Updated: 30 August 2007

Originally scheduled for August 17, the beta has been delayed due to the ongoing certification process. We hope to have the beta live by the end of August, but at present, there is no firm date set for the start of the beta. We know you're disappointed, and we apologize for the delay and thank you for your continued patience as we get the beta ready to go live. Please check the Universe at War message boards for updated information about the start of the beta test.

Signups for this first phase of the beta test are now over, and the registration period is closed.

The welcome emails to those registrants who have been chosen to participate in the beta will be sent in waves. The first wave of emails is currently ready to be sent, but if you don't receive an email in the first wave, that doesn't mean you haven't been selected - you could still receive a welcome email in the second or third wave of emails, which will be released a couple days after the previous wave.

We have decided to invite more than the initial 8000 we announced last month, due to the massive demand we've seen online from fans and the community. However, if you still don't get in for the first phase of the beta, you can still join the beta by pre-ordering the game at retail in North America in September. This will allow you to play in the second phase of the beta.

GameSpot will also be hosting beta signups so head on over to www.gamespot.com. They should have their signup area live in the next few days. As mentioned above, you can also sign up at select retailers in September to join the second phase of the beta.

No, the beta will not be shortened. You will still be able to play for 30 days from the start of the beta.

Yes, the special beta for those that pre-order the game in September at select retailers is still on schedule. We fully anticipate that pre-order customers will still be able to begin playing in the beta beginning in mid-September. More details for the special retail, or second phase, beta, will be in stores beginning early next month.

Yes we do. They are below:

Minimum Spec:	Recommended Spec:
P4 2.0 GHZ	P4 2.8 GHZ
512 MB system RAM	1 GB system RAM
128 MB video RAM, DX9 compliant card (ATI 9500 or NVIDIA 6200)	256 MB video RAM, DX9 compliant card (ATI X1800 or NVIDIA 7600)
DX9 compliant sound card	DX9 compliant sound card
3.0 GB disk space	3.0 GB disk space

Note that these are only the system specs for the beta and that the system specs for the final game are subject to change. That does not necessarily mean that they will increase. The final system specs could be lower.

Yes, we will offer all three factions and their full tech trees. We will also offer three maps as well as all multiplayer options (adjustable pop cap, victory conditions, starting resources, etc.), all option screens, VOIP, and a feedback link.

The beta test program is a testing phase that occurs after the game has reached the beta stage of development. This closed public beta test involves inviting users from the general public to playtest the game in order to improve it. In a beta test program, participants, known as Beta Testers, are provided a beta build of the game, documentation, and the means to submit feedback and bug reports. The Universe at War beta test program gives participants the opportunity to play an early version of the game in multiplayer mode and to provide feedback that will help the development team create the best real-time strategy game possible.

The Universe at War beta test will take place from mid-August through to early October. At various times during the beta test, we hope to update the game with beta testers' feedback so as to refine the game balance.

The beta test is divided into two phases. The first phase will begin on August 17 and will last for roughly 30 days. This closed public beta test has limited space and we have already opened signups for this phase. However, space is still open for the beta test. We will allow beta testers to playtest the game from August 17 until mid-September. At that time, the second phase will begin as we open up the beta test to more gamers who might have missed the first wave of beta test signups.

In order to join this second phase of the beta test, which will use code incorporating the feedback given during the first phase, you will need to pre-order the game at participating retailers. This second phase to the beta test will run until a week prior to the game's ship date. Even though the game will have gone into manufacturing several weeks before ship, the continued balance feedback will provide us with valuable information for future balance tuning.

The reasons are numerous. In addition to being able to play a portion of the game before the commercial release, you'll also have the ability to influence the actual development of the game. Petroglyph - the developer of Universe at War - and SEGA are looking to beta testers to catch bugs and fine-tune the game in order to make the best RTS possible.

Anyone living in North America that is 13 years or older can apply by signing up at the official signup page at www.universeatwargame.com. Signups will officially end on August 15. In addition, there are two other avenues to join the beta for those that miss the initial phase one signups. Players will be able to register through participating press sites as well as select community sites. A complete list of participating sites will be provided soon. Gamers can also join the beta test by pre-ordering the game at select retailers. Those gamers who pre-order the game will be guaranteed a slot in the beta test and will be given instructions for joining the beta test during the second phase beginning in mid-September.

