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what is beta
bobrenjc93
Member Posts: 42
i know it sounds dumb but i am a new member at mmorpg and I am very new it would help a lot for some terms.
Thank You
Bob
Bob
Comments
can u tell me what each letter stands for like
b-
e-
t-
a-
Bob
Hmm, I don't think each letter stand for anything. Beta is usually the second testing phase in a game, Alpha being the first. Beta is also the second letter in the greek alphabet, alpha being the first. Of course I could just be talking out my arse.
Bob
Beta?
Thats a Vitamin or sumthn I think? ? ?
no no no, maybe its a club?
Im not sure
Google is you're friend...
The term beta test applied to software follows from an early IBM
hardware development convention dating back to punched card tabulating
and sorting machines. Hardware first went through an alpha test for
preliminary functionality and manufacturing feasibility. Then a beta
test to verify that it actually correctly performed the functions it
was supposed to, and then a c test to verify safety. With the
advent of programmable computers and the first sharable software
programs, IBM used the same terminology for testing software. Beta
tests were conducted by people or groups other than the developers. As
other companies began developing software for their own use, and for
distribution to others, the terminology stuck and now is part of our
common vocabulary.
Games follow a certain path. Development stage, where they're being built from scratch, or using a premade engine (basic structure) in some cases. Then it goes to Alpha stage, which is usually done inside the company with a handful of assistants. At this point, the game is not complete by any means and playing is meant to reveal any problems the game may have that would impair normal play. Next comes Beta stage, where the game is generally functional, but there are still troubles which could cause problems for normal play. Often, there are closed betas, which involve anywhere from a few hundred to a few thousand volunteers who play the game and search for bugs. Also, there are open betas, where anyone can play for free. This is most useful as a stress test on the servers, as most people aren't reliable bug reporters. Then there's full release, where the game is meant to be as bug-free as possible. Take all this with a grain of salt, that's merely what's intended.
Alpha is the first letter in Greek, and Beta is the second. Those two together are also the root for the word "alphabet" as we know it, a little tidbit of information.
So "open beta" discussion is basically regarding games which are incomplete, free to play, and in a testing phase. We look for betas of games that are fun and enjoyable, that we may get in on the ground floor and become acquainted with the game before it is released to the public for sale.
The explanations so far cover things pretty well...
I'd just like to add some thoughts...
If you see a game in alpha testing and get a chance to be a part of that (I did a little on a couple of games) then be aware that there will be MANY issues with the game... they are testing it and need feedback on some very fundamental items, like controls, movement, speed, server volume, latency, graphics issues...
In the beta phase, they've (hopefully) worked out the big issues and want to find the finer tuning to make the game ready for sale, and/or for public consumption. If you are a part of a beta test, you would still be expected to give feedback on any bugs or issues you find, but the developers honestly are hoping that most issues have been resolved in alpha... in my experience, and I've only beta tested 3 games, the biggest concerns in beta testing have been graphics (holes in the world) and server loads (latency / lag)... a lot of focus is put into stress testing and things like high numbers of players in one battlefield or on one server...
Even with the testing, after the beta test, games are often released with known issues... and usually the get fixed after the game is released... they try to fix the big things and leave the smaller issues for after release, I assume for financial reasons...
Overall, that's how it works. The big uproar occurs when known issues from beta testing aren't addressed after release for months after release... happened with most of the games I have played...
Anyway, I think you got a pretty good explanation of what beta testing is...
Oh, and the little letters after beta? like beta-a, beta-b, etc... in my experience, those are just indicators of a major upgrade having occurred... but the game is still being tested...
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