When is the beta coming?

[Bedshaped]

I would like to point out, perhaps for the thousandth weary time in the last few years, that this is what a beta test is. It's a test. It's not a demo, it's not "decide whether you want to play the game or not" (a symptom many MMOs suffer from these days), it's testing.

It's a moot point really, since Subset have stated they want the game to be fairly playable before we touch it, and I can't fault them for that. That said, I do really wish people would stop having foolish expectations as to betas. But I suppose it's a few years late for that crusade.

TL;DR - Beta will come, be patient.

Exactly. You didn't donate in order to get the game early, you donated to get an "early" game.

[Picogiant]

I appreciate busy, and not wanting to release a broken demo.

However, I'd like to point out we paid $25, which is over the original $15 for beta access. It would be a good idea to release early so people don't feel like the extra money went to naught.

And here starts the entitled "I paid" bitching...

Agreed! Can we please try to avoid any form of moaning on this board for as long as possible. I know we're all investors but we need to remember these guys are a brand new two person studio with an amazingly good idea/starting point; not some big evil empire who are trying to do bad things.

As a rule of thumb for when bitching will be justified or at least not completely prickish:

1) we're still waiting for a beta in September
2) we get a beta but it only works in Wales and the Philippines (lucky bastards)
3)we get a beta but the game has magically become pants in the Alpha-Beta metamorphasis

Otherwise, the developers are sticking to what they've promised and what you signed $25 away for.

[Chief]

I would like to point out, perhaps for the thousandth weary time in the last few years, that this is what a beta test is. It's a test. It's not a demo, it's not "decide whether you want to play the game or not" (a symptom many MMOs suffer from these days), it's testing.

TL;DR - Beta will come, be patient.

Exactly. You didn't donate in order to get the game early, you donated to get an "early" game.

By the way, I wasn't saying that the beta should be a demo of the full game. I was trying to point out the difference between an alpha and beta version. There's no hard definition, but usually beta versions are stable (no or very few crashes) and reflect the finished product very closely. Betas do, however, have plagues of bugs.

I fully expect to see crew members getting stuck, or fires not going out in a zero-oxygen environment, or nebulae not reducing power capacity. I'm fine with that, and am happy to report those bugs in full detail.

What I don't want to see is an alpha version where the game will crash-to-desktop if an unready item is used, or placeholder events are encountered, or the game will freeze from a multithreaded variable access attempt resulting in a deadlock or livelock.

In that frame of mind, I'm saying that the FTL team should take their time and not rush out the beta.

[veryalien]

I appreciate busy, and not wanting to release a broken demo.

However, I'd like to point out we paid $25, which is over the original $15 for beta access. It would be a good idea to release early so people don't feel like the extra money went to naught.

And here starts the entitled "I paid" bitching...

I was very civil which is more than I can say for some other posts in this thread, including yours. Try to be polite to your fellow humans.

[CanadianWolvie]

I appreciate busy, and not wanting to release a broken demo.

However, I'd like to point out we paid $25, which is over the original $15 for beta access. It would be a good idea to release early so people don't feel like the extra money went to naught.

And here starts the entitled "I paid" bitching...

I was very civil which is more than I can say for some other posts in this thread, including yours. Try to be polite to your fellow humans.

Civility is more than just being passive aggressive, its dropping the aggressive altogether. Too bad, so sad if you feel in any way being shamed by reminding Digital that there is trend among some Backers to be just as over bearing as big money Publishers. You are entitled to what the Devs worded in their Kickstarter, not a less or more, and they were pretty clear on their targets.

I for one didn't care much for being a part of the beta at a premium, I prefer a discount. Good luck with finding all the bugs, my fellow Backers

[Freyar]

Well, as long as I see activity from the developers, I'm happy. The beta will come when it comes with what seems to be an actual beta test cycle.

We'll get the game when they're ready to release it.

[Muramas]

I think people are totally confused about Game dev cycle...

A beta is a pre-released version of a game that can be pretty buggy but has the general framework down, betas generally have lots of bugs and major things in the game will / can be changed. A beta IS NOT a RC build which is complete and fully ready for every day use without any major bugs.

Please read this to get a better idea of development cycle http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Software_r ... life_cycle

What I don't want to see is an alpha version where the game will crash-to-desktop if an unready item is used, or placeholder events are encountered, or the game will freeze from a multithreaded variable access attempt resulting in a deadlock or livelock.

In that frame of mind, I'm saying that the FTL team should take their time and not rush out the beta.

Then you don't play the alpha and wait for the stable beta / RC...if you don't want to help test then you are fine for not helping.


I am just excited and I think getting the beta sooner than later would be nice and help give feedback / bug hunting.

[Niknaktom]

Lets just been honest shall we. we all just wanna play the damn game. all this bullshit about Oh I wanna help find bugs and stuff thats why i want the beta now is bollocks, we want the beta just so we can get our grubey little mits on whats is gonna be a bloody fanastic game and play the living shit out of it.

Good day!

[soratidus999]

Lets just been honest shall we. we all just wanna play the damn game. all this bullshit about Oh I wanna help find bugs and stuff thats why i want the beta now is bollocks, we want the beta just so we can get our grubey little mits on whats is gonna be a bloody fanastic game and play the living shit out of it.

Good day!

^^ this man!

sums it up perfectly

[Warbird]

3)we get a beta but the game has magically become pants in the Alpha-Beta metamorphasis

I don't know, I'd be pretty good if they sent out FTL themed pants. They would be extremely difficult to get into though, but would be pleasantly retro in style.