Pre-alpha releases? Do you bother with them?

[Darren S]

Increasingly, I'm seeing more and more pre-alphas available for download through Steam for games that simply won't appear until 2014 at the earliest.

While I can see the need for alpha (and certainly) beta testing - I find it a little weird why games that maybe around 15-20% complete, are available to download as a taster? Surely the pre-alpha is so far removed from the end result, that you can pre-judge or cast aside a worthy game that you thought was initially s**te in pre-alpha.

I've bought one alpha-stage game that I fired up, checked out for a few minutes and then quit and removed. Apparently I got a 'full level' to complete - but couldn't even alter my character choices or inventories. It was 'alright', but I'm guessing quite a few people forgot the 'pre-alpha' tag and immediately thought it wasn't worth bothering with in 2014. Made worse by the repeated comments by the devs that "....this is not the finished product". Well why release it in this state then?

It's like trying to predict how good a cake will taste by licking the spoon with the cake mix on.

D.

 

[Cookie]

Ja. I was helping test Automation up until a few weeks ago (actual testing rather than just game playing).

Also have Prison Architect and Project CARS

 

[Darren S]

Ja. I was helping test Automation up until a few weeks ago (actual testing rather than just game playing).

Also have Prison Architect and Project CARS

Yeah, that I can understand. But without signing up for that, I don't see the point in handing it out to the masses to form an opinion way before its complete?

D.

 

[iain187]

I only bought the Arma 3 alpha because it was cheap and it guaranteed the full game at release.

Otherwise no ta.

 

[Longy]

I only bought the Arma 3 alpha because it was cheap and it guaranteed the full game at release.

Otherwise no ta.

yeah i did the same, treated it like a pre-order discounted.

 

[Cookie]

Yeah, that I can understand. But without signing up for that, I don't see the point in handing it out to the masses to form an opinion way before its complete?

D.

I use the other ones as an insight into how a game is made.

Forgot about the other big one, Star Citizen

 

[Sargara]

No i dont bother anymore after getting burned with MechWarrior Online (bought a founder pack, turns out the game sucks). The problem with early access/alpha and so on is that it quickly kills any interest/hype you have for the finished product as its obviously not as polished so you play alittle, get a taste and then ultimate get bored and stop.

I much more prefer to wait for the game so by the time i get to play it, i enjoy it more as its polished.

 

[Addicted]

I have done (also got burned with MechWarrior), and Sargara summed it up in one - for me I just come away disappointed and never end up playing the finished product.

This could be good for the company as they get my money but none of the costs of me playing, but I've stopped going into Alphas now otherwise I'll end up not playing anythign!