Chapter 7: Test Phases

Overview

Videogames can range in size from tiny downloadable mobile phone games that take a few weeks to produce to epic, massively multiplayer online role-playing games developed over several years . No matter what size the game and how long the production schedule, the testing of the game should always follow the same basic structure:

1. Pre-production

2. Kickoff

3. Alpha

4. Beta

5. Gold

6. Release

7. Post-release

Like the plot of a suspense thriller, each sequence occurs more rapidly , and with much more heightened excitement (and stress), than the next . Figure 7.1 illustrates a very rough timeline for a hypothetical mid-budget console racing game.

Figure 7.1: Console racing game timeline.

The following sections examine each phase in order to understand why it is vital to the project and distinct from the other phases.