I don't know how long they prepare these things in advance, but I'm betting it's many, many months. For all we know, SE could've been working on deep dungeon since December of last year. So imagine you've released something you've worked 6 months on only to hear that it's too easy from the hardcore raiders (Final Coil). The next six months are spent making the battles harder (Alex Savage 1-4). But that was too difficult for many. So now you have to spend the next 6 months scaling it back. it's a real balancing game and you have to try and predict in advance how it will work - but you really *don't know* until launch day.

I really do wish we could learn more about what goes on behind the scenes. Like what happens when developing a new class? What goes into it? How does it change over time? Why can't we have our shadowy path back on Dark Knight despite asking for it a thousand times?

I think the reason why we can't have player access to a test server is because people can't keep their mouths shut. Imagine if you got access to Deep Dungeon before anyone else even though it was still in a sort of beta phase. You'd be telling everyone you knew not to run toto-rak for the 1,000th time because pretty soon there will be another labyrinth dungeon that gives easier XP.

Gold Saucer would be much more popular if they let us queue for dungeons while in a mini game.