I know in past discussions here, I have voiced my problems with developers muddying the development processes with various terms like pre pre alpha to describe game development at a stage which otherwise would be in pre-alpha or even alpha; inho this is total poppycock.
Granted changes to game elements to a degree creating a substantial shift in direction, could allow definitions between pre-alpha and alpha to be applied in a continuous pattern, further creating confusion.
Myself, I tend to accept the below definitions to guide my perception of game development stages as I view these trailers, streams and read progress reports and the developers denoting who are testing.
Pre-alpha refers to all activities performed during the software project before formal testing. These activities can include requirements analysis, software design, software development, and unit testing.
Alpha testing is the initial phase of validating whether a new product will perform as expected. Alpha tests are carried out early in the development process by internal staff and are followed up with beta tests, in which a sampling of the intended audience actually tries the product out.
Well, you didn't think it was much of a problem when you gave a bit of money so you could play the alpha now did you?
LOL like 9+ yrs ago. I didnt hear anyone saying back then that these games would take 20 years to develop. I also didnt know I would be playing a game worse than 2001 games. So alot of lessons learned there.
And alpha still only refers to the level of development and it doesn't matter who is testing it. People in the company or people outside the company. That doesn't change the level of development just who gets to weigh in.
There is alot of definitions out there especially when you have BS game devs trying to scam customers all the time.
Here is
Google:
Pre-alpha refers to all activities performed during the software project before formal testing. These activities can include requirements analysis, software design, software development, and unit testing.
Google:
Alpha testing is the initial phase of validating whether a new product will perform as expected. Alpha tests are carried out early in the development process by internal staff and are followed up with beta tests, in which a sampling of the intended audience actually tries the product out.
At one point i had real hope for this game. My hopes weren’t really filled with high expectations.
An Everquest like game with some new ideas. I fully expected animations to be a little janky, the ui to be a little outdated - but the gameplay should’ve been able to throw me back to 1999 and the «real» mmo’s where there were open zones with a bunch of groups working together. But then they show us something that looks pretty far into development (unity version)…then suddenly they need to Re-do the entire engine mid-development. Then after years, it starts to look like the Unity version again, now with some high quality assets. Then it’s full backtrack again, and what they then shows us - is something that looks and feels like Runescape. …so yeah, they killed that last sliver of hope
Because IMHO what that has lead us to is this world where games no longer launch, but just linger in Early Access for a decade as they feel that gives them some immunity from criticism.
This line right here is why we're likely going to start scoring early access reviews. Nothing is ever released as a 1.0 in the "live service" realm anymore, yet devs still ask for full price on the game. So that doesn't make them immune IMO.
I did the first ever scored early access review for IGN way back when Atlas first released into its EA, and it went over well. We are likely going to start this in 2024 here.
I wouldn't even bother wasting my time reading an EA review, if I'm being honest. I don't see how anyone could trust it.
Particularly for kickstarter/crowdfunded games... Developers can send reviewers what they need to get a high score to secure more funding, and then change the game in fundamental ways afterwards becasue... well, it's just Pre-Alpha.
Look at how many fundamental changes this "game" is enduring in Pre-Alpha. How can you review such a thing and actually feel confident that your review would ever turn out to be accurate... and who wants to review EA games and then spend all of their time re-testing the same games to be able to keep their reviews and scores in line with the game's current development state (assuming you are even given access to the game to do so)?
It's a bad idea lacking in viability, unless you just care about getting the initial score out there to "produce more content" for the website.
The "fix" for the issues these developers face is to not start a project you don't have a sound business plan for. Let the companies and developers who do get it done.
It's been a decade. By the time this game launches, most of the people who were excited about it at announcement will be out of the market. They aren't even in a position to even estimate what reception will be like anymore, or guess what type of potential player numbers they are likely to attract.
According to one reddit poster negative reviews were being deleted from the backer forums, even had a screenshot of some deletions.
But if course the account and post are now deleted from Reddit....
Apparently someone is doing a good job cleaning up all the evidence.
Kilsin got let go , and about a month ago Minus quit. With nobody left, VR has let the White Knight wako backers take over the Fourms, and Social media. So if anyone says anything negative now, it usally either dissapears, or moves to a place where the public can't see it.
Because IMHO what that has lead us to is this world where games no longer launch, but just linger in Early Access for a decade as they feel that gives them some immunity from criticism.
This line right here is why we're likely going to start scoring early access reviews. Nothing is ever released as a 1.0 in the "live service" realm anymore, yet devs still ask for full price on the game. So that doesn't make them immune IMO.
I did the first ever scored early access review for IGN way back when Atlas first released into its EA, and it went over well. We are likely going to start this in 2024 here.
Studios have been moving the goal posts with early access so much now this had to happen. Will you follow up with a released to launch review? That was always the issue when posters talked about this before, it takes a lot of time to review a game twice.
I can see how you feel forced into this position, but games can change a lot from EA to the real launch, maybe more of an update article rather than a re-review?
I never buy anything over a phone or online except games and stuff from amazon, no one with half a braincell will click those bot links idk why bots keep doing what they do if most people have wised up.
