Almost five years ago I subscribed via the Knight's Pledge, with a promise of alpha access. I have to admit I have been away from the scene for a while, but I thought I'd check in and ask about the state of the game. Is alpha anywhere on the horizon? This year, or likely not? Do we know any information about how the alpha will operate when it is active? Will I even be notified about it if I am absent from the scene?
Thanks and I hope development is progressing smoothly,
-Grumble
grumble said:Almost five years ago I subscribed via the Knight's Pledge, with a promise of alpha access. I have to admit I have been away from the scene for a while, but I thought I'd check in and ask about the state of the game. Is alpha anywhere on the horizon? This year, or likely not? Do we know any information about how the alpha will operate when it is active? Will I even be notified about it if I am absent from the scene?
Thanks and I hope development is progressing smoothly,
-Grumble
Short answer. They anticipate alpha starting this year.
Kalok said:grumble said:Almost five years ago I subscribed via the Knight's Pledge, with a promise of alpha access. I have to admit I have been away from the scene for a while, but I thought I'd check in and ask about the state of the game. Is alpha anywhere on the horizon? This year, or likely not? Do we know any information about how the alpha will operate when it is active? Will I even be notified about it if I am absent from the scene?
Thanks and I hope development is progressing smoothly,
-GrumbleShort answer. They anticipate alpha starting this year.
Ashreon said:Eh, they anticipated that last year as well.. What with PA4 being the last Pre-Alpha, that just got us a new Pre-Alpha, namely PA5.
So, yeah, I love the enthusiasm, but as I told a few fellow "guild" members, I doubt very much we'll have an Alpha, let alone a beta in the foreseeable future.
Their goal is to have all major systems functioning, before Alpha. Knowing a wee bit about software development being a Software Engineer and that they decided to move from static coding to dynamic to increase speed, I don't see an Alpha in the pipes this year.
It'd be lovely if they did, but I'll keep a fair bit of healthy skepticism knowing other Developers track record in the past and their own statements.
This doesn't mean that the Alpha can't happen or I feel like they've broken promises, I'd rather they take all the time they need.
Honestly Dev's Milestones (Alpha, Beta etc.) mean strictly nothing. Every company can have their own definition of said Milestone and many even add more in-between milestones internally (First Playable, etc.)
For some company Alpha is "Feature complete". Meaning all main features (code wise) are in the game and working even if unbalanced or is missing data to work properly (that will be added by designers, artists etc.).
In a recent interview with the CEO, he mentions the code side if pretty much done, making me think that a possible Alpha could be not too far.
But it's all supposition of course.
There is a thread on the first page of this forum entitled "Possible Timeline for Releases" that is this exact discussion. (Just sayin')
Development really seems to me to have speeded up recently.
As you can see, there are still a goodly number of both optimistic and pessimistic fans on the forums.
We'll know nothing about how Alpha will operate until they announce its start.
If your pledge includes Alpha, then you will recieve an email notifying you when Alpha is announced. Though it will also be announced on these forums (and probably on all of VR/Pantheon's social media accounts as well).
Hope to see you ingame.
I think announcments earlier this year re. $1 million investment make it almost certain we will see alpha soonish. Beta and beyond (in reasonable timelines) probably hinge on the reception of this, and further funding.
When is 'Soonish' ? in reality anyone with info is under NDA - but watching the streams my guess would say Q4 2021 to Q2 2022.
grumble said:I thought I'd check in and ask about the state of the game. Is alpha anywhere on the horizon? This year, or likely not? Do we know any information about how the alpha will operate when it is active?
No we don't know anything.
I think you will have to settle for speculation because Visionary Realms don't appear to have any intention of providing a roadmap. Try searching the forums for "roadmap" and see what you can find.
Which calls into question the efficacy (or existence) of any internal roadmaps they may be following.
Please refer to this already existing thread: https://seforums.pantheonmmo.com/content/forums/topic/12816/possible-timeline-for-releases
You will find much of the same discussion.
I will go ahead and lock this thread as it is a duplicate and against the guidelines.