08 July 2012

iPad Update

Yes, we are working on a Universal update. Yes, it is taking a long time. No, iPad users won’t have to pay for this separately. No, we don’t know when it will come out.

But that’s not really news. We do at least have some concepts and user interface artwork that can go in the game (instead of the placeholder artwork we’ve been using).

Here is a sneak preview of one of the dialogs. You can see that we’ve enlarged text and buttons (since you hold an iPad differently than an iPhone). And since there is room to fit all the advisors all the time, it’s easier to consult them. But it’s the same dialog as always — you won’t have a different play experience on iPad (although the larger screen does make some things easier, such as less need for scrolling text).

This is the only dialog that’s completely converted to the new look, so there is a lot more work to do. And we still don’t have all the new artwork. But there has been progress.

41 comments:

  1. Much appreciated!

    Can you tell us what projects you are considering after the iPad version is finished?

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  2. This looks amazing. It makes you feel right away how much more this game fits the iPad. I can´t wait!

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  3. Can we realistically expect the universal version before Christmas?

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  4. “No, we don’t know when it will come out.” We don’t have all the artwork and have done only minimal QA.

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  5. Any ideas for other projects once the universal version is finished?

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  6. You've got quite a loyal fanbase now, I imagine the vast majority of us would buy whatever your next gaming project is!

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  7. Could you maybe add a background piece of art to the black space around the game window when KoDP is played on the iPad?

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  8. Maybe have a few options to toggle between? As a placeholder until the universal version is ready to go

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  9. The iPhone version is always doubled but leaves a black border. The only answer is to create a version specific to iPad.

    I don’t see any value in releasing an ugly version.

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  10. Alright well best of luck with the universal version

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  11. Great news, Cant wait to try the universal version.

    By the way, what about Khan of Prax for the next project ?

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  12. David, what is the a.i of the other clans like? Do they actually have unique strengths and weaknesses as their description often seems to imply? Do they make decisions on their own, or do their stats (cattle, thanes etc) just sort of fluctuate over time to simulate clan activity. Are some clans more or less likely make or respond to certain situations, requests etc based upon their clan identity? Thanks in advance should you choose to answer my questions!

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  13. Somewhat in between. Yes, there are differences based on whether it's the Cow Clan or the Scroll Clan. Yes, they make decisions on their own. But no, I wouldn't really call it an Artificial Intelligence.

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  14. What about the special factions and threats? (beastmen, elves, undead, etc). How are they programmed differently than other orlanthi clans? I'm guessing they don't make decisions on their own, unlike other clans, nor are any real stats tracked for them beyond your current relations with them. Are they simply guided by the random event generator and your relationship with them?

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  15. They are considered groups, not clans, so they are a little different.

    Relations ARE the real stat in this game!

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  16. Haha well you knew what I meant, thanks for the replies :p Can other clans run afoul of the special threats/factions? And could you maybe elaborate on how groups are different from clans (as far as acting on their own, stats tracked, etc). This will be my last question for awhile I promise! It's great having a developer who talks to customers, I try to reciprocate by submitting new reviews every time the game is updated

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  17. There’s no point in truly tracking how many Horse-Spawn you kill — in actual fact there are dozens of Horse-Spawn clans, and it may not be the same one raiding you each time. (There is a King, so it’s worth tracking their collective attitude.) This is unlike a clan, where you can seriously deplete them. (And unlike a clan, in that you understand Orlanthi clans and can get more information about them.)

    And I’m sure that clans can be affected by various events. You sometimes get news about this, after all.

    Appreciate the reviews, in that the App Store hides old ones.

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  18. I'd like to ask some q's as well if you have the time David

    1 - Do other clans build shrines and gain blessings?

    2 - Do other clans raid each other on their own? (no player involvement)

    3 - I know you removed one of the traditional enemies, but did you change the events or effects caused by the ones still there at all?

    4 - In the old game you could suffer disaster (avalances etc) when raiding during dark season. Was this changed in the iOS version?

    5 - What exactly is different from hard mode as opposed to normal mode and the middle option?

    Thanks a ton, I'll make sure to keep my review fresh in the app store as well as new versions come out

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  19. 1. Yes.
    2. Kind of.
    3. No, just removed a questionnaire option.
    4. It should still be there.
    5. Um, it’s harder? (Most obviously, you start off with less. But your chances of getting hosed by bad harvests etc. are higher too.)

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  20. Why was the clan famous event "battle of extinguish field" removed from the ios version? The iOS manual says it is still an option but it is not in the game.

    I imagine the pc manual was given a light facelift and used for the iOS version, which makes sense of course since it's essentially the same game. But since I noticed the battle of extinguish field option was inaccurate, I've been wondering what else the manual might be wrong about, since I rely on it for alot of behind the scenes tips and info you may not find out playing the actual game. How confidant are you (David) in the iOS manual's accuracy?

