Ryzom

They take the shard online so you can patch.

but the will keep the shard closed till they done all the tests.

Thats my guess at least.

So once they satisfied nothing is majorly wrong they will open it up.

Hmmm so you saying there is no "test" server.

OUCHY, surely that isnt a very efficient way of testing a patch; on a live server?
If there are errors will lead to hideous down times and player patience stretched as thin as a bungie jumper of the eiffel tower using a worm instead of a rope.