Alpha VS Nightly: What's the difference? (Patreon)

In the reward tier, I list alpha/beta builds and nightly builds as rewards, but that probably doesn't mean much if you don't know what those are. Luckily, it's real easy to explain!

Alpha/Beta builds are (mostly) completed features or concepts. The things present in an alpha (but especially a beta) build is probably going to get into the final game, in some kind of manor. They're going to be pretty sparse, content-wise, but should give you a good idea of what exactly the gameplay cycle is meant to feel like. As well, while they're going to have bugs, those bugs shouldn't have an effect on the global game cycle (i.e. no game breaking bugs)

Nightly builds, on the other hand, are smaller updates, with concepts and implementations that are not final and may not make it into the game. They're more buggy, and there's no guarantee that a save file from one nightly build will work in the next. On the flip side, you'll see mechanics and feature sooner, as well as your feedback having a more direct and larger impact. (Mainly because the time period between coding the feature, releasing the build, and getting said feedback is incredibly reduced.) Also, they're released more often! You can expected an alpha/beta builds every one-three month, but nightly builds are release pretty much every time a new feature is finished being implemented. (I know "nightly" sorta implies, well, nightly, but I don't make up these words, I just use 'em lol)

And that's pretty much it! I hope that explains in more detail exactly what you're getting out of your rewards!

Anyhow, until next time, stay frosty!