Beta is when "the game comes together as a whole" - Braben

[eschiver]

Just collecting information together from various official sources on the beta...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5aeV-G7DE

The beta where we see "the game come together as a whole."
The alpha is where FD test different aspects of the game in "near final form," not the beta.

Braben also stated "We will take our time" and "release it when it's right" and do a "prolonged... gamma." "The purpose is to get the game good" before release.


Source: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=94e38570c6&e=3e8d3662df

"Our subsequent Beta phase will follow on from the Alpha, and begins as the game starts to work as a coherent whole, and multiple functions of the game can be tested together. Again this will be a flexible process as we take and respond to feedback from the Beta testers."


Edit:
(Reasons from Braben on why vertical slice is a problematic way of doing things):
https://forums.frontier.co.uk/showthread.php?t=56618&page=2&p=968851&viewfull=1#post968851

 

[Ixnatifual]

Good use of foreshadowing can be seen here.

 

[laz001]

Just collecting information together from various official sources on the beta...

Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5aeV-G7DE

The beta where we see "the game come together as a whole."
The alpha is where FD test different aspects of the game in "near final form," not the beta.

Braben also stated "We will take our time" and "release it when it's right" and do a "prolonged... gamma." "The purpose is to get the game good" before release.


Source: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=94e38570c6&e=3e8d3662df

"Our subsequent Beta phase will follow on from the Alpha, and begins as the game starts to work as a coherent whole, and multiple functions of the game can be tested together. Again this will be a flexible process as we take and respond to feedback from the Beta testers."

What's your point?

 

[JonnyC0mbat]

Yup that seems to have been how it has progressed. Gamma should tidy it all up

 

[Lobstris]

What's your point?

"The Road to Hell is paved with good intentions", or "Idealism meet Economic Reality and Capitalism", or "No plan survives first contact with the enemy" or "Stuff happens". One or all of those. I think.

 

[FishFood]

Prolonged Gamma... like for 20 days. Less then any beta stages. Very prolonged indeed

 

[eschiver]

My point is I am tired of people doing guesswork and making arguments without evidence. I rather have official statements from the developers on what they envision for beta and gamma and release.

 

[StayFrosty]

Yeah, they changed their plans more than once.

Thing is, they don't communicate very often. The weekly newsletter is our only source of announcements, and it only satisfied expectations once every two months.

I wish they would just come out and bluntly say "game is like you expect it to be, with all planned features and content, stop worrying", but they just won't. And it makes people worry even more. Hopefully 22nd will be the day.