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Are Beta Phases Persistent?

ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
in Ashes Of Creation General Discussion
Hi everyone!
was just reading the details of the pre-order bundles in the Ashes store, and noticed the phrasing:
”access to our persistent Alpha which will remain open until the launch of the game”.

is the same true for the Beta phases? If you had access to Beta 1, does that phase also remain open until launch?

I’m not under the impression these are different, concurrently running builds of the game. I more just mean, are the access timelines (Alpha 1, 2, Beta 1, 2) just granting the same access to the same persistent Testing build at different times? Or will those only getting Beta access be non-persistent?

Thanks for your time!

Comments

  • ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
    I believe only Alpha 2 is. A2 is the one that will become the Public Test Server when the game goes live. Feel free to correct me if anyone else have other intel. 
  • ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
    This needs to be cleared up. Steven sometimes uses words the way he defines them, not as how the community as a whole does. What they mean by persistent is delivering an access as much as possible experience. As in 24/7 access to the server to test. This does not mean that it will be up all the time. It will have needed downtime to apply new builds and deal with major glitches. This is not a play the game experience. People who have gotten used to Steam early access where they get a half-formed game that the developers release and turn on and walk away from to not really work on anymore if the cash flow doesn't keep rolling in are looking at this wrong way and are going to be disappointed. These are my predictions on how you will see the Alphas and Betas shake out. Once again, this is pure speculation, none of this has been confirmed. 

    Alpha 1- series of weekends or 3-4 day blocks of playtime trying to get everyone able to log on to game and keep it up. Having to deal with crashes and major bugs that happen when you go from having 10 people in an area to having 100. Probably last around 3 months. (why do I think 3 months? Because of the "value" they charged people for access. Shorter, and people whine, longer and it starts putting their dates behind schedule.) Probable wipe of character data at end.

    Short downtime between, probably 2 week, month tops.

    Alpha 2 - Most logon issues have been worked out and most promised core systems are in place in their infancy. Lots of bugs, lots of glitches, lots of exploits. Servers are up as often as possible, fulfilling "persistent" quote. Will be multiple character iterations. For example, everyone is given a set of medium tier gear and enough skill points to test mid-range dungeon combat. Then those characters are wiped, and everyone is given level 50 base characters (since we haven't seen secondary classes yet) and a set of high tier gear to attempt sieges and castle pvp. Some nodes are speed promoted to different levels during downtimes to test certain combat. All in all a rough and tumble experience where you never know what is going on beyond what they have asked you to test. Not puttering around in your freehold garden. Frequent wipes, justified to removed duped item exploits and reset everyone. Lasts 3 months or so.

    Short downtime between. Beta 0 is populated and runs for about a month. Beta 0s build is latest from Alpha 2 and possible things that are starting in Beta 1. Beta 0 goes down and servers are wiped once again.

    Beta 1 - Multiple testing servers available, possible EU or SEA location testing. We finally see most of the final game map (not in an overview, because that isn't a thing, but in that it is out there) Primary/secondary archetype system is brought online. Specific node content is thrown into the tables. Jumping puzzle, crafting glitches, and a host of other problems are reported and worked on. Servers are up mostly 24/7 and wipes are only in the case of serious issues. Nodes are left to develop at regular pace to check for problems with speed of pacing. Characters are allowed to level normally to adjust speed of leveling. Runs for around 4-6 months. Possible wipes, but less common that Alpha 2.

    Beta 2-Things are looking good. If we didn't get it in Beta 1. Housing makes an appearance. Freehold issues are worked out. Cosmetics are worked out. Things like spell effects showing through stealth/invisibility are addressed. Lasts 4-6 months, no probable wipes. End of testing announce and launch date set. Servers are shut down and wiped.

    Few weeks to a month later- Live.
  • ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
    If the package does not say "persistent beta" I would be weary. They could potentially have a different server for A2 and Beta's.
  • ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
    They are going to have multiple servers for testing. So yes, the "alpha 2" server won't go away. Doesn't mean that it will stay up through the end of Alpha 2 and allow people who bought the Alpha access a place to play while they run separate Beta 0 and then start Beta 1. All speculation till much later down the line, but people thinking that they are going to get to magically have access to the game more than others because Steven happened to say "persistent" to mean up 24/7 during that testing phase vs whatever other definition they have decided to go with is only going to lead to disappointment when it doesn't turn out their way. Maybe I will be happily proved wrong. Only make things better for me and those that have access.
  • ArchivedUserArchivedUser Guest
    UnknownSystemError said:
    This needs to be cleared up. Steven sometimes uses words the way he defines them, not as how the community as a whole does. What they mean by persistent is delivering an access as much as possible experience. As in 24/7 access to the server to test. This does not mean that it will be up all the time. It will have needed downtime to apply new builds and deal with major glitches. This is not a play the game experience. People who have gotten used to Steam early access where they get a half-formed game that the developers release and turn on and walk away from to not really work on anymore if the cash flow doesn't keep rolling in are looking at this wrong way and are going to be disappointed. These are my predictions on how you will see the Alphas and Betas shake out. Once again, this is pure speculation, none of this has been confirmed. 

    Alpha 1- series of weekends or 3-4 day blocks of playtime trying to get everyone able to log on to game and keep it up. Having to deal with crashes and major bugs that happen when you go from having 10 people in an area to having 100. Probably last around 3 months. (why do I think 3 months? Because of the "value" they charged people for access. Shorter, and people whine, longer and it starts putting their dates behind schedule.) Probable wipe of character data at end.

    Short downtime between, probably 2 week, month tops.

    Alpha 2 - Most logon issues have been worked out and most promised core systems are in place in their infancy. Lots of bugs, lots of glitches, lots of exploits. Servers are up as often as possible, fulfilling "persistent" quote. Will be multiple character iterations. For example, everyone is given a set of medium tier gear and enough skill points to test mid-range dungeon combat. Then those characters are wiped, and everyone is given level 50 base characters (since we haven't seen secondary classes yet) and a set of high tier gear to attempt sieges and castle pvp. Some nodes are speed promoted to different levels during downtimes to test certain combat. All in all a rough and tumble experience where you never know what is going on beyond what they have asked you to test. Not puttering around in your freehold garden. Frequent wipes, justified to removed duped item exploits and reset everyone. Lasts 3 months or so.

    Short downtime between. Beta 0 is populated and runs for about a month. Beta 0s build is latest from Alpha 2 and possible things that are starting in Beta 1. Beta 0 goes down and servers are wiped once again.

    Beta 1 - Multiple testing servers available, possible EU or SEA location testing. We finally see most of the final game map (not in an overview, because that isn't a thing, but in that it is out there) Primary/secondary archetype system is brought online. Specific node content is thrown into the tables. Jumping puzzle, crafting glitches, and a host of other problems are reported and worked on. Servers are up mostly 24/7 and wipes are only in the case of serious issues. Nodes are left to develop at regular pace to check for problems with speed of pacing. Characters are allowed to level normally to adjust speed of leveling. Runs for around 4-6 months. Possible wipes, but less common that Alpha 2.

    Beta 2-Things are looking good. If we didn't get it in Beta 1. Housing makes an appearance. Freehold issues are worked out. Cosmetics are worked out. Things like spell effects showing through stealth/invisibility are addressed. Lasts 4-6 months, no probable wipes. End of testing announce and launch date set. Servers are shut down and wiped.

    Few weeks to a month later- Live.
    Thank you so much for taking the time and consideration to writing this out. It does help a lot in providing some fundamental understanding of the Devs likely expectations and plans. =)
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