Going for the standard edition. Hopefully they give us a firm date on the first event soon and keep the events happening often.

If anybody will not be purchasing digital from Anet themselves, make sure you PRE-PURCHASE from one of these retailers to get 3 day head start and beta access:

Australia
QVS
EBGames - CE

Austria
Gameware
Gamesonly

Belgium
Game Mania - CE

Bulgaria
Pulsar Games - CE
Ozone - CE
Technomarket
Technopolis
Multirama
Plesio
Gaming Gear

Canada
EBGames - CE

Croatia
ALGORITAM d.o.o.
Cyprus
Micromania
Stephanis
Melesoft
Plug-Ins

Czech Republic
Games.cz

Denmark
CD ON - CE
GAME - CE
Coolshop - CE
El Giganten - CE
Gamestop - CE

Estonia
Euronics (Sandman Grupp AS)
Gamestar Holding OÜ

Finland
CD ON - CE
VPD - CE
Gigantti - CE
Gamestop - CE

Anttila
Verkkokauppa.com - CE
Puolenkuun pelit - CE
Discshop - CE

France
FNAC - CE
Amazon - CE
Micromania - CE
Virgin Megastore - CE

Germany
4u2play - CE
Amazon
Gamestop - CE
Mediamarkt - CE
Promarkt
Saturn - CE

Greece
Mediamarkt
Plaisio
e-gate.gr
theconsoleclub.gr
SP Gaming Net Thessaloniki

Hungary
576 kbyte
CD Galaxis

Iceland
Elko
BT
Gamestöðin

Ireland
Gamestop - CE

Israel
Freak

Italy
Amazon
Gamelife - CE
Multiplayer - CE
Gamestop

Latvia
Elkor Plaza
Videogames Sia
Euronics (Sandman Grupp AS)

Lithuania
Avitela Ltd
Baitukas (Baitukas UAB)

Malta
Forestals

Netherlands
Bol.com - CE
Bart Smit
Game Mania - CE

Norway
Game Zone - CE
CD ON - CE
Komplett - CE
Elkjop - CE
GAME - CE
Gamestop - CE

Poland
Gram.pl - CE

Portugal
FNAC - CE
Serbia
GameS - CE
Komparator

Slovakia
Sector.sk
Igabiba
Slovenia
Igabiba

South Africa
BT Games - CE
Kalahari.net - CE
takealot.com - CE

Spain
Game - CE
GameStop - CE
FNAC - CE
Amazon
Xtralife - CE
Mediamarkt - CE
Carrefour - CE

Sweden
CD ON - CE
GAME - CE
Discshop - CE
Webhallen - CE
Gamestop - CE

Switzerland
World of Games
Softridge

Turkey
D&R

UK
Amazon
Zavvi - CE
Play.com

USA
GameStop - CE
Amazon
Best Buy - CE

Many of our community members are asking about how long the pre-purchase offer will last.

Pre-purchase will run up until shortly before launch. However, we also want to maintain a high quality of service for those who have pre-purchased and are participating in the Beta Weekend Events.

With that in mind, if we max out our beta server capacity, we may *temporarily* make pre-purchase unavailable until we can bring more capacity online. Bottom line is if you want to participate in the Beta Weekend Events, don’t wait. ~RB2

There's a rumor that there will be a stress test this weekend, but I don't think it's going to be for pre-orders as people have been getting separate invites for it. This one is also under NDA apparently and the BWEs won't be. So seems like they'll be doing a smaller stress test in preparation for the big stress test from preorders.

amazon = 1-Day Head-start Access

anet = 3?

As long as you pre-purchase (pay full price now) instead of pre-order, you get beta access and 3 day head start. If you pre-order you only get 1 day headstart. Doesn't matter which retailer.

what's the difference between a order and a purchase.

Purchase you buy the whole game now, pre-order you don't pay until the game comes out.

If you don't prepurchase you don't get headstart

Or beta weekends! :o