Saving files/settings/parks etc at beta for launch

[Konijntje]

I would love to play the beta of planet coaster but i really do not want to play for something that gets wiped. So i wonder if data will be kept and saved offline as this game is probaly able to run offline?
At mmorpg's data is wiped after each beta session but that is all stuff saved on a server and headstarts/player progress matter alot there. not so much in this game i figure, so i thought to ask about it =)
IMO, the price is only worth it if i can keep the data from the beta and use it later at launch.

 

[Konijntje]

quite concerned this has received no answer yet. TBH beta access should be free or only cost a small bit, but if data is not transferrable i find it a bit weird to pay such a hefty price.
Ofcource you can pay this if you support the dev's doing a great job, but meh, for beta access there should be a different price.

 

[The Only Zgneto]

i don't think anyone CAN answer that...
i think we honestly have no idea, it of course would be nice, but your probably gonna make a whole new park anyways when the game comes out, so i don't think it would be THAT important.

 

[Konijntje]

i don't think anyone CAN answer that...
i think we honestly have no idea, it of course would be nice, but your probably gonna make a whole new park anyways when the game comes out, so i don't think it would be THAT important.

highly likely, however there are some landscapes and attractions i definatly want to save and re-use.

 

[The Only Zgneto]

highly likely, however there are some landscapes and attractions i definatly want to save and re-use.

yeah, i can see why you would want that, but i feel like that would spark some problems;
what if a certain attraction is changed, but still the same ride,
that could spark some glitches, depending on maybe where you put the attraction or something.

 

[OlaHaldor]

I would think that in some cases, updates during the alpha/beta phase will be game breaking. Meaning; yes, you might lose a park. Smaller patches and updates might not.
And this is to be expected if you ask me. After all, you're at the front of testing and looking for bugs, for issues, and hopefully, most of those on the early ticket edition will report their findings instead of thinking of it as a 'yay, I can play before my friends'.

So at this stage: expect the game to break. Even the savegame. If it doesn't, then GOOD JOB FRONTIER!


I'll bet the game will be more stable as time goes and development progress. Also remember that Frontier will be using the same version as we are during development, and they'd be pretty annoyed too if they spent weeks on a park, and suddenly it can't be used anymore. So who knows, really..

 

[Konijntje]

yeah, i can see why you would want that, but i feel like that would spark some problems;
what if a certain attraction is changed, but still the same ride,
that could spark some glitches, depending on maybe where you put the attraction or something.

Thats why i ask. They can make things compatible by updates or give a conversion tool.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

I would think that in some cases, updates during the alpha/beta phase will be game breaking. Meaning; yes, you might lose a park. Smaller patches and updates might not.
And this is to be expected if you ask me. After all, you're at the front of testing and looking for bugs, for issues, and hopefully, most of those on the early ticket edition will report their findings instead of thinking of it as a 'yay, I can play before my friends'.

So at this stage: expect the game to break. Even the savegame. If it doesn't, then GOOD JOB FRONTIER!


I'll bet the game will be more stable as time goes and development progress. Also remember that Frontier will be using the same version as we are during development, and they'd be pretty annoyed too if they spent weeks on a park, and suddenly it can't be used anymore. So who knows, really..

Things breaking and crashing is more for a alpha stage. sure it can happen at beta's, but it shouldn't.

 

[MrPizzaCrust]

This sure is a good question for the next Q&A. I will ask it next time, hopefully someone can answer it

 

[Joël]

I would like to add that in March 2016 Planet Coaster ALPHA will be launched. It will likely be upgraded to beta later on. All Early Bird Editions have access to ALPHA.

 

[KnoxVegas]

If anything this will be like the Elite Dangerous Alpha/Beta. It will be playable for sure, with bugs that will need to be fixed. I'm perfectaly fine with paying $75 dollars to get into a beta access when it comes to Frontier because I know the game will be amazing and very playable just like Elite Dangerous.