We are reserving a select number of beta test slots for our fans and gamers from Europe. Petroglyph has a strong following in Europe and does not want to lock out those fans. We are still finalizing details for how European gamers can participate in the beta test. Please check back at www.universeatwargame.com in the coming weeks for more details.

Sega's Universe at War website has a newsletter that was sent to those who registered for it. An email informing people about the beta test was sent to those that registered to receive the newsletter.

Honest Feedback-We want to know your impressions of the game, the good, the bad, and the ugly. If you feel something doesn't work or isn't balanced, tell us.

Bug Reporting-Provide us detailed accounts of any problems you encounter; the more specific the better.

You are not required to provide feedback on balance or bugs-but we'd be really grateful if you did! The more people that provide feedback, the better the final game will ultimately be. We encourage anyone in the beta test program to participate as much as possible.

Beta invitees will be sent an email with a unique code to install the game, a unique code for creating an online account to test the game, instructions on where to download the client, instructions on how to install and play the game, and instructions on how to provide feedback. Beta recruits will also be asked to create a Sega.com account and to save their unique beta code to receive exclusive Universe at War in-game content when the game launches.

Our goal is to invite as many people as we can in order to gather as much feedback as possible. However, the ultimate number is dependent on a variety of factors. Initially, we reported that we were only inviting the first 8,000 respondents, but we've already gotten such positive response that we are increasing our beta test pool. The final number is still to be determined, but we will now take at least 8,000 users, so sign up if you haven't yet, or tell your friends to sign up so they can join you!

You do not have to sign an NDA. We hope you play the game and tell all your friends about it. In fact, we encourage you to talk to others about it. We know this game will be great, and your feedback will help us make it even better.

Beginning the week of August 13, we will begin notifying our first wave of beta testers by email that they have been selected to join the beta test. In order to not overload the Games for Windows Live servers and our feedback forums, we will invite beta testers into the beta test in waves of a few thousand at a time.

If you do not receive an email the week of August 13, that does NOT mean you have not been selected for the beta test. It only means you have not been selected to play in the first wave of beta testers. Once we have determined that the beta test is working properly, we will then open up the beta test to more users the week of August 20, letting in a few thousand testers at a time.

Our plan is to make all three factions playable, and to also provide the full tech tree and all units. We do need to play balance all sides, after all. Several maps will also be included in the beta test build, but the single-player game and Conquer the World mode will not be included in the beta.

That is undetermined at this time.

Universe at War is the first RTS to support Games for Windows Live. In fact, our beta test will be occurring on Games for Windows Live servers. Therefore, if you are selected to join the beta test, you will be given a code to create a Games for Windows Live account if you do not have one already so that you can test out the online capabilities of Universe at War.

This beta test is for the PC version of the game. However, Xbox 360 users that have a PC that meets the minimum system requirements can participate in the beta test. In fact, we encourage Xbox 360 owners with an Xbox Live account to join the beta test, as Universe at War uses the new Games for Windows Live online service, which shares the same features as Xbox Live. So if you have friends that have Xbox Live accounts, tell them to sign up. We need their feedback too.

There are no announced plans for an Xbox 360 Universe at War beta test, although that is subject to change.

Yes! Beta testers will be given instructions on how to send feedback directly to the Universe at War development team. There may be some restrictions in regards to posting beta test feedback outside the beta test program so make sure to read all the instructions when you register.

Yes! Beginning in mid-September, you will be able to join the beta test by pre-ordering a copy of Universe at War at a participating retailer. We will update the list of participating retailers with links to their pre-order beta test online pages as you are provided.

The list of retailers is still being finalized. Check back at www.universeatwargame.com in the near future for the final list of participating retailers. We hope to publish the list in the next few weeks.

Only select North American retailers will participate in the pre-sell program. However, if you are selected for this program, you will be able to participate regardless of where you live.

If you register before August 15 and are selected for the phase one beta test, you are not required to pre-order the game as a form of access to the beta test. However, if you are not selected for the first phase of the beta test, the only other way to get into the beta test is to pre-order the game at a participating retailer.

Not only do you get to reserve your copy of Universe at War early and join the beta test, but you will also get exclusive in-game content. This content will be made available for you when the game launches. Stay tuned to the www.universeatwargame.com website for more details.

Yes, we will be updating this FAQ as more details become available. You can submit questions about the beta test on both the Petroglyph and Sega.com forums. Check back at www.universeatwargame.com often to see more questions asked and answered.