Signing up for the Star Wars: The Old Republic community is your first step towards become a closed beta tester for the next big Star Wars MMO. BioWare wants active community members as testers, as active community members are more likely to provide feedback than dirty, stinking lurkers who lurk and stink. Once you've become a member of the community, you can visit the Game Testing Portal to sign up for your chance to be a part of Star Wars history or something.

Mind you there are no guarantees, but such is life.

Sign up to test STAR WARS: The Old Republic! [Official Website]

Closed beta - the initial frontier. These are the voyages of the Star Trek Online beta tester. Your continuing mission? To explore strange new worlds; to seek up new bugs and report them to Cryptic; to boldly go where only a handful of people have gone before. Interested parties are urged to visit www.startrekonline.com to sign up for their chance to help make Star Trek Online the best game it can be.

"Closed beta registration is an important step in bringing Star Trek Online to the public," said Craig Zinkievich, Executive Producer on Star Trek Online. "We are looking toward the launch of our first-of-a-kind MMORPG with anticipation and excitement and we expect Star Trek Online to explode onto the scene, giving fans and gamers a Star Trek experience like no other."

I'd say your chances are pretty good if you sign up early. How many fans that enjoy both Star Trek and PC gaming can there possibly be?

Players who preorder Aion receive a code good for access to all closed beta events leading up to the open beta and the game's eventual launch. That means that preorders come with a code good for this weekend, and if you really want to participate, I'd suggest grabbing a code today and getting the download started.

With the game launching on September 22nd, that doesn't leave much time for an open beta. NCsoft will be showing off the 1.5 update for the game at Gamescom in Germany next week, and odds are that's when they'll let us know when they're opening up Aion to the unwashed masses.

Tropico 3 ditches the second game's pirate motif in favor of a return to the original Tropico, with players once again stepping into the role of El Presidente, managing the day-to-day affairs and development of the blossoming island nation. Kalypso is offering a select group of players the chance to help make sure their vision is true and unfettered by game-stopping bugs. All you need to do is head to the Haemimont Games website, fill out the closed beta application, and then wait. Oh the waiting you will do. So much waiting.

Actually the beta kicks off on July 13th, so you probably won't be waiting that long. For more information on Tropico 3, visit the official website.

The official Warrior Epic website is now live, giving prospective players a deeper look at the world of the game, with new artwork, updated news, community forums, and of course, the chance to sign up for the upcoming closed beta test. While when the closed beta will start remains a bit of a mystery, True Games has plans on launching the open beta sometime in March, so it'll either be very soon or very short. Hit up the link for more details!

Warrior Epic [Official Website]

Ether Saga Online is based on the Chinese literary classic, Journey to the West, which means absolutely nothing to a man not well-versed in Chinese literary classics. What does mean something to me, however, is giant anime bears, as seen in the launch trailer for Ether Saga. It may not be driving a car, but sometimes your dreams come true in tiny pieces.

Those of you interested in trying out Ether Saga Online are directed to head over to eso.perfectworld.com and sign up for a chance to snag a key for the closed beta, which kicks off February 10th. Not sure you want to hang out with giant anime bears? Check out the screenshots below and see if anything tickles your fancy.

PERFECT WORLD ENTERTAINMENT CONFIRMS CLOSED BETA LAUNCH FOR FORTHCOMING MMORPG "ETHER SAGA ONLINE"

Gamers Invited to Register Online Today for Their Chance to Receive Beta Keys

January 22, 2009 – Redwood City, CA - Perfect World Entertainment Inc. ("PWE" or the "Company"), a wholly owned US subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd., today announced the Closed Beta program for its newest MMORPG, Ether Saga Online will begin on February 10, 2009.

Beginning today, gamers are invited to visit: eso.perfectworld.com, for a chance to receive beta keys that will provide early access to the Ether Saga Online game world prior to its official launch this spring.

