Test server access? i want it but i dont know how to get it
 

I asked Big D about this and was told it was based off of length of account activity, if you had been banned or had bad activity,and so on and so on,and if you where found to be a pirate in good standing when a position became available they would contact ya.

Testers on forum probably have a better idea lol but that may help

it is exclusive to people invited to be testers by disney

It is based on ..as long as you stay in good standings, meaning you comply with Disneys Policy, then you will be considered to become a tester. An invite will be sent to your registered e-mail for a "test" oportunity on their Test Server.

Good luck and stay in good standings and hope you get selected.

Test server access!!!
 

Found this on the Grog Blog - sign up now before it's too late!


Calling All Pirates! Help Test Pirates Online!
January 29, 2009

Starting right now we're opening our Test Server to any Basic or Unlimited Access Pirate who has played Pirates Online in the last few weeks (Jan 18 - Jan 27).

We're looking for Pirates to help test new game features and identify potential glitches. This feedback is very important as it will help make the game better for all Pirates! We're granting all access for just a few days. Since our Test Server has a limited capacity, this opportunity is offered on a first come, first serve basis.

To Download the Test Server installer, follow one of these links depending on your operating system:

PC: Click here

Mac: Click here

By accepting the all-access invitation and logging into Test, you agree to send us your feedback. To send feedback, use the in game feedback form (look for the '?' icon in the lower right of your screen), or use this form.

What's the Test Server? The Test Server is where we test new game updates, improvements and other bug fixes before they're released to the live game and the general public. The test server is a separate instance of Pirates Online, where you create a new Pirate. This won't interfere with or change your regular account.

Seems pretty cool I guess, too bad I can only look at new now though, til I get a new computer, I'm no pirate.

woot we get access to test server !!!!!!

Sweet.....we can finally assist with reporting bugs/glitches and help improve the overall game experience. I'm definitely in on this.

TGIF!!!

:bird-vi:

lol i just noticed somthing theres a dog in one of the jail cells

Test Access has now been opened to everyone for a few days. Please read this post to get information.

Closing this thread to keep focus to just a few areas :)

I can only hope a few things:

1) All the people who gain access to the test server really do something to HELP the game development. In other words, TEST, not cause problems Don't go HUNTING for glitches, walls you can walk through, places you can become invincible, etc.
2) That the feedback they offer is constructive; don't tell Disney Here's something that would be good to have, or here's something I want:: Tell them about what is already there, and the bugs you find.
3) That Disney actually listens to the bug reports, not ignores them the way they did with the October update.

As a long time Beta Tester for a number of different types of software, I have a bit of experience here. The purpose of test is to provide feedback on what they are offering, not to tell them what you want to see in the future.

For example: the version running on test DOES NOT have anything to do with the Kraken, so don't give a bunch of feedback reports about wanting the Kraken added to the game.

Will it stay for a while? Or will it be taken down after a few hours/days?

I would strongly disagree on this point. Absolutely go look for these type of things. The big problem that exists with these things are the people looking for these things and want to hide them and take them to live. Finding things like this requires the second part of testing that many fail to do, Reporting them.

This looks like a short time period on test server for everyone, that in itself demonstrates I believe what a lot of this patch is about. To overload the server and test lag. With all the people feeling lag a top issue in the game, go test these glitches and everything else that is daily on live and problems contributing to lag. Every time there are wall glitches, invulnerable glitches there are jumps in graphics and contributing problems to lag.

Other areas of things that I know need testing are areas like full crews making it on large ships and game stability. Svs loaded testing as well.

This being a attempt to stabilize lag and game play for everyone as the first chosen path to take in this year. I say go out and test what you can that causes many lag issues, the big difference here is making that One big decision. That decision is reporting these, rather than hiding future lag to the game.

I would rather not see completely lagged out servers in next few months, so this same issue is worked on again for the next patch rather than the possibility for new content and such things, just because trouble areas were not tested and not reported.

I can tell you right now there are wall glitches in the new Port Royal, next time there is a curse, what will be used? With half a dozen or so I know of just on Tortuga, how many of us saw them all being used during the last curse events.

This is a test server, so go out and test. Find the one thing that breaks it, what makes lag etc. REPORT it when you find it so the next several months it isn't the same problem.

DOn't know what Disney did???

