Streaming the Game in Alpha 2

ArchivedUser

Hey AOC'ers,
Just wanted to ask a quick question here as I haven't been able to find much online.
Would anyone know if we are able to stream on Twitch in the Closed Alpha stage 2, do we need permission? Or even have to wait until beta or full release?
I was part of the Kickstarter (Founder Level).

ArchivedUser

The persistent Alpha 1 and following are not under NDA. Streaming permission confirmed and encouraged. Alpha 0 and Beta 0 for key winners are under NDA and will not be streamed.

ArchivedUser

UnknownSystemError said:

The persistent Alpha 1 and following are not under NDA. Streaming permission confirmed and encouraged. Alpha 0 and Beta 0 for key winners are under NDA and will not be streamed.

That's interesting. Does Alpha 1 not come before beta 0? It seems strange to me that you're allowed to stream an Alpha, but not a Beta. 

ArchivedUser

What i understand from this quote is that you only CAN NOT stream Alpha 0 and Beta 0. But I don't think Beta 0 will be under NDA.

ArchivedUser

This seems to be a point of confusion, and it is mostly Intrepids fault by complicating how they called things. The first alpha they have is called Family and Friends. From the title you can guess who is invited to this private under NDA event. It is not persistent and is merely a dog and pony show similar to PAX. The you have the Alpha 0 starting December 15th, 2017 which has been described by Jeffrey as more of a load test than being able to play the game in any real fashion. It most likely will run on weekends only and for a couple months.This is populated by key winners and is meant to be small population and manageable. Under NDA. Then will come Beta 0. Which is populated by keywinners from Alpha 0 and Beta 0. Under NDA. Then sometime in 2018, December at the latest you will see the first persistent Alpha 1 release, which will be most of the game fleshed out, but not balanced or finalized, many options will not be there. Key winners from Alpha 0 and Beta 0 do not get to participate unless of course they have packages with those keys. Not under NDA. This will continue into Alpha 2, then Beta 1, then Beta 2. All not under NDA. Hope this makes it clearer.

ArchivedUser

How can they release a Beta 0 before Alpha 1?? Makes no sense. I've never heard of Beta 0. All I've heard is that Alpha 0 (key winners) will be under NDA, then we're free to stream. I plan on streaming from Alpha 1.

ArchivedUser

I didn't say it made sense, just what they have said is going to happen. They could call them Dragon 1, Unicorn 5, or Dog and Pony Show 0. It won't change the intention. The plan is to show some people that are friends something in the next 6-8 weeks. Won't be long, probably a weekend or two. You won't even notice it happened, because it will be under NDA. You might get an announcement that it has started/ended.
Then they are going to do the first set of load testing with the key winners. Probably will be a set of weekends over the course of 2-3 months. This is what has gotten the attention as Alpha 0. It will be followed by another slightly expanded experience immediately following that called Beta 0. If you notice, the intention is NOT to have Beta 0 be a larger base than Alpha 0, just adds a few people. Look at the number of Alpha keys given vs the number of Beta keys. Also under NDA, so you won't even know what is going on, unless you are one of those that won a key.
After that will come a long period of livestreams and frantic development to get the game persistent Alpha 1 ready. Jeffrey stated they don't want to let people in that until they have the game relatively stable and many of the main functions in place. Not everything, but the core systems like classes, skill progression, and the nuts and bolts of how it all works. Then will come the testing and tweaking with people actually doing stuff and breaking things on purpose.
From week 20 giveaway. Notice the number of Alpha keys given vs Beta.
marcjpb – Alpha key
Zourem – Alpha key
boatfiji – Alpha key
Ezsz – Alpha key
Rhomark – Alpha key
Kaliban – Beta key & mount

What is the difference between the weekly drawing keys and the kickstarter keys?

 By winning a key in the weekly drawings/ competition’s you gain access to the Alpha 0 and Beta 0 testing periods these testing periods will be by invite only and will be under a NDA. winners of these exclusive keys will be notified via email, and the results posted on the forums and on social media. (access to these tests will not be purchasable, and is separate to the family and friends test) However, the Kick-starter campaign and the Summer Backing Store has packages available with access to phase 1&2 alpha tests and phase 1&2 beta tests. These tests are only accessible for purchase through supporting Ashes in the Kick starter event. 

Keys from the raffles are estimated for Q4 2017, the Friends and Family is a separate testing phase that will likely begin with several occurrences between Oct-Nov of 2017, the raffled alphas do not apply to the KS alpha periods in 2018
source: Steven on the ashes of creation discord 

ArchivedUser

So they will have a NDA Alpha (Alpha 0), followed by non-NDA Alphas (Alpha 1 & 2). Then they kick off the betas with a NDA Beta (Beta 0) followed by non-NDA Betas (Beta 1 & 2). At least that's how I interpreted what Steven said from your comment, also he said this.



They will probably test more hot code during the Alpha 0 and Beta 0 test periods, and don't want that to be broadcasted. Understandable.

EDIT: Found these dates on aocwiki.net

1 Friends & Family Alpha (Oct/Nov 2017)

2 Alpha 0 (Dec 15, 2017)

3 Alpha 1 (2018?)

4 Alpha 2 (2018/2019?)

5 Raffle Beta (2018/2019?)

6 Closed Beta Phase 1 (2018/2019?)

7 Closed Beta Phase 2 (2018/2019?)

All the ? dates are just speculations, of course.

ArchivedUser

Nice catch on that one @TheCouchNerd. Looks like we have conflicting statements on the Beta 0 timing. Maybe we can get @Belewyn to throw it on the clarification questions they bring up at the mod meetings. Because if the Alpha 1 is persistent followed by Alpha 2, is the plan to do a wipe (probable), shut it down and then release a Beta 0 under NDA (doesn't make sense after an NDAless Alpha 1 & 2)? And since the keywinner beta and KS beta are separate, does that mean everyone with KS alpha keys that have been in the game at that point get to twiddle their thumbs while this Beta 0 is ongoing?

ArchivedUser

Yes that was what I thought too. Seems strange to go between NDA and non-NDA. But I guess they have their reason, it's probably so they can test more hot code.