The Wild West Online Closed Alpha begins today and we've got five codes to give away. Just enter the contest below for a chance to win a code; there will be a series of tests throughout September and then on October 10th the servers will be active 24/7 until November 15th for the Alpha 2.

　　Wild West Online Closed Alpha Giveaway

　　To give you an overview of what to expect in this test, here's what Executive Producer Stephan Bugaj had to say:

　　Rather than present ‘Alpha Early Access’ as a fully functional product that still has a multitude of bugs and needs more time to reach stability, we are instead using the term 'Alpha' in a more traditional way. This is a rough version of what the game will be, but it's not a fully scoped game.

　　We're giving players a glimpse at what the game will be, as well a chance to directly influence our development process by giving feedback in response to a true game Alpha. We want to hear constructive feedback and work with our community to build a game that can be enjoyed for many years to come.

　　According to the developers, you will experience a “Gold Rush” setting gameplay style. In this release, most activities will focus on finding gold, mining it from streams and rock deposits, and grouping with other players to establish mining camps before then transporting hard-earned gold to towns to be sold for in-game currency. Throughout the process, beware of outlaws – other players who have chosen to play as bandits that will ambush, kill and steal gold from hard working prospectors. You can also embark on exploratory explorations in search of treasure loot chests and rare plants that can be used to craft medical remedies. Throughout the game, you can upgrade your weapons, tools and unlock new cosmetic items.

　　Alpha Test 1 is merely a 'core mechanics shakedown', anyway, and the developers promise much more to come between now and the release (and afterwards, too).

　　Streaming will be possible if you read and agree to certain terms. This will primarily have to do with passing along information and disclaimers about the current state of the game. To learn more about Wild West Online, check out our previous interview with Stephan Bugaj.