Still Judging Scene Contest

Various factors conspire to delay the next phase of the scene contest, but the biggest is that we received 22 entries, over half of which could easily be in the game. Thanks to everyone who entered, we will surely be inspired to add something thanks to your ideas.

So we’re still discussing which ones are funniest, don’t require too much stretching of the setting, etc. Some are good scenes, but are they special enough? Or does the action happen in distant lands rather than on-screen?

It doesn’t look like we’ll have a decision before I have to get on a plane today. So look for it next week.

King of Dragon Pass News

Another King of Dragon Pass update is working its way through the App Store servers, and should be available by the time you read this!

iPhone News Background

This version is largely focused on user experience. We revisited a decision made in 1997, and removed the ability to tap a slider’s maximum value. In most situations, this isn’t useful, and it was too easy to miss on the small screen. To make up for it, you can just keep your finger down on the + button (or if you overshoot, the – button).

For VoiceOver users, we’re taking advantage of better iOS 6 support, and focus on a more appropriate element in many cases. And since many of you have asked for it, an advisor’s gender is now mentioned.

Cartographer Colin Driver created a larger version of the Lore map, which is now full screen on iPad, and Retina quality.

As usual in an update, we made a few improvements to advice, fixed bugs and typos, and clarified some text.

Since we’re now taking advantage of iOS 6 features, Apple’s Xcode pretty much forces us to make the minimum operating system we support iOS 4.3. If you’re playing on an older iPod touch or iPhone 3, you should not update (if you’re even given the option).

We also added a new interactive scene.

Which is always fun to do, so we’re currently planning on adding a lot in an update next year. It’s unclear if all of them will turn out to work, but we have solid ideas for over 25 scenes.

Speaking of Colin Driver, he also did many of the maps in the Guide to Glorantha which will come out next year, giving incredible detail not only on Dragon Pass, but the entire mythic world that King of Dragon Pass is set in. There are less than 3 days left, but you can still back this project on Kickstarter and perhaps get more Gloranthan secrets in print!

Finally, GOG.com currently has the Windows version of the game on sale for half price.

Guide to Glorantha

As most of you probably know, King of Dragon Pass is set in the world of Glorantha. Specifically, in Dragon Pass.

Greg Stafford had been detailing the myth-based setting for about 30 years when we came out with the original version of the game, and he has continued to add detail since then.

The rich detail of Glorantha allowed us to create a richly detailed game, but we tried to keep players from getting too overwhelmed by the setting. When strange foreigners show up from Tarsh, Ralios or Prax, they can be treated simply as strange foreigners.

But what if you as a player want to know more about Tarsh, Ralios or Prax? There really hasn’t been a great way to do so. There soon will be.

Moon Design has labored over The Guide to Glorantha, a very comprehensive work on the entire world, not just Dragon Pass (where most published works as well as the computer game were set). They are currently in the process of soliciting help making the book even better. The economics of book publishing are quite different from software publishing, so they need early orders so they can get better rates at the printer. Better rates mean they can do things like use more interior color, or commission additional artwork. They are even adding additional detail should funding reach certain levels (although wisely separating this into a companion product).

Since Dragon Pass is pivotal in Gloranthan history, you will learn more about it than presented in King of Dragon Pass. But Dragon Pass is only about one pixel on the map above (roughly in the center of the northern continent), and there’s a whole magical world that’s just as compelling.

Kickstarter supporters get immediate access to a text-only version. I’ve only had the chance to get a few pages in, but the quality is so high that I can recommend this to anyone interested in Glorantha. Help out Moon Design now, and you will help make The Guide to Glorantha even better!