How to name your game (like beta, alpha, etc...)

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1

Hello, in this tutorial you are going to learn how to name your versions after these common stages of game development (like Alpha or Beta).
So let’s get on it.

These are the most common stages of game development

  1. Alpha
    Alpha is stage where you have made some idea working but it has a lot of bugs, problems, etc… Alpha is meant as earliest stage of your game with a lot of bugs and not completed functions, systems, art designs, etc…

  2. Beta
    Beta is one step ahead of Alpha. Beta has less bugs and more of the idea of the game completed. Also it has more functions, systems, art designs or just simply remade. Also it this stage there are made some useful features.

  3. Pre-release
    Pre-release is the very final stage of development. In this stage you have the idea done and you are making your final touches.

  4. Release
    This is the final stage. In this stage the idea is completed and packaged into the final product. You can say that this is the product you see on the shelves. In this stage player’s expect way less bugs almost 0 but that doesn’t mean that it needs to have 0 bugs.

Also you may see these versions as well

  • Pre-Alpha
    Pre-Alpha is meant as a version where the idea is just forming. It has a lot of bugs and many features not working. Also the game isn’t optimized that well

  • Early access
    Early access is when you have your idea almost completed. It is like Pre-Release. In this stage you have the same things like in Pre-Release

And that’s it. These are the stages your game may go through. Also if you find anything wrong tell me it in the comments.

23 Likes
2

Good to know i used beta correctly for jexplorer :stuck_out_tongue:

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when i was young i put alpha/beta in my game titles because i thought it looked cool :sob:

nice tutorial!

13 Likes
4

How about Early-Prototype and Prototype?
and also if u have Already team u can make scripted Presentation of your idea where u showcase all your ideas like video btw

5

All you really need to use is alpha (early but working version) and beta (polished version but bugs may be present)

6

dont forget demo

for when the game is a taster version of your actual game

7

Did u mean a Trial version of the full game?

8

i guess

trial implies the rest of the game is already made but locked away

demo is more like a preview of the game, before the developer releases the actual game

1 Like
9

Ok, Thx for fixing my Understanding of Demo and trial

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bruh you forgot early access pre-beta alpha release

but honestly 95% of games just dont need that and it sounds cringe