'Pre-Order Backers' not getting Gamma?

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
Right from the early days, Frontier and David Braben specifically said that all backers (even those that just pre-order the game) will get access to Gamma (what is now being called the Preview).

However, the newsletter says "Every Alpha and Beta backer will receive a pre-release ‘Preview’’ build"

So what happened to all backers getting access to gamma?
 

Flossy

Volunteer Moderator
Flossy
Preview = Gamma? Whatever they want to call it, it will be the gamma version as far as I know. Don't think anything is being missed out. :)
 

Yaffle

Volunteer Moderator
Yaffle
Its name changed to Preview Build.

See the newsletter -
Every Alpha and Beta backer will receive a pre-release ‘Preview’’ build (which we have called Gamma in development-speak in the past) on November 22nd, and can continue to play, receive updates, and help us verify it before the final game is released on December 16th.
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zande

Z
It talks about alpha and beta backers not pre-order. If I understand correctly. So the pre-order are out of Gamma?
 

Beachlight7

Beachlight7
This thread contains conflicting information. I am a backer from the kickstarter, but I am not an Alpha or Beta backer, nor am I a pre-order customer, I backed to the level which gets me the game. My payment was not an order or pre-order purchase it was a donation which entitles me to receive the game, and gamma...?
 

bonsek

bonsek
People, pre-ordering the game ($50) is different from Beta Access ($75).

If you pre-ordered you get to play the game on release date Dec 16th and get Mercenary edition.

If you paid for Beta Access you get to play NOW and through the "Preview Build" (gamma) that starts on Nov 22nd, and the full game on release date, and the mercenary Eagle.

Now people who have pre-ordered the game for $50 can still pay additional $15 (closing on Nov 22) to get access to Beta and Gamma stage.


From the newsletter:
"Every Alpha and Beta backer will receive a pre-release ‘Preview’’ build (which we have called Gamma in development-speak in the past) on November 22nd, and can continue to play, receive updates, and help us verify it before the final game is released on December 16th."
 

Ytheleus

Y
Specifically for Mercenary Edition pre-orders, not alpha, beta or kickstarter backers (because there will be a lot of Merc buyers too), has there been any official announcement about when they will be allowed access? I don't lightly contradict a moderator, but I'm not convinced that this question has been answered officially, and the newsletter did not make it clear either.

Ideally, I think, even if the answer seems obvious, some official representative of FD such as a producer or customer support representative, for example, could clear this up unequivocally. it wouldn't take much, Just set a date for Merc access.

At the moment just on the forum we have people who are convinced they have to wait for the middle of December, and others who are equally convinced they will participate in Gamma. Some of these will be considering Beta upgrade, but they have no hard information about how much earlier they would get to play.

Someone officially knows, presumably.
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
Beachlight7 said:
So on November 22nd all kickstarter backers get the game...
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By all rights Beachlight, you should be getting access on 22nd November. David Braben himself said that all backers will get access to the gamma. The newsletter states that preview = gamma.

bonsek said:
People, pre-ordering the game ($50) is different from Beta Access ($75).

If you pre-ordered you get to play the game on release date Dec 16th and get Mercenary edition.

If you paid for Beta Access you get to play NOW and through the "Preview Build" (gamma) that starts on Nov 22nd, and the full game on release date, and the mercenary Eagle.

Now people who have pre-ordered the game for $50 can still pay additional $15 (closing on Nov 22) to get access to Beta and Gamma stage.


From the newsletter:
"Every Alpha and Beta backer will receive a pre-release ‘Preview’’ build (which we have called Gamma in development-speak in the past) on November 22nd, and can continue to play, receive updates, and help us verify it before the final game is released on December 16th."
Click to expand...

As posted above, Michael Brookes has stated that all backers get access to gamma. Gamma = preview build.

However the newsletter says "Alpha and Beta" backers are getting access to gamma - it doesn't mention any other backers. So I understand why people are confused.

Frontier need to clarify this.
 

bonsek

bonsek
Granite said:
However the newsletter says "Alpha and Beta" backers are getting access to gamma - it doesn't mention any other backers. So I understand why people are confused.

Frontier need to clarify this.
Click to expand...