Perhaps most people, or at least some, have not wised up?
Like Skyrim? Need more content? Try my Skyrim mod "Godfred's Tomb."
Well, you didn't think it was much of a problem when you gave a bit of money so you could play the alpha now did you?
LOL like 9+ yrs ago. I didnt hear anyone saying back then that these games would take 20 years to develop. I also didnt know I would be playing a game worse than 2001 games. So alot of lessons learned there.
I never buy anything over a phone or online except games and stuff from amazon, no one with half a braincell will click those bot links idk why bots keep doing what they do if most people have wised up.
Perhaps most people, or at least some, have not wised up?
I read somewhere bots make such posts to help drive web sites up higher on search engine pages.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
I never buy anything over a phone or online except games and stuff from amazon, no one with half a braincell will click those bot links idk why bots keep doing what they do if most people have wised up.
Perhaps most people, or at least some, have not wised up?
I read somewhere bots make such posts to help drive web sites up higher on search engine pages.
Ah, so what you're saying is that the reason why MMORPG isn't doing anything about the bot problem is because the bots are run by MMORPG in some effort to make it seem like this dying message board is more alive than what it really is.
I never buy anything over a phone or online except games and stuff from amazon, no one with half a braincell will click those bot links idk why bots keep doing what they do if most people have wised up.
Perhaps most people, or at least some, have not wised up?
I read somewhere bots make such posts to help drive web sites up higher on search engine pages.
Ah, so what you're saying is that the reason why MMORPG isn't doing anything about the bot problem is because the bots are run by MMORPG in some effort to make it seem like this dying message board is more alive than what it really is.
Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.
Also, shame on MMORPG staff.
No, I'm saying the companies who post the bots aren't expecting anyone from here to click the link, but the more sites that have a link on them the higher that "training" or Indian escort service's web page will list in search engines when someone deliberately searches for such.
This site gets no benefit, and they do remove any that I've reported, hundreds if not thousands over the years but even I never see them all.
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Comments
Granted changes to game elements to a degree creating a substantial shift in direction, could allow definitions between pre-alpha and alpha to be applied in a continuous pattern, further creating confusion.
Myself, I tend to accept the below definitions to guide my perception of game development stages as I view these trailers, streams and read progress reports and the developers denoting who are testing.
Pre-alpha refers to all activities performed during the software project before formal testing. These activities can include requirements analysis, software design, software development, and unit testing.
Alpha testing is the initial phase of validating whether a new product will perform as expected. Alpha tests are carried out early in the development process by internal staff and are followed up with beta tests, in which a sampling of the intended audience actually tries the product out.
There is alot of definitions out there especially when you have BS game devs trying to scam customers all the time.
Here is
But then they show us something that looks pretty far into development (unity version)…then suddenly they need to Re-do the entire engine mid-development. Then after years, it starts to look like the Unity version again, now with some high quality assets. Then it’s full backtrack again, and what they then shows us - is something that looks and feels like Runescape. …so yeah, they killed that last sliver of hope
I wouldn't even bother wasting my time reading an EA review, if I'm being honest. I don't see how anyone could trust it.
Particularly for kickstarter/crowdfunded games... Developers can send reviewers what they need to get a high score to secure more funding, and then change the game in fundamental ways afterwards becasue... well, it's just Pre-Alpha.
Look at how many fundamental changes this "game" is enduring in Pre-Alpha. How can you review such a thing and actually feel confident that your review would ever turn out to be accurate... and who wants to review EA games and then spend all of their time re-testing the same games to be able to keep their reviews and scores in line with the game's current development state (assuming you are even given access to the game to do so)?
It's a bad idea lacking in viability, unless you just care about getting the initial score out there to "produce more content" for the website.
The "fix" for the issues these developers face is to not start a project you don't have a sound business plan for. Let the companies and developers who do get it done.
It's been a decade. By the time this game launches, most of the people who were excited about it at announcement will be out of the market. They aren't even in a position to even estimate what reception will be like anymore, or guess what type of potential player numbers they are likely to attract.
I can see how you feel forced into this position, but games can change a lot from EA to the real launch, maybe more of an update article rather than a re-review?
Godfred's Tomb Trailer: https://youtu.be/-nsXGddj_4w
Original Skyrim: https://www.nexusmods.com/skyrim/mods/109547
Serph toze kindly has started a walk-through. https://youtu.be/UIelCK-lldo
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon
Sure you see slacking, adbot posts left untouched but you also see them removed, hey maybe they are only removing the ones that aren't theirs?
This site gets no benefit, and they do remove any that I've reported, hundreds if not thousands over the years but even I never see them all.
"True friends stab you in the front." | Oscar Wilde
"I need to finish" - Christian Wolff: The Accountant
Just trying to live long enough to play a new, released MMORPG, playing New Worlds atm
Fools find no pleasure in understanding but delight in airing their own opinions. Pvbs 18:2, NIV
Don't just play games, inhabit virtual worlds™
"This is the most intelligent, well qualified and articulate response to a post I have ever seen on these forums. It's a shame most people here won't have the attention span to read past the second line." - Anon