I thought they were supposed to give people access to the test server, and that you had to go load it, make a new pirate, and then be on test!

I just logged into my regular account, got a major update download, and ended up on teh new Port Royal!

It looks as though they actually released the test server to open!
SO, as of right now, you DON"T HAVE TO download the test server program. Just log into your regular acount, and you will see the new Port Royal, the new chat, and all the other stuff. (Including all the BUGS!)

Though I agree with Elf - I think Basil meant it another way... don't be on Test to play - actually do Tests :D

And yes - they did release PR to open as of this morning as well... of course this defeats the entire purpose of testing PR - but - anyone wanting to get on Test for future testing should do so now... while its still open (and while on test still find the bugs and glitches :) )

In the few minutes since my last post:

Got booted, total game crash.
Then the "report a bug" screen totally locked up my puter.
Had to do a full reboot!

Trying to get back ingame now.

And thank-you Max, that was exactly what I meant.

First edit:
Happened again, Every time I click on another pirate, or on a name in my guild list, CRASH!
Gues we aren't allowed to teleport, whisper, or anything like that anymore!
(Not being able to whisper isn't necessarlty a bad thing, IMO.) LOL

Second edit:
Still happening, every time I click on a pirate, or if I click on a name in friends/guild list, I crash. I've been booted 6 times so far.
And this is regular game play, not the test server

Has anyone considered that there may have been a drunken, disconted, malcontent at Disney last nite? LOL!

"I know how to fix these buggers! I'll just give everyone a Test account! Hah! You want new content? Here's Port Royal for ya pal!"

LOL - that's great Rackat.

Well, I followed the link through the grog blog and am definitely on the test server.

I'm just playing the game as I normally would (questing) while looking for issues.

I guess my question to people who've had a test account for a while is how nit-picky should I be? I noticed a minor graphics (block hand a'la the "I Want My MTV" video) issue and a text script error getting my compass from Tia Dalma. Is that too small to report?

NOTHING is too small to report.

Nope! In fact - I'd send it twice (espically the script issue) - just to make sure they herd you :D Send ANYTHING in that you find - otherwise... if a bug is found in the forest, does anybody hear?" ;)

There are bugs in the forest???????

And, yes, I agree, anything you find, ANYTHING, is worth reporting.

One thing I forget to do is proofread. I'm so used to reading typo in chat, I tend to not really look for things like that.

Great info guys/gals. I will be sure to be meticulous and report, report and report. I truly hope the majority of the folks signing up for the Test Server are doing so for the sole purpose of TESTING and REPORTING. I'm sure we'll have a % of those just wanting in to see what is out there before it releases. My opinion on this is, if you sign up for Test Server access....participate in feedback for improvement purposes. Anything else is just a waste of time. I'd much rather have a roll out to main servers as bug free as possible. Nothing more aggravating then crashing in the middle of playing a game. Well, perhaps crashing in the middle of a game and spilling a drink on your lap...that could be worse....lol

:psmiley27:

The link is now gone from the grog blog so I assume no more test invites?

Totally unfair for those in school, or adults who work for a living!!

How were they supposed to load the program to their home pc's when they are at work!

Hope those that were able to get it are a fair representation of those who play the game! I.e. a good mix of players of all ages and all levels!

wierd, the day I get my test server invite for my main acc, They open it to everyone. lol

what about thoose who are already on the test since the begining of the game when it was made, that is also unfair

Sweet! Can't wait to join! Remember Partners In Crime has a test guild :)

I'm disappointed since I can't seem to get access to the test server now. Really poor time to release it when most are at work or school. Its not even on the grog blog now.

Aye will i agree i have been waiting for 13 months to join test server and the one open chance the have im in school.

-Sigh- Now its gone, gosh can't they think about kids who go to school...

*curses at him being grounded*

Now was my golden opportunity and I missed it! Danget!!

im in basic unlimited (oxymoron?) right now not open though

This seems really unfair... theres alot of people who would make great testers. I wouldn't make a very good one, so no reason for me to try. I just hope those who signed up help in anyway possible.

To those that didn't get a chance to sign up, maybe next time.

guess i shouldve taken the rest of the day off
 

as soon as i saw this i shouldve quit my job and run home so i could be on test lol

What is the process for reporting bugs or issues that we find?

If you haven't gotten an offical test account then you should be a basic member when logging into test on your account.

