April Alpha

[Sir.Tj]

Ok everyone.

Can we please keep it civil with no sarcastic comments please?

Any more sniping comments, warnings or infractions etc will be issued.

Thanks.

 

[Fromhell]

A Demo is a trail of the final game. An alpha is a testing mechanic for an incomplete game. Feel free to educate yourself here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle

You could re-label it a chicken-cheese sandwich,

so, you would be okay if they would just re-label the alpha1 offline scenarios chicken cheese sandwich and hand that out to every backer account? I could live with that too.

Neither are reasons you should be allowed access to test something you refused to pay for.

You paid for 1 month alpha access. You´ll get 5-6 months instead, and I get nothing, although my delivery date has passed?
I´m sure you have an obvious explanation how that is the definition of fairness.

 

[devastat]

My issue is that my decision to go Premium Beta not Alpha was based on the information at the time that Alpha would be 1 month. Had I known then that actually it would be six months or more then probably I would have made a different decision. I also bought a new rig in preparation for Premium Beta which again could have been deferred.

Well, you can still chip in another £100 and join the alpha Today if you want..

 

[Bobbydylan]

LOL if we were still waiting for Alpha 1, I wonder how many of those backers would still be thumbing noses at lowly beta-backers. How many of you would honestly be saying "hey, FD, take your sweet time and don't bother updating any release schedule that you used to get us to buy into this project because we all know those are just bogus anyway"?

No, if FD were still neither releasing Alpha nor updating project schedules , hypocrites would be bleating even louder than Beta-backers who have been very patient with FD.

And to anyone who's saying not to release Beta too early, there's a difference between asking for something early and asking for a reasonable update on status. If I'm in a restaurant waiting for food, I don't want it undercooked. But that's very different to wanting a reasonable idea of the cook's expectation of when I could expect it.

Hey, many alpha backers are just as annoyed at the delay as the Beta backers. Beta content is what I'm most looking forward to, the game as it currently stands is pretty dull. I'm not sure I've seen any alpha backers rubbing the alpha in beta backers faces.

I agree they could be a lot more forthright. I agree it's a bit pants that the timetables have slipped like this, and I hope there;s some update in the next Dev newsletter as the alpha 4 and the beta shortly after.

When is the next newsletter due anyhow? It's gotta be soon.

so, you would be okay if they would just re-label the alpha1 offline scenarios chicken cheese sandwich and hand that out to every backer account? I could live with that too.

Again, call it what you want, it's not going to change what it is. If you want to play the (alpha) chicken-cheese sandwich, then go for it. All you need to do is become an alpha backer. Do you want to be an alpha backer? Store is that way ........>

You paid for 1 month alpha access. You´ll get 5-6 months instead, and I get nothing, although my delivery date has passed?
I´m sure you have an obvious explanation how that is the definition of fairness.

Nope. I backed the game at a level that had a backer reward of being an alpha tester. The length, release, and content of the alpha are dependent on development processes and not set by an prejudiced opinions.
It's unfortunate that you have to wait longer to play the final game, but don't mistake that with being unfair. You had the same opportunity to test as I have and elected not to take it.

 

[[VR] Mad Mike]

LOL if we were still waiting for Alpha 1, I wonder how many of those backers would still be thumbing noses at lowly beta-backers. How many of you would honestly be saying "hey, FD, take your sweet time and don't bother updating any release schedule that you used to get us to buy into this project because we all know those are just bogus anyway"?

No, if FD were still neither releasing Alpha nor updating project schedules , hypocrites would be bleating even louder than Beta-backers who have been very patient with FD.

And to anyone who's saying not to release Beta too early, there's a difference between asking for something early and asking for a reasonable update on status. If I'm in a restaurant waiting for food, I don't want it undercooked. But that's very different to wanting a reasonable idea of the cook's expectation of when I could expect it.

for the record I am a lowly beta backer as well (beta 2 at that!) I am itching for the game but at the same time I do wonder IF i had access to the alpha would I ruin the experience of the full game by hammering the alpha too much...... And the answer is yes probably.
If the game is not finished it isnt finished, but patience will benifit in the long run..... Will my patience run out at some point? sure, but a few months delay realistically is nothing, if it is still not out by xmas, then i think it is the time to start questioning what is going on (imo)

Granted I will agree the communication is not always what it could be, but I shudder at going to far like that other space sim being made i can think of. I truly cant watch those videos.....

