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Post-Production. Marketing. Phases. Testing game Why? Ensure expectations are met When? Continuously Who? Automated Developers Sponsors Internal QA External QA Publisher QA 1 st Party QA. Quality Assurance. A – Critical Crashes, features inaccessible, progress bugs
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Marketing Phases
Testing game • Why? • Ensure expectations are met • When? • Continuously • Who? • Automated • Developers • Sponsors • Internal QA • External QA • Publisher QA • 1st Party QA Quality Assurance
A – Critical • Crashes, features inaccessible, progress bugs • B – General Bug • Non-Blocking • C – Cosmetic • “Text is difficult to read on some screens” • D – Wishlist • “Player should be able to fly a unicorn” Bug Classes
Example: 24 month project • Alpha – 12 weeks • Beta – 12 weeks • Master – 6 weeks • Example: 12 month project • Alpha – 6 weeks • Beta – 6 weeks • Master – 6 weeks Development Phases
Example: MMO • Alpha – 12 weeks • Beta – 36 weeks • Master – 6 weeks • Example: iOS • Alpha – 2 weeks • Beta – 2 weeks • Master – 2 weeks Development Phases
Christmas Release • Alpha – mid June • Beta – end of August • Master – end of October Development Phases
Feature Complete • Placeholder Art • Design complete • All features are playable but require polish • No New Features After This Point! Alpha - Definition
Internal testing • Fixing Bugs • Optimisation • Polishing Features • “Lazy” features • Sound • UI • FMV • Non-English languages Alpha - Work
Game is playable end-to-end • No blocking bugs • Code Freeze • Multi-player • F&F Beta • Closed Beta • Open Beta Beta - Definition
External Testing • Fixing Bugs Only • Optimisation • Installers/Bundles • Polishing Features • Writing manual • Closing out box artwork • Compliance Fixes • Compatibility Fixes Beta - Work
Game is ready for submission or release • Bug free • No A’s or B’s Master - Definition
Submission to 3rd party • Sony, Microsoft, Apple, Steam • Ratings boards • PEGI (Europe), ESRB(USA),USK (German), CERO(Japan), ACB (Australia) Master - Submission
Typically 2 weeks in, 1 week out • Complete blackbox • Large 1st party test teams • Bugs are scored, high scores fail • Typically, 2 attempts only Master - Submission
No approval, no release • No control • Bottleneck at peak times • Can be bumped up/down • Underwrite to get approval for large publishers Master - Submission
Game goes in a box/online • That’s it! Master - Release
Pre-Alpha • Alpha • Pre-Beta • Beta • Optional: F&F, Closed, Open • Master • Pre-Submission • Submission 1 • Submission 2 Dev. Phases - Expanded
Physical Media duplication • DVD, Bluray – Sony DADC • Cartridges • Batch sizes • Printed Media duplication • Manuals, Box artwork • Packaging • DVD cases, Gift boxes • Assembly Manufacture
Delivery of parts to assembly • Final delivery to store • Pre-Orders: Delivery from store to home Distribution
Manufacture • DVD/Bluray: 1-2 week • Distribution • To retail: 2-3 days Release Phases
Ongoing marketing support • Mothballing • DLC • Maintenance • Patches • Online Support Post-Release
Marketing Summary