If you get banned or suspended from the test server then you won't be going back on it. If you just go on for fun and not report bugs they can drop your test account and give someone else a chance.

They're not going to let everyone on test. There's only three servers so if your test account's dropped then don't be surprised.

What are the three?? I only see two.

I only see two also, and my account isn't basic...?
And as far as dropping it soon, we kind of expect that, but its fun while it lasts :)
There might be a chance that they'll keep us ;)

There are only two, unless my knowledge somehow became obsolete in 5 days. Anywhoo, seems like a pretty crazy thing to do for them to mass-release Test, but it seems like it'd pick up fitting people since the event was declared at the Blog.

Oops, didn't see that.
I'm just used to test toontown where there are three servers.

Test Server Installer Software
 

I was lucky a friend downloaded the .exe file for the test server so I could get on it. Tried to offer it to (to send the .exe file to ) a couple persons here who had indicated they were sorry they missed the opportunity to join the test servers.

I down loaded the file, installed it and now I am also on the test server.

For those on the test server - just high the (?) mark above your treasure chest to send reports.

Yep, I've used that ever since they released that button on test.
I'm glad they put it in so we can send feedback faster. Too bad they never listen to us test pirates.

I hope I don't see too many of these new testers. Two oceans is only big enough for a few thousand people.

Evie: I didn't mean your test account would be dropped soon. Pirates will only let a certain amount of players play on the test server at one time. If players don't go on the test server at all they can drop their account to make space for more active people.

Aye, they are only fit to have a few testers on the servers, sure, they may add another server or two, but they'd rather not mess with that. More than likely, anybody that doesn't go all out and give replies to every step that seems to mess the game up, they will be the ones that lose Test access.

I can say I have seen testing bads on both ends. Some dramatic changes from Disney's side while keeping testers in the dark, such as Hex shot, while only noting this when it came out on live. As well as cutting damage in half in all pvp, again not noted to testers, nor regular play for that matter. As well as many of the sent in bugs every update that is not dealt with at all and the build released. This would be something like the svs crew bug that now ables each side to attack each other hand to hand this release.

The other end of this is players frustrated with these above issues, and feel it not worth reporting anything then. As well as just some play the test server for no more than just game and friends.

These barriers being made is not helping the game, specially if many feel its all ignored and the test server is just a first look at material and glitches. This attitude of some now to don't let them know the harmless/good one, or any other glitches is only working its way to more and bigger problems. I for one can read the glitch forums etc. and see like everyone else half the posts on glitches are "don't post that they will find out" or " remove that and have people give you tells". When you see these comments by half the posters, I think you can get a pretty good idea of what half the testers coming into a test server are going to be from the get go.

I can only state to report all things. If its something you like, dislike, or even feel nothing will be done anyways. Some of these things can snowball into much other unforeseen problems down the line, no matter how much we as players may like or dislike particulars.

The ? is a easy fast method for posting stuff and takes barely a moment. Also leaves out all the email auto responses, so Max can have them all, lol.

Had a second to log onto test to check out the dagger problems, and yeah, they're still there...

There must have been 30 Pirates standing around on the beach just chatting away, "abassa-server-on-open-like". Look, I know test is new and exciting to a lot of pirates, but please; TEST something!

Oh funny... your a funny guy :D

But agreed - all one can do is continue to report! The saying "the squeaky wheel gets the grease" is even more true today - if enough people complain about an item - its where they will put resources to first...

I saw exactly the same thing. Even more frustrating, when I asked the group for help testing something, I got no response from them at all. Oh, well. Hazard of opening up test, I suppose.

Yes, it looks like I missed it also. My excuse is we had a huge ice storm and devastated everything including power for the last five days. Oh, well, I have waited a year being a good girl I guess I can wait another! LOL!

Kani of Spartan Ellite

http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...ine=1232734754

Ehh.. I'm already a tester.. It seems great that they are letting others have a chance tho..
- Dakota

You know, I lucked out and got in because I couldn't sleep. Normally on a weekday I don't check anything online until I get to wrok. If I had been able to sleep I would have missed this opportunity. I am taking advantage of it. I know just this weekend I have submitted close to one hundred reports. Weapons, graphics, cutscenes, tech issues, whatever I find gets the "?" pressed and a report submitted. I hope it is true that the pirates that are treating this like open get their Test accounts removed, conversely, I hope those of us who took advantage of this are not summarily dismissed in a week or two.

