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| − | A '''prototype''' is a stage of design before the final one. Prototype [[video game]]s are created during development for playtesting and bug reporting purposes. Usually, a prototype game doesn't leave the developers' offices, but occasionally one finds its way out and onto the internet. | + | A '''prototype''' is a stage of design before the final one. Prototype video games are created during development for playtesting and bug reporting purposes. Usually, a prototype game doesn't leave the developers' offices, but occasionally one finds its way out and onto the internet. |
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| | ==Prototypical stages== | | ==Prototypical stages== |
| − | * '''Alpha''' - the first or a very early build, demonstrating the game's engine with one or two levels. | + | * '''Pre-Alpha''': Only used in certain games for very early development |
| − | * '''Beta''' - bearing some resemblance to the final game, often containing bugs or missing features. | + | * '''Alpha''': All the development up to beta |
| − | * '''Release candidate / prerelease''' - outwardly identical to the final game, but may contain minor bugs which have yet to be fixed. Prereleases are often sent to journalists to preview/review, and are sometimes released as demo or shareware software. | + | * '''[[Beta]]''': All major game modes and features are closed; game is now being heavily tested for bugs by SOA's QA |
| | + | * '''Final/Gold''': Finished and sold product |
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| | ==Examples of well-known prototypes== | | ==Examples of well-known prototypes== |
| − | ===Available on the internet===
| + | * ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Nick Arcade prototype)]]'' ([[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]]) |
| − | * ''[[Sonic 2 Beta|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' ([[Sega Megadrive]]) | + | * ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog 2 (Simon Wai prototype)]]'' ([[Sega Mega Drive/Genesis]]) |
| − | * ''[[CD Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' ([[Sega CD|Sega Mega CD]]) | + | * ''[[Sonic the Hedgehog CD build 510]]'' ([[Mega CD|Sega Mega CD]]) |
| − | * ''[[Sonic Crackers]]'' (Sega Megadrive) | + | * ''[[Sonic Crackers]]'' (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis) |
| | + | * ''[[Sonic 3D (cartridge prototype)]]'' (Sega Mega Drive/Genesis) |
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| − | ===Unavailable===
| + | {{S2Betas}} |
| − | * ''[[Sonic X-treme]]'' ([[Sega Saturn]])
| + | {{Sonic the Hedgehog CD Betas}} |
| | + | {{Sonic & Knuckles Betas}} |
| | + | {{ChaotixBetas}} |
| | + | {{Sonic3DBetas}} |
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| − | [[Category:Definitions]] | + | [[Category:General Interest]] |
| − | [[Category:Prereleases|*]] | + | [[Category:Prereleases| ]] |
