# Alpha: what it means

_Fishies is in alpha: still being built in the open, with rules for what may change and how to report a problem._

## What alpha means here

Alpha means the game is playable and real, not a demo, but still being built: new species, decorations and features arrive regularly, and something that works one way today can change shape tomorrow.

Keepers who play now get an alpha-era badge on their profile as thanks for being here this early; it's recorded automatically and never something you have to ask for.

## What can change

A few things worth knowing before you get attached to a number:

- Balance numbers (prices, growth times, rewards) can be tuned during alpha as the team learns from real play.
- Competitions and their prizes only begin after the full release, not during alpha; alpha-era progress is not a head start once they do.
- Your progress stays: aquariums, fish, coins and decorations from the alpha and beta carry over to the full release.

## Reporting a problem

Found something broken? Two places take it straight to the team:

- the Fishies Discord at discord.gg/fishies, for bugs and feature requests
- Community, the game's own player forum, for talking it through with other keepers first

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In the game: https://fishies.lol/wiki/mechanics/alpha · Fishies 0.8.24

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