Final Stess Test Download

[Ruvanal]

But why should someone have to subscribe with FilePlanet to get a key? That's what I resent -- things shouldn't be done that way IMO. At  least in the previous open stress test, you could get a key from FP without paying for it. No doubt it's good marketing for FilePlanet and Blizzard gets a kickback, but that doesn't mean I like it.

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If I remember correctly, the first thousand keys given out by file planet went only to subscrbers in the first stress test. Only after those thousand keys were given out were any made available for free.

From fileplanet:

Are you charging people to play the Final Stress Test?
Blizzard is not charging a fee to play the final stress test or the open beta. However, to help defray the costs associated with distributing a large number of files and to keep our focus on finalizing World of Warcraft, we have partnered with FilePlanet for the distribution of the final stress test client, which is only available to FilePlanet subscribers. Subscription to FilePlanet carries with it a nominal fee.

and

Will you charge people to play the open beta?
No, the World of Warcraft open beta is absolutely free. Blizzard is not charging a fee for you to play the open beta.

From this and the comments on the WoW general forums, it appears that the charging of a key (subscription to fileplanet) is only to be occuring in this first week (stress test). After that there will be no fee for getting a key. Apparently at that time the client download at Fileplanet will be possibile to access without having a subscription and the keys will most likely then be availble directly from Blizzard rather that taking an extra step through Fileplanet to get one.

This is similar to the games buyouts in the Auction House. If you are willing to pay the buyout, then you win the auction right away and can go over and pick up the item in the mailbox. Want the lower price, then take chances on winning the auction wait till duration over. You are 'paying' to get into the open beta early; your choice.