How much of a game should be done before moving to Alpha?

[TimmyTheNerd]

I was wondering, at wont point do you consider your game ready for Alpha testing? A friend of mine told me my entire game should be done and that Alpha and Beta are only for working out bugs in the game.

 

[SlaveOfThaMind]

personal preference I would think. just have something with a strong entry and closing, so its not just a meaningless jumble of scripts and tiles.

 

[Engr. Adiktuzmiko]

Early stages are called Alpha

Later stages are called Beta

It really depends on the game IMO... You can consider early demo's of RPGs as part of the Alpha stage...

 

[Shaz]

Early stages (as you're developing) are called Unit Testing, not Alpha.


Alpha is when the game is complete and you are ready to start fixing bugs and tweaking things here and there.


Beta is when you send it out to a group not involved with the development for testing, and should happen when Alpha is done and you've got all the big bugs (crashing, blocking) out of the way.

 

[Tsukihime]

Unit testing is not a stage it is just a testing method.


I wouldn't even call it any sort of testing "stage" because at that point you're still developing the game, though some people do call it "pre-alpha". Which makes sense I guess cause it's everything before alpha?


Alpha and beta testing are standard terms used in the industry. I don't think there is any ambiguity to them besides people that don't want to follow them.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_release_life_cycle

 

[McP]

Im curious about this too,

maybe a game from kairosoft, 'Game Dev Story' is simple enough to tell..

kairosoft.wikia.com/wiki/Game_Dev_Story

 

[Milennin]

It doesn't really matter what you call it anyway. Beta... alpha... it's doesn't make a difference, as long as people know your game's still unfinished.

 

[Lord Valdyr]

Alpha is basically a stage where all the key features and game play elements are completed. Usually there will still be some place holder art and audio missing, it's like an unpolished version.

However, Alpha is a stage in which features can be dropped and planned features can be added based on feedback and stuff.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

It doesn't really matter what you call it anyway. Beta... alpha... it's doesn't make a difference, as long as people know your game's still unfinished.

lol maybe since it precedes the alphabet stage it should be called the prehistoric or oral tradition stage!


Haha.


In any event, isn't the real question whether you can benefit, and whether it is fair and reasonable to ask for, others to play test your game when it is still just a little baby game.


My answer to that is:


If you are darned sure that you aren't going to do a major rewrite (because somehow games seem to undergo those, and it isn't just an edit in Microsoft Word, you know)


And you will incorporate the detailed input you get - IOW if someone tells you that there is a grammar mistake in the dialog next to the Mountains of Green Slimeys then you will fix it


then I think that feedback is invaluable and worthwhile.


Always.


But if you just want handholding and "wow what a great game" and don't want to make changes, then don't waste other people's time, or your own ego. Just find your muse and keep creating.

 

[TimmyTheNerd]

Right now, I have three very close friends who are helping me with the game. They help me with working out the bugs, suggesting music to get for my game and one of them, my closest friend, is a grammar nazi.

 

[GrandmaDeb]

Then who cares what you call it; be grateful for input - your game will be better for it! =]


Yaay for wonderful people who help us test our games!

 

[Archeia]

Right now, I have three very close friends who are helping me with the game. They help me with working out the bugs, suggesting music to get for my game and one of them, my closest friend, is a grammar nazi.

Lifesavers over there.

As for when to call something an alpha/beta/demo/whatever, just make sure that your demo showcases what to be expected from your game. which means, Most of the gameplay features and at least a good 1 hr+ worth of gameplay. I'd suggest looking at the FF7 or FF8 demo (for both good and bad respectively). You can also mislead the player with your demo such as in Dangan Ronpa 1's demo, one of the major plot twists of the demo was drastically different in the full game, it was surprising.