What is Alpha and What should I Expect

[rss334 10]

I'm really trying to enjoy this game, but frankly I just can't get in to it. There's something odd about the graphics that have been said in many multiple other threads and the gameplay just has no immersion compared to Arma II OA. I've not really read too many post here but wonder if I'm in the minority. I know it's an alpha version but I have to say I don't like it .... am I being to critical or not giving it enough time or expecting too much early? Seriously?

[WonderWaffles 1]

Probably expecting too much, too early. I was like you a while ago. I was thinking "Why am I playing this? This is boring(4 showcases). I should be playing Natural Selection 2 or Assassins Creed III (need to finish those btw). But then I learnt the mission editor and it's ways. I can tell you right now it's my favourite game! My personal favourite - spawning 18 opfor's and seeing how many I can take before dieing!

[ak1287 1]

Rose tinted glasses.

Or Stockholm Syndrome. You got so used to Arma 2 that now you think it was good. :p

[kamaradski 10]

Short answer to your question: Expect nothing!

Longer answer:

ALPHA:

Game features: are still being set. MAYOR changes might still happen. (Eg if Bohemia decide they don't like Stratis island anymore, it might be gone tomorrow, heck if they like it they might change it into a racing simulator instead, even the name might not be ARMA anymore, in Alpha anything can happen)

Content: Very little, and ONLY there to allow testing. Will change frequently. Functions are to be added AND removed frequently.

Stability: NONE, it might or might not work on your computer at all.

turnaround time on bug fixing: Expect nothing too much, as the DEV's will still have BIG projects going on in the background and are not 100% dedicated on bugfixing.

Release: Normaly inhouse only.

Purpose: DEV sandbox, testing basic operation

BETA:

Game features: Most stuff is set and will not change anymore

Content: 90% or more of all content should be available and working

Stability: Should be working properly, however bug are still guaranteed to be present

turnaround time on bug fixing: DEV's are 80% focused on bug fixing instead of other projects, so reported bug should be fixed fairly quick

Release: Inhouse with a select group of outsiders\specialists\ tech-savvy users.

Purpose: Stress testing, tweaking and bug fixing on a wider scope of hardware\configuration

Final Release:

Final product first public release. Everything should work as intended and stability should be 99% guaranteed.

So this is what you can expect until final release. In my (and many others) opinion the Alpha release is extremely stable already, and Bohemia is doing a great job so far. The software is running far above expectations for Alpha.

I'd say you need to decide what you expect: are you happy to deal with the bugs and frustrations, than please stick around and help filing all bugs in the bug tracker. Can you not be arsed, then no hard feelings, put it aside and check every now and again how it is progressing or wait for the final release :)

Cheers,

Kama

Edited March 30, 2013 by kamaradski
spell check

[roguetrooper 2]

Even in alpha status Arma's main feature is the EDITOR, not any campaigns or out-of-the-box missions. Steam tells me that I have spent over 70 hours on Arma III... of which 99% took the editor (and scripting). THE SHOWCASES. LOL! The editor is the best showcase you can get.

[Gorbachev 1]

Rose tinted glasses.

Or Stockholm Syndrome. You got so used to Arma 2 that now you think it was good. :p

Kudos for being the 2nd person to reference Stockholm Syndrome in almost the exact same manner.

Currently there is this growing mentality that you buy ArmA for the editor which is a frightening trend. I buy games to play games. Yes the editor is great for its flexibility but that is not why I bought ArmA. This is also not why I bought Skyrim or GTR Evolution or any other heavily modded game. I buy them to play them, those talented at modding who enjoy working for free: go ahead. I bought this game because of you, not the editor.

Edited March 30, 2013 by Gorbachev

[^Th0mas^ 10]

We are not in any position to review an alpha. IMO its so we can help the devs make a better game. I still enjoy it.

[Richie 330]

Expect bugs and enjoy what you can, personally i'm really enjoying the game and havn't had too many problems :)

Just remember that the best is yet to come :D

[galzohar 31]

Well, unfortunately, it seems that Bohemia can't/won't really make missions that have a chance to compete with what you can do with the editor. We just have to live with that, which may be difficult, but is worth it considering that even with that huge flaw, Arma is still the best game out there.

[rehtus777 10]

I'm really trying to enjoy this game, but frankly I just can't get in to it. There's something odd about the graphics that have been said in many multiple other threads and the gameplay just has no immersion compared to Arma II OA. I've not really read too many post here but wonder if I'm in the minority. I know it's an alpha version but I have to say I don't like it .... am I being to critical or not giving it enough time or expecting too much early? Seriously?

