Standalone december release is alpha or full game?

[Fraggle (DayZ) 15720]

I don't even view SA as an Alpha or beta.

I think of it kinda like how EvE started, released with just a few features and over time has grown into a complicated monster with bowels so deep that you cannot see the bottom anymore.

It's just that the SA will be cheap to start with and eventually raise in price until it hits a ceiling.

Agreed. Because it's using already tested engines and has already had an "alpha" phase of it's own it's tough to pin down.

[joeoblong@yahoo.com 614]

Wait SA doesn't stand for second alpha!? Damn you Rocket!! Always confusabobilating me!

[morgan32 403]

Lets just call it Ceta, or Echo, or something like that.

Or we can go with the high-tech FOXTROT.

[Creep- 569]

mod = alpha

SA = beta

[dallas 5195]

I consider the public testing phase to be over, when the standalone is released.

Rocket is charging money for DayZ, thus have to deliver an actual product. He's not allowing kickstarter alpha participation for pledges or selling alpha access like WarZ(even if they now have decided to copy the his term Foundation build too). While the initial release of the standalone, might not be a flawless diamond, I think the goal is to deliver something a lot more stabel and streamlined, than what we played for free last spring.

The standalone has to offer new features, a new Chernarus, new UI and content/mechanics to justify the price point, at the same time the price point will reflect, that some more advanced content is being withheld and that if the launch is successful, we can expect an additional year's development. The standalone has to be more than a beta from launch, because it will be reviewed as a game. It might be a 15 euro game, but it has to be more than a beta.

While some of us are more or less buying DayZ, simply in appreciation of the mod and we're more than willing to endure bugs, ladders and doorways, DayZ has to be more to wow reviewers and new audience.

Edited November 23, 2012 by Dallas

[deepfried 95]

It´s kind of up to Rocket if he wants to call it Beta or Alpha. If he´s implementing on taking the mod with upgrades / performance difference then I´d call it a Beta probably.

Other hand, if he´s just releasing the mod with a hacker restriction then I´d call it an Alpha.

Uhh noooo. Rocket can call it what he likes but Alpha/Beta are objective classifications that will depend 100% on the state of the game. Plus, they've already said half a dozen times that it will be alpha.

FYI:

Alpha: Content being developed added, possible tweaks to the engine, focus on testing content rather than general bug hunting.

Beta: Game is 99% content complete, further work is for balance, testing mechanics, and general bug hunting.

[OrLoK 16186]

Hello there

I do worry that folk are expecting a vastly different "AAA" experience when the SA comes out rather than a refined and streamlined *version* of the mod.

I get the feeling from the forums that the move to "arma 2.5" will herald BF3 style fluid movement and a complete overhaul of the gfx engine. I doubt that is the case.

I still forsee legacy quirks from Arma poking through, but not so glaringly as they do now.

Anyhoo @OP the first release will be a Full game IMHO, just in a "young" state with plenty of room to grow and mature.

Again this is all conjecture from an ageing and befuddled mind. Check the stickies, watch the dev vids etc and form your own opinion.

rgds

LoK

[Fraggle (DayZ) 15720]

Uhh noooo. Rocket can call it what he likes but Alpha/Beta are objective classifications that will depend 100% on the state of the game. Plus, they've already said half a dozen times that it will be alpha.

FYI:

Alpha: Content being developed added, possible tweaks to the engine, focus on testing content rather than general bug hunting.

Beta: Game is 99% content complete, further work is for balance, testing mechanics, and general bug hunting.

Thanks for the info but you're wrong, hence this discussion.

[mzltv 2281]

They do have a track record of releasing games in a buggy state

Thank your lucky stars that it's BIS with the dev team, and not Bethesda!

[Jex =TE= (DayZ) 218]

If you're bored waiting we know of this alternative game somewhere out there....