The original adds simply said early play when preordering. Nothing about how many days or that it was staggered. And some retailers either didnt' have or had no clue how to handle preorder codes so an early preorder didn't help when the code came late.

Not 100% positive, but I think that feature unlocks when you register the game, so when you get the real code and not just the pre-order. Seem to rememebr seeing that somewhere. For now I'd just open paint, set properties on a new image to 50 by 50 pixels, select all and save it as a blank, then selct all and paste your clipboard into it and save as, then reload the blank so ready for next screenshot. Annoying but it works until the feature is enabled.

Even if not against eula, external helpers(Scripts, bots, data meters etc...) have allways been THE major perpetrator of keylogging and account "hacking". One of many reasons wow incorporated an add-on system.

With the hassle getting even the preorder code, ordered aug 1, rec'd code dec 2nd, and the hassle trying to get a sgip date from Best Buy I finally cancelled my CE order as their track record didn't leave me with any hope of recieving it within a week after launch even. Ordered the digital download instead. I will miss out on the bonus stuff of CE but it'll be a logn time before I stop stewing about missing out on day 1 access anyways, I don't start a new game to sit and watch others get ahead. If I wanted a spectater sport I'd have gone to espn not swtor.

Actually it never said anything about staggered access in the original marketing, Just that preorder would allow early game access. This is the first intentionally staggered access I have ever seen other than a time zone access at 12am local.

Aug 1 preorder, code=dec 2. Thanks a lot Best Buy.....

I have a neighbor who got in second wave, still allready past 30, he did do considerable pvp from what he said though. I don't consider this abuse so much as a gross oversite on the devs. But still level 18 in my first 12 hours on beta so It wouldn't surprise me for peopel to be 30 by now even outside of the pvp issue.

Apparently not, the economical benefits of having a good lead will still apply similar to any other game though.

Actually they said they extended it 2 days, by the wording of the announcement that would mean 3-7 days early for all preorders. There were a lot of guesses how it would be handled but the only statement they made it it would be determined by when you registered your preorder code. A lot of neglect on providing those codes to retailers so many didn't get the codes in a remotely reasonable time frame. And the initial marketing didn't mention the staggered access, only that you would get early access for pre-order. This is the first time I have seen an intentionallly staggered access, and its messier than the oens who just let ya in based on local time of 12am on release day.

Probably the best idea yet, staggered access distorts the economy yes, even without that pvp oversite, not bug, economy control is in the hands of peopel who had the chance to establish themselves before others even started.

Obviously never been a serious gamer? An hour makes a huge diff at launch of any new content in a game, a week? Thats an insurmountable edge against a serious player.

Its open for play for permanent characters, their own posts state that swtor launched today. Sounds like a launch to me, the 20th is public release for those who didn't preorder.

The only WOW launch issues I remember is LK when the allowed a day early release of the oackage on the east coast and those players were in game playing the new content 3+ hours before west coast US coudl even stand in line to buy it. They learned and went digital for Cata. Seems swtor didnt' learn from the major mistakes of other major companies. Staggered content access was probably the biggest upset I ever saw.

Beta tested, preordered CE first day possible, not in.

Standard comment when this happens: We are sorry for any incomvenience this may have caused you. translation: There is nothing you can do about it. We won't do anything to make it up to you. And we don't really value your business.

Launch date is the 20th, day 1 is the first day characters that will be permanent start playing. I'm with them on cancelling CE, but not on buyign normal, I don't preorder the best package at the earliest opportunity to not start when the game opens. Hours make a difference not to mention days. Off to find an MMO that hasn't allready been run into the ground before I even get in.

Looks like time to cancel that preorder. At first they just mentioned early play for prerders not this staggered mess. I had hops of actually playing the game when it first came available, not when peiple had a day or more head start. $165 to get shafted isn't my idea of how to start a new game, and yes 1 day nakes an insane difference at the start of a game.

Allready gettin the "bitter taste" mentioned by someone earlier. Shoddy handling or preorder codes by an authorized retailer with worse customer service and the only help from bioware/ea is to say to contact the retailer. Obviously didn't make the earliest access or I wouldn't be here complaining about it too:) I had been looking for a new game to start out on and start out right, so I ordered early and shelled out the money for collectors. Now, I am having to wait while others get ahead and I wonder why I wasted the money for a nonexistent advantage. Getting in at the start of a new game for me doesn't mean after others have been playign for days or even hours, it means AT THE START.

Release date delivery is still "late". The game launches at 6 am and launch day delivery will be after that, kinda wonder abotu a preorder when you can't start at launch.

I'll match that, preordered through Best Buy 8/1, 12/1 the cancelled and restarted my order because I still didn't have the preorder code, recieved code the 2nd and it registered as the 3rd. From many different forums this appears pretty standard with the CE through them. So now I get to listen to some friends who ordered the cheap versions after me talk about playing now. Pay more for the CE advantages to start later... not working out so well.

Problem with that is, not all that ordered first got codes first. Best Buy had problems with taking months to get people preorder codes, so peopel who did shell out the extra 70 bucks for the CE STILL don't get in any earlier even though they did preorder early.

30+ years of online gaming experience says yes, even a few hours earlier access makes an extreme difference with a new game launch or an expansion. Without expeption so far.

Actually there was a post in the old forums stating that the sales/marketing team was working with retailers to assure we recieved out product in time to be ready for the launch. The track record some of the retailers had with just the preorder codes though, I wouldn't count on a physical copy in time from some.

ordered 7/1 best buy cancelled and replaced order on 12/1 when asked why I hadn't received preorder code still, crossing fingers hoping the CE gets some kind of edge in this because that is a bit too late to get the code.

Probably going to be waiting for a few days yet, cursing Best Buy the entire time for shoddy processing putting me so far behind. It would be nice to see some kind of official information on how often more players will be allowed in. Reloading the game every 30 minutes to try and get in may get old by tomorrow.