AdventureQuest 3D has had several testing stages, where certain players could help test the game and be a part of its history!
The AQ3D testing stages were:
- Tech Demo - This was the very first testing stage for AQ3D that was from September 24th, 2014 - August 2nd, 2015. If you were an AQWorlds Legend/Member, you could login, create a character and become one of the very first players to see the game and help test! All accounts from the Tech Demo were purged (which was always going to happen and was announced) and all players were directed to create a new AQ3D account and character to test in Alpha.
- Alpha - This next testing stage started on August 3rd, 2015 and ended on January 14th, 2016. Only players who upgraded in any of Artix Entertainment's other Flash based web games (such as AdventureQuest, DragonFable, MechQuest, AQWorlds, EpicDuel, HeroSmash or OverSoul) could help test in Alpha. Once you created your AQ3D account, you had to link your Artix (AE/Master) Account that has linked upgraded AE accounts or your AQWorlds account to your AQ3D account. All Alpha characters were wiped when Alpha testing was over, but any characters names were not. Character names were first come first serve.
- Pre-Beta - This next testing stage was from January 14th, 2016 to July 27th, 2016. You could create an account via Web or Steam with your email or Facebook account to help test and provide feedback! Any players who participated in the Alpha test, or who pledged via the Kickstarter and their pledge included 'Early Access' in Steam or who purchased the Guardian Founder package were eligible to help test the game in Pre-Beta.
- Closed Beta - This next testing stage was from July 27th, 2016 to October 19th, 2016. You could create an account via Steam with your email or Facebook account or with an Android device to help test and provide feedback. The web version was officially discontinued as Unity would no longer be supported on web browsers. Any players who participated in the Alpha/Pre-Beta tests, or who pledged via the Kickstarter and their pledge included 'Early Access' via Steam or who purchased the Guardian Founder package were eligible to help test the game in Closed Beta. Some Early Access Steam codes were also given out across multiple MMO websites.
- Open Beta - This was the last stage the game was in for several years, which which a lose term used for the game being 'live/released.' Even though Open Beta (and Early Access in Steam) usually mean a game isn't finished and/or released, AQ3D is unique because it has weekly releases, so won't ever be a 'finished' game as it is constantly growing, changing and evolving with the help of player feedback.
- LIVE - The game was still in Early Access via Steam, so for Artix Entertainment's 20th Anniversary and that the major features for the game had been released (PVP, guilds, etc), the devs finally transferred the game out of Steam Early Access. So as of November 8th, 2022, the game was not longer in Open Beta and the Live Cerebration sword was available in the Open Beta Shop. Here is the news post for more information.
Any eligible rewards can be obtained in the Founder's Sanctuary in AQ3D. Anyone who played before Open Beta also received some other rewards such as DCs and inventory slots.
The AQWorlds Tech Demo items can be obtained by going to your Book of Lore and clicking the Tech Demo badge. In AQ3D, badges were awarded for Alpha, Pre-Beta, Closed Beta and there is a Founder's badge. In AQWorlds, only a Tech Demo badge was awarded. There were no other rewards created for any other Artix games.
If you purchased the Guardian package in the Pre-Beta, you were automatically upgraded to the Dragon Guardian Collector's package as a special THANK YOU! Here is the Design Notes post for more information.
Please note, you MUST have created a character and actually played during one of the testing phases to be eligible for the rewards. Just creating an account would not make someone eligible for the rewards, which would include character titles and portraits.
There is also a special Founder status that rewards a character page badge and title. An AdventureQuest 3D Founder is someone who helped support the game by testing the game and purchasing a Guardian upgrade. Players could obtain Founder from backing the AQ3D Kickstarter, to upgrading to Guardian before Open Beta, to using a promotional code given out in the early stages of the game, to creating an account in before or during Open Beta. It can only be obtained currently by purchasing a Guardian upgrade.
There was an older Alpha testing stage for AQ3D in 2012, you can read about that here.