Alpha 2 Question

IMO, Alpha 2 this Summer. Beta 1 Q1 2023. Beta 2 Summer 2023. Launch Nov 2023.

Alpha 2 is stated to be a persistent alpha. My Q: does this mean the plan is to have the world up all the way to Beta? Ofc I realize there will probably be lengthy multi-week downtime, code changes, server wipes, etc. But aside from that, is the plan for Alpha 2 to run all the way to Beta?

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Songcaller

Changes will happen after A2. If you believe we can enter the new iteration without issues with the additional classes, additional augments and all the other additions without the need for changes and fixes I'm not sure what to tell you.

Happymeal2415

Dygz wrote: »

Happymeal2415 wrote: »

Dygz wrote: »

Several weekend events are not a couple of days.
You are still supposed to test all the features in a Beta. And you can't meanigfully do that in just a couple of days with an MMORPG.

I think that's what A2 is supposed to test right? A2 will test the game features. Betas will test the start up with larger and larger numbers

When you make any build, you still have to do a pass of testing on all the features. And, for an MMORPG, that is going to take more than a couple of days.

A2 is still going to be implementing features.
Betas are supposed to be feature-complete. You are mostly bug-fixing.
B2 is not intended to be months. Might not even be weeks. But, it's most likely going to be more than a couple of days, otherwise there is no point in having it.
Headstart is two days.

Sure A2 won't start complete as we've heard we get half the map at start but it will be complete by the time betas come. A2 is where we're going to get the feature testing you're talking about. From what they've told us they'll be adding in stuff like music for the betas. Head start is only a couple servers so it doesn't really test everyone joining all at once like a launch. That's why I assume the beta 2 test just a launch sim and only a short time

Adelissa

Those dates are pretty optimistic, I don't see release happening until 2024 at the earliest.

Dygz

Happymeal2415 wrote: »

Sure A2 won't start complete as we've heard we get half the map at start but it will be complete by the time betas come. A2 is where we're going to get the feature testing you're talking about. From what they've told us they'll be adding in stuff like music for the betas. Head start is only a couple servers so it doesn't really test everyone joining all at once like a launch. That's why I assume the beta 2 test just a launch sim and only a short time

B2 will be relatively short. Yes.

Glir

mcnasty wrote: »

IMO, Alpha 2 this Summer. Beta 1 Q1 2023. Beta 2 Summer 2023. Launch Nov 2023.

You are most optimistic human being I have ever seen

TheSgtPepper

I thought I was being optimistic with my hopeful alpha 2 around Dec2022 - Feb-2023 more realistically I'd say Alpha 2 towards Sept 2023. I've been learning game dev for a while and just imagining the work it will take to make this MMO a reality is staggering.

Electronn

Ethereum wrote: »

You are most optimistic human being I have ever seen

Truth. I suspect they've made a lot more progress than they're sharing at this point.

Dygz

For certain, they have made more progress than they are sharing, but we still have some pretty good hints a what they still need to do based on what Steven is not ready to share.

Borealis

mcnasty wrote: »

Ethereum wrote: »

You are most optimistic human being I have ever seen

Truth. I suspect they've made a lot more progress than they're sharing at this point.

I'm sorry to rain on your parade but theres no way they're launching alpha 2 this summer and most likely not until next year. Not even considering the fact that they're still not even done with the combat revamp and was stated they're still a couple of months away from being finished, which im still struggling to comprehend but also the fact that alpha 1 had dates set months before hand and eventually had to get delayed at one point. We also got teases and class overviews up until that point which we haven't yet. I don't even think we've seen any full on gameplay in the world setting since the UE5 revealed. As far as im aware there hasn't been any spot testing since the end of A1 which is a red flag for it coming any time soon

Songcaller

We will build a2 to be progressive. No more combat revamps, server issues and disconnects.

Therefore, A2 will not be rushed but a2 will be the mark towards release when it does arrive.

