TGS Trailer ahoy!

[Elexia]

Most likely which is why I figure he wanted first phase as Japanese only to keep everything local for stability testing. Stress testing was what I was mostly thinking of with the amount of quests since it will keep everyone doing something beyond basic trying to fall out of the world by jumping on the wrong fence.

[Munba]

Added the new one in the OP

[Biggs]

I was under the impression 1st phase Alpha starts while 1.0 is still up. Don't get me wrong I can't see how this will be out before march even if the beta goes smoothly, but for those saying 1-2 years you need to put the crack pipe down: this isn't vs 13 yet.

[Elexia]

I was under the impression 1st phase Alpha starts while 1.0 is still up. Don't get me wrong I can't see how this will be out before march even if the beta goes smoothly, but for those saying 1-2 years you need to put the crack pipe down: this isn't vs 13 yet.

Alpha - Late September-Early October
Beta - Once 1.0 goes offline (November 11th)

However it is now:

Alpha Phase 1 (JP Local) - Sometime after servers goes down November 11th.
Alpha Phase 2+ - (???)
Beta - (???)

[Kiote]

I was under the impression 1st phase Alpha starts while 1.0 is still up. Don't get me wrong I can't see how this will be out before march even if the beta goes smoothly, but for those saying 1-2 years you need to put the crack pipe down: this isn't vs 13 yet.

Yoshida has said repeatedly that JP only Alpha started at the end of this month. I dunno why there is confusion now.

[Rane]

I was under the impression 1st phase Alpha starts while 1.0 is still up. Don't get me wrong I can't see how this will be out before march even if the beta goes smoothly, but for those saying 1-2 years you need to put the crack pipe down: this isn't vs 13 yet.

I seem to remember this being the plan as well. In addition, recent posts by Soken (on his Twitter account) and Yoshida (see the quote below) indicate that the team has hit crunch time finishing the alpha client.

Yoshida responded to a fan asking if he would be at Tokyo Game Show with the following post. (Translation in blue, my notes in green.)

すみません、昨日の午前中のみ会場へ行き、その後、会社に戻って今も仕事しています。
この週末もαクライアントの調整に全力疾走なので、吉田にとって今年のTGSはこれにて終了ですｗ

I'm sorry, I was at the show yesterday (Thursday) morning, but afterwards I went back to the office and am still working now (Friday morning at 1:30 AM Japan time). We'll be in full sprint mode making adjustments to the alpha client this weekend as well, so TGS is already over for me lol

My guess is that the alpha will launch for a few lucky people in Japan in October. But hey, if I'm wrong, I'm wrong.

[Dragonheart]

If alpha has been moved to improve it i'm happy.

The game has to be good even in alpha. Dear Yoshi, do as GW2 developer said:

"It's ready when it's finished", don't do the same mistake again.

[BruceyBruceyBangBang]

It doesn't matter if the alpha goes as planned even if its late. If they want a polished release they need to have the content finished as well.

If it takes until a summer release so be it. It's their product and they have no obligation to rush it for any consumer.

[TimonLoon]

It doesn't matter if the alpha goes as planned even if its late. If they want a polished release they need to have the content finished as well.

If it takes until a summer release so be it. It's their product and they have no obligation to rush it for any consumer.

^ this. Take as long as needed with the Beta cause you're only getting one last shot. This will be the final fantasy.

[Shougun]

Exactly as the above posters have said, they need to come out of the gates kicking and screaming with awesome.

They dont have room to get an ok run up. If they dont blow up the doors and bleed the fields they will likely have a similar reaction to what happened the first time FFXIV was released.

They are under a lot of pressure - and I'm sure everyone here feels for them; however, we also know that if they dont get it right - there is just going to be more devastation, possibly this time completely irreversible. (For 14 at least).