Last I thought the Early Bird Editions gives you access to the Alpha and Beta, as well as the full game later on via the store. Brett or Zac correct me if I'm wrong though.

Your Early Bird Edition will grant you first access to Planet Coaster months before its official public release, and full access to the complete game upon release. The Early Bird Edition of Planet Coaster will be available to play March 2016.

 

[Konijntje]

If anything this will be like the Elite Dangerous Alpha/Beta. It will be playable for sure, with bugs that will need to be fixed. I'm perfectaly fine with paying $75 dollars to get into a beta access when it comes to Frontier because I know the game will be amazing and very playable just like Elite Dangerous.

Last I thought the Early Bird Editions gives you access to the Alpha and Beta, as well as the full game later on via the store. Brett or Zac correct me if I'm wrong though.

beta and alpha's started off as a trade. we help them test, and we get to play a buggy game in trade for feedback from us and bug reporting. That people have to pay such a HEFTY amount of money for a beta/alpha is a bit sad. Its MORE money then the game itself LOL. but i guess its a legit way to make money since the game release itself is quite cheap, wich is suprising. i thought it was gonna be 60 euro or so. Unfortunatly this also means i will have to watch other's playing the alpha and beta while i have to wait. But this is just kinda wrong in my eyes.

 

[KnoxVegas]

beta and alpha's started off as a trade. we help them test, and we get to play a buggy game in trade for feedback from us and bug reporting. That people have to pay such a HEFTY amount of money for a beta/alpha is a bit sad. but i guess its a legit way to make money since the game release itself is quite cheap, wich is suprising. i thought it was gonna be 60 euro or so. Unfortunatly this also means i will have to watch other's playing the alpha and beta while i have to wait. But this is just kinda wrong in my eyes.

You have a point for sure. It's just how I see things in my eyes, and I know not everyone will see it the way I do.

 

[Palaber1984]

Off topic.
Sry but before Planet Coaster I didn't recognize elite dangerous. So I'm checking all day Germany's biggest game magazine and I didn't realize it. So I guess it wasn't that big game. I hope PC get more attention and quality as zoo tycoon or elite. I don't want reading PC gets just average points from 6/10. I wish minimum 8/10 points or 4/5 stars or 85/100 percent.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -

but i guess its a legit way to make money since the game release itself is quite cheap, wich is suprising. i thought it was gonna be 60 euro or so. Unfortunatly this also means i will have to watch other's playing the alpha and beta while i have to wait. But this is just kinda wrong in my eyes.

60€+25€ =85€ / 2 = 42,5€ average. Without early access and beta it would coast like roundabout 50€. Maybe this could be the reason why we paying more for early.
Or another reason could be that to support the game during early access needs more attention and working progress than during a finished product( with little upgrades).

 

[Konijntje]

Off topic.
Sry but before Planet Coaster I didn't recognize elite dangerous. So I'm checking all day Germany's biggest game magazine and I didn't realize it. So I guess it wasn't that big game. I hope PC get more attention and quality as zoo tycoon or elite. I don't want reading PC gets just average points from 6/10. I wish minimum 8/10 points or 4/5 stars or 85/100 percent.

- - - - - Additional Content Posted / Auto Merge - - - - -



60€+25€ =85€ / 2 = 42,5€ average. Without early access and beta it would coast like roundabout 50€. Maybe this could be the reason why we paying more for early.
Or another reason could be that to support the game during early access needs more attention and working progress than during a finished product( with little upgrades).

I dont know how you calculate? The game itself is 20 pound= about 27 euro. Beta and alpha access + release is 50 pound=About 68 euro.

 

[Palaber1984]

I dont know how you calculate? The game itself is 20 pound= about 27 euro. Beta and alpha access + release is 50 pound=About 68 euro.