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  21. Extinguish Field served little purpose in introducing people to Glorantha, since Orlanth was already mentioned.

    I’d say the manual got more than a light facelift. It was revised for iPhone and again for the upcoming iPad UI. It should be very accurate, even if it may have an error or two. (And more accurate in the next release, since nobody had reported this bug until now.) Game revisions were to streamline play, not change the basics.

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  22. So to summarize

    1 - The tips and details of everything going on in the background of the game (hunters helping to spot patrols, providing goods as well as food throughout the year, making yhe skirmish option more effective in battle) (non mixed deity clan ring detracts from heroquest success) etc in the manual are accurate for the iOS version?

    2 - all the aspects of the game that were removed/simplified were just frivolous choices (sheep management, child magic etc) and not game mechanics/depth?

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  23. Sorry for all the questions, I promise the above two I posted will be my last as well. If you (David) could just reaffirm (or correct if necessary) my summaries in the above post I'd appreciate it!

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  24. Like I said, the manual is very accurate.

    The blog post http://kingofdragonpass.blogspot.com/2012/06/gone-missing.html talks about the changes. The core mechanic is making story choices, and there were zero changes to that. The most important statistics tracked have to do with relationships, and there were zero changes to that. The rest of the economic model that helps glue the stories together is virtually unchanged.

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  25. So that's a yes on both accounts then? Awesome, appreciate the info David.

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  26. Any thoughts for your next blog topic David? It would be great to get another one that deals with game content, like the other clans explained post, or the a skilled leader post.

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  27. On the subject of blog topics, it would be great to get a blog detailing all the differences between the iPhone version and the iPad version once the latter is released (or are the differences purlely related to the UI?).

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  28. it is literally the same thing. That’s what Universal means. You just get platform-appropriate UI, instead of the exact same UI like you do now.

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  29. Ahh I see, never mind then! Looking forward to the next blog post, I can't get enough of this game and everything that has to do with it. It's interesting that a platform like the iPhone was how I found what is probably my favorite game of all time.

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  30. Why not? The App Store has many problems but it’s still an easier way for an indie developer to find their audience, than the 3-tier distribution system we had to use in 1999.

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  31. This comment has been removed by a blog administrator.

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  32. I just never thought the iPhone would be a platform I'd find games that compares with my all time favorites (ocarina of time for nintendo 64, Fallout: New Vegas for pc, Baldur's Gate 2 for pc). As if to prove me even further wrong, a brand new enhanced edition of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 is coming to the IPad, with new content included. We've been waiting for an improved Baldur's Gate 2 since it came out over ten years ago, and we are finally getting it on an iOS device of all platforms.

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  33. Were the effects (attacks, negative event scenes etc) if the traditional enemies (elves, beastmen etc) changed at all from the pc version to the iPhone version?

    Also, I think the magic gained/lost for raiding during dark season as a clan who fought valind in the great darkness is bugged

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  34. David I'd like to get your opinion on something if I could. I love to roleplay various clans, but find that having absolutely no control over which worshippers are available for service on the ring conflicts with this. Sometimes my orlanth dedicated war clans for example have no or only one orlanth worshipper, no vingans and no uroxi, despite having temples (shrine for vinga of course) for all three gods. The only apparent solution to this is to send unwanted nobles to their deaths in the wilderness of dragon pass, and this doesn't seem like something an orlanthi clan would do, and isn't something I'd like to start getting in the habit of. That type of thing belongs in a game where you play the mechanics and exploit them, like civilization, it seems highly out of place in KoDP. Can you think of any other way I can replace or retire my selection of nobles? Any way to request to the clan that a worshipper of a specific deity step forward for service on the ring? Anything besides trying to get people killed off and hoping someone suited to your clan takes his place?

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  35. Individuals are called by a deity. No matter how much the clan elders would love to have an Uroxi, that’s not something you can compel.

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  36. Alright thanks. One other thing, your advisors sometimes mention not letting powerful treasures fall into the hands of enemy clans. Do other clans actually use treasures, in battle or otherwise? I've never seen mention of an enemy clan using a treasure in any raid I've ever seen.

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  37. If anyone else knows the answer to this please share! I've imposed enough questions on David already.

    Is there a better forum for KoDP disussion than this blog site, anyone?

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  38. That is actually a good question. Most of the time the advisors are pretty reliable (besides they're personalities coming through too much now and then), but I have never seen evidence of any other clan using treasures, and certainly not in battle. I think the only person who can answer this is David or another developer if any operate on this site.

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  39. I know for a fact that many treasures work for other clans. And pretty sure others are relevant only to the player clan.

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