It's in alpha, The fallback excuse

[Puddin]

So reading around the forums I see one thing keep popping up constantly about bugs or issues. Everyone like to repeat that the game is still in it's alpha stage... Since 2011. Now I'm not here to bash the game at all and with 705 hours currently clocked in through steam I would say that I definitely got my moneys' worth out of the software. As with everyone here I have been eagerly awaiting the .24 patch and it got me thinking, "Why is this still alpha in alpha development?" The patches are getting fewer and father between just as with any other release of game after it has actually been released.

KSP has made the top 5 selling list on steam so obviously people think the software is done enough to pay for. So why keep the alpha stage going for so long? I'm thinking it is simply a convenient excuse. "Oh the aerodynamics are all messed up? All good it is in alpha and will get fixed eventually."

"The game lags when building stations? All good it is in alpha and will get fixed eventually."

"----Insert issue here--- All good it is in alpha and will get fixed eventually."

Now that being said I see nothing wrong with a game releasing early and many factors can play into this such as budget limits, Publisher pressure, administrative calls, ect. But the game at some point needs to actually make it out of its' early development phase and actually call it a finished product. We can only speculate as to how many copies have been sold of KSP but as of now and since 2011 the developers have completely skipped accountability in maintaining or finishing the software by simply adding the phrase "the game is in alpha stages". If someone has a legitimate complaint the primary thing that person is told is that the game isn't finished and that they will just have to wait.

What gets me mainly is that there is no timeline or contract with a purchase like this. It should work out like "I give X dollars and you give a finished product by x time". Think about it logically, Would you be happy with contractor that you hired for your roof if they kept saying 3 years after you paid them that "it is all good that it leaks as I'm still not done with it." After paying for the unfinished software the development team essentially becomes contractors finishing up on the software that you already purchased.

So given that I have already laid out cash for the said software then people frown on asking when it will be done or when the next patch will come out. After all that person is just asking how far along their investment is. If you hired someone to build a car for you would you not ask them at the very least occasionally when that car would be done? After all you already paid for it and you need to make sure your investment is going to pan out. A lot of people including myself look at this game as an investment especially with the marketing scheme they use as the game gets more expensive the closer it gets to being finished. I took a risk, bought a game early in it's development, and now I expect to be told how this risk is panning out.

It is issues like these that arise when you decide to release a game early.

[kenbobo]

Also, why does squad have a "testing team" for a "alpha release" for "alpha" version of a "alpha stage game"?

Sig says everything.

[Alshain]

"It's in alpha!" is the typical response to "whining". Bug reporting is certainly encouraged, but to come here and say "this game is crap because it lacks enough parts and has too many missing features like aero dynamics and re-entry heat".. well this kind of comment is not helpful at all really and as I said, it's whining about something that isn't finished yet. If someone has a valid request or bug report, by all means, report it.

[sal_vager]

Hmmm, though really, KSP is not alpha any more, Squad are no longer following the traditional alpha/beta/gold release paradigm.

What Squad currently do is a mini alpha, beta then gold routine for each update they release, alpha could be considered the QA phase, this is closest to the developers work, there can be nightly builds and new features and content is chopped and changed, some builds will be nearly complete, others only contain UI updates for example.

Then comes beta, when the Test team rips into the build, there are fewer builds during this time and a lot more feedback rather than just addressing bugs.

Finally the gold release is the update we get to play with, then the process starts again with the next update, this method means Squad can output a playable if incomplete game instead of a buggy mess.

Development is continuing and Squad are determined to see this game to completion, and yes, things will be fixed, given time

[Puddin]

I am really more worried about it never actually getting out of alpha stages and will just always be used as an excuse as to why something isn't fixed or why this or that isn't done. I mean if adhere to current developers then this game still has to make it through the beta stages.

[Alshain]

By the way, I'd like to point out that if you haven't gotten your moneys worth out of this game despite it's early release status then your doing something wrong, or this style game just isn't for you.

[sal_vager]

Things take time Puddin, it's a long process, I really don't know what else can be said, the game just isn't finished yet.

It's in development, we all have to put up with that until Squad release 1.0

[SkyRender]

Kerbal Space Program uses what is known as a "waterfall" development model. In this model, every key stage of development has a "reality check" with the interested party/parties on how well the progress of the software meshes with the expectations and needs of said party/parties. Changes in development focus and scope occur based upon this feedback. The end result is that the product seen by the interested party/parties (that's those of us who have paid SQUAD for a copy of the game) is in flux as it approaches various levels of completion, generally approaching a more "complete" state with each new release. One of the most important side-effects of this model is that the end product will almost always be different than the original spec in important ways.

[Puddin]

@alshain

I would propose you re-read the very first paragraph in this post.