Just like pirates, add one million dumb things modded and completely screw up another thing, then they fix it and another messes up, yada yada. Well, maybe in the future we can see smaller updates every few days or so, just to save us from a lot of alag, and also make it so they don't have to fix so much.

Actually this is fairly standard practice in the software industry (take a good look at Microsoft).

And well of course "one million" is a considerable number and quite fictitious.

I think they create, do, and fix more than we think, its a matter of when they implement them. I think they often hold onto some fixes/changes so they do not have to take the systems down as frequently. We just dont know.

Still lovin the game. :)

Yeah.... Sarah.. when I went on test last Thursday night.. I thought I was having Abassa flashbacks.

Hopefully those of us who had active test accounts prior to this mass opening get some priority treatment... log on or otherwise.

Test is where I usually go after the rest of the Deuces log off. To explore and report.

Test Server..
 

I have been a Tester ever since day 1...

I feel that they should leave the TEST server alone for only us testers for that's what it was made for. It is stupid now for us Testers that we have to share it with the new comers into the test server. It makes me sooo mad that they do that.

2nd thing is that people can wait at least 2-4 weeks for updates rather than just joining the test server....

I don't like what disney did at all letting all of the newcomers.....

ugh I was so disappointed I missed the test server. I operate the game on a Mac and feel there are issues that only show up on Macs. I was hoping to be able to represent the growing number of Mac users in helping to find these issues and bugs, but alas I guess I have to wait some more. On another note I feel Disney released the update too soon from test. The lag is worse than ever especially with the SVS turned into PVP issues. Found another bug last night concerning that and sent a report to Disney as this issue seems to be snowballing. Found out that the opposing team can launch a non-SVS ship and attack and damage the other teams ship even sinking it.

The game used to be fun, but it got old when nothing new showed up for months. I decided to stop paying access for a few weeks after I had been a member for 10 months. Turns out the next day after I lost my access I'd lose the unlimited access abilities I earned with some system change, and that's where I quit. At least I could use my good cannon ammos and weapons abilities in PvP and SvS teh day before. I truly wanted to join back soon, but my computer was too fried from the games frequent crashes.

That's why I don't bother with this dirt until they get these updates fixed, or I get a new computer. Sorry, but the game isn't fun enough for me to play without any Dagger Animations and it definitely isn't important enough to crash this computer over with.

I am sadden by the amount of persons here who are gripping about others being allowed on the test servers. These individuals sound like the father character in "Guess Who Is Coming To Dinner" - any organization, group etc needs new blood/people to assist in its growth. Adding people are only going to help all of us who love this game.... Yep it will take time to realize that the private club is no longer so private.

I am making new friends, finding bugs and glitches (which I report) and falling in love with the game again since joining the test server.

Why would someone not want me to enjoy this as one of the new kids on the block....

Not trying to bust on you, but if there was not a need for testers, this invite would not have occurred. Newcomers or oldtimers, it doesn't matter. What this game needs is more people dedicated to improving it. I know quite a few people who took advantage of this open invite, and I know that they all have submitted report after report on bugs and glitches since joining. But I also see some people on the test servers that stand around "Abassa-like" and not do anything. Which makes me mad because it is obvious from their level (lv30 + ) that they've been on Test for a while. So, while you may not like the fact that there is a lot of new testers that you have to share with, there are some that don't like the fact that some of the longer termed testers are not doing their job. It's a double edged sword (cutlass if you prefer).

I have only been on test a short while but I have rarely seen any high lvls, is it possible that with next lvl weapons and other higher lvl things "coming out soon" that they wanted to increase the number of testers able to give feedback about such things. When the last weapon quests came out I read several posts on here from pirates that couldnt test them because they were too low a lvl, the more testers the more feedback the less gets missed when game goes live.

I think it was a good idea to release more testers, but not for everyone.
Since they released it to everyone, well everyone got in, Glitchers, ect.
Also people that would test old glitches in test, but when doing so find a graphic glitch or something. then hopefully report it.

I think the open invite to test was Disney's way to save themselves some work. They needed more testers, they plan to release a lot of new content over the next year, the old test group was declining, or not as active as Disney wanted them to be. Releasing the test invite allowed Disney to NOT have to send personal invites, not screen accounts and find the "Right" people, not have to search and select.

