What the hell is Gold???

[Ancient Oldie]

Dumb question, but whatdoes it mean when a game goes gold. I see that FO:BOS and BGA2 have already gone gold and yet the games haven't even been released.

Is it because of pre-order sales or does it even have anything to do with unit sales???

 

[Montez]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it refers to them burning the final release of the game to a master CD (which is gold colored). So, when it's "gone gold" it just means that the final version of the game has been shipped to the factory for mass production.

 

[Ozrat]

Yup.

At least that's what I picked up when we had the initial outcry when it was announced that FOOS went gold.

 

[kumquatq3]

Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I think it refers to them burning the final release of the game to a master CD (which is gold colored). So, when it's "gone gold" it just means that the final version of the game has been shipped to the factory for mass production.

Yep

 

[Ancient Oldie]

Ahhhh.

I see. And I always thought it had something to do with game sales, and therefore, popularity. I wonder if there is a more nefarious reason behind game companies stating that their games have gone gold.