#alphatesting

Special sneak preview time! Here's an idea that we're really hoping to implement in game in the future - gif pelts! Look at that sparkle. Some backgrounds, markings, and even decor could also be animated!

Wanna see new developments from Feranix even earlier? This was posted two weeks ago on the Patreon - patrons get exclusive first access to new stuff for only $5 a month! Please consider checking it out if you haven't. Nothing we do is possible without our wonderful supporters, so thank you!

https://www.patreon.com/feranixsim  

EDIT: Tumblr appears to have some restrictions regarding the image size of gifs. This still image is only a preview! Please click the link below to check out a gif pelt in all its glory!

Click me.

I am the artist and producer of the 2D platformer called Old McQuanold. I mainly provided the sprite and animations assets for my partner the programmer while also managing our deadlines.

In our playtesting session in class the highlight of the night was the strange way the duck sprite was moving across the screen. If you jumped too weird or landed on the wrong tile the duck would tip over. Although it was extremely difficult to continue moving across the map after falling down it was not impossible to find a way to get back upright. All the play testers made comments on this issue that ranged from finding a way to fix it or incorporate it into the game. One tester said that they liked being able to "break the game" and another "liked being able to flip [the] duck back to normalcy."

To gather feedback on the art we asked the players to identify what was the first visual that caught their eye when they opened the game. Overall people liked the vibrant colors and pointed out the shed as the first place they looked at. Someone commented that "the duck is too low on the screen and doesn't take as much precedence."

In order to address the feedback we received we decided that he would prioritize finding a solution to the orientation issue and continue to build the game so that there was more of the map to explore. I will create UX/UI assets to lead the player by explaining the controls and adding a menu. I also need to create the starting/end point assets and good/bad ending drawings so the game is more visually cohesive and provides eventual feedback for when a player finished the objective.

Too many software products fail after launch because they skipped the most crucial step: Alpha testing.

Gone are the days when alpha testing was just about squashing bugs. Today, it’s a powerful validation phase that checks functionality, performance, security, and UX—all before users ever touch the product.

Here’s what’s new and next in alpha testing:

🤖 AI & automation tools speed up test case generation and analysis

☁️ Cloud-based test environments boost flexibility

📊 Real-time quality metrics drive continuous improvement

🔁 DevOps integration creates fast feedback loops

⚔️ Strategic planning reduces risks & saves $$$ before release

The result? Fewer bugs, happier users, and products that actually succeed in the real world.

💡 “Alpha testing isn’t a phase. It’s a mindset.”

Alpha Testing is a methodology to assess the quality and stability of a product under test in the testing environment. read more

Risk Assessment: Alpha Testing helps assess and mitigate risks associated with the software's functionality and usability. Identifying and addressing issues early in the development process can reduce the likelihood of critical issues in later stages.

Regression Testing: Alpha Testing may also include regression testing to ensure that fixes for reported issues do not introduce new defects or negatively impact existing functionality.

You wouldn't think it seeing my blog, but I've actually had access to Dragonflight Alpha for quite a few weeks.

You wouldn’t think it seeing my blog, but I’ve actually had access to Dragonflight Alpha for quite a few weeks. It’s really a testament to how busy work was that I haven’t been plastering this place with screenshots! Thanks to my 4 days off, though, I got to spend some time this weekend having a play around through some actual content. I started with the Dracthyr starting zone. Good news – it’s…