FilePlanet a bad idea for Sword of the New World pre-order customers

Waiting.

As I write this, I’m waiting in a FilePlanet queue to download the closed beta for MMORPG Sword of the New World that I paid $10.00 for the pre-order.

Still waiting.

I can see sending free players in the beta to FilePlanet, but sending people who paid for the pre-order there to wait for the download or having FilePlanet pitch them for a membership to experience no wait times? Bad prelaunch strategy. Compared to LOTRO? Terrible.

Here’s how Sword of the New World (SOTNW) lays out how it will work:

You either purchased a pre-order box, or are one of the select few invited into the closed beta. Our pre-order customers have exclusive access to Sword of the New World until June 14th, and unlimited access throughout the open beta until the game launches.

Woohoo, the download is ready to start! Click that bad boy.

The file is a little over 3.5 GB. One positive thing about the FilePlanet servers is they aren’t lagged like many download sites (770 KB/sec). That makes the wait time more tolerable which on the whole isn’t that bad at 20 minutes or so.

Here’s where the process gets more silly. After downloading the file we need to return to the SOTNW site and register again. We already pre-registered, so why do we need to register too? Shouldn’t the pre-registration qualify? Talk about a convoluted series of steps to play the closed beta. Hey, it’s exclusive access until June 14, so we shouldn’t be complaining, but it’s easy feeling spoiled with the stellar experience with the Lord of the Rings pre-order experience.

These minor annoyances will go away quickly if the game is fun. Will have more on that after playing. I’m curious how playing three characters at one time will work. Will it be clumsy moving around? Will you choose one active player at a time to move? The back of the pre-order box for SOTNW calls it “revolutionary multi-character control.” Some other pitches about the game:

- “fantastic variety of combat stances”
- “striking, original art direction”
- “brilliantly designed classes”
- “PvP duels between players and PvP battles between cities”

Still waiting. 17% done … 35% … 68% … 73% …