My opinion, and it is just an opinion, is that:
1) A lot of these new people on test will eventually lose their fascination, and just decay away.
2) Not do the job, and Disney will remove them.
3) or, will provide some fresh faces, new ideas, and be extremely beneficial.

To those people who have been on test since the beginning; look around, even just two weeks ago, how many of the originals were active on test, how much testing was actually being done, and how many were gone, even to the point that they had let their regular accounts go inactive? I was on the test server a couple times just before they opened the invite, and I spent a few hours there and didn't see a single other pirate. Test isn't a private clubhouse, or a reward for the game Founders, it's a place for Disney to get feedback on things they plan to release to the public, before it happens.

Disney will weed out the ones that don't give any valid input, and those who stay will prove to be valuable to the game and it's development.
Remember the whole idea behind test is to have people verify the content, test the functionality, and report back their findings. All those who think being on test is just Tortuga on Abassa, they will be gone in short order.

I myself plan to get at least one test pirate to level 40 as fast as I can. Since I am one of the biggest mouths to complain about lack of content for high level pirates, nothing for level 40's pirates to do, I want to be in position to test ANYTHING that they have coming out for raised Notoriety, Weapons levels, etc.

Oh, snap. Good point. I hadn't thought of it like that.

Though it is good to see an orginal tester still committed to the game, unfortunately many of the orginal testers have vansihed.

If the goal was to have a 1:20 ratio of testers ro actual players (as an example as I have no idea on the actual ratio) then this number has fallen apart twice since release (hence the call for testers back in 2008 and now).

Also with numbers leaving AND new content being added - there would be no way for you to actually "test" everything... testing an ever expanding world for every known glitch (and some which you don't know that others do) - it would actually make more sense to try and attemt to add testers to cover as many bases as possible to find as much wrong as possible.

Your other point of waiting 2-4 weeks - is not one of players fault - but of Disneys. They are the ones who continue to push updates out before fixes even just hours before I know some of the best testers in the game have sent in huge reports... players can want all they want - D still pulls the switch whenever they choose. If more testers are involved finding moe problems quicker - at least D will have to address them with their first round of fixes before releases...

The overall quote is one of a) you are upset about how disney carried this out or b) you wanted test to yourself... and now all the new testers are in your way

I hope it was a) - because b) is never a responsible choice

Thank you, Basil.

I have to say, with some of the responses, I'm a little afraid of the test server right now. If the "old" testers are so against having the new ones there, its not going to be a very friendly place.

A very large group of my friends and I were lucky enough to get on, and have been playing on test this week. This is a group players with multiple high level pirates on open, including 5 guildmasters and several other officers. We're having fun (it is still a game) but more importantly, we are finding (and reporting) many issues. Since there are so many of us, and we are used to working together, we can test/recreate things easily, and level fast so that when new things come out, we will hopefully be able to test those as well.

I understand that many of the original testers feel cheated, perhaps because they had to wait for an invitation and we got in so easily, but as Basil said, with new things on the horizon, we'll need a lot of testers, and it sounds like not many are left. Yes, a lot of people have gotten in who will abuse it, but a lot of very diligent pirates got in as well. And yes, Disney will have weed through the ones who are not doing their job. But that does change the fact that they also got a lot of very good testers in this as well.

I can only speak for myself...I did not join the test server to see updates early. I joined to try and help improve the game. To hopefully help D identify problems that can be corrected before they hit the open servers.

I was one that got test server access last Friday and I haven't been back on open since.

I'm sure I will get to the point where I'll just want to play on open for a break, but right now I'm fresh-faced and starry-eyed enough (as regards game testing anyway) that I want to test and submit bug reports. Nothing else.

As I joked with a friend the other night "Testing; it's not just an adventure...it's a job!"

Nicely done Maximvs! I couldn't agree more with what you posted.
 

(Greatertater begins the slow clap)

I remember when a sped glitch was found one time, made one guy appear in one place an d then another. Not to mention the Hit with a cutlass from a mile away, and moving fly trap glitches. Truly, they need more testers, but the thing is they need people they know actually care about reporting to be on there.

from my knowledge, Fly traps were supposed to move, but they stopped it now

Hmm, do you mean like out of a certain place, or just spitting acid and stuff?

