As a gamer, the concept of ‘testing’ a game before it’s released is enticing. It offers the chance to play a game in its intended form and not be subjected to patches and fixes that appear after release. Of course, not everyone is able to play games before they’re released due to the expense of owning a console or PC and the necessity of having a reliable internet connection. With the rise of Steam and other game-streaming services, it’s never been easier for gamers to try out new titles as they appear.
What Is Early Access?
Early Access is, essentially, unfinished software or a game with ‘beta’ components. While it might seem tempting to dive into such game or software and help shape its development, doing so risks exposing the developer to a considerable amount of risk and damage. Bugs and glitches might not be fixed before a game or software is released, leaving the player with a flawed experience. Even worse, the player might discover flaws in the game or software after it’s been released and not have the chance to report or discuss these issues with the developer before the game or software is patched and/or updated.
The benefits of Early Access are, thus, clearly outweighed by the risks. For those interested in helping to improve games or software through testing and feedback, it might be better to find a different approach.
Why Is Testing Worthwhile?
Since early access involves using and playing a game or software in its unfinished state, it’s always a possibility that the game or software will crash, freeze or behave irregularly. Not only that, but since the software or game is incomplete, there’s always the chance that parts of it are not what the developers intended and might introduce new glitches or bugs. In short, testing a game or piece of software through early access is, essentially, a gamble.
Even disregarding the risk of a game or piece of software crashing or freezing, there’s a risk that the game or software will not live up to your expectations once it’s been released. As the developer, it’s your responsibility to ensure that the game or software is as good as you can make it and that it lives up to your expectations. Sometimes, this simply means polishing the gameplay and fixing any glitches before the game is released. Other times, it might mean reworking the entire gameplay system and cut content that you feel doesn’t live up to your vision for the game.
Why Is It Worthwhile To Test A Game Through Beta?
Beta testing is, essentially, a simpler version of early access – it involves using and playing a game or software in its unfinished state but, usually, only for a set period of time. The purpose of a beta is, typically, to gather as much feedback as possible from users while the software or game is still in its early stages of development. Once the beta period is over, the software or game is considered to be ‘finished’ and can be released to the public.
While beta testing is a risk-free way of gathering feedback and ensuring that a game or piece of software is as good as it can be before release, there’s still a risk that the game or software will not live up to your expectations. This is more to do with the fact that, inevitably, some bugs will slip through the cracks during the beta testing period and, once the beta period is over, these bugs will not be fixed. This, in turn, could introduce new and, perhaps, unexpected glitches or issues into the game or software after release.
Are There Any Benefits To Beta Testing?
Apart from ensuring that you’re not exposed to any undue risks during the early access stage of a game or piece of software, there are a number of benefits to beta testing. First and foremost, it allows you to gather vital feedback about the game or software while it’s still in its early stages of development. This feedback will help you shape the game or software and make necessary changes before release (hence the name ‘beta’).
Additionally, since the software or game is unfinished, there’s always the possibility that parts of it are not what the developers intended and might need to be changed or removed. Beta testing allows these changes or removals to be made before the game or software is released and, therefore, does not require a significant time out of the development cycle. Once the beta testing period is over, it’s considered to be ‘finished’ and the developers can concentrate on fixing the remaining issues and ensuring a smooth launch.
When Should I Test A Game Or Software?
As a rule of thumb, you should test your game or software as soon as possible – certainly, before the end of the development cycle. Things can and will change, and it’s always a possibility that something might be lost in the process of translation from prototype to finished product. It is also, usually, a good idea to test the game or software on a regular basis – at least, once or twice a week. This will help identify any bugs or glitches as soon as they arise.
Testing a game or software once or twice a week is, generally, good enough for most situations – although, occasionally, it might be worthwhile testing a game or software more frequently to ensure that all the bugs are fixed before release. Since frequency is always a matter of personal preference, only you can determine when enough testing has been carried out and whether or not the game or software is, truly, ‘finished’.
At the end of the day, there’s no precise formula for determining when a game or software is ‘finished’. Ultimately, it’s a judgement call on your part – once you’ve tested a game or piece of software enough, you’ll know whether or not you want to continue working on it. If you feel that there’s still a lot more to do, then, generally, it’s a good idea to continue working on it – but, again, it’s up to you to judge when enough is enough.