Where exactly are those Dell/BlizzCon/WWI keys again?
by Mike Schramm 
Aug 13th 2008 at 1:30PM
This one's been flying under our radar for a while, but I'm not sure why -- I happen to be one of the affected. Still, while everyone was spending the past few days worrying about tickets for this year's BlizzCon, a whole other set of folks were worrying about last year's BlizzCon. Specifically, the beta keys they received there. Originally, they were all told by Belfaire that there was going to be a wave of invites after August 1st that included people who'd recieved beta keys from Dell, or for attending BlizzCon '07 or this year's WWI. But now we're almost two weeks past that date, and we (I was one of the folks who entered a key from BlizzCon '07) haven't seen any beta keys at all yet.Last Thursday, about a week ago, Belfaire acknowledged there was a problem on the forums, and asked people to enter their names if they'd input their beta keys and hadn't recieved a beta email (here's the BlizzCon thread, and here's the Dell thread). But there's been no answer since then, and I certainly haven't recieved a key at all. In fact, we've heard from people who got invited to the beta through the random opt-ins, which means these keys we paid for haven't done thing number one for us.
To tell the truth, I'm not that concerned about it -- I really enjoy seeing new content on the live realms rather than on the beta or test server, and there's certainly enough Wrath beta news coming through here on WoW Insider about the beta to keep me satisfied. But the beta is only going on for so long, and every day that passes without invites sent to Blizzard's biggest fans (the ones who've spent money on the Dell deal and attended Blizzard's invites) is more of the beta key wasted. I doubt we'll be able to use them again, so it's a shame Blizzard hasn't let us use them yet.
Thanks to everyone who sent this in!
Filed under: Analysis / Opinion, WoW Social Conventions, Blizzard, Expansions, BlizzCon, Wrath of the Lich King, Worldwide Invitational
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 2)
Orbit Aug 13th 2008 1:40PM
I have a Blizzcon beta key and I got in the Beta the first week, so I thought everyone with them got in at the same time.
Popalicious Aug 13th 2008 1:45PM
I got my beta code from Blizzcon 07 - I haven't really asked around much, but I hadn't heard of many people having issues.
Omega Aug 13th 2008 1:54PM
Blizzard sent out a wave on July 22nd, which caught a bunch of the Blizzcon people. Dell people didn't get any invites as far as I can tell...and Blizzard has sent out two opt-in waves that were meant for Blizzcon people, but their system messed up and only opt-ins went out. No Blizzcon invites at all.
Orophino Aug 13th 2008 1:46PM
My wife and I were both at Blizzcon. I got my beta invite. The wife is still waiting on hers. Contacting customer service just gets us repeated "please wait" suggestions.
Combined with the Blizzcon 2008 ticket epic fail........... Not good.
holyground Aug 13th 2008 1:53PM
the issue is that the invite system broke on or around the 22nd of july. anyone who entered their code before that got in, since then, no one has received an invite from the promotions.
Many people are frustrated that no solution has been presented since the 1st (which was the last date of the current wave).
many people also believe that a manual solution could have been implimented before now, but they will not do so. While beta may be a privledge, being promised something that doesn't go through is disheartening to say the least.
Harlequin Aug 13th 2008 1:57PM
I'm one of the ones affected by this and still waiting for my beta key. Been about a couple of weeks and just being fed the same, "Please wait" schtick. Its getting old. :-/
Offhand Aug 13th 2008 2:23PM
"But there's been no answer since then, and I certainly haven't recieved a key at all. In fact, we've heard from people who got invited to the beta through the random opt-ins, which means these keys we paid for haven't done thing number one for us."
Anyone else mildly annoyed that this (and a number of other posts) seem to imply that those who attended Blizzcon or something have some sort of God given right to a key. Everytime I see something like this followed by "but the opt-ins got in the beta before us" just kinda makes me cringe. IDK if it's elitism or some other privilage you feel your not getting but I don't think flying to California after hitting the refresh key a thousand times on the Blizzard site makes you anymore qualified then the average player.
So please, be angry for not getting into the beta when you feel you deserved it but don't blame the people who didn't want to / be able to afford going to a giant PR event in CA.
Omega Aug 13th 2008 2:28PM
We aren't blaming the people that opt-in...we're upset that Blizzard promised us a wave of invites to catch all the stragglers, and instead sent out a wave that only got opt-ins.
holyground Aug 13th 2008 2:47PM
It's not that opt ins got in before us (there was a wave of them released before our wave was supposed to be issued), it's that opt-ins continued to be issued instead of our wave.
Put it this way: you go to see a movie. There are two sections of seats: vip and regular. you have tickets to vip seats.
As you stand in line to get into the vip section (because the box office lady said that you're supposed to get in at the beginning of the previews because you preordered your more expensive ticket), you notice a whole wave of people entering the cheaper seats ahead of you.
This concerns you because you're still waiting to get in and the previews have started (they're your favorite part, btw). When you ask the ticket ripper what's going on, he looks at you funny, saying, it's not time yet. You go back to the ticket window lady, and she says... Um, you were supposed to have gone in already.
Then you go back in line, figuring it won't be long. Then another group goes in ahead of you. Okay, that's weird. The box off lady comes over and says... hmm, that group was supposed to be you, hang on.
Then a third group goes in. You're still waiting, and you don't know when the movie is going to start and how much you're going to miss. Is the theater filled? Do they have your seats? The Box office lady is trying to help but she can't tell you what's going on.
end analogy. (feel free to poke holes in it... all analogies are flawed anyways).
