How Complete Will the Alpha be?

from GalCiv3 Forums

Yo

 

This is obviously a question more for the devs than the players, but my question is this; what kind of state will the Alpha Release of Galactic Civilizations 3 have? 

Galactic Civilizations and Galactic Civilizations 2 had really incomplete, crappy alphas and betas; I distinctly remember that they had maybe... a tenth(?) of the functionality of the final game. Same goes for the Alpha/Beta of Twilight of the Arnor (which was admittedly more complete). Hell, in the first part of the GC2 Alpha there weren't even ship models in the game if I recall correctly. All of this was a long time ago so whatever.

But judging from Dev posts (primarily Brad Wardell/Frogboy) the game is in a relatively better state than its predecessors and will have its alpha be more complete on release.

 

Is there anything that can be said about the alpha and what sort of 'completeness' it will have?

 

34,523 views 17 replies
Reply #1 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

In the founders vault thread:

I think the beta is going to be a pretty interesting experience.  In the old days, we would have had what we have today out as the beta. But instead, we're going to see GalCiv III go through the same evolution as the series has.  For example, the first beta won't have the ship design component in. Instead, it's going to play a lot like GalCiv I.  Then Beta 2 is likely to be caught back up to what GalCiv II had.  And then in Beta 3 we'll have all the new stuff on top.

Of course, there will still be new stuff in, even in beta 1 since they're so basic to the new gameplay.  The tech system and the economic system for example are much better and in hindsight, obvious.

I also think that beta feedback will result in changes. I can't predict what that will be but I think there are enough new things that we want to get player feedback on that it'll have a big affect.  For instance, the way star bases are being handled (we don't like the constructor spam so we're tying the star bases to their planets).

Reply #2 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

This is, by no means, a set of promises but rather a glimpse into our plans inside the sausage factory that is game development:

 

WHAT IS PLANNED TO BE IN AND RUNNING:

  • Play a full game, start to finish.
  • AI players working.
  • Multiplayer games with up to 4 players playing against AI or each other.

WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ALPHA

  • The Shipyard will not be in.
  • The tech tree will be set up to provide players with pre-made ships (ala GalCiv 1)
  • Trade won't be in.
  • Diplomacy won't be in (all players will be at war all the time OR allied all the time depending on setup)

The purpose won't be to play a game per se but to get player's feedback on different new things we're adding one at a time.  

Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.

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Reply #3 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2

This is, by no means, a set of promises but rather a glimpse into our plans inside the sausage factory that is game development:

 

WHAT IS PLANNED TO BE IN AND RUNNING:


Play a full game, start to finish.
AI players working.
Multiplayer games with up to 4 players playing against AI or each other.

WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ALPHA


The Shipyard will not be in.
The tech tree will be set up to provide players with pre-made ships (ala GalCiv 1)
Trade won't be in.
Diplomacy won't be in (all players will be at war all the time OR allied all the time depending on setup)

The purpose won't be to play a game per se but to get player's feedback on different new things we're adding one at a time.  

Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.
End of Frogboy's quote

 

Good to know, thank you very much!

Reply #4 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2
Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.
End of Frogboy's quote

So by that we can assume December 21st???  :P  or more like March 19th }:)

Okay I know this is a gift and we'll be happy with whatever it is.

Just poking a little think nothing of it :D

Reply #5 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2

This is, by no means, a set of promises but rather a glimpse into our plans inside the sausage factory that is game development:

 

WHAT IS PLANNED TO BE IN AND RUNNING:


Play a full game, start to finish.
AI players working.
Multiplayer games with up to 4 players playing against AI or each other.

WHAT IS NOT GOING TO BE IN THE ALPHA


The Shipyard will not be in.
The tech tree will be set up to provide players with pre-made ships (ala GalCiv 1)
Trade won't be in.
Diplomacy won't be in (all players will be at war all the time OR allied all the time depending on setup)

The purpose won't be to play a game per se but to get player's feedback on different new things we're adding one at a time.  

Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.
End of Frogboy's quote

WOW. From this it looks like the Alpha will be in much better condition than we had on GC1 or GC2.

Reply #6 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Seilore, reply 4

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.

So by that we can assume December 21st???    or more like March 19th

Okay I know this is a gift and we'll be happy with whatever it is.

