Alpha/Beta Access?

ArchivedUser

When is the next Alpha/Beta and how would I go about ensuring I can participate?

ArchivedUser

Hi @draygo the next Alpha phase is Alpha 1, scheduled for around October this year. You can purchase early access into this phase on the store in the Intrepid Pre-prder pack. https://www.ashesofcreation.com/shop/

Intrepid is also giving away keys to the current Alpha-0 testing phase. Find out more here: https://forums.ashesofcreation.com/discussion/38747/information-regarding-weekly-key-drawings/p1

ArchivedUser

@draygo
If you watch the Pax East panel Steven announces that Alpha-1 will be rolling out at the beginning of Q4 possibly end of Q3

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NsPR_a2n5SM

they state this info about the 40 min mark.

ArchivedUser

Alpha 1 will be coming in a few months, while currently the Alpha 0 is in progress.

ArchivedUser

As one of the backers of the kickstarter campaign I am curious why Alpha 0 wasn't mentioned in the kickstarter FAQ? Based on that FAQ the current round of testing should be Alpha 1. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1791529601/ashes-of-creation-new-mmorpg-by-intrepid-studios/faqs

What do the different alpha and beta phases mean?

We’ll be doing continual testing of our game until launch, alpha and beta are included in this plan. Alpha 1 will be our very first “closed” test, followed by Alpha 2, Beta 1 and Beta 2. They will take place in that order, but exact dates of each test aren’t available at this time. Alpha 2 will remain active in a persistent state till launch, then will become our Public Test Server. (If you have a key from our weekly drawings, those keys give access to our weekend NDA Alpha starting in Q4 2017)

ArchivedUser

Atroxus said:

As one of the backers of the kickstarter campaign I am curious why Alpha 0 wasn't mentioned in the kickstarter FAQ? Based on that FAQ the current round of testing should be Alpha 1. 

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1791529601/ashes-of-creation-new-mmorpg-by-intrepid-studios/faqs

What do the different alpha and beta phases mean?

We’ll be doing continual testing of our game until launch, alpha and beta are included in this plan. Alpha 1 will be our very first “closed” test, followed by Alpha 2, Beta 1 and Beta 2. They will take place in that order, but exact dates of each test aren’t available at this time. Alpha 2 will remain active in a persistent state till launch, then will become our Public Test Server. (If you have a key from our weekly drawings, those keys give access to our weekend NDA Alpha starting in Q4 2017)

Alpha 0 shouldn't be even considered a testing phase or a proper alpha either, it is what the devs put together for the sake of presentation more so than having people actually test the game, in regards to schedule for the Alpha 1 it is ok since even if Alpha 0 did not exists we wouldn't have alpha 1 right now

ArchivedUser

Well the fact that Intrepid is calling it "Alpha 0 test" and referring to the key winners as "Alpha 0 testers" is a pretty strong argument for it being a "test phase" and "proper Alpha". Personally I think it is pretty dishonest/disloyal of them that they are giving out Alpha 0 access to people ahead of the kickstarter backers, who were told that testing would go Alpha 1>Alpha 2>Beta 1> Beta 2.

ArchivedUser

Atroxus said:

Well the fact that Intrepid is calling it "Alpha 0 test" and referring to the key winners as "Alpha 0 testers" is a pretty strong argument for it being a "test phase" and "proper Alpha". Personally I think it is pretty dishonest/disloyal of them that they are giving out Alpha 0 access to people ahead of the kickstarter backers, who were told that testing would go Alpha 1>Alpha 2>Beta 1> Beta 2.

Steven referred to the "Friends and Family" as an invite-only NDA Early Alpha program in March 2017 in the official Discord, at least one month before Kickstarter launched.


This phase was also mentioned as the NDA Alpha  in the Kickstarter FAQ on the day Kickstarter launched on May 2, 2017. (Direct link)
 


This was referred to yet again during the Kickstarter campaign as the "Friends and Family" pre-alpha, where Steven once again made the distinction between the Kickstarter Alphas and Betas.


Following that time the NDA pre-alpha phase was referred to by Steven and the other developers as "Alpha Zero" or "Alpha 0". He explained this naming convention earlier this year.


In summary, it has always been the published intention of Intrepid to offer an invite-only NDA alpha testing phase in advance of the non-NDA Alpha and Beta phases offered in Kickstarter. This was announced at least a month prior to Kickstarter; and is documented in the Kickstarter FAQ.