I think DA:I is very close to being 100% playable, albeit with many bugs lol. I have a feeling there is maybe 1 or 2 months left of actual development, then the rest of the time until launch will be dedicated to fixing bugs and other required steps to launch the game.
Why do I say this... Given industry standards on certifcation times for all platforms and time alloted for bug testing. It can safely be said that DA:I is roughly 90-95% complete in terms of actual level and/or gameplay development. By the time E3 rolls around. The Bioware team responsible for the development will put a freeze on adding new code into the game. At this point they will focus primarily on bug fixes. With some team members starting to work on DLC.
Some of you may be asking where I am getting my info from. From my own personal experience having worked at a small software company (10-15 employees). And just a general knowledge of being a PC gamer for the last 20 yrs.
Alpha - Where I believe DA:I production is at
Alpha is the stage when key gameplay functionality is implemented, and assets are partially finished. A game in alpha is feature complete, that is, game is playable and contains all the major features. These features may be further revised based on testing and feedback. Additional small, new features may be added, similarly planned, but unimplemented features may be dropped. Programmers focus mainly on finishing the codebase, rather than implementing additions. Alpha occurs eight to ten months before code release.
Code freeze - I predict this phase of developement roughly around E3
Code freeze is the stage when new code is no longer added to the game and only bugs are being corrected. Code freeze occurs three to four months before code release.
Beta - The following 2 months after E3 hopefully
Beta is feature and asset complete version of the game, when only bugs are being fixed. This version contains no bugs that prevent the game from being shippable. No changes are made to the game features, assets, or code. Beta occurs two to three months before code release.
Code release - The period of time where Bioware must submit the completed game to MS and SONY for review and a compatibility test for their consoles. Also assuming Nvidia and AMD for optimized driver creation. I assume 6-8 weeks before release
Code release is the stage when all bugs are fixed and game is ready to be shipped or submitted for console manufacturer review. This version is tested against QA test plan. First code release candidate is usually ready three to four weeks before code release.
Gold master - Given a week for shipment to stores. I assume 2-3 weeks before launch.
Gold master is the final game's build that is used as a master for production of the game.
*puts on flame shield* I feel any threads asking for features such as hair styles etc are doable in this time period. I feel other threads such as the "make combat like x game" is a waste of your time in posting such things.
Yes there is alot about the game we wont know about until E3 or even until the release. But that doesnt mean that Bioware can make huge changes to the game in the time limit they have until release. Honestly, the only thing bioware can honestly change at this point in production is merely cosmetic stuff.
This post really serves no purpose other then to educate on the development cycle of video games.
And games like WoW, ESO, Neverwinter etc etc etc. Will have a very similar yet different development cycle for their patches. Considering they are already completed games available to play online.
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