That's not the point of an "alpha" release. What you're describing is more akin to a "beta" release. Since using the phrase "ironing out" [the bugs, etc] is part of the vernacular...
Alpha testing is kind of like having the fabric and materials of a shirt ready and in-place for use and your job is to get those materials to actually look like a shirt in one piece. It's there...just not completely "defined" as being a shirt. Beta is where the shirt is built and <i>mostly</i> "defined", just that you're now looking to make it presentable, ironing out the wrinkles and fixing loose stitches and other random problems.
That said, my analogy isn't completely accurate and because it's an imprecise definition, what they end up sending out as "alpha" may actually be closer to what you're describing.
The "alpha" I describe is something in-between a beta and what you think of an alpha. What we'll get will definetely not be a fully playable beta but they did say alpha TESTING IIRC so yeah. You don't need external people to test an alpha if you know what I mean ;)
What I think we'll get: -ability to walk, jump etc. around our levels -ability to shoot various guns -ability to make mods? (would be funny to see some mod finished and ready before the actual game's release ^^) -perhaps some kind of a bot-spawning tool
I believe they're still pretty far from achieving the first two points on a scale that wouldn't involve tedious workarounds, they have shown the third point already (shooting range) and the fourth point is just more pure speculation.
<!--quoteo(post=1749325:date=Jan 26 2010, 08:51 PM:name=dandi8)--><div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (dandi8 @ Jan 26 2010, 08:51 PM) <a href="index.php?act=findpost&pid=1749325"><{POST_SNAPBACK}></a></div><div class='quotemain'><!--quotec-->-ability to walk, jump etc. around our levels -ability to shoot various guns I believe they're still pretty far from achieving the first two points .<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How is that possible, when they were far along enough in 2009 that they thought they'd release before the years end?
EpidemicDark Force GorgeJoin Date: 2003-06-29Member: 17781Members
I have feelings that the alpha/beta differentiation will just be a tiered beta-test It makes sense. Alpha-access is sold a feature to the special edition. It would be a bad business decision to trow some complete buggy crap out. It will garner bad impressions, disappointed people who will express their disappointment.
But hey you might think, it's an alpha and people should stfu up. Well, the world is not perfect and it will be UW that will be holding the bag.
Do notice how complete the half-life leak was - you could walk around, shoot, it had AI, sound etc. etc. I think it directly influenced how people perceive 'alphas' these days :)
Comments
Alpha testing is kind of like having the fabric and materials of a shirt ready and in-place for use and your job is to get those materials to actually look like a shirt in one piece. It's there...just not completely "defined" as being a shirt. Beta is where the shirt is built and <i>mostly</i> "defined", just that you're now looking to make it presentable, ironing out the wrinkles and fixing loose stitches and other random problems.
That said, my analogy isn't completely accurate and because it's an imprecise definition, what they end up sending out as "alpha" may actually be closer to what you're describing.
What I think we'll get:
-ability to walk, jump etc. around our levels
-ability to shoot various guns
-ability to make mods? (would be funny to see some mod finished and ready before the actual game's release ^^)
-perhaps some kind of a bot-spawning tool
I believe they're still pretty far from achieving the first two points on a scale that wouldn't involve tedious workarounds, they have shown the third point already (shooting range) and the fourth point is just more pure speculation.
-ability to shoot various guns
I believe they're still pretty far from achieving the first two points .<!--QuoteEnd--></div><!--QuoteEEnd-->
How is that possible, when they were far along enough in 2009 that they thought they'd release before the years end?
But hey you might think, it's an alpha and people should stfu up. Well, the world is not perfect and it will be UW that will be holding the bag.
So when does get ns2 leaked ? ;D