This question and related questions seem to come up from time to time. I've answered it in a few different ways scattered around but I thought it was worth collecting it all in one place. At the very least it will become a nice link when someone else asks.
What is "alpha"?In traditional software development life cycles, "alpha" is where you freeze features and then begin fixing bugs in preparation for "beta". "Beta" is where you release your software to some or all your users for testing "in the wild".
For indie development, these terms don't make the same sense because the players are getting to play the game long before it reached anything close to alpha.
So for me, Mythruna is "alpha" when it meets the following criteria:
- Basic feel of the real game is clear
- Most (hopefully all) performance-draining features have already been added and risks assessed
- Most of the game trailer that I've story boarded can be filmed "in game".
- Integration with the Mythruna.com store
When the game hits alpha, for anyone seriously looking at it, I want them to easily understand why this game is different than other games and what it is similar to. Fortunately, much of the "feel of the real game" will be implemented when the "performance-draining features" are added.
By "performance-draining feature", I mean those features that have a good chance of lowering the performance of the game. Physics and AI are the biggest items here. Each of these may lower performance in significant ways depending on how things unfold.
Since to play the full version of alpha will require that users pay, I want to make a best effort at making sure they will still be able to play the game later. I'd hate to release alpha, make a bunch of people pay for it, and then 6 months later add changes that keep paying users from being able to play. It might happen... but I will do my best to prevent it.
So at a minimum, the following features are necessary for alpha:
- Physics - including hinges, ropes, springs, pulleys, cloth, etc.
- AI and NPCs
- Character animation - both players and NPCs
- Combat (probably)
The full high level roadmap can be found here:
http://mythruna.com/forum/index.php?topic=502.0What will "alpha" cost?The current plan is for alpha to cost $15 U.S. This could go as high as $20 depending on a few things but $15 is the current plan.
This price covers alpha, beta, and the final release of this version of Mythruna. (I say "version" because maybe 5 years from now there is a completely different Mythruna 2.0 that is entirely new... this price doesn't cover that.) This price covers all 1.x versions of Mythruna.
Donators can lock in a $10 price now by donating $10 U.S.. This gets a license for the game regardless of what the price is later. The full benefits of donating are spelled out here:
http://mythruna.com/donation-benefits/...but locking in a discount price seems like a pretty good reason to me.
When is "alpha"?The flip answer would be "when it's ready". The real answer is much harder.
My typical feel is that it is "six months away". It always seems like a reasonable (even if aggressive) schedule... but I've felt like it was "six months away" for the past 4 months.
So, the best I can do is say that it will continue to be "six months away" until I update that to "five months away"... which probably won't be a month from now.
If there are questions that this did no cover then ask them below. I will incorporate my answers into the text above and note that in your response.