Illarion.org

Whats the stage of development in this game? I remember hearing alpha, but wouldn't that mean it's almost done (Like selling a game done)
I'm just a very confused person, please help me =)

Well i don't know what stage this game is at, but isn't an alpha stage right at the begining...like designing and the basics of the game. Beta is when it's working and up but you are constantly adding more stuff and then after Beta most games go commercial. Like El Kardian recently did. They were Beta testing for a long time and they were building more on the game, but now it's gone commercial and it's out of beta and it isn't free anymore.

Illarion is in the alpha phase.  Right now, as you probably noticed, the game is still taking shape.  So hence the term 'alpha'.  When the form is taken, and no more major changes will be done, it will be 'beta'.  Then only small adjustments will be made and bugs fixed.  But I think there is still far to go until then.

> but now it's gone commercial

whom did you pay money to?
if you haven't yet, i'd quite be interested.

martin

Most games use the terms alpha/beta stage in a wrong way (not knowing the definition, or to let the game appear more playable).


Alpha stage: New features are added, new graphics come in, features are removed or changed. New Ideas come up,  players let their ideas flow and the developers sometimes catch a part of them.
Beta stage: The game is ready. No new features are added. Players are testing just to find bugs. Bugs are fixed. Maybe there will be some balancing by changing some numbers (like skill gain speed, weapon strength ...). Basicaly nothing changes in the appearance of the game when this stage is reached, except it runs longer without a crash
"After beta stage" ( I don't want to call it "commercial" since not every game must get commercial):  The game is running, there are no updates. The developers rest or do only administration work, support, quests.... If they keep on programming, there will be a completely new version (like Illarion II) or new game.

I hope Illarion will never reach a beta stage, since this means there won't be anything new.

right, I really like the communication with the players in Illarion. Nearly everybody can help by making suggestions. IT's great, never seen this before.

@Bror:
You've got to get tired sometime

@martin

when i said gone commercial and that they were charging money, i meant El Kardian not Illarion.