When and what is GAMMA?

[Tobytyke1972]

Hi Everybody,

I'm a little confused about the term gamma and what it actually means. I've been talking to lots of my friends here at work (Who are also elite backers) and we all have different answers.

Is November 22nd the start of Gamma, and as such does this mean that all backers (Alpha, Beta and pre-order) get access to the game.

or

Is November 22nd the test roll out of the Release candidate for Alpha and beta. Gamma starts then on the Dec 16th. If so how long will the Gamma last.

 

[Zephyriel]

22nd is the start of gamma, which is supposed to be the feature complete version, submitted to backers for testing and possible bug fixes before official release on 16th december. I guess you can call it a release candidate.

As I understand it based on the latest official communication, gamma will be available to alpha and beta backers, but not to people who simply peordered the game. Those will get access to the game on december 16th when it's officially released.

 

[Tobytyke1972]

Thanks for the answer Zephyriel,

Still none the wiser really. Because that's how I read it too. But if thats the case then GAMMA is really just a version of Beta only available to Beta (And above) backers.

I'm a beta backer so not a problem for me , But I was pretty sure I read somewhere (In think in a news letter) that GAMMA would be available for all pre-order backers (Alpha, Gamma, Kickstart etc) before the actual release.

 

[_Flin_]

Thanks for the answer Zephyriel,

So none the wiser really. Because that's how I read it too. But if thats the case then GAMMA is really just a version of Beta only available to Beta (And above) backers.

No, it is not. Because between Beta and Release you get wiped.

Between Gamma and Release you won't (unless there are some things happening that force Frontier to do so, like vast bugs allowing huge exploits)

 

[Erna Jedermann]

No, it is not. Because between Beta and Release you get wiped.

Between Gamma and Release you won't (unless there are some things happening that force Frontier to do so, like vast bugs allowing huge exploits)

But with no wipe, all Beta and Above has a Big Headstart before the Normal Players, are you sure they really want it so?
I think even that we (Beta and Above) can jump to Sol without good Fed Standing is a little headstart ....

 

[S~P]

But with no wipe, all Beta and Above has a Big Headstart before the Normal Players, are you sure they really want it so?
I think even that we (Beta and Above) can jump to Sol without good Fed Standing is a little headstart ....

I see it as a way for FD to thank all the beta backers for testing elite. After all we have had to suffer all the glitches through the betas.

 

[Adept]

IMO the answer is very unclear at the moment. I wish the devs would tell us in uncertain terms.

They may be hedging their bets at the moment with ambiguous language.

 

[Matt168]

No, it is not. Because between Beta and Release you get wiped.

Between Gamma and Release you won't (unless there are some things happening that force Frontier to do so, like vast bugs allowing huge exploits)

Speculation only, but I wonder if there will not be a full wipe after 22 November so Beta testers have the in-game funds to keep testing ships and equipment in a representative way. Then the full wipe comes in on 16 December so we have as level a playing field as possible (though I imagine I, among many others, will take weeks to put in the time that some will achieve before 17 December).

 

[Katkon]

But with no wipe, all Beta and Above has a Big Headstart before the Normal Players, are you sure they really want it so?
I think even that we (Beta and Above) can jump to Sol without good Fed Standing is a little headstart ....

I see this line of reasoning constantly, and it surprises me a bit. Elite is not a race. It's not a competition. There are no leaderboards. Your stats are private. AND - new players will constantly come and go over the life of the game, so someone will always be at a theoretical disadvantage. It really doesn't matter if backers fly around in Cobras or Anacondas on the 16th, as the VAST majority of those will have left starter systems and begun doing what Elite is all about - exploring and having fun.

 

[Riedquat]

Hi Everybody,

I'm a little confused about the term gamma and what it actually means. I've been talking to lots of my friends here at work (Who are also elite backers) and we all have different answers.

Lol, do you work at FD?

this was a joke..I love them really.

 

[Katkon]

IMO the answer is very unclear at the moment. I wish the devs would tell us in uncertain terms.

They may be hedging their bets at the moment with ambiguous language.

I can certainly tell you in uncertain terms:

Gamme will most likely, and very probably, be the full feature complete version to be tested by backers pre-launch. Your stats and progress will absolutely not be wiped for the Dec 16th launch (unless we feel a need; then they will). Those that pre-ordered the game, but who are not backers, are very unlikely to get access to the gamma.

 

[Tobytyke1972]

Are kickerstarters considered a backer, or are backers only Alpha & Beta testers?

The main reason why I asks is because we have a mixture of Beta, Kickerstarts and pre-order user here. So we're all wondering when we all get to meet up in space.

 

[Erna Jedermann]

No I didn´t mean it as a Race, more like from the Explorerside.... even now the Kickstarter can have an "special" Cobra for Exploring and start in a better exploration area. SO if you start later t, you maybe can´t get the exploration closer to the starter System. I am sure there still will be enough (400 Billions) Starts to explore, but wich each day you must travel more .... or play Offline..

 

[akaliel]

Hi Everybody,

I'm a little confused about the term gamma and what it actually means. I've been talking to lots of my friends here at work (Who are also elite backers) and we all have different answers.

Is November 22nd the start of Gamma, and as such does this mean that all backers (Alpha, Beta and pre-order) get access to the game.

or

Is November 22nd the test roll out of the Release candidate for Alpha and beta. Gamma starts then on the Dec 16th. If so how long will the Gamma last.

Typically in software development Gamma means it's feature complete, so don't expect anything new in gameplay between Gamma and the commercial release. Anybody hoping for a whole bunch of content Frontier is secretly holding back will probably be disappointed. Other than bug fixes and perhaps unlocking the rest of the Galaxy, it'll largely be the same game.

