If they NOT call it ALPHA. What can happen? We saw @ RCTW that they killed himself when they called it a BETA Test. Frontier call it an ALPHA, just to clarify the state of the Game at the time, when you get access. If they Just say "Early Access" then no one can imagine how far the game is in Development. An Early Acces can be a Pre Alpha, Alpha, Beta, Realease Candidate etc....
With "ALPHA" we all knew, that there will be Bugs, maybe some incomplete Features and a long way of further Developement and new Stuff ahead. With just "Early Access" some, or at least many people will start to complain, in the fact, they thought there should be more and a nearly complete Game with nearly Complete Content...
In my eyes, Frontier have the absolutely right way of declaration for the Software-status.
Nope. I think you dont understand ... this is
NOT an alpha-test here.
Pre-Alpha (or Prototype) :
A pre-alpha is a first draft of the application. It is generally a version that is presented (a demo) to potential investors.
it's not even public. Never, never, never ... So useless to talk about it !
- Price : Nope
Alpha-Test :
Alpha-Test is a "serie of tests" of an incomplete basic form of the game, usually only used internally. At this stage, it's not even "a game", it's full of bugs, it's more a "work in progress" version for the developpers themselves. In case alpha is publicly available (very very unlikely, but that happens sometimes), it's always free (because it is really annoying to do bugs reporting) and that is private (a very small group of people, generally, people close to the development team).
- Price : No price / Private
Bêta-Test :
Bêta-test is a "serie of tests" of a 80% complete game : the external testing phase. The beta test allows to test the game (by professionals or volunteers/amateurs) to test all program features and to track down and refer to the team all remaining errors they can be corrected in the final version. These are always short-term (hours to weeks) and may be as much "open" than "closed" (according to developers).
- Price : 0 € (Volunteer work)
Early-Access
Early Access is a stage where consumers can pay to-have access to an unfinished release of a game, for a smaller amount than the normal price of the game, which allows players to play before the other (at the time of purchase until the release date) and in exchange, the developers receive feedbacks, suggestions and some bug reports.
- Price : Between 0 € (for indies games) and 60 € (for scammers big studios). Generally around 15-20€
Release :
The final game, after all testing phases, or after the Early Access.
- Price : Between 39€ and 59€ for any "Day-one AAA games" on PC (Windows/Mac/Linux) / Between 49€ and 69€ for any "Day-one AAA games" on Consoles
Furthermore : When you order a game on Steam, in Early Access,
here is what is written :
I dont care if RCTW call it Bêta, or if PlanetCoaster call it Alpha, because it is neither one nor the other : it's an
Early Access ! A totally overpriced Early Access, but still (at least, that is sold like this, and that's why I bought)
They REALLY must stop calling things by a name that does not represent the reality (I'm not talkign only about Frontier, but everyone).
Firstly because it's the best way to take a lawsuit in the face. Secondly because to do something "complicated" when one can do "simple" makes absolutly no sense. Third, because it's bad for business (when the target does not understand what we want to sell it). Fourth, because words have meaning, an etymological definition, and more importantly : a history.
Early means Early, Access means Access !
Simple, short, efficient !
For now, it's overpriced, but there is still time to make things simpler !
Oh and I dont care if i'm the horrible killjoy of the forum, spending his time yelling, because someone should say something. I'm not like an Apple fan, always saying "WOOOOW, Amazing, a $1000 new phone, TAKE MY MONEY". If something is wrong, I say it ! And here, many things are wrong : The way you names your products, the number of products, and the prices. Because yes, I'm sorry, but I dont want to pay 53,99 € for the next PlanetCoaster expansion, after paying more than 100,00 € for the Early Access, a t-shirt and a forum access.
I say this because you had the nerve to propose the last Elite Dangerous expansion at this price, something I found out by writing this message. And in Early Access to top it all (making it one of the most expensive expansion of video game history I think :
you can check here !!!)
(
http://store.steampowered.com/app/419270/)
Am I worried ? Yes, a lot !!!
And apparently I have good reason to be !
(sorry for the long post)