Ok I am not aware of different type of backers besides kickstarter, Alpha and Beta?
Preordering the game does not make you a backer automatically. You just get mercenary edition, that's it.
 

Tronicus

T
This is EXACTLY why I paid the extra money to get into beta. No ambiguity at all. Come November 22nd, It is on like Donkey Kong!
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
Just found this from a while back:

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

We will be starting Alpha testing in December, and will focus on different aspects of the game in turn - the first build is a test of close-to-final combat systems. This process is specifically designed to allow us to get the best results for the good of the game, with the team being able to respond to feedback. We want such great collaboration and flexibility to be an ongoing theme. It is important to be able to tune the game as it comes together – as an example, the hugely popular online game ‘Minecraft’ had a public beta phase (call this a gamma phase perhaps) where the whole game was available but tweaking was still happening for an extended period. This was followed by a ‘retail’ release once the developers were happy with the result. We view this as a very sensible and successful template, and it’s the type of model we want to follow with Elite: Dangerous. 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. After the private alpha and beta period is complete all our backers will get access to the game, before it has its retail launch, which will allow us to make sure the game is the maximum possible quality.
Click to expand...

Frontier have mentioned many times that all backers get gamma access.
 
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gazzareth

G
Tronicus said:
This is EXACTLY why I paid the extra money to get into beta. No ambiguity at all. Come November 22nd, It is on like Donkey Kong!
Click to expand...

They could do with clearing this up straight away and stick it at the top of the forum, my understanding has always been that everyone who has purchased the game will get gamma access, however:

The newsletter says only Alpha & Beta backers

Michael has said all people who get a copy of the game through their kick starter pledge.

Seen quotes saying all pre-orders get in.

Hopefully it will get cleared up fast, feel for the pre-orderers who don't know if they are getting access or not.

G
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
bonsek said:
Ok I am not aware of different type of backers besides kickstarter, Alpha and Beta?
Preordering the game does not make you a backer automatically. You just get mercenary edition, that's it.
Click to expand...

It's only recently that it actually got called the 'mercenary edition'. Before that people just pre-ordered the game, and everyone who did that was called a backer. In the past few months Frontier have changed all the labels and definitions.
 

bonsek

bonsek
Granite said:
It's only recently that it actually got called the 'mercenary edition'. Before that people just pre-ordered the game, and everyone who did that was called a backer. In the past few months Frontier have changed all the labels and definitions.
Click to expand...

The price for the pre-order should tell you as well. It's the same price as the release game, except you get a mercenary pack. I don't know why people are so confused about it.

People paid extra $15 to participate in testing the game (beta, gamma) that is how it's always been.
 

Obsidian Ant

Obsidian Ant
bonsek said:
The price for the pre-order should tell you as well. It's the same price as the release game, except you get a mercenary pack. I don't know why people are so confused about it.

People paid extra $15 to participate in testing the game (beta, gamma) that is how it's always been.
Click to expand...

No it isn't how it has always been.

Here David says all backers get gamma access: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Sz5aeV-G7DE&list=UUd1Xmm1TFBD-lfZUWaWf7EA

This also says that all backers get gamma access: http://us2.campaign-archive2.com/?u=dcbf6b86b4b0c7d1c21b73b1e&id=94e38570c6&e=3e8d3662df

We will be starting Alpha testing in December, and will focus on different aspects of the game in turn - the first build is a test of close-to-final combat systems. This process is specifically designed to allow us to get the best results for the good of the game, with the team being able to respond to feedback. We want such great collaboration and flexibility to be an ongoing theme. It is important to be able to tune the game as it comes together – as an example, the hugely popular online game ‘Minecraft’ had a public beta phase (call this a gamma phase perhaps) where the whole game was available but tweaking was still happening for an extended period. This was followed by a ‘retail’ release once the developers were happy with the result. We view this as a very sensible and successful template, and it’s the type of model we want to follow with Elite: Dangerous. 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. After the private alpha and beta period is complete all our backers will get access to the game, before it has its retail launch, which will allow us to make sure the game is the maximum possible quality.
Click to expand...

It has been said many times in many other places, that everyone that has pre-ordered the game (whether they are Kickstarter backers or Frontier website pre-orders) will get gamma access.
 
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