3 waves have gone in since we were supposed to have gone in. There's still no eta on the fix. Both groups have equal right to participate in the beta, but us ticket holders were told we'd be in by now, and we're not.
Offhand Aug 13th 2008 4:35PM
The problem is attending any of those cons didn't garuntee you "VIP" beta access. In fact, if you look at all the order sites, it garuntees you whats going on at the event. The beta key was a goodie thrown in at the end. It isn't a VIP key, they can let you in at any time.
Sorry if my above post sounds pissed off but it really looks as if the perceived attitude is people who attended these things are more deserving. You will get beta access, but its' Blizzards call when that happens.
gumphood Aug 13th 2008 2:42PM
Its absolutly rediculous that this is even happening. Here is the thing - something is wrong. They need to help these people out that really want to play in the beta. Its not hard. How many people? 300? 500? There are 11 Million Accounts in Warcraft - and a small dense population of their most faithful and intense players are getting shafted?
These are the people that played the orginal Beta, and these a people that are part of the Warcraft community that gets the new outthere.
I'm not mad at the opt ins - but certainly I think this shows that Blizzard should start spending some of my 14.99 a month on better customer service -- between this is Blizzcon tickets, people are realizing Blizzard is not well equiped in customer service.
Just let these people in - no matter what the semantics - its that easy to make this go away.
Vajarra Aug 13th 2008 2:47PM
The waiting is frustrating, but the lack of communication is worse. If I was at least told when I might expect my key, that would be one thing. But I put my code in July 25th, posted in the customer service forum last Thursday, and still nothing.
Raventears Aug 13th 2008 2:58PM
I am one of the Blizzcon people who is still waiting to get in. 3 weeks now, almost a month...
I am not concerned that I'll get a key at all - I know I will. I'm more concerned at WHEN. Yes, we were meant to go first, and it got screwed up - big time. But what can you do but wait and pray that Blizz is moving and pushing us through as fast as they're implying.
I'm more concerned about participating and seeing the changes/fixes happening... To be honest, I feel cheated, and I feel that I should wait for my opt-in key to get here before my BlizzCon one does.
Terrible.
Arkkoran Aug 13th 2008 3:02PM
"Blizzard's biggest fans (the ones who've spent money on the Dell deal and attended Blizzard's invites)"
Yes, because since you have more money and the ability to fly out to California, you're a MUCH bigger fan then me, who doesn't have that sort of money. This makes a ton of sense. Who knew that when you have money, you're a bigger fan? I sure didn't.
crsh Aug 14th 2008 7:35AM
Oh shush; what he's saying is that both should be accommodated. I don't know about you, but if I had shelled out the $4.5k for the WoW-themed XPS laptop, I'd want my damn beta invite already.
ecumenical Aug 13th 2008 3:37PM
If you have any informants in the Dell or Blizzard camp, you might want to make some quiet inquiries as to the legal ramifications of the Dell Beta Club. Word has it that Dell isn't too pleased with Blizzard - having paid them a good deal of money for the WoW laptop promotion - since people are asking for refunds due to Blizzard's inability to follow through on the promotion.
Reading through the Dell threads on WoW's Customer service forums, it looks like some people are reporting Blizzard to the Better Business Bureau for false advertisement or failure to uphold their promise of beta access while using the promise to draw customers. This should be a PR nightmare for Blizzard, but somehow it's flying under the radar of all gaming sites.
I tried e-mailing Blizzard seeking official comment on the problems with Dell Beta Club, but I have not received a reply. I was planning on writing an article concerning these issues, but I have thus far received no interest in publishing it from gaming sites and no insight from official channels beyond Belfaire's postings in the customer service forum.
Belfaire recently posted that the problem was identified as an error in the beta databases and it is now in the hands of Blizzard's DBAs. This is a pretty unfortunate event and could end up being a heavy black eye to Blizzard's marketing department.
Fletch Aug 13th 2008 3:32PM
Yes, I imagine if Dell sold laptops with the proviso that the buyers would get a beta key then there will possibly be a legal backlash. I say 'possibly' because it would depend on the exact wording of the agreement. Did the Dell deal guarantee entry from the start of the beta, or was it a guarantee that you would gain entry at some unspecified point in the beta? Whatever the case it is not a shining example of how to maintain good customer relations.
Naha Aug 13th 2008 3:54PM
Ah good to see this getting some coverage. Still sitting keyless myself, both a Blizzcon key and other promotional key in the waiting :\
Travis Dorsey Aug 13th 2008 4:33PM
Ya fairly retarded that this has gone on this long...all of us that bought that laptop and got the Beat Club Card have been getting the run around for quite awhile.
I know that acouple people have contacted the attourney generals office. Dell paid Blizzard...Dell will sue Blizzard.
The sad part of all of this is I doubt after all of this very many companies will want to try a promotion like this with Blizzard in the future.
shinystar Aug 13th 2008 5:08PM
I am glad "Beta-gate" is finally getting some coverage. Over the past two weeks it has been annoying to check forums almost on an hourly schedule and see that nothing has been done. They have had plenty of time to resolve the situation but they have engaged in OP knuckle dragging.
Now that "Key-gate" is over and once again Blizzard dropped the ball as many where denied tickets due to poor handling, I wonder what is going on in Blizzyland.
Blizzy you are NOT prepared!!