 

[Luniticisi]

Hey, many alpha backers are just as annoyed at the delay as the Beta backers.

To be honest I doubt Alpha backers are as annoyed (frustrated would be a better word) as The Beta crowd as Alpha backers have something tangible to play around with / test regardless of content ... we can swap accounts if you like

 

[Steve_T]

I'm not on Alpha or Beta but I'm still waiting patiently for Gamma. That's what I signed up for and even though it's overdue, I'm not whingeing about how unfair it all is that I haven't been given a firm release date. Targets slip and I accept that.
If Frontier were to start hinting at "possible" release dates, certain people immediately see that as set in stone.

Manage your expectations.

 

[Dejay]

From what is missing yet, we have a long way to go. Trading, mission system, mining, background political and economical simulation, dynamic npc dialog and story, more ships etc this will all take time to integrate, bugfix and balance and changes to make fun. I almost expect a gamma release in 2015 now. Not that I'm complaining.

 

[CMDR Texas Stu]

IMO the reason they get a hot poker up the rear-end about KS schedule is because of their persistent failure to be open and honest about a schedule. After all, they are arguably in breach of the spirit of KS terms.

It's great that some enthusiasts are willing to share with everyone in this forum the current state of Alpha on a regular basis. It's also entirely understandable that delays happen due to unforeseen circumstances.

But for FD to completely ignore so many of the paying customer-base, many of whom have had the goodwill to fork out more than 3x the normal price of a retail product, is inexcusable.

It's my understanding the scope of the game was widened.
Not going to get into arguments over FD missing their estimated KS date. It's pointless and serves no purpose other than venting frustration.

I think FD is pretty busy. I don't think they are ignoring their backers as much as not saying, "We're still working on it"?

As for another post and 'spirit of Kickstarter', I'm still awaiting fulfillment on multiple KS projects that "estimated" more than 6 months earlier than Elite and still waiting. Kickstarter is by no means a crowd funded Mecca of on time rewards. In fact, I'd say 3-6 months late is an conservative average. I can only think of ONE (Dwarven Forge) who met their estimate (that I've backed - >20 projects).

But I get and agree that communication is good though. I've seen improvement on this IMO.

As for stress testing, isn't that typically what Gamma is for?

 

[Bobbydylan]

To be honest I doubt Alpha backers are as annoyed (frustrated would be a better word) as The Beta crowd as Alpha backers have something tangible to play around with / test regardless of content ... we can swap accounts if you like

Possibly. I think that if the whole process was delayed, rather than just the beta I think everyone would have accepted it as another slipped milestone. The Alpha taking this long looks like the alpha backers are getting preferential treatment when what's actually happening is that the game is just taking longer.

 

[Luniticisi]

As for stress testing, isn't that typically what Gamma is for?

Not really, I believe that the Gamma phase idea has pretty much been invented for E: D .. usually things like stress testing would be done during the Beta phase ... but I could be wrong

Possibly. I think that if the whole process was delayed, rather than just the beta I think everyone would have accepted it as another slipped milestone. The Alpha taking this long looks like the alpha backers are getting preferential treatment when what's actually happening is that the game is just taking longer.

Oh, don't get me wrong .. I have no thoughts or believe that the Alpha peep's are getting preferential treatment ... far from it .. the process is taking as long as it takes .. I am just saying I fully understand the frustrations of the Beta backers having to wait so long .. by no means do I think I am being treated unfairly .... I just want my bleedin' Beta

 

[Cody]

I thought this was an April Fool thread at first. Perhaps it is, eh?

As a second round Beta, I am neither frustrated nor impatient, btw.

 

[Bobbydylan]

Not really, I believe that the Gamma phase idea has pretty much been invented for E: D .. usually things like stress testing would be done during the Beta phase ... but I could be wrong

No, you're pretty much spot on there.