Just poking a little think nothing of it
End of Seilore's quote

 

:pout: I know you people at star dock have been saying this winter come on at this point you could probly give a bit small date first half second half maybe a mounth PLEASSEEEE :pout:    

Reply #7 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting adrencrow, reply 6

Quoting Seilore, reply 4
Quoting Frogboy, reply 2Alpha will be going out this Winter to those with Founder's Elite.

So by that we can assume December 21st???    or more like March 19th

Okay I know this is a gift and we'll be happy with whatever it is.

Just poking a little think nothing of it

 

I know you people at star dock have been saying this winter come on at this point you could probly give a bit small date first half second half maybe a mounth PLEASSEEEE    
End of adrencrow's quote

Always expect the later part of the range. Not only is that more likely to be true, but that way adjustment to the release date is a happy surprise rather than a disappointment.

Expect something like March 1, and be happy if they get it out earlier than that. Don't expect late December and get mad that it's still not out 6 weeks after you expected it.

Reply #8 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting WIllythemailboy, reply 7
Expect something like March 1, and be happy if they get it out earlier than that. Don't expect late December and get mad that it's still not out 6 weeks after you expected it.
End of WIllythemailboy's quote

Truthfully I do, I was just poking around.  especially if Frogboy is still working on the AI and he expects it to be fully working in the alpha they are most likely a few months off.  I was just hoping for a more precise timeframe like we're shooting for Feburary/March or January/February.... 

I know we most likely wouldn't get that as they don't want to be stuck to a "date"  But I'm sure internally they have a date in mind so if they could give us a month range in each direction of that date that would be great if not then we have to just wait and see, either way.

The main reason I can see that they don't want to even go down that far is, after that then someone would be looking for a two week time frame, then the week then the day, so it just snowballs. 

So this is my guess....  February 28th, 2014 for the Alpha,  August 1st, 2014 for the Beta, January 31st, 2015 for the Release  Now to start a pool LOL

Reply #9 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Seilore, reply 8
I know we most likely wouldn't get that as they don't want to be stuck to a "date" But I'm sure internally they have a date in mind so if they could give us a month range in each direction of that date that would be great if not then we have to just wait and see, either way.
End of Seilore's quote

I think they do have a schedule in mind, but like good, realistic, planners they know how bad Murphy can be. If Murphy drops a bomb on them at the last moment, then they want to be able to clean up the mess before sending the game out to us.

Quoting Seilore, reply 8
So this is my guess.... February 28th, 2014 for the Alpha, August 1st, 2014 for the Beta, January 31st, 2015 for the Release Now to start a pool LOL
End of Seilore's quote

Are you a mind reader or what? Ok, here are my guesses:    Alpha -- March 15th 2014 (the Ides of March), Beta -- June 1 2014, Release -- February 1, 2015.

 

Reply #10 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Me thinks Lucky Jack has good intuition. :)

Reply #11 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

ok my guesses March 14  2014 for alpha AKA Pi day July 15 2014 for beta and march 14 2015 for release

Reply #12 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10

Me thinks Lucky Jack has good intuition.
End of Frogboy's quote

About the dates, or about Murphy?

Reply #13 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Lucky, reply 12

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10
Me thinks Lucky Jack has good intuition.

About the dates, or about Murphy?
End of Lucky's quote

 

I think Frogboy likes doing that for multi point posts to make you guess which one he is responding to I am guessing probably murphy

Reply #14 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting adrencrow, reply 13
I think Frogboy likes doing that for multi point posts to make you guess which one he is responding to I am guessing probably murphy
End of adrencrow's quote

I was going to ask the same question but I'm guessing the murphy as well but, either way Stardock and Frogboy are still the best, how many other  CEO's will post in chat and give bread crumbs :)

Reply #15 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 10

Me thinks Lucky Jack has good intuition.
End of Frogboy's quote

I love you and hate you so much for being so vague

Reply #16 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

Quoting Frogboy, reply 2
Diplomacy won't be in (all players will be at war all the time OR allied all the time depending on setup)
End of Frogboy's quote


Will we have the option to still play without foes? What if we only wanted to test the colony rush and not have to worry about the AI we are at war with attacking us?

Reply #17 from GalCiv3 Forums Top

You probably could play against 1 AI set to the easiest difficulty. I doubt if they could ever get off their homeworld then.