Beta is just a word. Once it's open it doesn't really mean anything; it's just the devs saying that they don't feel the game is finished yet, as is the case with NS right now. Some mods make their first public release a final one and just patch it, and others are basically in a permanent state of beta.
I'm not claiming my quote below as an authoritative source on the subject, but "beta" does have a specific meaning in computer science. It's called a beta version because it's undergoing a beta test, which is defined as follows by one online dictionary:
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Testing a pre-release (potentially unreliable) version of a piece of software by making it available to selected users. This term derives from early 1960s terminology for product cycle checkpoints, first used at IBM but later standard throughout the industry.
"Alpha test" was the unit, module, or component test phase; "Beta Test" was initial system test. These themselves came from earlier A- and B-tests for hardware. The A-test was a feasibility and manufacturability evaluation done before any commitment to design and development. The B-test was a demonstration that the engineering model functioned as specified. The C-test (corresponding to today's beta) was the B-test performed on early samples of the production design.
An item "in beta test" is thus mostly working but still under test. In the Real World, systems (hardware or software) often go through two stages of release testing: Alpha (in-house) and Beta (out-house?). Beta releases are generally made available to a small number of lucky (or unlucky), trusted customers.
3.0 will leave beta when the dev team decides it's time to move out of the testing phase. In the meantime, you could say that we are checking that the mod "function[s] as specified".
We had a long period of traditional, closed beta releases for 2.1/3.0, but wanted to open the testing up to public servers so that we could get a better test of the server side--the private beta was doing a good job of finding client issues but a dozen private servers aren't going to be as efficient as a public test at finding server side issues. The wider testing base also means more data for balance checking.
ThansalThe New ScumJoin Date: 2002-08-22Member: 1215Members, Constellation
^^^^^^ weeee, some one (and a dev no less <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->) Who explained what I was trying to say (god I suck with words <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
<!--QuoteBegin-Thansal+Mar 7 2004, 11:08 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Thansal @ Mar 7 2004, 11:08 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->I also don't think that CS or DoD are 'owned' by valve. Valve is simply the distributor for them.<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd--> Valve does indeed own CS and DoD now.
<!--QuoteBegin-Varsity+Mar 8 2004, 07:31 AM--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> (Varsity @ Mar 8 2004, 07:31 AM)</td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin--> Will the same happen with NS? <!--QuoteEnd--> </td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'> <!--QuoteEEnd--> i doubt it
i think i can quote flayra saying he will never let valve buy it or summin <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
anyway, it only got released to the public bcoz you kept moaning for it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> jk
us consties/vets ironed out most of the critical bugs like the SUPERWELD bug and marines get full upgrades on 1 upgrade
once he game has been deemed balanced, flayra will make it officially a non-beta.
having a non-beta version of 3.0 will MEAN: competitions supporting 3.0 (right now, clans are still playing in 2.01 in CAL and OGL) Over-All balance (you will not find one team being completly overpowered) Map-Fluidity (no map will be incpomplete AKA - rebirth)
ThansalThe New ScumJoin Date: 2002-08-22Member: 1215Members, Constellation
Balanced AND fun <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->
As a side note, Flayra Spoke about 2.0 being horibly imbalanced yet still fun, Is he officaly aiming for full balance and fun this time?
I Understand that the imbalance was due to last minute changes, and I am just curious if any one knows his offical stance on 3.0?
Is he planing on no offical release untill it is very well balanced and very fun? (my hope, and what I asume it that this is the case...)
My personal impression is that 3.0 isn't any particularely fun.
This could be either because I've played it since the dawn of 1.0, and you're entitled to grow tired of a game when playing it for such a long time (2 years now, isn't it?), or Combat made me like the fastpace game more than the slowpaced one which can be totaly ruined because of a faulty player. In Combat you're like an alien. All on your own.
I think I'm gonna aim for the first. It's just not intriguing and original anymore. If 3.0's final when it's balanced -and- fun, I think it needs a little bit of work. Unless it's just me.
Comments
<!--QuoteBegin--></div><table border='0' align='center' width='95%' cellpadding='3' cellspacing='1'><tr><td><b>QUOTE</b> </td></tr><tr><td id='QUOTE'><!--QuoteEBegin-->Testing a pre-release (potentially unreliable) version of a piece of software by making it available to selected users. This term derives from early 1960s terminology for product cycle checkpoints, first used at IBM but later standard throughout the industry.
"Alpha test" was the unit, module, or component test phase; "Beta Test" was initial system test. These themselves came from earlier A- and B-tests for hardware. The A-test was a feasibility and manufacturability evaluation done before any commitment to design and development. The B-test was a demonstration that the engineering model functioned as specified. The C-test (corresponding to today's beta) was the B-test performed on early samples of the production design.
An item "in beta test" is thus mostly working but still under test. In the Real World, systems (hardware or software) often go through two stages of release testing: Alpha (in-house) and Beta (out-house?). Beta releases are generally made available to a small number of lucky (or unlucky), trusted customers.
[<a href='http://www.hyperdictionary.com/dictionary/beta+testing' target='_blank'>source</a>]<!--QuoteEnd--></td></tr></table><div class='postcolor'><!--QuoteEEnd-->
3.0 will leave beta when the dev team decides it's time to move out of the testing phase. In the meantime, you could say that we are checking that the mod "function[s] as specified".
We had a long period of traditional, closed beta releases for 2.1/3.0, but wanted to open the testing up to public servers so that we could get a better test of the server side--the private beta was doing a good job of finding client issues but a dozen private servers aren't going to be as efficient as a public test at finding server side issues. The wider testing base also means more data for balance checking.
weeee, some one (and a dev no less <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->) Who explained what I was trying to say (god I suck with words <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo-->)
When NS will be on steam, updates will be very fast and easy, why don't integrate ns to steam now (MY GAMES).
Valve does indeed own CS and DoD now.
i doubt it
anyway, it only got released to the public bcoz you kept moaning for it <!--emo&:p--><img src='http://www.unknownworlds.com/forums/html//emoticons/tounge.gif' border='0' style='vertical-align:middle' alt='tounge.gif' /><!--endemo--> jk
us consties/vets ironed out most of the critical bugs like the SUPERWELD bug and marines get full upgrades on 1 upgrade
once he game has been deemed balanced, flayra will make it officially a non-beta.
having a non-beta version of 3.0 will MEAN:
competitions supporting 3.0 (right now, clans are still playing in 2.01 in CAL and OGL)
Over-All balance (you will not find one team being completly overpowered)
Map-Fluidity (no map will be incpomplete AKA - rebirth)
As a side note, Flayra Spoke about 2.0 being horibly imbalanced yet still fun, Is he officaly aiming for full balance and fun this time?
I Understand that the imbalance was due to last minute changes, and I am just curious if any one knows his offical stance on 3.0?
Is he planing on no offical release untill it is very well balanced and very fun? (my hope, and what I asume it that this is the case...)
This could be either because I've played it since the dawn of 1.0, and you're entitled to grow tired of a game when playing it for such a long time (2 years now, isn't it?), or Combat made me like the fastpace game more than the slowpaced one which can be totaly ruined because of a faulty player.
In Combat you're like an alien. All on your own.
I think I'm gonna aim for the first. It's just not intriguing and original anymore.
If 3.0's final when it's balanced -and- fun, I think it needs a little bit of work. Unless it's just me.