Repeatedly-Tested Browser Games: General Knowledge About Games

Date:Jan 20 2010 09:45:09

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KeyWord: Repeatedly Test Browser Games, General Knowledge, Open Beta, Closed Beta

Summary: Browser games always strive to make players enjoy the gaming fun more conveniently. Many office workers and casual players prefer browser games simply because there's no need to download. However, many game producers carry out repeated tests for their browser games before the games' official operation. This process sometimes even lasts half a year, which makes players lose patience and give up finally. Maybe, producers just wish repeated tests to help attract more players, but never think that players would say goodbye to them at last.

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Browser games always strive to make players enjoy the gaming fun more conveniently. Many office workers and casual players prefer browser games simply because there's no need to download. However, many game producers carry out repeated tests for their browser games before the games' official operation. This process sometimes even lasts half a year, which makes players lose patience and give up finally. Maybe, producers just wish repeated tests to help attract more players, but never think that players would say goodbye to them at last.

Generally speaking, in the early days of game industry, only three stages of test, namely, alpha test, closed beta test and open beta test, were required before the game’s official operation.

Alpha test is the very first test stage and focuses on technology, which is usually conducted prior to the completion of game development and joined by the game company staff or a small amount of players.

During closed beta test, the game company usually invites a relatively large number of players to enjoy the game by giving them beta keys, and have players help dig out bugs existing in the game.

In open beta test, the game is basically finalized. Only a very few unexpected bugs come out at this stage. And the game's official operation is subject to upcoming updates.

But now, many browser games are undergoing more than three stages of test. More alpha tests and closed beta tests are being added. Sometimes, the closed beta test can reach up to 4 times such as Tiger Woods PGA TOUR Online. And the test procedure gradually becomes as follows: 1st alpha test – 2nd alpha test - 1st closed beta test – 2nd closed beta test – 3rd closed beta… - open beta test.

When finding some game interesting, players may then have a try and feel good. But before they achieve the real gaming fun, a new stage of game test starts and clears up all players' data, which surely makes players unpleasant.

No doubt that tests can reduce the number of bugs and help increase the game quality. But excessively frequent tests are also a great challenge for players’ patience. Some games even have no sign of official operation after more than six months of tests, and are finally forgotten by players. So, how many tests prior to open beta test do you think should be conducted? And how long do you think should these tests last?

Below are some browser games whose official operation has finally started after numerous tests or is still on the way.

iTGC Online is based on the wildly popular Nexon massively multiplayer online game, MapleStory. It is also Nexon Americas first browser-based game and requires no download to play. iTCG Online players will be able to choose one of the four MapleStory classes currently available as their main character. The classes include Warrior, Magician, Bowman and Thief.

Screenshots:

iTCG Online Screenshot