How Do I Get In On The Test Servers?

[Alhanelem]

No, only because I think it will be used to test updates after this one, not including.

[Airget]

I was thinking they would release news about the test servers either yesterday or today. I'm surprised they haven't released any update news for about half a month now. All we got on the second end of the month was a bonanza reminder and the census report lol. It's also been a month since they made mention of job updates along with plans to release a roadmap in the "near future". To me near future would be 2 weeks but it's been a month now so that's kind of surprising.
I'm sure a lot are interested in seeing even a tentative roadmap of adjustments for jobs, even if they were to be changed or tweak it would be interested to see what their overall ideals are for each job. Maybe tomorrow we'll actually be given some news and a version update in the next week or two.

But ya I would think that the test servers will go live along with this upcoming VU, possibly adding content to the test server that they plan on releasing in august. Since I think the next "big" update was planned for August. Overall though once this VU and test server do go live it'll be interesting to see how well it works out to have players test out the content before releasing it.

[Alpheus]

We are pleased to announce that we will be launching the FINAL FANTASY XI Test Server on August 28th!

The FINAL FANTASY XI Test Server is a special server dedicated to testing various features that are in development for future version updates. With the test server, players may try out new content before its release and submit feedback and suggestions for improvement on the official forums.

The initial test period will focus on the new job abilities, job traits, and magic spells set to accompany the level cap increase that will be featured in the forthcoming version update.

More details on how you can join the FINAL FANTASY XI Test Server will be announced in the coming days, so stay tuned!

seems like they are ready to dispense with the golden tickets

[Runespider]

I can see this being a waste of time lol People will go on it to play with new stuff but add very little feedback, they should make it so that you have to submit useful feedback to be allowed on it after your first few visits. Otherwise the server will just be full of people messing around with new content for no valuable reason.

[Kimble]

I dunno, there are plenty of people who leave feedback as it is now with just update notes.

[SpankWustler]

I dunno, there are plenty of people who leave feedback as it is now with just update notes.

This sentence and the truth within it really makes a bro think about how useful most of the feedback they get from the test server is going to be.

There's near zero chance of any feedback like "It feels like the attack bonus on Flailing Flop is low. It did fine on weak monsters but it was horrible on anything six levels or more above me."

There's a two-hundred-and-four percent chance of feedback like "i dun liek Failing Fop it doo less damange thn n FF5 lol" and "Ailing Plop iz awsum it duz grat domage leik n FF7 lawl".

[brayen]

This sentence and the truth within it really makes a bro think about how useful most of the feedback they get from the test server is going to be.

There's near zero chance of any feedback like "It feels like the attack bonus on Flailing Flop is low. It did fine on weak monsters but it was horrible on anything six levels or more above me."

There's a two-hundred-and-four percent chance of feedback like "i dun liek Failing Fop it doo less damange thn n FF5 lol" and "Ailing Plop iz awsum it duz grat domage leik n FF7 lawl".

This is sorta what has me worried lol.
Majority of players don't read up or understand the game mechanics so will at best be able to give feedback like "it was good" as opposed to indicating something of more value. Just need to hope people can give a little bit more thought into what they are testing and what feedback they are giving.

[Runespider]

I just hope the "good" people that number crunch and know how to test stuff get on it. I know people hate on the BG posters but there are some really good players on there that should get access.

Assuming this server ends up having low numbers of players able to be on it at once ofc.

Anyone know how WoW does this? I know they let you duplicate your char to use on the test server but nothing about the sign up process or anything.

[Mirage]

I wonder if we'll be able to spawn mobs at will and be level 99.

[Rosina]

Just hope its nothing Like Aions. People left Aion (main servers) to play on the test server.