Yeah, I'm a game developer myselfand 'pre-alpha' is very ambiguous. Alpha is pretty much 1/4 done if you look at the standard development cycle of FPP->Alpha->Beta->Gold. Ive never actually heard the term 'pre-alpha'used before dayz.
It can either mean, 'we don't know when it'll be done so were calling it 'pre 3 milestones before release' ',
or it can mean that they're taking a very long time to get it alpha.
Alpha should be one or two working example of every mechanic, script template, mode, etc with placeholder assets where required. I get the feeling they're feature-creeping, maybe even platform-creeping, and its proving to take a long time that they cant really see the end of right now, but they think they'll get a return on it, which they might, and they want to people to know its a way off, but want to give it some jargon gamers will swallow - 'pre-alpha'.
Standalone is going to be available for PS4, they might want it to be available on release, and getting a title working on a new platform isnt easy, especially when you havent even fully got everything nailed down on PC where you made the damn thing.
Im not holding my breath at all for SA tbh, I'm still enjoying the mod.
You guys played the new patch with z's knocking you down and infecting you really easily? 1.7.7 i think it is.