Alpha Part 2 - What do you want to see?
- Thread starter ATARI.
- Start date
Perhaps, docking in a space station ? It will probably be very fun
I'm with Susimetsa in that I'm happy with whatever comes our way. I would like to think that docking and travel would be next, but based on how FD has been releasing information on finalized game assets, MP dog-fighting (featuring Vipers and Imperial/Federal Cruisers?) would likely be next, as anything else would start showing off new things like stations and the galactic map. I don't think FD are ready to show those things just yet. Especially if they don't need to at this time. However, we might get treated to elements like mining and deep space scanning. Or internal ship stuff like repair drones, and where to store the emergency replacement windshields (maybe right under the spare thruster and crowbar).
I'd like them to iterate on what they have provided so far, rather than include new content. I'm sure they're seeing things and getting feedback on combat as it now stands, so I'd prefer they polish it up so that it sparkles even more. Then move on to other features.
(Of course I wouldn't complain about the addition of non-combat features.)
(Of course I wouldn't complain about the addition of non-combat features.)
I still believe they are further ahead than the term 'alpha' suggests. I think they're more at late beta internally, so I think they have an almost finished product that just needs tidying up/testing across a wider-selection of hardware.
In terms of software development, they only have a three months to release which really isn't long at all. I don't feel they'll be tweaking and re-releasing key alpha stages again - rather they'll release key parts (multiplayer/docking/trading etc) every couple of weeks and a week or so before beta they'll let people play around with the real thing.
In terms of software development, they only have a three months to release which really isn't long at all. I don't feel they'll be tweaking and re-releasing key alpha stages again - rather they'll release key parts (multiplayer/docking/trading etc) every couple of weeks and a week or so before beta they'll let people play around with the real thing.
first i would like to know the list of things that must be added to say ''the game is finished''.
Could i try ? please correct me :
- combat system vs cpu (the actually alpha stage)
- pvp online combat system
- docking in space station sequence
- mining asteroids system
- Elite ranking system + Federation/Empire/Alliance, etc.. alignment
- more ships and biggers ships added (cruisers capital ships, etc..) + more weapons and tools for the ships.
- space travelling, hyperspace jumps and supercruise travel within a star system
- docking in space station and matters (repair, sell, buy, contacts)
- whole galactic map procedurally generated
- sol /federation/empire/alliance stars systems crafted and edited
- more spacestations and various spacestations features (NPC, Police, etc..)
- missions
-
-
-
- Beta start ?
Could i try ? please correct me :
- combat system vs cpu (the actually alpha stage)
- pvp online combat system
- docking in space station sequence
- mining asteroids system
- Elite ranking system + Federation/Empire/Alliance, etc.. alignment
- more ships and biggers ships added (cruisers capital ships, etc..) + more weapons and tools for the ships.
- space travelling, hyperspace jumps and supercruise travel within a star system
- docking in space station and matters (repair, sell, buy, contacts)
- whole galactic map procedurally generated
- sol /federation/empire/alliance stars systems crafted and edited
- more spacestations and various spacestations features (NPC, Police, etc..)
- missions
-
-
-
- Beta start ?
I agree. With only three months until the estimated release date, I'd be panicking right now if had only created a couple of cockpits (sidewinder/anaconda). I'd say they are at least three months ahead of what they are showing us (maybe more).
i too think MP will be next, docking may be the last thing to test as by the looks of the last newsletter they are still working on station design
I'd guess (in no order)...
- Fighting vs AI (done)
- Fighting in co-op
- Fighting PvP
- Asteroid mining (didn't think of this)
- Docking/Hyperdrive (mission between 2 stations)
- Some form of trading
- Some form of repairs
- Beta
I don't think they'll need/want to test every part.
Almost certainly multiplayer battles, individual PvP, P+wingman PvP, multiplayer PvP. It's the next logical thing to test now that we are used to the interface and controls, and most importantly it will test the peer-to-peer mechanics of the game. These are really core things that have to be right from day 1.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the alpha test group never see some parts of the game and they go straight to beta testing. If FD keeps on target with releasing the game at the end of Q1 2014 that only leaves 3 months for the rest of alpha, beta 1 & 2, and the promised gamma!
If the trading system, for example, is considered by the devs to be robust and not in need of a lot of testing then it may not be seen until beta 1 or 2 - same with mining. Combat is the big player interaction aspect so I imagine the alpha will probably focus strongly on it to the exclusion of other areas. I could just as easily be wrong, but I bet if we do see all the game in alpha a lot of the modules will be released in one go right at the end of the process.
I wouldn't be at all surprised if the alpha test group never see some parts of the game and they go straight to beta testing. If FD keeps on target with releasing the game at the end of Q1 2014 that only leaves 3 months for the rest of alpha, beta 1 & 2, and the promised gamma!
If the trading system, for example, is considered by the devs to be robust and not in need of a lot of testing then it may not be seen until beta 1 or 2 - same with mining. Combat is the big player interaction aspect so I imagine the alpha will probably focus strongly on it to the exclusion of other areas. I could just as easily be wrong, but I bet if we do see all the game in alpha a lot of the modules will be released in one go right at the end of the process.
The biggest concern I have is the loading times that I've seen on the Alpha videos that have been posted.
If it's taking seconds to load assets for a scenario start/restart, and all of the scenarios are based in the same star system (I haven't seen any others), then what kind of loading times are there going to be for travelling between planets, stars etc? And what kind of loading times can we expect for different types of vessel we'll encounter?
That is, unless the Alpha currently just flushes all assets regardless of their need and memory space usage vs capacity, and just reloads every time for ease of implementation (solely for the Alpha)...
If it's taking seconds to load assets for a scenario start/restart, and all of the scenarios are based in the same star system (I haven't seen any others), then what kind of loading times are there going to be for travelling between planets, stars etc? And what kind of loading times can we expect for different types of vessel we'll encounter?
That is, unless the Alpha currently just flushes all assets regardless of their need and memory space usage vs capacity, and just reloads every time for ease of implementation (solely for the Alpha)...
I completely agree.
Loading times are strange, it doesn't matter if I have alpha installed on an SSD or a RAMdrive - loading times are excessive.
Also the video of the spinning sidewinder is choppy and halts at the exact same places. I think the code halts somewhere for a predetermined time, no idea why.
The same video played back normally works perfectly.
And I thought it was just because my old system was struggling.