It's Beta Time!

[Frost]

Hey All,

We're starting beta for Rise of the Third Power! Our plan is to hold multiple rounds of beta as we finish up the game, each one having more features implemented than the last. The rounds will likely be 2 weeks apart, and we'll have exact start dates as we get closer to each.

If you'd like to participate in the beta, please let me or Evelyn know which round(s) you're interested in via Discord / Steam DM / Email. Please note that the first 3 rounds are Windows only. The 4th round will have support for macOS and Linux. Console builds can only be run on dev hardware, so unfortunately beta console builds are getting beta tested by staff only.

Here's what to expect in each round:

Round 1

Story and battle are finished and the game is totally playable. Recommended if you're mainly looking to play through the story and want to play as soon as possible.

Missing Features:

• No sound effects
  
• No ambient sounds
  
• 5/8 characters have skill animations
  
• No enemy animations
  
• No difficulty modes
  
• End-game side content beyond regular end-game side content not added yet
  
• No misc. loot to find in towns
  
• No achievements
  
• Placeholder icons
  
• Plenty of minor bugs that won't cause a crash (e.g. missing text, missing icons, incorrect tile collision)
  
• No vsync
  
• No macOS or Linux support

Round 2

More finished than the previous round, but still a ways to go. Recommended if you're up for playing the game unpolished.

Missing Features:

• Some sound effects
  
• ~7/8 characters have skill animations
  
• No enemy animations
  
• Some difficulty modes
  
• End-game side content beyond regular end-game side content not added yet
  
• No achievements
  
• Placeholder icons
  
• Plenty of minor bugs that won't cause a crash (e.g. missing text, missing icons, incorrect tile collision)
  
• No vsync
  
• No macOS or Linux support

Round 3

Almost finished, just lacking polish. Recommended if you're looking to play the game in its mostly finished state but don't want to wait for round 4 of beta.

Missing Features:

• Some or most enemy animations
  
• End-game side content beyond regular end-game side content not added yet
  
• No achievements
  
• Some minor bugs that won't cause a crash (e.g. incorrect tile collision)
  
• No macOS or Linux support

Round 4

Mostly polished, very close to what will be the final game.

Missing Features:

• No achievements (probably)
  
• Few minor bugs that won't cause a crash (e.g. incorrect tile collision)

Contact Info

Discord: https://discord.gg/ps8mgzy
Email: [e-mail]
Steam: (send us a DM!)

Sample beta invitation request:

Hey Stegosoft Team, I'd like to participate in rounds (...) of beta!

<3 The Stegosoft Team

P.S. Thank you all for being so patient with us :)

[Summoner]

Hadn't checked this discussion board for some time and see you've reached testing. Good to know things steadily progress, keep up the good work.:)

[d10sfan]

It looks like the discord invite expired. I'd be interested in helping test with round 4, as I'm on Linux

[Euphoniac]

I'm looking forward to playing a 100+ hours game after release, considering how long the beta phase already lasts. :D

[Valdy]

How long is beta testing going to be? It's April now, and I just wondered when we can expect the game to come out. "Early Release" would be good. Preferably with a demo.

[Bri]

I am ready to buyyyyyyyyy, much excite for game!

[Euphoniac]

Check out the latest update on Kickstarter: estimated window for multi-platform release between October 2021 and January 2022.

[Koby]

Originally posted by Euphoniac:

Check out the latest update on Kickstarter: estimated window for multi-platform release between October 2021 and January 2022.

So a year in Beta eh... Was hoping it would be closer to Q2 2021 tbh.

[Euphoniac]

If it was a PC only release, Q2 2021 would be realistic, but porting to Playstation, XBox and Switch at the same time takes time. As a "The Legend of Heroes" player, you should have grown accustomed to waiting by now. ;)

[Firefly130984]

I would test for the 4th round and write a guide parallel to testing.
For the guide it is better to have the mostly finished version of the game.
If possible with the achievements to check if they unlock correctly.

[Frost]

Thanks, Firefly130984! Send us a message on Discord if you could, and we'll get you access to the beta. You can join the Stegosoft server (https://discord.gg/ps8mgzy) or send me a message directly (Frost#0871).