I didn't look closer at the price. I had these numbers in my head so I took them. But at the end it's same principle

 

[Angelis1]

beta and alpha's started off as a trade. we help them test, and we get to play a buggy game in trade for feedback from us and bug reporting. That people have to pay such a HEFTY amount of money for a beta/alpha is a bit sad. Its MORE money then the game itself LOL. but i guess its a legit way to make money since the game release itself is quite cheap, wich is suprising. i thought it was gonna be 60 euro or so. Unfortunatly this also means i will have to watch other's playing the alpha and beta while i have to wait. But this is just kinda wrong in my eyes.

100% agree with you, the pricing policy is insane.

The game look amazing, the developers do a wonderful job, communication is rather well made, but ... what the hell are these "packages" on the shop ? It's just incomprehensible.

 

[KnoxVegas]

100% agree with you, the pricing policy is insane.

The game look amazing, the developers do a wonderful job, communication is rather well made, but ... what the hell are these "packages" on the shop ? It's just incomprehensible.

I highly disagree with you on this. I really don't think their "Pricing policy is insane" at all. I think its fair for the people who really want to support them financially to help continue to build and work on the game as well as maybe work on other things on the side. You can't think of it as insane you have to think of it in a business standpoint that people are willing to spend the money to do it and a lot of people will, and this way they can make a few extra bucks to allow people into a more "closed" testing phase. I'm sure they would love to have everyone test it but its a good bit easier to get a few smaller dedicated people to test and give them really detailed feedback on the game.

I know you all may not agree with me, but I think its a very legit way to do business, and it makes perfect sense in my eyes.

 

[Konijntje]

I highly disagree with you on this. I really don't think their "Pricing policy is insane" at all. I think its fair for the people who really want to support them financially to help continue to build and work on the game as well as maybe work on other things on the side. You can't think of it as insane you have to think of it in a business standpoint that people are willing to spend the money to do it and a lot of people will, and this way they can make a few extra bucks to allow people into a more "closed" testing phase. I'm sure they would love to have everyone test it but its a good bit easier to get a few smaller dedicated people to test and give them really detailed feedback on the game.

I know you all may not agree with me, but I think its a very legit way to do business, and it makes perfect sense in my eyes.

Doesn't take away that you pay more then the game release, for a beta/alpha access where your job would be to provide feedback and do bug reporting. It is supposed to be free. Lately companies started to ask money for this with founding packs, but what frontier does here, is really stepping over the edge. I find it an unacceptable amount if we cant take our saved objects/landscapes/files etc.

 

[KnoxVegas]

Doesn't take away that you pay more then the game release, for a beta/alpha access where your job would be to provide feedback and do bug reporting. It is supposed to be free. Lately companies started to ask money for this with founding packs, but what frontier does here, is really stepping over the edge. I find it an unacceptable amount if we cant take our saved objects/landscapes/files etc.

Where ever did they say alpha/beta are free though? I don't know why everyone gets alpha/beta access in their minds that its suppose to be free. I mean before the alpha/beta stuff was main stream, you either had to work for the company, or were apart of a small group of people to help test games, and a lot of people did this by paying big money to help "back or support" the game and in return they were given access to do the alpha/beta testing. No where does it say that it should have to be free.

Same thing when backing or supporting a game on like kickstarter or something like that. You are backing the game and supporting it in return they give you access to test it in alpha/beta tests. No where has it been set in stone that it should be free.

 

[Konijntje]

Where ever did they say alpha/beta are free though? I don't know why everyone gets alpha/beta access in their minds that its suppose to be free. I mean before the alpha/beta stuff was main stream, you either had to work for the company, or were apart of a small group of people to help test games, and a lot of people did this by paying big money to help "back or support" the game and in return they were given access to do the alpha/beta testing. No where does it say that it should have to be free.

Same thing when backing or supporting a game on like kickstarter or something like that. You are backing the game and supporting it in return they give you access to test it in alpha/beta tests. No where has it been set in stone that it should be free.

You are going slightly into the fanboy route with your arguments. Alpha/beta access should simply be free or most could accept a slight compensation. Currently its just a really weird pricing scheme, and slightly rude. (slight because release price is quite low.)
Backing games on kickstarter never ever give you beta/alpha access for more money then the actual game.