What is...

demo and beta aren't the same thing

 

I think they're working frantically to get a fully playable version of the game ready for I49; focusing on getting Tier 1 near to completion as possible to give it the best showcase.

 

Nope.

 

Are there any Streams? For those that don't live in the UK and can't make to the event? (I'm to lazy to actively look )

 

If memory serves, I believe the Yogscast should be there. So if you follow them, they're probably gonna upload what they play to youtube. As for a live stream of some sort, I don't know.

 

Nope. Daily updates tell us that the game is Severely underdeveloped. Last couple of months is the safest bet. They maybe won't make it to 2013.

 

I'll say a lot of things that most people would think are "pessimistic" concerning the release of beta, but I quite honestly don't believe they'll miss 2013. If it starts getting really close (say, beginning of November), and the game still isn't where Tiy would like it to be, I think he'll pull everyone together and say, "Okay guys, we're not quite gonna get everything in that I wanted, but we told everyone 2013 and that's what we're gonna do. So let's focus hard on finishing everything that's here now, as well as anything else we're positive we can get in quickly, and then get this sucker out there."

In other words, I firmly believe it would take an act of God to miss the 2013 timeline. It's very important to the devs not to miss the only official release window they've ever announced, and they will do everything possible to make it happen.

 

I'll be much less surprised if he pulls all the fans and tells "Sorry guys, but the game isn't quite ready for beta yet. See ya in 2014... Now I mean it!". 'Cause this trick succeeded thrice, why should he abandon it?

 

Common misconception, but there has never been an official release date of any kind. There have been (many months ago at this point) some ill-chosen "guesses" that were given, and those were only stated because the community ravenously demanded them. Some folks like to remember those as "carved in stone release dates that were missed", but they most assuredly were not.

Still, because of the controversy guessing has caused, the devs elected not to indulge in any more guesses regardless of how much people asked. Tiy is on record several times though stating that beta is "guaranteed by the end of 2013". The entire pre-order process had this guarantee in place, and many people put down money on the strength of that promise.

So again, while I understand the impulse to be pessimistic, this is the one area that I truly believe there is no wiggle room. Will Starbound beta be in our hands in a month? I doubt it. Will it be installed on my system before the clock strikes midnight on January 1, 2014? Absolutely.

 

I just hope they aren't falling into the trap of "trying to make it perfect."

 

They'll make it as perfect as they can until the clock dictates that they can't stuff any more things into it.