How does Early Access work?

[Ragin Cajun]

I saw that if you preorder your game copy that you get "early access" to the game by five days. However, it appears that the way this works is:

1. Preorder online thru EA/Bioware.
2. Get a code
3. Submit code at Bioware site.
4. Get a certificate.
5. Present certificate to get game copy at any licensed retailer

However, if the game doesn't release until 12/20, does this certificate allow a retailer (ie Walmart, Gamestop etc) to sell you a copy of the game on the 15th? Will they even have copies a week early?

Just curious how this actually works from anyone that may know or has done it before with another game. Thanks for any input.

[Xandax]

You get up to 5 days, depending on when you've registered your key.
Only Bioware knows the cut-off at the moment, and likely will not give out information until the 15 due to not wanting to scare off last minute pre-orders.

The Early Access haven't been detailed yet; but the logical way it will go is:

You get an e-mail from Bioware about when you get into the game.
You get a link to download the game/patch the game.
You can then play on your account from the allotted time.
When the game goes live (20th), you enter your retail key and can continue to play or stop playing.

So Early Access is a download. How much time we'll get to download is unknown. Whether we can patch beta client into retail is unknown.