Feb 11th and still no new news

[Daniolaut]

My personal estimation.

FFXIV beta invites contest for EU contestants who have a FFXIV SE entry deadline is Feb. 14th 10am. (GMT)
** http://forum.square-enix.com/ffxiv/threads/60244
-this gives plenty of time to select the 30 winners by Feb. 15th.

Yoshida said he would be getting the next letter from the producer out in the "next few days" on Feb 12th
-Feb 15th ish.

NA rep probably will post this one soon... but anyways...

プロデューサ兼ディレクタの吉田です。
サンフランシスコに到着しましたが、今朝は数年に1度あるかないかの大寝坊で、
関係者の肝を冷やしまくってしまいました……。飛行機間に合って良かった^^;
現在はホテルに缶詰でレターを作成しています、あと数日で公開できるのではないかと。
同時にβマニュアルや公開範囲告知のチェック、開発とのやりとり、遠隔からのβログインでのチェックなど、
なかなかにアレです、海外にいる雰囲気ゼロです（苦笑
明日はいよいよ会場でのリハーサル、それが終わればもうメディア対応と移動のみという、
超過密スケジュールに突入します。その様子はM女史やモルボルがレポートしてくれると思います！
タバコが吸えなくてゲンナリしている吉田でしたー。ではまた！
Producer/Director Yoshida here,
We arrived San Francisco, but this morning I overslept, this only happens maybe once a year or never. I scared the daylights out of the staff...... Glad we made it on boarding time ^^;
Right now I'm preparing the letter at the hotel, should be able to get this out in next few days.
Also got lots of stuff going on at the same time, checking the Beta manual, checking the announcements, talking with the devs, logging in to Beta and making checks. It doesn't feel like I'm at overseas (laugh)
Tomorrow we'll finally start rehearsal at the stage, once that's over we just head over to the medias with super hard schedule. I'm sure Lady M and Moldbol will keep you guys in the loop on that part!
Alright that's it for now, talk to you guys later!

The exact middle of a normal month.
-Feb 15th

Announcing new information after the end of the media tour
-Tour should end around Feb 15th.

The next Live Letter from the Producer will be Feb. 22.
**This would most likely include Yoshida in the Beta test with testers
-Should be live at least one week after beta has started, ample time for people to have the email, the client downloaded and characters made, and be underway. Feb. 15th (one week before.)

http://lodestone.finalfantasyxiv.com...bb988ceab52575

So my estimation is Feb. 15th. The absolute latest would be Feb. 18th.
(The absolute latest of my prediction according to this information. Everyone should know SE is capable of pushing anything further than common sense could imagine.)

[Imoen]

I'm just being a bastard here. (please forgive me) 28/2=14 >>> Feb 14th* :P

Honestly though all this really doesn't matter because in the schedule-- said it was subject to change.

****I'm just playing around with ya though :P I did see you put middle of a normal month there.

[Daniolaut]

I'm just being a bastard here. (please forgive me) 28/2=14 >>> Feb 14th* :P

Honestly though all this really doesn't matter because in the schedule-- said it was subject to change.

****I'm just playing around with ya though :P I did see you put middle of a normal month there.

Yeah i fixed it just as you were posting. haha

[Priya]

My personal estimation.

*snip*

You make a good point bringing up the haiku contest... particularly this part:

Prize
We will be awarding ten (10) winners from each forum language (English/French/German) totalling thirty (30) winners with the below FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn virtual prize (the “Prize”):

• ONE FINAL FANTASY XIV A Realm Reborn Beta Key*

* Prizes will be sent by email to the registered email address used when registering your Square Enix account. This is a virtual prize with no monetary value and cannot be sold or exchanged. For information regarding minimum system requirements to use the beta key please click here.

Entry Period
7 February, 2013 3:30 a.m. (GMT) to 14 February, 2013 10:00 a.m. (GMT)

Winner Selection
The FFXIV EU Community Team will select ten (10) of the best entries from each forum language (English/French/German) based on overall creativity and humour. Winners will be announced on the forum on 18 February, 2013 (“Announcement Date”). Once the Winners are announced, Prizes will be sent to the email address registered on the Winner’s Square Enix Account.
*Entrants are advised to update their email address registered on their Square Enix Account before participating.

We reserve the right to re-distribute any unclaimed Prizes. No cash alternative shall be provided in place of the Prize.

[Starlord]

You make a good point bringing up the haiku contest... particularly this part:

Basically they told us the Beta Key Distribution date indirectly.

[Kirito]

Basically they told us the Beta Key Distribution date indirectly.

Yeah makes sense that it will start soon. I feel like we caused ourselves unneeded worry of delays when its likely there weren't any...

[Altena]

Good point about the Haiku contest...

I did imagine that beta would be released before the live letter on the 22nd but after the written letter (which I presumed was going to show up about a week-ish before the live).

I can understand people's anxiety and impatience, but I have found it a tiny bit amusing how naggy people have been for information on the eve of beta. We should all go have a massage and chill out A lot of questions that have been raised will be answered soon enough.

[Starlord]

Yeah makes sense that it will start soon. I feel like we caused ourselves unneeded worry of delays when its likely there weren't any...

Well, in the past their was delays no denying that. Considering how good Alpha went and they already have a build to work off of, I don't foresee any "huge" delays. If there's any delays it will be 2-3 days ahead of mid-Febuary. and I hardly call that a delay, but to each to there own. If it for some odd reason Beta starts in Early March THEN I will see that as a delay.

[Kirito]

Good point about the Haiku contest...

I did imagine that beta would be released before the live letter on the 22nd but after the written letter (which I presumed was going to show up about a week-ish before the live).

I can understand people's anxiety and impatience, but I have found it a tiny bit amusing how naggy people have been for information on the eve of beta. We should all go have a massage and chill out A lot of questions that have been raised will be answered soon enough.

I actually think we'll get invites either the day of the live letter or after then get a two or three days to download the beta for limited access to start on monday. So we might get the invites by friday? This seems to fit the middle of the month plan. And remember phase 1 and 2 are not 24 hour long testing time. I expect for us to have about 5-8 hours at longest for the 2 weeks. I'm honestly more excited about the community of the beta forum than the beta right now since I know we won't be getting 24 hour access and life as a college student does not permit much time away from studying. I really only get the occasional browse on the forums.

[mikecoby]

Just a guess, but I'd say we'll get beta once they start the live letter.