A Fangame Article?

[Phoenixan]

Or rather, sometimes in official game dev. context, a playable game that isn't even near ready for release (as in, it has all the engine content, but only has 1-3 levels) is referred to as the alpha or alpha demo.

There's also other terms like, "public alpha," "internal alpha," "internal beta," or "public beta" as well.

You'll also even see full version numbers like, "1.0 internal", where it's considered a finalized engine, but not all the content is done, so it's only kept within the company or left unfinished if they don't plan on releasing it due to cancellation.

You can download a 1.0 internal for Half-Life Dreamcast, for example.

[Cairnie]

Yeah that's what I was thinking. The early prototype has to be an alpha or something since it doesn't seem that all the levels are accessible in any way, whereas in a beta there's a way to test every level.

The demo version [Nova] on the other hand is just well, a demo, but one that I think predates the other one since there's no world map or anything, but must have been used to decide whether to develop the game further. If a top game developer doesn't like it, then it gets canned long before it's even developed, so here Rayman was given the thumbs up.

[spiraldoor]

We need to think of a name for the non-Nova prototype. Perhaps it should be called the "Sonic Cult beta", or something to that effect.

[Cairnie]

Sonic Cult didn't find it though, they just bought the ROM collection for $20 and leaked them. I go by the name of the ROM, which is (Early Prototype), until we find a proper code for it.

[spiraldoor]

So is "Nova" actually the proper name of the other one? I thought we just called it that because the word "Nova" was on the HUD.

[Cairnie]

Nova isn't its proper name, it's something I made up to call it instead of a demo. Ugh jeeze I give up.

[Phoenixan]

Well, sorry for being away for so long, but I've been busy out here in CANADA-LAND.

Anyway, I think a rule for an article to exist for a game that could be solid is just, "Must have either valid screenshots, gameplay videos, or playable demos."

[Holy Crap]

Makes sense to me.

[spiraldoor]

Or rather, sometimes in official game dev. context, a playable game that isn't even near ready for release (as in, it has all the engine content, but only has 1-3 levels) is referred to as the alpha or alpha demo.

There's also other terms like, "public alpha," "internal alpha," "internal beta," or "public beta" as well.

You'll also even see full version numbers like, "1.0 internal", where it's considered a finalized engine, but not all the content is done, so it's only kept within the company or left unfinished if they don't plan on releasing it due to cancellation.

You can download a 1.0 internal for Half-Life Dreamcast, for example.

That's interesting. Would you by any chance know what "01.12d" stands for? Because that's how far the Rayman 2 2D Prototype was in its development.

Exactly how many of the letters in the Greek alphabet have a corresponding game-development phase? There's alpha, beta...is there a gamma and delta?

Because this would be delta.

[abhinav]

Just saw this article. Would like to add my fangame RTFS: Curse of the Jade Lum to the list.

Those Rayman fangames listed on the first page look promising, and its good that there are Rayman fans out there who want to make Rayman fangames.

[Hunchman801]

You can create an article about it, I think it's important enough.

[abhinav]

I created an article for it. Hope people will show interest someday.

[timoo]

Where is it? I can't see it.

[Phoenixan]

Neither can I, actually. Or is it just for RTFS?

[abhinav]

Here it is: viewtopic.php?t=5498

Oh, and its been updated.

[Phoenixan]

Oh I see, you were talking about the topic rather than Raywiki. XD

[The Jonster]

A fangame article on a wiki would be interesting, though I think the fangames should be in their own wiki.

[PluMGMK]

I guess the most significant ones should get an article. ROTD for example.