Global Agenda Beta Schedule

Some info on the Global Agenda beta schedule.

The Global Agenda beta servers are available for play only during specific play test windows, and those tests may be limited to only certain game features. Registered beta participants will receive specific test instructions prior to each Closed Beta test event, as the events are announced.

In general, during January, we expect the servers to be up each day most days in January, except for Wednesdays, starting on January 7 and continuing through January 26. On January 29 through 31, there will be a special Name Reserve and Character Creation event (details to be announced later).

In order to concentrate testing, the servers are currently expected to be live only from 1 PM to 1 AM US Eastern Time daily (10 AM to 10 PM Pacific, 6 PM to 6 AM GMT). The actual hours of operation may change as we progress through testing.

Global Agenda mission type overview

With Global Agenda's release date fast approaching, the guys from TenTonHammer have taken some time with Todd Harris to discuss Global Agenda's mission types.

We spoke with Todd Harris, Executive Producer of Global Agenda, regarding the core of the game's PvP - the match formats or "mission types," and maps. At launch, Global Agenda will boast a total of five mission types for Mercenary PvP (the free-to-play matchmade PvP) and one match type for Conquest PvP (in which agencies vie for control of territory and resources). Here's a quick rundown of the five Mercenary mission types, many of which will be familiar to online shooter fans.

Be sure to check out the whole article for more info on all the mission goodness.

Global Agenda release date announced

Hi-Rez Studios has officially announced the Global Agenda release date as February 1, 2010! You may remember Steam leaking this date a little while back, but now it's been confirmed. Additionally, they've opened up pre-orders on the Global Agenda site, Steam, and Amazon marketplace. Some of the benefits include:

• Gain access to Beta – Players that pre-order will gain access to Global Agenda beta events in January. Note that the beta servers are available for play only during specific play test windows, and that tests may be limited to only certain game features. To participate in the Global Agenda beta, you must register your Product Key online at the Global Agenda website following your pre-purchase. Registered beta participants will receive specific test instructions prior to each Closed Beta test event, as the events are announced.
• In-game Items – Players that activate their Product Key on the Global Agenda website prior to February 1, 2010, will receive a special in-game helmet captured from the Commonwealth, as well as head flair honoring the Global Agenda "No Elves" marketing campaign.
• Reserve Your Player Name and Agency Name - Gain access to Global Agenda’s pre-launch “Name Reserve” event, in which players are given the opportunity to reserve their in-game name ahead of launch day (exact dates for the Name Reserve event to be announced). Players will also be able to reserve an Agency name during the game’s official launch.

Those interested in reading further can check out the full press release on the Global Agenda blog.

Global Agenda Beta CBT-2A begins this weekend!

Hi-Rez Studios has just announced that Closed Beta Test 2A will begin this weekend, December 11th. This test features a shiny new game client with lots of new stuff for testers to get their hands on.

Not a whole bunch to say beyond that right now. Obviously keep an eye out here and around the Global Agenda community for beta keys as the testing session draws closer!

Global Agenda release date hint

So with little else to report on right now, I'd like to take a moment and contribute to the rumor mill. By this I mean discussing the recent posting of February 1, 2010 as the expected release date of Global Agenda. This date comes from Steam, the current distributor of Global Agenda beta. Literally ripped from the Global Agenda Steam page:

I know there have been instances where Hi-Rez has mentioned February as a target, so I can't imagine this date being completely unfounded and really should serve to give February more credence. And hey, that's less than 3 months!

NoxX hosting beta key giveaway

Thanks to Bion who pointed of that the NoxXious Agency will be giving out some beta keys in a TF2 event coming up. Here's the clip:

On Friday, the 4th of December at 7:00pm PST NoxXious will be hosting a TF2 match on our dedicated server. We will have a few of our members in-game partaking in the face-melting and hopefully a few Hi-Rezians will join in the fun as well. The rest of the roster will be filled with people who have yet to receive a beta key.

Those interested can read the full info on the official thread.

The Escapist has posted a nice segment highlighting Hi-Rez Studios' exceptionally clever "No Elves" campaign. The video is part of the Escapist's satirical gaming news feature. The entire video is about 5 minutes in length with the No Elves portion starting in at around 2:40. Head on over to the Escapist to check it out:

Global Agenda online game Escapist video