How long is the Alpha phase of the Beta phase?
- Thread starter Rog
- Start date
Almost everyone assumed that was probably the reason. Doesn't mean they agreed with it.
You know what - I find that insulting. No doubt that was your intention though - jeez!
Michael Brookes
Game Director
Not sure about anyone else, but I always expected some sort of time-lag between Alpha 4 and Beta roll-out. Creating a beta is a big deal.
I just wish FD had closed down the "Alpha discount" offer the day after they conceived it, and definitely not be still trying to milk to poor cow.
Darn, Will you stop placing judicious juicy facts in a sea of misunderstanding and conspiracy theories???
Sorry couldn't resist
No more insulting than some of the personal abuse thrown at some folks asking reasonable questions the past few days. Did you accuse any of them of being deliberately insulting? What's so insulting now, saying there was hype and speculation, or saying there are FD apologists?
"Alpha 4 is the last major phase of alpha, while there might be incremental releases to 4.0, the next major release after that is beta."
Which will not be initially released to Beta backers, but rather to Alpha backers. This Alpha test of the Beta release could last a few hours, or could last a few days, or could last a few weeks. Remember that old chestnut - it will be ready when its ready. Hope they havn't thrown that one out yet ... I was growing fond of it.
How am I doing with those judicious facts Maz?
I could drown in conspiracy theories :smilie:
Which will not be initially released to Beta backers, but rather to Alpha backers. This Alpha test of the Beta release could last a few hours, or could last a few days, or could last a few weeks. Remember that old chestnut - it will be ready when its ready. Hope they havn't thrown that one out yet ... I was growing fond of it.
How am I doing with those judicious facts Maz?
I could drown in conspiracy theories :smilie:
I would say that it's more "beta initial load test" than "superior beta".
If this isn't done then there's a possibility of a complete crash and burn and then you'd never hear the end of the name calling, "How dare Frontier foist this *sh-word* on us! We paid good money! Those Alpha backers had it too good for ages, they didn't do their job either!"
Any code testing should logically go through internal test, small scale external test and only then large scale external test. It's called incremental testing and is the only way to find scaling problems in a methodical manner. Going for the full load straight away on an untried system is a recipe for disaster.
P.S. Remember, the Alpha Test "game" is not based upon the same code base as the actual game. It's a test rig onto which modules from the final game are bolted for testing.
The Beta Test Game will be a test shadow code base of the real game, forking off the main line for each release. i.e. a totally different and untested beast.
The Beta Test Game will be a test shadow code base of the real game, forking off the main line for each release. i.e. a totally different and untested beast.
I have a lot of trust in FD trying to bring us the best game possible, working through issues and overcoming unforeseen issues.
We've seen issues that were not apparent from in-house testing and I think FD is as surprised as we were to see some of the major issues we've seen.
I can easily see FD trying to avert lengthy downtimes in the future and adjusting dynamically to potential issues before they occur (as opposed to having a large portion of thei player base at the time unable to play-test).
I saw this from the post and I doubt I'm alone seeing the logic in a quick test of new builds to a smaller audience.
Call it what you will but I call it FD trying to avert future downtime and minimizing issues over a build that may not be ready for the masses that they just could not confirm that with only in-house testing to go by.
I would see this no matter which backer access I was on. I find it logical and responsible as a stop-gap that they could not see until recently and analyze what they could implement to avoid the same major downtime issue from repeating in the future.
We've seen issues that were not apparent from in-house testing and I think FD is as surprised as we were to see some of the major issues we've seen.
I can easily see FD trying to avert lengthy downtimes in the future and adjusting dynamically to potential issues before they occur (as opposed to having a large portion of thei player base at the time unable to play-test).
I saw this from the post and I doubt I'm alone seeing the logic in a quick test of new builds to a smaller audience.
Call it what you will but I call it FD trying to avert future downtime and minimizing issues over a build that may not be ready for the masses that they just could not confirm that with only in-house testing to go by.