Oh, don't get me wrong .. I have no thoughts or believe that the Alpha peep's are getting preferential treatment ... far from it .. the process is taking as long as it takes .. I am just saying I fully understand the frustrations of the Beta backers having to wait so long .. by no means do I think I am being treated unfairly .... I just want my bleedin' Beta

Yeah, I want it too mate. I know that comes across condescending, but it's not. The only thing the alpha has done is whet my appetite for the beta, and the travel and trade.

I want the BETA BAAAAD!

 

[CMDR Texas Stu]

Oh, and I'm a late(r) Alpha (later January) as I decided to not wait.
And because I'll get a second account (and didn't want to possibly mess up my reg/2nd round beta) I paid full price for alpha on a second account.
I still will upgrade (if given the chance early enough) my backer account to premium beta.
I understand not everyone can jump in as it's not inexpensive. And others on my home network have suffered because of networking issues with the alpha.
Do or do not, you are the driver of your own bus.

 

[Stormprooter]

Possibly. I think that if the whole process was delayed, rather than just the beta I think everyone would have accepted it as another slipped milestone. The Alpha taking this long looks like the alpha backers are getting preferential treatment when what's actually happening is that the game is just taking longer.

Those of us in Alpha would love things to move along faster so we can see the next bit of the game, and get to beta to have more Commanders involved.
Thing is, that we are actually finding lots of issues which do need to be fixed before beta, and these issues (esp networking) must be sorted before then, and these things are taking more time than FD initially expected some 15 months ago. Just to let you beta guys know, you can spend about 3-4 hours with the alpha, and you will have seen just about everything that's in it (including single-player scenarios), including all the bugs, crashes to desktop, lag, zombie NPCs, Babylon 4 space station antics, schitzo traffic control and all the other issues currently being worked on.

 

[devastat]

IF i had access to the alpha would I ruin the experience of the full game by hammering the alpha too much...... And the answer is yes probably.
If the game is not finished it isnt finished, but patience will benifit in the long run.....

If I wouldn't want to Alpha/Beta test a game, I wouldn't pledge for the Alpha or Beta version.

And for me this isn't really about patience - it is about the fact that I invested a large sum of money into the project based on the premise that I would be taking part into testing an early version of the game sometime around January, and it is now April.

 

[Globusdiablo]

Heads up

Have you heard the latest interview with DB? At the end, they talk about an impending announcement for beta backers, so it looks like they have a timetable in mind

Thanks for the link. Excellent interview.

 

[CMDR Texas Stu]

Not really, I believe that the Gamma phase idea has pretty much been invented for E: D .. usually things like stress testing would be done during the Beta phase ... but I could be wrong

Gamma is pretty much a RC phase (called open beta or release candidate) and is not exclusive to E: D. Minecraft had an extensive gamma phase. WoW had an open beta phase that could be considered a gamma phase I believe as well?
http://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle

 

[Luniticisi]

If I wouldn't want to Alpha/Beta test a game, I wouldn't pledge for the Alpha or Beta version.

And for me this isn't really about patience - it is about the fact that I invested a large sum of money into the project based on the premise that I would be taking part into testing an early version of the game sometime around January, and it is now April.

when I pledged my £100 for Premium Beta, that's what I was buying .. Getting to Beta Test Elite: Dangerous ..(And help fund the game but mainly to test Beta ) .. But in all honesty I never believed that Beta 1 would fall in Jan, I admit I did wistfully get a little bit excited that maybe it would fall then when Alpha 1 dropped in Dec ... but realistically i knew it would be delayed.
To be honest I didn't expect this much of a delay, but there is nothing that can be done .. If Frontier Developments had gone the way of most other Alpha's and not put so much detail and polish into the Alpha 1, maybe we would be in Beta 1 or even 2 by now .. but that's what they did .. and it looks fantastic .. maybe they should have saved all of the polish for later releases .. but it does look like we are going to be getting a great looking/sounding game .. they raised the bar High with that first Alpha .. and in my mind that is one of the reasons for the delay .. I remember DB saying, way back*, that they had the network code working .. what happened there ...?

*edit .. I believe that it was on the initial kickstarter video ..

 

[Crayfish]

I'm not sure I've seen any alpha backers rubbing the alpha in beta backers faces.

It happens unfortunately.
http://forums.frontier.co.uk/showpost.php?p=289090