To Abriael I realize you jumped on my comments without asking any questions to clarify your assumptions about what I meant by being under a contract. You assumed I meant that outlets had to sign some kind of contract forbidding them from writing this or that right? Like some sort of conspiracy theory? But that's not what I meant because I'm not an idiot right? If I meant that, that would be ridiculous. No, I was simply talking about the NDA and that's all. The NDA is in fact a contract and I feel like we're making readers dumber just going into the details of what I meant by that statement.

As you mentioned, your outlet in particular didn't sign any special, extra, additional contract so just in case anybody is unclear on that (I'm guessing about 0 people are) please take note.

Also I want to point out that it was my understanding that the lifting of the NDA had specific application; it was not a complete abolishment. So here's the actual statement from Reddit that I went off:

FFXIV: ARR Beta Testers Permitted to Discuss Character Creation and Gridania
During the Nico Nico Super Convention 2 that will take place on April 27 and 28 in Japan, there will be a FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Beta demo area and we will be lifting the confidentiality provisions on:
Information related to character creation
Information related to New Gridania and Old Gridania
IMPORTANT: Please note that all other information about FFXIV: ARR, as well as images, videos, and sound, will continue to be confidential in accordance with Section 2.6 of the FFXIV:ARR Beta Test Agreement. This means that, except for the above listed topics, it will still be a violation of the Beta Test Agreement to disclose information related to the features and technology of the FINAL FANTASY XIV: A Realm Reborn Beta Test, bugs, information posted on the Beta Tester forum, and any other related information (including testers’ comments and thoughts).
http://www.reddit.com/r/ffxiv/commen..._new_gridania/

You are saying your particular outlet had more freedom than that, but it really doesn't matter since the degree of freedom has no bearing on what I posted. There's still a restriction on screenshots, for example, and maybe that's something that people would like to see when forming an impression of a beta test. Not that there's anything wrong with wanting to withhold that to make a GOOD impression later. All I'm saying is there's an effort to kind of aim impressions for LATER instead of NOW when that exact same thing was the cause of the failure of the initial launch. Square even asked magazines to wait a month to review the original RELEASE of FFXIV. Why aren't you a little concerned by that consistency?

My comments about your journalism and humanity were aimed at defending myself, since you came in here like an asshole claiming I am lying and spreading false information and making such a big deal out of my post when that's a silly sideshow at best and arguing semantics at worst. I'm not some conspiracy nut out to troll the dead board, I'm just pointing out what I think is a reasonable concern over the health of the game's planned launch. I'm concerned and I think you should be too.