I just upgraded my computer two weeks ago. I had to reload all my fps games after I put in my GTX 680 and my i5 3570k (I put in many hours with ArmA 3 Alpha)....windows would not let me use my old hard drive. Anyway, I reloaded BF3 and I checked out the new maps to see what they look like with my new upgrade.....and the BF3 maps look like junk compared to ArmA 3 Alpha. I then went back to check all the other old maps (Caspian Boarder, Operation Metro, Scrap Metal, etc.) and ArmA 3 makes those maps look old. Before ArmA 3 was released, BF3 / Frostbite 2 was the premium engine, but the ArmA 3 Engine looks much better and this is only Alpha. I'm not sure what you're seeing on your computer, but mine is incredible (All High / ultra settings with a 5000 view distance).

[deepfried 1]

Currently there is this growing mentality that you buy ArmA for the editor which is a frightening trend. I buy games to play games. Yes the editor is great for its flexibility but that is not why I bought ArmA. This is also not why I bought Skyrim or GTR Evolution or any other heavily modded game. I buy them to play them, those talented at modding who enjoy working for free: go ahead. I bought this game because of you, not the editor.

What are you even talking about? all they are saying is that the main feature of the alpha is the editor... not the main feature of the finished product. You're speaking as if the Arma 3 Alpha is the final game.

[mrcash2009 0]

Do what im doing. Nothing, sitting and waiting for the actual Arma3 to be released and then looking to purchase a final product once its actually released. You are essentially paying to test it and help report issues (the point of it out partially now), if you just bought it to play it fully, then you have the wrong idea of what the concept of it is.

I buy them to play them, those talented at modding who enjoy working for free: go ahead. I bought this game because of you, not the editor.

You haven't bought a game on par with anything else you have, you paid for a test alpha package with limits.

To the OFP, looks like you just want the final product, and its not released, wait until it is and treat this like some in house dev session that got leaked onto your screen that you shouldn't have seen :)

Edited March 31, 2013 by mrcash2009

[kireta21 13]

"Preorder now to get early access to Alpha and Beta" that's how it should sound, no one would complain :D.

[rehtus777 10]

Do what im doing. Nothing, sitting and waiting for the actual Arma3 to be released and then looking to purchase a final product once its actually released. You are essentially paying to test it and help report issues (the point of it out partially now), if you just bought it to play it fully, then you have the wrong idea of what the concept of it is.

Actually, I look at it this way: We get the game super cheap for helping test the Alpha and Beta. If you wait for release day, you're probably gonna pay 20 or 30 US dollars more for it. Also, I'm having a blast in the Alpha....I'm honing my infantry skills by not using the vehicles too often. When I played ArmA 2, my main focus was Vehicles....but the Alpha has leaned me toward infantry and it is a whole new game for me.

[vasmkd 12]

Op

Well the game is an alpha version and this is clearly stated before u buy, so don't expect anywhere near as much content and don't expect it to be tweaked either. BIS will also iron alot of the bugs out during beta phase.

Also the great thing about an alpha release is the community gets to start making addons, mods etc very early so by the time the full game comes out alot of mods, addons will probably be deep into development or released very early :)

[mrcash2009 0]

Actually, I look at it this way: We get the game super cheap for helping test the Alpha and Beta. If you wait for release day, you're probably gonna pay 20 or 30 US dollars more for it. Also, I'm having a blast in the Alpha....I'm honing my infantry skills by not using the vehicles too often. When I played ArmA 2, my main focus was Vehicles....but the Alpha has leaned me toward infantry and it is a whole new game for me.

I agree, its just what you want from it was my main point on whether your disappointed if you expected more from an Alpha state package mainly. For me Arma3 doesnt exist until 0 hour of official release day :)

[EDcase 87]

Funny. I'm so impressed with the Alpha so far that I can't go back to ARMA2 :D

...and its only going to get better.

Yeah, to get the final game for such a low price and help shape it to be the best game possible is just a win/win situation.

[Fuse 1]

Funny. I'm so impressed with the Alpha so far that I can't go back to ARMA2 :D

...and its only going to get better.

Yeah, to get the final game for such a low price and help shape it to be the best game possible is just a win/win situation.

I'm so impressed with Alpha that it made me go back and try to play Arma 2 again. So far I've played >2 hours and just finished the first part of Harvest Red. AI kept running the wrong way and getting run over by a friendly vehicle, plus quite a few other issues, but Arma 3 is so fun that I keep going back for more abuse from 2 so I'm not such a FNG! :D