TheHiddenDaggerInn

mcnasty wrote: »

IMO, Alpha 2 this Summer. Beta 1 Q1 2023. Beta 2 Summer 2023. Launch Nov 2023.

Alpha 2 is stated to be a persistent alpha. My Q: does this mean the plan is to have the world up all the way to Beta? Ofc I realize there will probably be lengthy multi-week downtime, code changes, server wipes, etc. But aside from that, is the plan for Alpha 2 to run all the way to Beta?

While I would love your timeline, I have been getting that sick feeling in my stomach from lack of news and no spot tests. I'm sure they're working very hard and I feel it's mostly about the combat which is a major sticking point for them because they want it to be right.

They did a great job with the Char. Creation going above and beyond, as much as it sucks I will remain patient and have hope they will bring us a combat system that we all love.

That being said, when it does goes to Alpha 2, we're looking at a year at least. that is the meat and potatoes of game development and will take the longest, beta's our marketing, and stress tests and usually very short.

It's hard to say for sure, because UE 5 is supposed to speed up development, and they're constantly adding to the team. So I will conclude with I'm hoping for the Best, and Expecting the Worst as far as timelines go.

Eyrate

How will finances play into this? Other games have been forced out before they were ready. People have to be paid. Have to eat. Money can only last so long before they need a fresh way of bringing in more.

tautau

They announced that they are fully financed through release, thank goodness.

Drunkninja

Eyrate wrote: »

How will finances play into this? Other games have been forced out before they were ready. People have to be paid. Have to eat. Money can only last so long before they need a fresh way of bringing in more.

Don’t worry, the games funded to completion

Iron_McFly

"As a general rule, if the testing phase contains the word Alpha, it is safe to assume there will likely be wipes. [3] – Steven Sharif"
from
https://ashesofcreation.wiki/Persistent_alpha#Server_wipes

PenguinPaladin

Santanico wrote: »

While I would love your timeline, I have been getting that sick feeling in my stomach from lack of news and no spot tests.

Lack of spot tests isnt something to be concerned about. Alpha 1 was a back end test that went very well. And with their weather system display, you can be confident they have a very high level team working on things. And you can know they are working on many aspects of things, not just one thing at a time.

Alpha 1 being a back end test, and going well means its time to make content, and complete systems. And ashes is biting off a lot with the amount of content they want to make. Stevens said in the past available content will have to be a lot in order to keep players involved, and intrepid is willing to take on that responsibility.

They have a very capable team, a solid vision of what they want made, and have passed the starting point with flying colors. Now its just leting them take the time needed to pump out that content.

And hoping steven has been honest about the state of their finances. Thats really it.

Mahes

I agree with Alpha 2 being 4th quarter 2023 to 1st quarter 2024. All we have seen up to this point is pretty videos displaying the new engine and what it can do. We have not seen a new class since before Alpha 1.

Take a moment to appreciate that. There are 8 core classes with 64 advanced classes and they have not shown a single core class since the original 3. It has been a year. At the rate they are going I would say my estimate is optimistic. I am hoping that many things have been worked on that for some reason they do not want to show us yet.

At some point soon, they need to start showing the actual game details beyond " it looks pretty".

Dygz

And we should expect the Primary Archetypes we did see in Alpha to have significant changes.
We should be hoping to see the new versions of those, as well.

Balanz

Otr wrote: »

Reading through these comments, I think Alpha 2 comes Q1 2024, Beta 1 in 2025 and Beta 2 in 2026. Game launch will happen 6 months after Beta 2, so it can be 2027.

As I understand what is written in the Wiki, Alpha 2 represents the vast majority of testing prior to release, and they plan that both Betas will be quite brief.

I am of the opinion that both Betas will be longer than anticipated, as the success of Ashes depends largely on population behaviors, which Alpha 2 might not answer.

myk

Thanks for the comments folks. I've been following this game for a while, and it used to really get me interested and excited. I'm still going to give it a chance, but I guess I need to think this more like, a fantasy version of Star Citizen, not a real game I'll ever actually play in my lifetime. Oh well, appreciate the info!

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