Actually, there was talk from the developers a few updates back about integrating their server browswer/multiplayer lobby with the game's copy protection.
That sounds a bit like valve's steam to me, in which case we'll still have a secondary client running in the background.

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I see that u are not into marketing :) or have any clue about consumor behaviour :)

A wild forecast here
 

I searched a game development glossary with the typical duration of each step. Here are my findings, and if Oleg's "BETA" is a real beta, we are some 4-5 months from Gold master, and (presumably) at least 6-7 months from game relase. Adding the complexity of SoW and the amount of bugs I would add at least 3-4 months to the standard times ... Fall 2011? IMHO of course. I cannot understand how this matches with Oleg's previous forecasts and statements about the budget constraints ... unless we will get a flawed version "à la RoF", which I hope not.

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First playable

The first playable is the game version containing representative gameplay and assets, this is the first version with functional major gameplay elements. It is often based on the prototype created in pre-production. Alpha and first playable are sometimes used to refer to a single milestone, however large projects require first playable before feature complete alpha.First playable occurs 12 to 18 months before code release.

Alpha

Alpha is the stage when key gameplay functionality is implemented, and assets are partially finished. A game in alpha is feature complete, that is, game is playable and contains all the major features. These features may be further revised based on testing and feedback. Additional small, new features may be added, similarly planned, but unimplemented features may be dropped. Programmers focus mainly on finishing the codebase, rather than implementing additions. Alpha occurs eight to ten months before code release.

Code freeze

Code freeze is the stage when new code is no longer added to the game and only bugs are being corrected. Code freeze occurs three to four months before code release.

Beta

Beta is feature and asset complete version of the game, when only bugs are being fixed. This version contains no bugs that prevent the game from being shippable. No changes are made to the game features, assets, or code. Beta occurs two to three months before code release.

Code release

Code release is the stage when all bugs are fixed and game is ready to be shipped or submitted for console manufacturer review. This version is tested against QA test plan. First code release candidate is usually ready three to four weeks before code release.

Gold master

Gold master is the final game's build that is used as a master for production of the game.

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I will be glad to be proven wrong by Oleg, of course :)

Plus he's wrong.

ATI don't outperform nv in all games.

They way I understood Oleg, we're at code freeze.

Not trying to be a smart-arse and sorry for the divergence, but your post brought to mind something called the Drake equation in astronomy - used to 'calculate' the potential number of civilisations in our galaxy. It all looks great, but unfortunately none of the numbers you plug into it are known - they all have to be guessed - with the result that different people with different opinions have used it to produce answers ranging from 1 (just us!) to over 100,000.

I think the margins of error in your conclusion could be nearly as big! :)

I can...Oleg KNOWS......and you're guessing based on no evidence.

Not really. If you have a plan, you have a timeline, and you'll have to stick to it, come hell or high water.
Of course you change it all the time, not sure if that is a result of good management though.

I wasn't actually really being that serious ;) :)

If I recall correctly Oleg has previously stated that he doesn't follow the traditional development cycle as other developers do.

I see that Nvidia's market share has been falling steadily for the past few years. Wonder if their guys are into marketing as well?

Read again! This time don't try and discern what's between the lines (nothing there) just read the post.

People don't buy a game, see the logo on boot up and then go out and buy an Nvidia card. They're already playing the game which means they already have a card. Plus people who are likely to buy a video card and install it themselves are much more likely to actually research their purchase rather than blindly grab a green box. Sure some buy Nvidia, but the numbers show that a lot of them are switching teams. A lot of the easily swayed people who make those kind of snap decisions that Nvidia are banking on have already moved on to consoles, they don't have to make that decision any more, and the market is reflecting that.

Hardware junkie today (as opposed to 5 or even 10 years ago) are much more savvy and less swayed by brand loyalty and all the little extras that only add to the cost and not to the FPS. The PC hardware market is shrinking because of the Console market (just like the PC games market) so the people who are left are the hard-core crowd who are willing to dish out the cash for a PC that will play their games as smoothly as possible. 5 or 10 years ago you could be a fanboy and just blindly go with ATI or Nvidia since the prices were so close for the same amount of performance. Now that has widened, and fanboys are feeling the sting ($100 or more in some cases) because they want a certain amount of performance and don't intend on looking at what the other team has.

Never said that ATI can outperform Nvidia in all games, I said they are a much better value. If you look at $/FPS ATI is well ahead of Nvidia, and is set to widen the gap with their latest releases. One card beating all others in all games and categories is not something that you're going to see very often (if ever). Saying one card is the all-out best is a matter of opinion. But the value of a card is something we can sort of decree. Right now it's in ATI's court. Maybe next year or later Nvidia will gain back some territory. I hope so since it's competition that keep these prices low the the technology moving ahead at full steam.