I'm just hoping they fix a few of the more glaring issues that are beginning to really annoy me. Like the awkward pause when you exit supercruise. There's a pretty cool effect when exiting hyperspace, we need something similar for supercruise.

There's also a potential show stopping bug regarding warrants. I accidentally hit the side of a station and got fined. I respawned, paid the fine, but the game kept the Wanted flag on me. There was no longer a fine to pay and I couldn't leave the station without getting blown up. I had to clear my save.

 

[MASTER_DEATHDEALER]

From what i read, full wipe on the 22nd and thats it. We get a headstart on the game by 3 weeks.

I LOVE the game as is, but i think the game is very hard for NOOBS, theres not any story line to follow and lastly the ranking system is weak.

Frontier, please look at the 370 MILLION, in year 2013, success of World of Tanks and add a more detailed profile page for each player that anyone can look up and see stats for the player such as total kills, number of deaths, and then give out medals for game success. For instance, for every 5 Anacondas u kill in a sidewinder u get a medal and so on.

These "stats" keep people playing World of Tanks as players want to brag about thier stats. my example: When u kill a higher tier tank by ramming it u get a "kamikaze" medal. i have 390 which places me 7th on the North American server and in the top 25 world wide (Russia and EU have the most players) out of 75 million players. i want to keep playing cause game is fun but also to make it into top 10 world wide and this is just one medal of 50 or so.

 

[Enride]

Speculation only, but I wonder if there will not be a full wipe after 22 November so Beta testers have the in-game funds to keep testing ships and equipment in a representative way. Then the full wipe comes in on 16 December so we have as level a playing field as possible (though I imagine I, among many others, will take weeks to put in the time that some will achieve before 17 December).

Its not speculations, but officially stated by Fdev that the plan is to do a complete wipe before gamma, but not between gamma and release. As mentioned, if major exploits and gamebreaking issues appear during gamma, there will likely be a wipe anyway, but if everything holds up, everything gained during gamma will hold up to release.

And about the "level playing field" its not really an argument, if the game was unplayable for anyone not "level" with the rest, it would effectivly make the game unplayable for anyone wishing to join after the first week from release.
There will always be players ahead of you.

 

[Fenris Wolf]

Are kickerstarters considered a backer, or are backers only Alpha & Beta testers?

The main reason why I asks is because we have a mixture of Beta, Kickerstarts and pre-order user here. So we're all wondering when we all get to meet up in space.

I think it is something like this...

Kickerstarter = Backer
Alpha Tester = Backer
Beta Tester = Backer
Pre-Order = Buying the game before it is released to get the Mercenary Pack.

 

[Lestat]

Typically in software development Gamma means it's feature complete, so don't expect anything new in gameplay between Gamma and the commercial release. Anybody hoping for a whole bunch of content Frontier is secretly holding back will probably be disappointed. Other than bug fixes and perhaps unlocking the rest of the Galaxy, it'll largely be the same game.

I'm just hoping they fix a few of the more glaring issues that are beginning to really annoy me. Like the awkward pause when you exit supercruise. There's a pretty cool effect when exiting hyperspace, we need something similar for supercruise.

There's also a potential show stopping bug regarding warrants. I accidentally hit the side of a station and got fined. I respawned, paid the fine, but the game kept the Wanted flag on me. There was no longer a fine to pay and I couldn't leave the station without getting blown up. I had to clear my save.

You ever think Frontier has it own views what Beta is or gamma is. A lot of things I can see that can be in Gamma is Passenger ships Wing man and such. Here how I see this

1 Testing Cargo and Cargo Racks and other features of the game like changing engines and weapons and such. Can be also testing Passenger Cabin and such with out us knowing it. Because we in a sense testing all of that now.

2 Now Wingman well communicating to the station or Faction before you join a battle can also be tested to communicate to other parts of the game like wingman.

3 Different grades of fuel. Well this could be tested by commodity you buy and sell.

Also Frontier known not to follow the rules what other companies follow. Remember games like Pong or Pac Man. You know 3 live 10 Minutes. Elite help break that mold.

 

[T@F]

I think it is something like this...

Kickerstarter = Backer
Alpha Tester = Backer
Beta Tester = Backer
Pre-Order = Buying the game before it is released to get the Mercenary Pack.

Yeah i see it as this as well.
Anyone who bought the game through kickstarter even if it was just the lowest price version will have gamma access.
If you bought the £35 version from the store then you have to wait till dec 16th
(unless you upgrade to the £50 version.)

 

[akaliel]

You ever think Frontier has it own views what Beta is or gamma is. A lot of things I can see that can be in Gamma is Passenger ships Wing man and such. Here how I see this

1 Testing Cargo and Cargo Racks and other features of the game like changing engines and weapons and such. Can be also testing Passenger Cabin and such with out us knowing it. Because we in a sense testing all of that now.

2 Now Wingman well communicating to the station or Faction before you join a battle can also be tested to communicate to other parts of the game like wingman.

3 Different grades of fuel. Well this could be tested by commodity you buy and sell.

Also Frontier known not to follow the rules what other companies follow. Remember games like Pong or Pac Man. You know 3 live 10 Minutes. Elite help break that mold.

Just because Frontier didn't make the same types of games as Capcom in the 80's doesn't mean they're adhering to a different set of standards for software development procedures than the rest of the world. The whole point of Gamma is to work out all the bugs that were added into the game from features of the Beta so that your release can be as bug free as possible. That way they don't introduce different grades of fuel 1 day before release, not realize they've introduced a whole new showstopper bug that borks everyone's game. The last thing any dev studio wants is to get trashed on metacritic b/c their game doesn't work. Frontier has given themselves a month to fix everything that's left from Beta 3. Any new features at this point will be very minor. Or they're possibly flirting with disaster. All the new features you listed will probably be post release, or in expansion packs.