Difference between revisions of "Prototype"

Revision as of 13:20, 24 January 2006

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.

Prototypical stages

Alpha - the first or a very early build, demonstrating the game's engine with one or two levels.
Beta - bearing some resemblance to the final game, often containing bugs or missing features.
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.

Examples of well-known prototypes

Available on the internet

Unavailable

Sonic X-treme (Sega Saturn)

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
-==Dictionary Definitions==
+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.
-===Webster's Dictionary definitions===
-#An original model on which something is patterned.
-#An individual that exhibits the essential features of a later type.
-#A standard or typical example.
-#A first full-scale and usually functional form of a new type or design of a construction (as an airplane).
-===Dictionary.com's definitions [1 exception]===
+==Prototypical stages==
-#An original type, form, or instance serving as a basis or standard for later stages.
+* '''Alpha''' - the first or a very early build, demonstrating the game's engine with one or two levels.
-#An original, full-scale, and usually working model of a new product or new version of an existing product.
+* '''Beta''' - bearing some resemblance to the final game, often containing bugs or missing features.
-#An early, typical example.
+* '''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.
-===Oxford's Dictionary definitions===
+==Examples of well-known prototypes==
-#A first or preliminary form from which other forms are developed or copied.
+===Available on the internet===
-#A typical example of something.
+* ''[[Sonic 2 Beta|Sonic the Hedgehog 2]]'' ([[Sega Megadrive]])
+* ''[[CD Sonic the Hedgehog]]'' ([[Sega CD|Sega Mega CD]])
+* ''[[Sonic Crackers]]'' (Sega Megadrive)
-===Encarta.com Dictionary definitions [1 exception]===
+===Unavailable===
-#Original used as model: something having the essential features of a subsequent type, and on which later forms are modeled.
+* ''[[Sonic X-treme]]'' ([[Sega Saturn]])
-#Standard example: a standard example of a particular kind, class, or group.
-#Full-size functional model: a first full-size functional model to be manufactured, for example, of a car or a machine.
 [[Category:Definitions]]
+[[Category:Prereleases|*]]