the genre.

"Sigil's unparalleled expertise and experience in the field will bring groundbreaking advances to the genre," said McQuaid, president and CEO of Sigil Games Online. "In recent years we've become concerned with a growing trend to water down gameplay in an attempt to appeal to a broader audience. At Sigil, we're designing our game for the existing MMORPG gamer who is looking for both new challenges and new rewards. On one level, 'Vanguard' combines everything we've learned from MMORPGs: their strengths, their deficiencies and how to address them. Even more important, we plan to introduce a whole new level of gameplay that represents, in our opinion, the logical evolution of the MMORPG genre."

The "Vanguard" team includes McQuaid and Steve Clover, both of whom co-authored the original design document and led the design team for "EverQuest." McQuaid then served as the producer on "EverQuest," with Clover driving development as lead programmer. Working with McQuaid as "Vanguard's" co-producer is Jeff Butler, who also co-produced the "EverQuest" expansion "The Ruins of Kunark" and later served as producer on the highly successful expansions "The Scars of Velious" and "The Shadows of Luclin." Rounding out the "Vanguard" leadership team is art director Keith Parkinson, the award-winning artist responsible for the painted box art for the original "EverQuest" and several later expansions. More information about "Vanguard: Saga of Heroes" can be found at the official site at http://www.vanguardsoh.com/.

Sigil Games Online is a game studio dedicated to the development of massively multiplayer games. Formed in January 2002 by Brad McQuaid and Jeff Butler, both key figures in the development of the massively multiplayer runaway hit "EverQuest," Sigil Games plans to play a key role in taking MMORPGs into their next generation and beyond.

About Microsoft Game Studios

Microsoft Game Studios is a leading worldwide publisher and developer of games for the Xbox® video game system and Windows and online platforms. Comprising a network of top developers, Microsoft Game Studios is committed to creating innovative and diverse games for Windows (http://www.microsoft.com/games/), including such franchises as "Age of Empires®," "Flight Simulator" and "Zoo Tycoon®"; Xbox (http://www.xbox.com/), including such franchises as "Halo®," "Project Gotham Racing®" and "NFL Fever"; and Zone.com (http://www.zone.com/), the official games channel for the MSN® network and home to such hits as "Bejeweled" and "OutSmartTM."

In my mind, along with many of the fans on the Sigil forums, Vanguard Saga of Heros is the "true" EverQuest 2.

You will see many times a reference to "the Vision" (TM). It basically refers to the original ideas behind EverQuest and what made it so fun and popular before SOE got their hands on it.

I hope to see some fellow TOG'ers on the forums there.