The previous major update allowed Flytraps to actually move - but this current release once again has them "rooted" as it were - and are back to be stationary

If I recall the fly traps chasing you (moving) came along with the patch they were doing at the time. Maybe the one that everything could go through walls and such. I always thought that was just a mistake, and got set back to normal.

I really don't see any point in having issues with new testers myself. If anything, having the entire open servers open to test would be great. If they worked it right it could be a large improvement. After a few weeks of everyone on test, Disney went through and picked out some people doing some good testing and reporting. Kept these people as live converted over again to normal, would pick out a class of testers that could make more a difference.

Frankly, old or new testers, and this view if they aren't testing much they are booted, I just can't say I am seeing any of that.

Using something like this above example would bring in a new crowd to kill some of this stuff maybe. Another area I think could use some help in test is have some of the staff come in on test now and then and talk to some people, get some first hand views over some of these bugs etc. Perhaps some do as regular characters, but overall I rarely hear a entirely lot of guild chat etc. on bugs, and glitches. Maybe another area staff can come in and set a few guidelines and ideas to testing. I can't say test server has any real guidelines, and such to test, as well as even a idea of certain areas to test that just got a change. I believe this area could use a little more communication, rather than 4 patches with same notes of improvements from start, and reports being sent in hopefully being viewed. At least for me I would rather know this last patch just did something with sailing, rather than running over like 40 other things to finally find this out.

New people also adds another feature, they are starting from the begining and seeing all the quests and such. I know at least for myself, I sure don't go through all the quests constantly, and especially every patch.

I would like to get some kind of response from Disney when I do report a bug, or issue. But when I report I hear nothing back from them. Makes me wonder if they are listening to what I am reporting or just going into a big inbox, where they just skim.

Ah, well well, I would guess that they were meant to be rooted seeing as they are plants. I wouldn't mind them moving at all, as long as I knew if they were supposed to move and wouldn't mess things up. It also feels that when they don't reply, you can never know if they even get them when you are in the game, that's why I tend to send them in a report from their website.

For the past 2 days, on Test, there as been a group of 3 or 4 players hanging out on KH, hassling other players. Their language has been terrible, and they prevent others from playing or testing.

This is a perfect example of the type of person who should not be on test.

Now for the real important part. At least one of these troublemaker players has been on test for a long time, not sure if they are original, or the group from 2008. They are hassling both new players on test, and old timers.

We are on the Test Server to test and report issues. This type of behavior is unacceptable and is clearly an "issue" thus should be reported. When I'm on Test, I look for anything that might impede game play and report it. What Basil has mentioned is clearly a distraction and they have no business being involved in Testing (or Open for that matter).

NEW test server access?
 

so i know test server access is open for unlimited members, i've wanted test server access for a while. when on the sign up page, you have to log in. i've attempted to log in several times but it just takes me right back to the log in page for the sign up again. a friend tried and had the same results. has anyone else been having this issue? anyone know a way around it?

i'm really sorry if this has been posted already but i'd really love some help! :piratear:

Test server access WAS open to all members of POTCO, for a few hours. They opened and closed it all very quickly. Keep an eye out for the next round of invites, i'm sure there will be more in the near furture.

Same thing happened to me but i was able to get in by just downloading the launcher and useing my open's account ID and Password. Got in and made my character.

Are you talking about the 1/29/2009 announcement or the 2/10/2009 announcement? The link looks live of the main page right now as I type this...

If your logging into the "signup" page for test access, your logging into the website, not the game.
It will take you back to the main page once "logged in" if that was the case.

Signing up, is just that, I seriously doubt its going to just immediately give you a test account.


I am able to login to test using my standard unlimited access account since a few weeks ago.
I already had the test software/launcher installed, so it was quick and easy.

no, its not logging into the site because i'm already logged into the site but when you go to the sign up page, it forces you to "log in" and when i do it sends me right back to the login page to enter my username and password. its not the main log in page, its the page that has the qualifications for test. and has username and password sections.

I don't think he means signing in at https://apps.pirates.go.com/pirates/...tserver/signup

I believe he meant after you did the downloads described at http://www.piratesonlineforums.com/f...st.php?p=17432

then trying to log in there. If you are not authorized yet, no harm done, you just have the program downloaded in advance, before the rush when they send out the mass-mailing.

oh, i see now. i misunderstood when i read it before. but thank you for the clarification!