They are still experimenting...

What if it got delayed because Todd thought up a better idea?

Yes, it isn't out of the question for a game to be pre-alpha 9 months before release. Typically, MMOs are usually in alpha/beta by this time but that is because it is a multiplayer game and all that jazz. However, there is nothing to worry about the game being pre-alpha. It just means they haven't got to the alpha stage yet, which is where the game gets into the heavy testing and there are still significant additions to the game. Beta is when the changes to the games turn into minor tweaks for balance and the finishing touches while still testing for bugs and compatibility issues. I will be waiting for when they announce the game goes gold so that my days of waiting for the release feel like a year a piece.

It is going to be done, they wouldn't give a definite date otherwise IMO.

Look, they just have it in parts, finish testing that parts, and still look whether or not implement some features. When they put it into the whole, it woud get Alpha. Then they will/will not implement that features, and it would get Beta. I think that it's pretty possible to make it until June/July. Then they will do some bug hunt, and early autumn they will have it ready. Anyway, alpha/beta version of soft is not a strictly defined concept. And Pete Hines may just want to make that guy leave him alone with his graphics questions

What?

The finished product will look amazing if that's the case. And it night explain the lack of new content being sent out, they must be done with news And be knuckling down until E3 or something.

Yea this piece of news pretty much lowered my hopes for a trailer or video any time soon.

Woops, ehem, how are you?

Well I am confident they will get the job done. Those screens are good for pre alpha or whatever so I am not fussed.

Also people say things casually on twitter, he may have just replied to that guys comment without much thought not expecting us to anolyse their every words on the forum. So yeah, I don’t think we should make a thing about it. The game will come out when it comes out.

Skyrim has been in development for a little more than 4 years so I wouldn't worry about it. Alpha is just another way of saying that they are trying new things out.

Sounded more like he was telling worm what to say to the "haters" rather than Skyrim is actually still in "pre-alpha"

http://www.gameinformer.com/b/podcasts/archive/2011/02/03/toddhowardse.aspx

in this podcast todd says at 30-32 min that they wouldn't set a release date if they were not serious.

Its not even alpha its pre alpha. That's what's frightening.

That's how I read it

I have to bring this up, and sorry I didn't read this entire thread before posting this but, how is it you get "pre-Alpha" exactly? By using the Greek Alphabet to categorize progress, isn't Alpha the earliest stage? or did that get changed when I wasn't looking

9 months is plenty of time, and every game (dev team) is diffrent when it comes to alpha and beta stages. If you want to learn more about game creating id recommend going to elementalgame.com brad (frogboy) basically gives you every bit of detail on what it's like creating a game.

Yea but those nine months are shortened for bug testing and having to get the discs pressed and shipped worldwide. That leaves the dev team seven months realistically to get it done before bug testing, manufacturing, and shipping kick in.

Alpha/beta stages are for bug testing heh.

Hmm I don't think this is true, big titles like TES/Starcraft/COD tend to get favored by manufacturers and pushers like "walmart, gamestop, amazon..." I'm pretty sure if the game was done 1 week before it's initial release it still would make it on the shelves as scheduled. TES has celebrity status in theory, it's kind of like owning an american express black. :bowdown:

They still have plenty of time, you have to think about it with 100 guys working i dno 4-5 days a week (maybe overtime weeks to if u include them) in 9 months thats a looooong time to get the job done and I cant see it being a very easy process for them and it will be getting better and better.

We're talking about a worldwide launch here. That kind of stuff doesn't get done a week before release. They cannot and will not press discs for a worldwide launch and then have to ship worlwide a week before release.

This was a question asked in the gameinformer podcast with Todd Howard.

He was extremely confident they would meet the deadline. Bethesda usually doesn't give out deadlines this early either.

They also don't announce games this late in development either!

Really? Because on the GI podcast Todd said when asked for spears and werewolves he said something like "We are almost done and there are 9 months till release date so if we wanted to put something into the game we could do that" or something like that, pretty much he said we are almost finished and we can still add stuff from now till about september

This

Also, Pete mentioned them celebrating a few days ago. I doubt they would be celebrating if they were worried about the release date.

That would be a waste of cupcakes.

Yea but what does the mean in relation to the game being pre alpha and shipping on time?

It means they're pretty confident about getting it out on time. They wouldn't announce it and start their marketing campaign if the game wasn't ready to be shown.

You'd be suprised.
I'm not saying you're wrong, but you should keep an open mind.