Board Thread:Online Discussion/@comment-81.149.28.26-20130527200339/@comment-7153552-20130530144018

There's always been alpha- and beta-stages for games. It used to refer to the stage at which a developer and publisher got paid out for certain things, and the goals that were meant to be met. Of course, back then they still tested vigorously at those stages. The difference is what's required for a "vigorous" test compared to now and then. Computers didn't used to be so complicated (at the time to the masses, sure, but not like they are now), and there weren't so many different variations of a computer then, either. Times have changed so much, that beta tests have to be public to get all the different views, aspects, computer variants, lifestyles, playstyles, etc., etc. in the mix to ensure the game won't break at launch, lol.