What does it mean when a game goes gold?
“This means that a Gold Master has been released to the CD plant for replication. Within a few days silver proof CDs are sent from the plant to our QA group were we do a final check to ensure that no anomalies have been inadvertently introduced into the CD or the code. When the silvers are approved, then the replicater starts pressing the CDs that are then shipped to our operations plant for insertion into the final box. Once the completed package comes off of the production line, it is shipped to stores.” Blizzard General FAQ – January 2000 In other words, Gold means: All done, final, finished, completed, ready to print. We talked to the man who carried one of the Gold CD of StarCraft to the replication facility. When we asked if he had it in a locked briefcase, chained to his wrist, he laughed and said “No, but I admit, I was kind of nervous.
