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Geek Culture / Just a couple of questions about alpha/beta etc etc

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soapyfish
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 06:35
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Hey all,
I keep seeing things in the w.i.p. board but don't have the foggiest what they mean so if there's anyone out there that can help me, please do.

1) What's the difference between alpha testers and beta testers

2) When does a game go from being a beta to a demo

3) what do those version numbers mean. How do I know my demo is demo version 1.1 or 2 or 2.0 etc etc.

Thanks in advance.




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Neofish
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 06:38
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Alpha is the first release, so it is unlikely to work. Beta is after, more likely to work. Demos are well demos: demonstrations of the final product after completion (usually).

I make the numbers up so I add 0.1 for each major addition, 1.0 should be the final version or the first public non alpha/beta release (in my mind)

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Hawkeye
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 06:43 Edited at: 16th Feb 2005 06:44
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well...

1) when you're beta testing somthing, it generally means that the game you're testing actually makes sense, i.e. you're killing things for a reason

2) whenever you decide to start confusing people

and 3) well this is mostly up to you, but I like this arangement: anything below v0.1 is screenshot stage, anything below v0.5 is alpha stage (i.e. it's a maybe on the demo, but you have bugs you need to work out first), anything below v0.9 is beta stage (i.e. you can actually sit down and play the game like you would to say, UT2k4 only of course it isn't finished). v1.0 is when you post in teh program announcements with your final. Anything above v1.0 are generally patches, but after say every 0.15 increment after v1.0 you rerelease the prog as one file, i.e. not one file and some patches

Most of what you asked was (highly) subjective and frequently a (very)


EDIT: ok I was busy typing while neofish was posting so... yeah I forgot about the demo thing, demos are when you've released your final and are selling it and you feel you need to post a demo so people will actually buy the thing *inhales deeply*

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JoelJ
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 07:17
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Alpha -> Testing game ENGINE
Beta -> Testing game levels, etc
Demo -> Game is done, you just want to show it off

versioning:

Xx is the major virsion, so if you releace the game for the first time, it'll be 1.0.0
if you change the game a little, you would change it from 1.0.0 to 1.1.0
if you fix a bug, you would change it from 1.1.0 to 1.1.1
if you change the game MAJORLY, like an expansion, or just change so much it's really different, it would change from 1.1.1 to 2.0.0

i believe there's a little more than that, but you get my drift


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Benjamin
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 07:23 Edited at: 16th Feb 2005 07:25
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Alpha means the begginning. Incase anyone cares. It doesn't have anything to do with a game engine, unless a particular alpha demo is just showing off the early state of the engine. For instance you could have a beta demo will alpha multiplayer functionality.


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Osiris
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 07:28
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There you go that explained it all...

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MikeS
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 09:00
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1.) First stage is Alpha
2.) Second stage is Beta
3.) Quality Assurance
4.) Release Game
5.) Demo

Usually the way it works in the games industry(from what I've read and know) is listed above. Quality assurance is the third step and final before the release(as far as actual work on the game, excluding marketing, etc.). Basically you just keep double checking yourself to make sure you have everything as polished up as possible, and have gotten rid of that last pesky bug before release. The Demo stage can come before the release at any stage really, and can also come after to give a trial/taster of the game.

Hope that anwsers Question #1, if not a bit of overkill on my part.



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Eric T
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 09:13
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Quote: "1) What's the difference between alpha testers and beta testers"


I'll apply this more to all software (not only games)

Alpha - Early testing of a software, used to spot bugs in the basic engine and such. Some small features added here and there, but its like a First Draft in writing. Usually done In-House, instead of public or people outside the Dev-House.

Beta - Engine testing done, now time to test some real features. This usually has many updates as features are added and taken due to suggestions from the testers. The Engine still in a rough form at the beggining, takes shape and grows through out. Alot of times, Betas will be done somewhat out of house, and will involve alot more then the Alpha test. Sometimes the Dev's will look to Public tests and collect information and bugs through that. This Stage usually last's several months.

Quote: "2) When does a game go from being a beta to a demo
"


Beta usually has nothing to do with the Demo. A demo is alot of times released before a product to Show off the engine and generate interest. Though in the later years, we have seen less demos before release, and they have been getting released well after the products release, to boost sales back up.

Quote: "3) what do those version numbers mean. How do I know my demo is demo version 1.1 or 2 or 2.0 etc etc."


Version numbers are used to identify, well, what version you have. As the program gets upgraded you add a new version number. Alot of times, its to the Dev's discression what number they are gonna use. To find out what version, alot of times it'll be in a read-me, a help, or maybe just the corner of the screen in the game.

Hope I helped.

Eric

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Neofish
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Posted: 16th Feb 2005 19:43 Edited at: 16th Feb 2005 19:43
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Quote: "Alpha means the begginning"

Nope its the first letter of the Greek alphabet, which Osiris showed...it just happens to be the beginning, as Omega is the end. Someone like Jesus said: "I am the Alpha and the Omega"...(Xan from UT1 said it too )

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Jeku
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Posted: 17th Feb 2005 03:12 Edited at: 17th Feb 2005 03:13
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If nobody else has pointed this out---

In a game studio an alpha is where you can't test every part of the game. I.E. Credits wasn't even implemented yet. But you can still test some of the functionality.

Once everything can be tested as the programmers say "Okay, all of the features are in." then it's a beta and everyone celebrates (beer).

Usually the QA testers decide when it goes from alpha to beta as they're usually in disagreement with the dev. team.


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Benjamin
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Posted: 17th Feb 2005 03:49 Edited at: 17th Feb 2005 03:50
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Quote: "Nope its the first letter of the Greek alphabet"

Yes it does. I have read in loads of places that it means that, even dictionary.com.

http://dictionary.reference.com/search?q=alpha

And yes, I know its the first letter of the greek alphabet.


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soapyfish
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Posted: 17th Feb 2005 05:34
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Ookies, thanks for all the help.




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Jeku
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Posted: 17th Feb 2005 05:35
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Quote: ""I am the Alpha and the Omega""


Jesus meant he is the beginning (alpha) and the end (omega).


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Neofish
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Posted: 17th Feb 2005 05:36
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Yeah I knew that which was where what Ben said came from...im just too lazy to type it all

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