Release Date

[walk70]

When is this game due to be released. I am interested in it and Flashpoint Germany. I noticed FPG has been pushed back to November

[Mr.Frag]

Game is in Alpha, not going to see it this year. Summer of next year might be as good a guess as any other time ...

[Zeta16]

I wish someone would just set a date far out there. I do not care if it takes until next winter, but it has gone from Fall to March to Summer now. Just set a far off date so peoples hopes don't get set on a certain date. I know the game is HUGE and will take a long time, but by have close dates and pushing them back it kind of lets some people down. It makes you think this will never get done, and it also makes you think if it is taking this long alot of the bells and such should be in the game. Don't get me wrong I know it is a long project so just set a date for say June 2005 and if it is done sooner people would be thrilled.

[Luskan]

Yes - the game is still alpha, but there are a two juxtaposed issues that will determine how fast it arrives:

1. since it is based on the UV engine, a lot of base coding doesn't have to be redone. This should mean that testing is restricted to new features, and the integration of those new features into the code. This will make the testing period shorter than is they'd written WITP from scratch obviously.

2. The added size and complexity of the game makes for more difficult testing.

However, considering the excellent speed and quality that Matrix gave us with the UV patch history, the game won't stop being developed until it is perfect (whether this is before or after it is released).

[Buck Beach]

What is the difference between Alpha and Beta testing?

Luskan, in your description for your location you state you are sneaking around while Beta testing WITP. Is that just an error?

[Mr.Frag]

Alpha is when the game features are added and built. Focus is on bugs and code development.

Beta is testing after the game design is generally complete and is where tuning generally happens. You'll hear terms like Release Candidate followed by Gold Code during this phase.

One of the dangers about information right now, everything is subject to change, deletion, replacement, etc. Thats the fun of Alpha