@sal_vager

You are right that they do shy away from normal release standards and I applaud them for that. However they still say that the game in it's entirety is in alpha. I simply pose the question as to why. Trust me I know that these things take time as I extremely close to game development.If you bought a house that wasn't finished yet would you allow the contractors to not tell you their progress?

[mike9606]

@alshain

I would propose you re-read the very first paragraph in this post.

@sal_vager

You are right that they do shy away from normal release standards and I applaud them for that. However they still say that the game in it's entirety is in alpha. I simply pose the question as to why. Trust me I know that these things take time as I extremely close to game development.If you bought a house that wasn't finished yet would you allow the contractors to not tell you their progress?

The progress on the update is told to the community. Every Tuesday a new Devnotes Tuesday article comes out in The Daily Kerbal section, and it tell what is going on with development of the game.

[sal_vager]

Well, the term they use now is "feature complete" rather than alpha, alpha is a term still used by game journalists when describing KSP, and indeed many other "indie" games

[Roastduck]

Good games take time to develop. I don't know what else to tell you.

If you want a game that's rushed through development to appease publishers and player demand, go play Warhammer: Age of Reckoning and let us know how that goes for you.

[Puddin]

True they share siome tidbits but ask them for a timeline on your investment and see what you get.

[_Aramchek_]

Honestly, this game as is, is less buggy with a more fully realized concept/mechanics than many big name fully released games.

I think people use mods and things get broken, but instead of admitting the mods might have something to do with it..the game itself is blamed.

[Roastduck]

True they share siome tidbits but ask them for a timeline on your investment and see what you get.

you did not invest in Squad. you paid for early access. There is a HUGE difference

[sal_vager]

There is no solid timeline, that's the tall and short of it, it's done when it's done and it would do no one here any good to have KSP rushed.

As for the investment, KSP is playable right now, even more so with addons (and there are so many!), for a vast majority of players KSP has more than proved its value, and as every update is free once you have bought it, it just gets better each time

[Puddin]

Good games take time to develop. I don't know what else to tell you.

If you want a game that's rushed through development to appease publishers and player demand, go play Warhammer: Age of Reckoning and let us know how that goes for you.

Wow getting rather defensive aren't you? I don't care really how long it takes as it is a fun game. I have something to do while I wait. but I am asking why they continue to tack the alpha label on the game when it isn't really in alpha anymore and if they do what is the timeline to get it out of alpha. As stated before my primary concern is that they keep it in alpha as a way to dodge accountability.

[Roastduck]

they continue to tack the alpha label on the game when it isn't really in alpha anymore

Well, the term they use now is "feature complete" rather than alpha, alpha is a term still used by game journalists when describing KSP, and indeed many other "indie" games

hope this helps

[Puddin]

you did not invest in Squad. you paid for early access. There is a HUGE difference

I paid for a product. A product that is not yet finished. Squad is finishing this game to adhere to the word they gave us when we purchased the game that it would be finished. In essence I paid for them to finish the game. That is an investment by every definition.

[Sandworm]

The progress on the update is told to the community. Every Tuesday a new Devnotes Tuesday article comes out in The Daily Kerbal section, and it tell what is going on with development of the game.

Really? The last update said what exactly? A couple vague words about RCS modules and a statement that the developer was "in the cave"? That isn't what i call an informative update. An informative update would be ..."This is what we are doing. Here are a dozen screenshots. He is the basic outline of how we intend feature X to work and play. And here are the problems we are having."

Instead we get "We are really busy working on something epic! Man, you are going to love the lighting in our new video. Bill just got back from a conference and Ted's been having a great time talking to all of you on the forums. We have no idea what's happening or when it might, but man is it going to be great."

Advertising /= information.

Edited July 6, 2014 by Sandworm

[sal_vager]

Puddin, can you please show me where KSP is still currently called an alpha by Squad, apart from old stuff from before the forum wipe and news articles where all unfinished games are called alpha by definition, I can't find anything.

[Roastduck]

I paid for a product. A product that is not yet finished. Squad is finishing this game to adhere to the word they gave us when we purchased the game that it would be finished. In essence I paid for them to finish the game. That is an investment by every definition.

sweet. i'm done here. Good thread, OP

[Puddin]

@sal_vager

Lol I'll look in a bit for where it is called alp[ha but really at this point you are simply arguing semantics. "Early access", "feature complete", "alpha stage" all infer that the software is not complete. You can call it what you will.

[adge]

Investment: "the action or process of investing money for profit."

What profit are we going to receive, and when? Give me all the monies!

We haven't invested in Squad. We've exchanged money for goods. Transaction =/= Investment.

[sal_vager]

Not really, you used the term alpha, what do you expect anyone to say here? KSP is not finished, this is the state of the game as it stands today, there's no getting around that with complaints about development strategy.

It's not done yet, if you want it done, wait