Based on the Chinese literary classic, Journey to the West, Ether Saga Online combines lavish graphics with a youthful anime style and features a variety of unique features and systems for a truly one of a kind experience. Unlike other MMORPG games that charge subscription fees, Ether Saga Online will be free-to-play. Once inside the game world, players can earn and spend money to upgrade a large variety of items in real-time to enhance and personalize their game play experience.

"We are excited to provide gamers with early access to Ether Saga Online as we're confident they'll find its robust feature set, expansive game play world, and free-to-play model offers a greater level of player immersion and overall customization than traditional MMORPG games," said Dr. Alan Chen, CEO of Perfect World Entertainment Inc.

Gamers can visit the official Ether Saga Online website at: http://eso.perfectworld.com/ to view additional game play details, trailers, and screenshots.

Perfect World Entertainment

Perfect World Entertainment, a subsidiary of Perfect World Co., Ltd. (NASDAQ: PWRD), publishes free-to-play, online games and provides online services in North America. The Company primarily publishes three-dimensional, or 3D, online games based on the Perfect World proprietary Angelica 3D game engine and game development platform. In September 2008, the Company released "Perfect World International," a free-to-play MMORPG which is currently played by more than 50 million people worldwide.

Global Agenda pits rival player-created agencies against each other as they strive to achieve power in the wake of a global disaster. The game features fast-paced PVP more akin to an FPS than an MMORPG, while allowing players to choose classes and progress, gaining access to better and more powerful gear. Now, after ages of alpha testing (which I had a chance to participate in), Hi-Rez has finally opened up applications for closed beta.

"Our alpha testing has gone very well - in terms of game stability and, most importantly, very positive feedback from an active alpha community", said Todd Harris, Executive Producer of Hi-Rez Studios. "Based on these results we are excited about aggressively growing the Global Agenda player community in Beta"

Agressive, yes, but not so agressive that you won't have to wait until the seccond quarter of 2009 in order to participate. Still, you might want to head over to the website and sign up now, just in case they take eagerness into account when selecting testers. You never know.

BETA SIGNUPS BEGIN FOR ACTION MMO GLOBAL AGENDA

ATLANTA, Georgia – January 8, 2009 – Hi-Rez Studios™ announced today that players can now apply to participate in closed beta for Global Agenda™, an action massively multiplayer online game (MMOG) scheduled for release in late 2009. The closed beta is anticipated to begin in the second quarter of '09 and players can apply by visiting http://www.globalagendagame.com/

Global Agenda, built using Unreal® Engine 3, is set in a near future world of advanced technology and player-driven conflict. It features fast-paced ranged and close combat, RPG-style character progression, solo or cooperative team missions, and epic, competitive campaigns between player-created agencies.

"Our alpha testing has gone very well - in terms of game stability and, most importantly, very positive feedback from an active alpha community", said Todd Harris, Executive Producer of Hi-Rez Studios. "Based on these results we are excited about aggressively growing the Global Agenda player community in Beta"

Features Intended for Closed Beta Include:

* Develop your agent – Create, extensively customize, and improve your agent character over the course of your career, complimenting your FPS skills with RPG-style progression and high-tech gear.
* Join with other agents – Engage in cooperative PvE missions to develop and refine your individual and team tactics
* Advance your agency – Join a player-created agency, compete in technology races for advanced equipment, and capture critical locations to increase your influence in the world.
* Compete in fast-paced PvP combat – Work with your allies to raid or capture enemy controlled facilities during objective-based missions. Equip yourself from a powerful array of weapons, armor, and strategic devices like triggered explosives, deployable turrets, stealth suits, holographic decoys, and remote control robots.
* Experience a dynamic, player-driven world – Agency leaders navigate through a global conflict of other player-run groups, striving to reach their goals first. Territory, resources, technology, and influence are all valuable commodities, with agencies engaging in politics, intrigue, and outright deception to control them.

About Hi-Rez Studios
Hi-Rez Studios, Inc. was established in 2005 to create exceptional online interactive entertainment and is located just outside of Atlanta, Georgia. For more information, visit www.hirezstudios.com.

Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online is the MMO version of Atlus' acclaimed and slightly twisted RPG series, which covers a wide variety of titles from Devil Summoner to Nocturne to the Persona series, characterized by stylish artwork and the ability to summon and breed demons.

The invites began arriving yesterday, so if you signed up, you might want to check your inbox. I've been checking mine nonstop for the past 18 hours, in between bouts of sobbing. No invite for me. *sniffle*

UPDATE: FileFront contacted me to let me know they have 20,000 keys up for grabs here.

English-speaking fans of the Atlus Co., Ltd owned Shin Megami Tensei series (Persona, Digital Devil Saga, among others) are encouraged to register in order to preview the game before it is made available to all members of the public.

*registers* Don't mind if I do!

Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online Closed Beta Signups Are Open

Santa Clara, Calif. - November 4, 2008 - The highly anticipated MMORPG published by Aeria Games, Shin Megami Tensei: Imagine Online began closed beta signup applications for North American and European members.

English-speaking fans of the Atlus Co., Ltd owned Shin Megami Tensei series (Persona, Digital Devil Saga, among others) are encouraged to register in order to preview the game before it is made available to all members of the public.

Registration and membership to the game is free. All titles by Aeria Games operate on the "free-to-play" business model where revenue is generated from the sale of optional virtual items that can be used in the game.

The closed beta application phase is scheduled to run until Dec. 1, at which point, select players will be given access to play the game.

Interested players can access the signup website at: http://megaten.aeriagames.com/signup

Stargate Worlds Closed Beta Registration Now Open

MESA, Ariz. - April 24, 2008 - Stargate Worlds, the massively multiplayer online role playing game (MMORPG) from new publisher FireSky, is now taking registrations for closed beta at www.StargateWorlds.com .

The closed beta is an invitation-only test of the upcoming science fiction MMORPG Stargate Worlds. Invitations will be sent out this spring and summer as the Stargate Worlds team ramps up the numbers for testing.

The select group of beta testers will provide feedback to the development team about their game experience while also providing vital insight into the performance of the servers. The closed beta will begin with a small core of gamers and gradually expand as more functionality is added. Beta testers will experience Stargate Worlds alongside the developers who also will be playing the game.

"A game is nothing without players. We're fired up to finally get our game in the hands of the community," said Dan Elggren, Stargate Worlds studio head. "We're at the point where we need external testers to take Stargate Worlds to the finish line. Our devoted fans have helped guide us for more than two years through our forums. Together, we're going to craft a balanced, polished, and most of all, fun game."

Testers will be the first to step through the Stargate for a super-sized sci-fi adventure that will send gamers around a galaxy dipped in liquid awesome. Discover thriving alien worlds, explore ancient civilizations. and tell them all the things they are doing wrong. Smack a clip into your assault rifle and enter Stargate Worlds.

Beta testers will:

. Feel the heat - Master the battlefield using modern tactics and firepower

. Travel instantly - Dial up the Stargate to explore dozens of worlds from ancient civilizations to high tech planets

. Team up - Battle devious and powerful enemies with your friends

. Find the new you - Pick from seven archetypes with unique skills and play styles

. Don't fight it - Simulate translation, repair and sabotage with minigames as your buddies battle it out

. Solve the mystery - A galaxy-spanning story based on the award-winning Stargate television series

Stargate Worlds, based on the award-winning Stargate franchise from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), is scheduled for launch in the winter of 2008. The game is being built using Unreal 3 graphics and Big World's server technology. For more information, visit www.StargateWorlds.com

Home isn't quite in open beta yet here in North America, but the closed beta just went live, according to a bunch of forum posters over at the official Playstation forums.

If you're part of the closed beta Home will show up in the Playstation Store under the blu-ray trailers...oddly enough. If it's not there you're going to have to wait like the rest of us. Unfortunately, the Home closed Beta testers are under NDA, so it's not likely we'll be hearing details about the service until it goes to open beta. Brian Crecente

Home Beta [Playstation Forums, thanks for all the tips]