Just today the NDA for AC2 beta was lifted, and a beta cd and login is included with this month's issue of Computer Gaming Magazine.

I haven't seen anyone on the forums say anything about AC2. Is anyone going to at least check it out? It looks interesting.. might as well spend $4 on a magazine and get to play.

I've been in the AC2 Beta for a bit, and so far it's pretty decent, removes what was tedious about AC1 and is overall a nice game. Though right now the lands seem a bit bare, having trouble finding a spot to hunt. I really like the crafting system, seems a lot less tedious ( and easier on the wrists
=-p ) then most other crafting systems. Haven't really found any glaring bugs so far, and have only had a few random crashes.

Agreed, Demon. I'm liking it a lot, I think Turbine has the chance to put out a really kickass mmorpg. Evolutionary, not revolutionary, but it looks really good.

All the usual caveats apply...haven't managed to get a character really high because of wipes and downtime, they have a lot to tweak before release, haven't experienced PvP/RvR/Kingdom battles...but I'm excited about it, and I'm pretty sure I'll be there first day if they keep up the work they're doing.

Screenshots! I have more on my machine at *cough*work*cough*, so I'll throw them up next week.

eis.temple.edu/rick/ac2/a...creens.htm (http://eis.temple.edu/rick/ac2/ac2_beta_screens.htm)

Bah! I'd just be happy to be able to get in to the game! Servers down is all I get.

/whine

Blurst

Anyone figured out how to move around with the mouse? I really like EQ's way of moving around with the mouse.

You can assign a key to toggle mouselook on and off. I think it's the middle mouse button by default? Toggling mouselook takes a little getting used to, but I've found I really enjoy the number pad camera angle functions when I'm not in mouselook mode. Combing the keys and the scroll wheel, I can fly around to different views of varying distance very easily.

I do miss EQ's right-click and hold to pan around, though. That's still my favorite way of adjusting my field of vision on the fly, I think.

Regarding the servers, I can finally get back in the game, but it really bogs down in some areas. I've been playing on the Canyon server, because the Redmond server was just awful. Canyon was bogging down on me last night, too, though. I suppose lots of other people who couldn't take the lag on Redmond are trying Canyon.

I'll be glad when they figure it out and fix it. It's pretty much unplayable when you hit those "broken" areas.

have been playing for a couple weeks now.
overall the game seems a little to simplistic for my taste, kind of hard to explain just feels like its more of an "intro to MMORPG" than a real MMORPG. A shame really, was kinda hoping for the next great game.

Same goes for E&B as well, although Earth and Beyond would make a GREAT PvP game if they would ever allow it

So is AC2 gonna be in the same vein as DAoC?

I noticed the post above seemed to focus on PvP stuff (which I detest). I got suckered into DAoC, but never say any of the non-RvR content they claimed to have developed.

It's hard to say if it's easier, because I haven't gotten to the end game stuff yet, obviously. I think we have to define "hard", too. Does hard mean requiring multiple groups? A large time investment? In some ways, EQ didn't seem difficult, just very specific and time intensive. I'm sure there's plenty of rebuttal to that statement, though. Who wants to start with "If you think EQ isn't hard, have you ever tried to pull X with Y only using Z players??" :)

You could find ways to challenge yourself that didn't require large raids, but I suppose that's true for all the mmorpg's I've played. I know there was a group of old Test players who really enjoyed taking a group of 6 and seeing just how much they could accomplish, without resorting to raiding on a bigger scale.

I agree that it may be different from EQ in regards to the time you need to invest to advance, but for some of us, that's not necessarily a bad thing. I never had the time to advance as far in EQ as I wanted, because I could never dedicate time to raid (family, RL obligations, etc.). So, from my point of view, Dark Age and AC2 are more accessible. I think I can make them both challenging, though. Different from EQ challenges, but challenging nonetheless.

I realize the Dark Age/AC2 concept isn't for everyone, and I respect people who *do* enjoy the effort and coordination it takes to do high level raids. I think AC2 will offer its own challenges, although it may be to a player who's seeking something a bit different than what EQ offered. I can see where it seems "intro" level after years of EQ.

For me, what's really interesting about AC2 is the social experiment. Turbine isn't including ANY npc's. The towns are all ruined at the beginning of the game. Players will be the crafters/vendors, and towns will be "rebuilt" in the monthly updates based on how many people are bound there (that's at least one variable in how Turbine grows the world).

I think the game may seem "empty" to start. No trainers, no "home"...you're really going to have to interact with the players around you to make the world come alive. I think Turbine is taking a risk with this approach, and I'm curious to play for a few months to see how the game world grows. Malbor, who used to post here a lot, always raved about Turbine's storytelling and inclusion of players in the ongoing plot of AC1. Granted, there were plenty of things to dislike about AC1, but I respected Malbor's opinions, and I hope Turbine brings that same storytelling depth to AC2.

Easier? Yeah, I can see why it might seem easier, and might actually be easier. But it's also taking some risks, and I'm happy to see a bit of diversity in the mmorpg's that are coming out. Dark Age's RvR, while not for everyone, was a total blast, IMO. And this is coming from someone who hated PvP prior to Dark Age. And so many of their ideas were eventually incorporated into EQ, I think some risk-taking benefits all of us.

While I could dismiss AC2 for what it *doesn't* offer, I'd rather focus on the social experiment and the slightly different track they're following, to see what elements are enjoyable and perhaps portable to other games down the road.

If AC2 isn't my cup of tea, I'll probably end up back in Dark Age, with the expansion and new graphics engine coming out soon. EQ is just too time-intensive for my RL schedule. And yes, I realize I'm an old married man who's a bit envious of people who can indeed dedicate that amount of time to playing :) I think it's good, though, that there are games that are surviving by catering to a slightly different demographic. As gamers, we all benefit.