What is the difference between an alpha and a beta release? I'm surprised this question hasn't been asked here before.
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\$\begingroup\$ Perhaps because it is not entirely a question about game development. The terms go for any piece of software. \$\endgroup\$– János TuránszkiMay 29, 2014 at 19:59
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12\$\begingroup\$ The terms are highly subjective and almost everybody uses them slightly differently. \$\endgroup\$– user1430May 29, 2014 at 20:41
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\$\begingroup\$ take a look here: blog.codinghorror.com/alpha-beta-and-sometimes-gamma \$\endgroup\$– BehnamJun 23, 2015 at 5:57
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2\$\begingroup\$ Modern AAA games have completely mangled the meaning of these terms. A pre-pre-prealpha tech-test demo is basically just a giant PR hedge to both get the game out there (for some legitimate server testing and strange interactions, but mostly publicity and to gin up interest) and basically validate their final release version but "it's not the final game, you can't judge it based on this". Maybe I'm pedantic, but an "alpha" game would have minimal/placeholder assets. \$\endgroup\$– Nick TSep 12, 2016 at 2:59
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6 Answers
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In traditional software engineering, Alpha releases will still be introducing new features, while Beta releases will see no new features, but rather polishing up the existing stuff.
However the current development environment in game dev is that both of these are simply "not complete yet", and alpha is generally just "less complete" than beta.
Beta releases will still see new features, while sometimes I'll see alphas that simply try and flesh out existing stuff. And even a few things that stay in alpha or beta forever.
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1\$\begingroup\$ I may be wrong about this, but my perception of the game industry is that beta usually carries with it an idea that people from the general public get to play the game, and especially for multiplayer it usually involves stress testing servers and finding kinks in the network side of things. I'm not aware of companies doing the same for alpha...but I could be wrong! \$\endgroup\$– BobMay 30, 2014 at 1:29
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1\$\begingroup\$ I suggest putting your second paragraph first, it's the key. \$\endgroup\$– ashes999May 30, 2014 at 15:35
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Alpha means the features haven't been locked down, it's an exploratory phase. Beta means the features have been locked down and are under development (no other features will be added).
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More commonly:
Alpha: Usually the first normally interact-able thing out (private or public use is irrelevant).
If you are building something thats supposed to have a GUI - alpha is where you can rudimentary use the software to some degree of what the consumer is supposed to use. For games its where the core module/mechanic is somewhat usable. I've seen some coders call it alpha on a rudimentary basis that can be used only via command line or scripts - but most people refrain from doing so.
Beta: Most of it is working - all intended features may not be deployed yet - but its still breaking or at least bugging out often.
Over the years the beta "label" has been used as a prolonged excuse for broken games or lack of adequate support.
Not that the other way around is much more preferable. Many projects have been shipped off as complete when they were by all rights still beta. In the context of games - having easily detectable game breaking bugs has been the case quite a few times.
Generally while most of us can agree on definition the concepts are not uniform across every development space.
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Pre-Alpha is the version before the Alpha version, Alpha is the version before the Beta version, Beta is the version before the Gamma version, Release Candidate is the version just before the release. It's basically just to denote "this version is not supposed to be completely satisfactory and may contain heavy bugs or may even be completely broken".
What the different notions mean exactly differs from developer to developer.
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6\$\begingroup\$ In several years as a software developer I have never heard the term "Gamma version". \$\endgroup\$– PhilippOct 8, 2015 at 15:30
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\$\begingroup\$ You can easily check wikipedia which next to gamma version also explains omegaversion, delta versions, epsilonversion etc \$\endgroup\$ Dec 7, 2020 at 20:45
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Alpha and beta testing are two of the stages that a software must undergo testing. Alpha testing occurs first and when the software passes that, beta testing can then be undertaken. If a software fails alpha testing, changes are done and it repeats the tests until the software passes.
So to answer your question, an Alpha and Beta release can be considered the 'testable deployed artifact' that you are currently developing.
Read more: Difference Between Alpha and Beta Testing | Difference Between | Alpha vs Beta Testing http://www.differencebetween.net/technology/difference-between-alpha-and-beta-testing/#ixzz338XZWLaj
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Alpha version is the first working version and is for internal use (testing) only! After the programers are satisfied they release the Beta version to non employs who are hackers and stress testers who try to break it. The end result is a final release to the public that has stood the test of time! It's a win win for the manufacturer and the public!
That's the way it was intended to work but rarely does these days
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1\$\begingroup\$ Then I must be a developer at Squad, Introversion Software, Keen Software House and several other independent game studios, because I played the alpha versions of their games while they were or still are officially in Early Access. I got to call their accounting departments, because apparently I paid them for the experience, instead of the other way around like it should have been when I am their employee. \$\endgroup\$– PhilippOct 8, 2015 at 15:24