Author Topic: Beta is looking like the 26th.  (Read 17706 times)

Offline x4000

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Beta is looking like the 26th.
« on: September 16, 2011, 06:38:57 pm »
Just a quick update.  Things are progressing well in the alpha testing, as you can see, but this is always a long process: http://arcengames.com/mediawiki/index.php?title=AVWW_-_Pre-Beta_Release_Notes

We want to really nail this first beta, even though it's a really small subset of what the game will ultimately become, and to that end we decided to take a few extra days for polish and content development.  The amount of feedback from our alpha testers has been overwhelming, and opening it up to a wider group of players before we finish with all that polish is just going to really pull us under in a way that we wouldn't want. ;) 

On the plus side, compared to past projects in their first-in-tester-hands phase, AVWW has been remarkably clean and light.  AI War went through a month of such testing before 1.0, and then still had a whole summer of similar polish and such after 1.0.  For this being a nearly-beta thing, I'm actually really surprised how smoothly this is going.  We've had some testers who have taken it upon themselves to play a dozen plus hours already, and across the board they all seem to be enjoying it, which is really excellent.

The main early issues were lack of clarity, particularly with things that weren't documented well enough in-game, or which didn't have tooltips, etc.  And balance of enemies and spells has been the other big thing, as we knew it would be.  And then beyond that mainly a lot of conveniences and tweaks to really make the experience smoother and more fun, etc. 

As much as people hate to wait, this sort of process is really good to do before a wide release -- it's already shaping up into something that I'm really proud to have players banging on, and we look to be on target for the 26th.  Also: several of the testers report a "just a little bit more" addictiveness to it, leading to testing sessions ending at 2am, etc.  You've been warned. ;)
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Offline zebramatt

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #1 on: September 16, 2011, 07:05:48 pm »
For how long do you expect beta will run?

You know, high level - given it's not even started yet!

Offline x4000

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #2 on: September 16, 2011, 07:13:32 pm »
At this stage, I think January would be the earliest beta would end.  But I would be surprised if it ran past, say, March.  So basically sometime in first quarter of next year we hope to hit 1.0.  And immediately after that we're going to keep working on it, anyway, so it is slightly a formality assuming that the game takes off before that point (which, signs are pointing that it might).

The goal for 1.0 is to have a solid, large, "complete" experience where someone can play that and never update and say that was a good game.  The reality, of course, is that like AI War this is a game I want to remain active and growing for years to come.  One thing that 1.0 of this will signal is the development of another expansion for AI War, most likely.  At that point we'll have two mature games and can split time doing free DLC for AVWW while doing the usual free DLC / paid content mix for an AI War expansion.  Then most likely we'll switch back and do a major expansion for AVWW while still doing even more free DLC, etc.

All of that, of course, is assuming that we're making enough to pay the bills and keep the lights on during that time.  But that's the plan at this point, and like I said things are looking really good.  I just wouldn't feel good about rushing to 1.0 at November or December, just to hit the holiday market on Steam or whatever, because that's really just not as much time as we want to be able to cram all the content that we want in here for 1.0.
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Offline OobleckTheGreen

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #3 on: September 16, 2011, 10:49:45 pm »
So...... bout time to start that pre-order, eh? I got my VISA card ready and waiting!

Offline x4000

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #4 on: September 16, 2011, 10:50:41 pm »
Not until we actually have a public demo and beta, sorry!  We won't be charging folks for it until they can actually try it first.  Just the way we roll. :)
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Offline CoyoteTheClever

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #5 on: September 17, 2011, 01:24:41 am »
You are doing it wrong! No one is supposed to have fun in the alpha  ;)

Offline Nenad

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #6 on: September 17, 2011, 05:03:45 am »
Awesome! Can't wait. Keep up the good work guys!  :)

Offline Nice Save

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #7 on: September 17, 2011, 10:00:27 am »
Then most likely we'll switch back and do a major expansion for AVWW

A Valley Without Wind: Vietnam War (Windows Version) -- AVWWVWWV.

Offline Hearteater

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #8 on: September 17, 2011, 11:15:09 am »
Then most likely we'll switch back and do a major expansion for AVWW

A Valley Without Wind: Vietnam War (Windows Version) -- AVWWVWWV.
A Valley Without Wind: Vietnam War (Windows Version, works with Vista) -- AVWWVWWVWWV.

I know, that's ridiculous.  Who uses Vista?

Offline Teal_Blue

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #9 on: September 17, 2011, 12:31:45 pm »
Quick silly question if i can that came to mind while i was reading your Pre-Beta Release Notes...

Will there be children in the settlements?  I mean, NPC's that aren't necessarily used for jobs or for player characters, but just you know... running around and playing like kids do?

I thought of course that if this was a movie, it would have kids and dogs and perhaps birds and things like that, and you have bats already, and fish on the way...  :)

So thought i would ask, it would make things certainly more like a real place, but if its more like an adventure game i will understand.

Oh, p.s.  I forgot what the final word on eating and drinking and sleeping was. Will we have any of that? Perhaps post Beta?

Thank you for listening,
:)

-Teal



Offline x4000

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #10 on: September 17, 2011, 01:05:46 pm »
No kids at present, though someday there probably will be.

Your npcs need access to food and water, and consume stores of it every turn in the macrogame, but none of that shows up in adventure mode and likely never will -- I can't think of a game where I had to periodically eat or sleep where I disnt think the game would have been stronger without it, honestly.
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Offline Nalgas

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #11 on: September 17, 2011, 01:09:35 pm »
it would have kids and dogs and perhaps birds and things like that, and you have bats already, and fish on the way...

I think I just figured out what we can eat...

Offline x4000

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #12 on: September 17, 2011, 01:19:14 pm »
:)
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Offline Teal_Blue

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #13 on: September 17, 2011, 01:20:14 pm »
No kids at present, though someday there probably will be.

Your npcs need access to food and water, and consume stores of it every turn in the macrogame, but none of that shows up in adventure mode and likely never will -- I can't think of a game where I had to periodically eat or sleep where I disnt think the game would have been stronger without it, honestly.


:)   Thank you for the quick answer! 


Offline Hyfrydle

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Re: Beta is looking like the 26th.
« Reply #14 on: September 17, 2011, 02:46:40 pm »
Great to hear the beta's on it's way can't wait. Are the new details and footage nearly ready?

 

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