I would see this no matter which backer access I was on. I find it logical and responsible as a stop-gap that they could not see until recently and analyze what they could implement to avoid the same major downtime issue from repeating in the future.
For the facts, you could start with the pledge promise attached to Alpha and Beta backer levels - verbatim:
I draw your attention to the word "participate". This doesn't mean you get it first, just that you will have access to it - which you will.
So this entire furore concerning who gets what and when has been fuelled by not reading a pledge tier properly.
Sometimes I think I lack enough face to palm...
Oh and I've found the only instance I've seen of a Privileged Alphan:
Don't overestimate what we beta backers know. We don't have access to the alpha forums, we've had zero communication from FD, we've had links posted in the general forum which we have no permission to view, and until the announcement next week we've got no idea what any of this entails. We can't remember what we've never known.
The first solid piece of information about beta came in Newsletter 18 in the form of a sales pitch to alphas, which is what kicked this whole thing off. Up until then we've been very patient and very good at keeping expectations in check. It was just a shock that our expectations of the beta phases turned out to be wrong - just like everybody else's.
Does anyone know of any other game where this has occured?
Where the Beta builds was first released to the Alpha testers before being released to the Beta testers. I cant remember any, but on the other hand, I cant remember any games charging £200 for Alpha.
Damn memory melts away with age.
Not so long ago, due to the significant Beta delays, many Betans were lobbying to get access to the early Alphas. In the end, the Alphans got early access the the Betas
Oh, and Hamerstein, your right. If they wanted to they could have the Beta open for one day only, and still satisfy the ...
"Participate in the first round private beta test, plus all rewards above."
Legal interpretation is hardly the corner stone of common sense and fairness.
Not so long ago, due to the significant Beta delays, many Betans were lobbying to get access to the early Alphas. In the end, the Alphans got early access the the Betas
Well, don't get all logical with "betas just want to play something" claims, because when I expressed this same opinion and understanding few days ago, answer was "NO NO NO THIS IS ALL ABOUT FAIRNESS....Where is my beta....sniff".
Of course beta testers want to get their hands of the game. That's fully understandable.
It was both fueled and fired up by the newsletter saying folks get something extra "exclusive" as an up-sell incentive.
No game where the previous alpha players was used for small scale tests, no. But games where new builds are sometimes tested by a smaller group of people before being put out to a larger population, yup.
Starbound for example is in early access on steam, it's a beta, everyone who buys it is in the beta but you can go in to the settings for the game in steam and opt-in to the unstable beta channel. Basically the same thing as what alpha players will do for the beta, only difference being that for Starbound they let people opt-in.
Personally, I will not be participating in Alpha or Beta because I want to have that initial experience uninterrupted by resets or technical issues.
I just feel for the Betans who want early access. They significantly helped fund the project and have suffered far more than the Alphans due to the excessive delays in their product.
1. There was no delay for the Alpha product.
2. The Alpha product has been value added by its timeframe, and now these recent perks.
3. Most Alphans are happy with their product.
1. The Betans have been delayed by 6 months.
2. The Beta product has had no value added to it.
Who do you think deserves a hug from FD here?
Is empathy so unattainable?
We should all feel like we are part of a big family - Alphans, Betans, Gammans.
How about spreading some of that love around Big Daddy.
I just feel for the Betans who want early access. They significantly helped fund the project and have suffered far more than the Alphans due to the excessive delays in their product.
1. There was no delay for the Alpha product.
2. The Alpha product has been value added by its timeframe, and now these recent perks.
3. Most Alphans are happy with their product.
1. The Betans have been delayed by 6 months.
2. The Beta product has had no value added to it.
Who do you think deserves a hug from FD here?
Is empathy so unattainable?
We should all feel like we are part of a big family - Alphans, Betans, Gammans.
How about spreading some of that love around Big Daddy.