HexAgenda

Hi-Rez has updated the Public Test Server to the next patch, version 1.2. You can read the current notes for the patch here. Some quick highlights: new Conquest mission types, defense facilities for Conquest, and 4v4 arena mode!

Hi-Rez Studios have posted a roadmap for the next two patches, 1.2 and 1.3, over on their dev blog at MMORPG.com. You can find it here.

Patch 1.1 is now live on the GA servers. You can find the notes for the patch posted here.

Hi-Rez posters have also been dropping hints about some of the things that will be coming in Patch 1.2, which has been mentioned as likely arriving "in a couple of weeks" (source), including a 4v4 "Arena" mode with special maps, including a vertical map.

According to this post by Stew on the official forums, the 1.1 patch is scheduled to go live on Tuesday, March 2nd. There will be a downtime from 11am to 3pm EST (8am-Noon PST, 4pm-8pm GMT) in order to deploy the patch, and Conquest zones will not be active on patch day (to give people time to patch and familiarize with the changes). The post also lists the current patch notes for 1.1; make sure to check them out for details on the coming changes.

Hi-Rez has posted a preliminary version of the 1.1 patch notes (for the patch which will soon be going onto the new public test server for testing prior to release). Note that these are preliminary; they are not meant to be comprehensive nor do they reflect everything that will be in the patch. Treat them as a work in progress. That said, you can read them here.

We've been reevaluating overall rewards in AvA, and ultimately we hope to provide the best of both worlds. As we examine possible future features, such as agency leveling and the rewards that go with that, we hope to provide a boon for everyone who participate in or wins a zone, while also still providing the specific limited rewards that cause some friction if the winning group is too large.
Currently the reward is lifetime name recognition (in a number of places), a cache of unique equipment, and some very unique apparel items. Not only are the apparel items limited, but they come in the form of Officer quality (very limited) and Soldier qualities.
I do suspect the rewards will change from win to win, and as we improve AvA and the game overall. --HiRezScott

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Hi-Rez's Stew Chisam posted today in the new Public Test Server portion of the forums about the first officially announced item that will be on the test server: friend lists. Take a look at the post here.

Here is a list of additional things we are currently considering for AvA, feedback is welcome. (Post continues...) --HiRezErez

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As part of their preparations for the upcoming opening of a public test server for future GA patches, Hi-Rez has created the @GATestSvrStatus twitter account to help keep players informed of the up/downtimes for the PTS.

That was one of the best posts I have seen. Intelligent arguments and good ideas. --HiRezErez

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This post introduces the "DevWatch" category (and article tag) that will be highlighting important posts by Hi-Rez devs regarding Global Agenda. To see a list of all public posts, check out the devtracker.

Non-subs will be able to buy from the auction house. --HiRezErez

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As part of Hi-Rez's "upcoming developments" announcement today, they've decided to extend the period for which Conquest will be free for all players, sub or not:

We view the release of Global Agenda as the start of the journey and we are already working hard to continue delivering improvements, new features, and new content based on your feedback.

To prove it to you, we are going to extend the free-play period for Global Agenda Conquest while continuing to deliver features and content enhancements.

All players will continue to be able to play the Conquest features for the rest of February and March without a monthly subscription fee.

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The post also spells out some details of what is in production for the near future, and a rough timeline for the release of those changes.

spacerecycler's keen eyes noticed a new item in the Steam Tools window - and after asking about it on the forums, HiRezStew has clarified that yes, the "GA Public Test Client" shown in the Steam Tools list is indeed in preparation for the introduction of a public testing server for new patches before they're rolled out to live. Stew estimates that more info should be forthcoming as the first large patch appears (sometimes in the next month).

Also from the forums, HiRezErez says to look out for details of the upcoming patch in the next day or two.

A question that has been popping up often on the official forums lately is "how do those Skill Rating stars get calculated, and how do they play into matchmaking?"

According to Erez Goren, the lead designer of Global Agenda, the system in use is "a modified version of TrueSkill." For those who haven't heard of it, TrueSkill is a rating system developed by Microsoft which they employ for matchmaking on the Xbox Live gaming service.

February 1st, 2010 is launch day for Global Agenda. The servers are scheduled to come up at Noon US Eastern Standard Time, which is 9 AM Pacific Time, or 17:00 GMT. This is the planned time, but keep an eye on GAServerStatus on Twitter for any potential updates.

In a YouTube video recently posted, Hi-Rez Studios' Scott Zier walks us through Conquest, the persistent campaign component of Global Agenda.

Not much to say here... go play!

Since the schedule for the initial AvA zones was posted a few days ago, there's been some concerned expressed from Oceanic and other "odd time of day" players about the gap in coverage of AvA zone openings. HiRezStew has posted on the forums to offer an explanation for the current schedule and a look at how things are going to progress from there. The full content of the post is after the jump.

Throughout the course of development we've seen Todd Harris all over the place when it comes to interviews, Q&As, et cetera - but it's far less frequent that we see the big cheese, Erez Goren himself, responding to questions from gaming sites, let alone on a podcast discussing it in real time. Today Massively released the latest episode of their "Massively Speaking" podcast (#86) which features both Todd and Erez talking about Global Agenda.

For those eagerly waiting, the "Global Agenda Live" client is now available for installation via the Steam client. While the servers are not scheduled to open for the beginning of the limited play period until later in the week, you can begin downloading the client (6.5 GB) now so as to be ready as soon as they do come up, and the ability to reserve your name once installed is also live (right-click game in list, choose Manage Game Account...).