Release Date

[Jonkheer]

I think my question will interest a lot of Apolytons:

When will CtP2 be released?

I've searched the net and found a lot of different dates:
some say September 2000
some say October 2000
some say Thanksgiving
some say 3th Quarter
some say 4th Quarter
some say 2001

What will be the release date? It would be nice to hear form Activision what they have in mind for the release date.

[MarkG]

argh, enough with this evil question!

you should hope that it will be released when it's done!

[Nemo]

ooo! ooo! i know! i know! ... when its finished!

[Atahualpa]

I dont think anymore that they make it till December 2000. They are still in Alpha phase and fine tuning for itself takes at least a month or 2. So I guess you should be fine with Q1 2001. But well nothing is official yet so that is just a guess.
Maybe the same release date as CtP1 (March 30th)

ATa

[MidKnight Lament]

You can bet that if it's released before Christmas (which I still suspect) then we'll have lots of people telling us about how they "rushed it out" - even if Activision did a good job of getting it finished properly. For that reason, I'm hoping it will be released about February (as much as I can't wait to get my hands on it ).

- MKL

[Daniel Frappier]

Personnaly I would bet good money that it will be release in October or November, no matter what is the state of the game because they already have launched the ad campaign in magazines. I believe that having a game coming out after the ad campaign is finished and they have no more money to advertise it when it's coming out is something they want to avoid at all cost.

[Atahualpa]

edit: Maybe its me who is crazy or maybe its Activision, I dont know!
[This message has been edited by Atahualpa (edited September 19, 2000).]

[Daniel Frappier]

October or November, I don't know anymore than you but I would take that bet anytime. Activision taking months to beta test !!?! That do sounds crazy, I will believe it when I see it but of course it doesn't mean that CTP II will be a bad game, I expect/hope it will be a great game with some glitches that will fix afterward.

[Roman]

November 2000 is now the official release date, though this may shift. Check it out on the new ctp2 preview site at www.activision.com/games/ctp2 that has just been reworked.

[Atahualpa]

November

Ata

[Nemo]

What is the normal time period for beta testing games? Many programs that I have seen developed usually take 4-8 months of testing before their release. Is ~2 months going to be enough??

[Joseph]

Would someone explain the diffident between Alpha and Beta for those of us, who are not programer.

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[This message has been edited by Joseph (edited September 19, 2000).]

[Nemo]

Nevemind, i fond my answer here

[Adm.Naismith]

Joseph, there isn't a rule, it depends by any developer team.
Generally speaking, an Alpha is usually a program with a general "backbone" ready, still some main function missing or not properly functioning, and a lot of refining to be done.

It's usually strictly keept "inside company", still can be used to show concept for marketing reason (looking for distributor or for PR with PC magazine journalist).

When all main function are added the game shift to a pre-beta, where internal test can start. When things are stable enough it go for beta test (private or public), then (when known bugs are ironed out or money are on shortage ) it go "gold" (ready for mass production).

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Admiral Naismith AKA mcostant

[Atahualpa]

The answer is 42!