There is a part of every game development project that is a little disheartening. It is the point around Alpha, where the game is starting to take shape, but isn’t quite complete enough to be in full test.

Sure there is the positive morale boost from seeing new stuff appear in the game but it is also the point at which people start noticing bugs and errors in the game. The bug database starts to fill up and, because the team aren’t in full Beta test mode, there isn’t an all out effort to clear bugs. The result is that the bug count starts to climb…. and keeps climbing. Sure some (lots) get fixed during this phase but the general trend is upwards.

So far we have 160 closed bugs on Space Ark and only 92 active ones. Somehow I think it will get worse before it gets better. Luckily it will get better in the end