Author Topic: Version 1.3.0 OPEN BETA (Read 1171 times)

Strategy · « **on:** August 28, 2010, 10:22:43 PM »

Hi all,

Closing in on what will be the Version 1.3.0 release. Haven't quite managed to implement everything that I "planned", but I instead implemented a number of things that I hadn't planned with originally. The changes to the game are still fairly intense, so I think I am going to call it a day on new features soon (better to roll out a small number of new features at a time - less risk of huge game destroying bugs that way).

In the interest of reducing the chances of such bugs, I would be thankful if any of you feel like testing an early build version 1.3.0. You will need to install the game manually (here is the apk). Note: the only permission that the game asks for now is Internet access. If it asks for anything else, something is wrong.

Note: You will need to uninstall your existing game to install this one. This will result in the loss of your existing savegame and high score list. If you are very attached to these, please do not install this beta version. Note, however, that the new game version is not savegame compatible in any case and that high scores will be very different also, so it probably won't make too big a difference when you move to 1.3.0. Also note that I have not done a thorough test run on the game myself yet, so there will be bugs! I'm hoping you guys find most of them.

Here is the executive summary of the changes:

Game time flow changed roughly as described in this post
Five new ships in the game (Canoe, Large Barque, Large Fluyt, Large Brig, Large Frigate) for a total of 20 ships in the game
Major rebalancing of ship stats due to the new ships and game system.
Three new game events: Native attack, Immigrant ships, and Troop ships.
Crew numbers are no longer multiples of 5.
Multiple save games (three).
Two gameplay modes: True Pirate (same as current version = ironman), and Regular (permits restore of an old saved game; no longer automatically saves the game).
Major change to the game interface (not 100% finished yet)

If you download and try the new version, please let me know in this thread. Keep an eye out for any changes in the game/gameplay and let me know if you see anything that doesn't work or seems to be not working.

Known Issues:

MENU button in score view doesn't work (not implemented yet).

Sivakis · « **Reply #1 on:** August 29, 2010, 06:11:10 AM »

Thanks MicaByte!

Downloaded the apk but note the following:

1. When installing, it asks for:
- Network communication (full Internet access)
- Phone calls (read phone state and identify)
- Storage (modify/delete SD card contents)

Nonetheless, installed and tried playing it.
2. Starting the game
- noticed that when pressing "Raise Anchor" the game tends to blank out and error message appears

Sorry! Activity Pirates and Traders (in application Pirates and Traders) is not responding. "Force Close / Wait"

Will go back to playing 1.2.8 but in the meantime, happy to see continued development. Waiting to see a stable 1.3.0!

Strategy · « **Reply #2 on:** August 29, 2010, 06:53:15 AM »

Please do NOT install the game if it asks for anything besides internet access. I suppose there may be slight differences on this depending on OS version, but it shouldn't be asking for those permissions. Can you PM me with your phone make and OS version? Also, did you remember to uninstall the game first. Finally, please check that you have the right file; it should be 3,145,656 bytes and not an iota more (or less).

Thanks for letting me know about the time out.

Sivakis · « **Reply #3 on:** August 29, 2010, 07:51:09 AM »

My file size is 3,145,656 bytes so the size is correct.

I'm installing it onto my Gome Flytouch 7" tablet, running Android OS 1.6. I installed it since my AV checked the file as clean and my tablet has no telephony features and my WiFi is off.

Yes, did uninstall the previous P&T before trying this install. Hope the above helps.

Zuul · « **Reply #4 on:** August 29, 2010, 10:44:18 AM »

The game works fine on my Galaxy S (except delay when exiting/entering map). It did only ask for Internet access.

I think selling and buying ships are bugged. At least 100 times as low price.

Sivakis · « **Reply #5 on:** August 29, 2010, 11:15:06 AM »

That's interesting Zuul. Wonder if it's because of my 1.6OS or my tablet firmware.

My copy was downloaded directly from the above post.

Zuul · « **Reply #6 on:** August 29, 2010, 01:23:21 PM »

Sell a Trade Galleon for a Pinnace for only 50 or so gold.

Update the ship list:
http://www.micabyte.com/games/pirates/shiptype.xml

Strategy · « **Reply #7 on:** August 29, 2010, 04:12:58 PM »

Hmm. Very weird. It shouldn't be the OS version - I build and test against 1.6. I know that there are some differences between various OS'es, but usually it is of the type where certain permissions added in new versions of the game are "assumed" given in earlier versions. So can't really explain this one.

The time out may be because the screen takes too long to start up now (I've noticed a slowdown myself, though none so long that it wanted to FC). That will be fixed.

Ship stats have changed = ship prices will also have changed. So some of the ships that were previously lucrative to capture will no longer be as lucrative (Trade Galleons are one of them - they've lost a lot of worth since the old masts rating is now significantly reduced). But I'll look into the calculation again, just to be sure.

Strategy · « **Reply #8 on:** August 29, 2010, 04:15:30 PM »

Quote from: Zuul on August 29, 2010, 01:23:21 PM

Update the ship list:
http://www.micabyte.com/games/pirates/shiptype.xml

Updated.

Strategy · « **Reply #9 on:** August 29, 2010, 10:32:38 PM »

Ok. I've uploaded a new apk which hopefully fixes the slowdown which I suspect caused that FC you ran into, Sivakis. If you have time, I would appreciate it if you could check it out (3,145,664 bytes now).

I also tweaked the ship prices so that hull stats counts double. That should make the big ships more expensive again.

Sivakis · « **Reply #10 on:** August 30, 2010, 01:57:40 AM »

Thanks! That was fast! At work now (GMT+8 here...) so I'll take a swing at it once I'm back later today.

Sivakis · « **Reply #11 on:** August 30, 2010, 01:34:35 PM »

Ok, just had a try at it. It works now! Sweet work there.

Will take a while to get used to it being days rather than months. So the journey to increasing stats will take much longer yes?

And, searching seems to yield less results compared to previously.

Zuul · « **Reply #12 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:31:33 AM »

The game is running much smoother now :-).
Should not auto save when entering towns in non-iron-man.

Strategy · « **Reply #13 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:15:56 PM »

Stats are still increased every year (if things work correctly). But it does mean that you can take more "turns" before you increase your stats, yes (presumably somewhere between 2-3 times as many turns).

I don't think I've changed the search algorithms, but I'll check.

@zuul:
I think it is necessary to have some auto-saving even in non-ironman, in order to prevent the player losing hours of gaming time if a FC occurs or the phone gets switched off. Saving when entering port seems like the most natural point, but I suppose I could move it to some other place.

Zuul · « **Reply #14 on:** August 31, 2010, 06:30:24 PM »

Should be optional. Or some warning popup, like long time since last save. I would either want iron-man or full control over save. If you dont keep some auto save slot that is.

Strategy · « **Reply #15 on:** September 01, 2010, 09:36:02 PM »

Hmm. I'll think about it. I suspect that no matter what decision is, some people will be unhappy.

A new version of the game has been uploaded where I have fixed all of the interfaces to use the new three button top view. Also note that MENU is now active in almost all views (access to manual and save game). This is pretty much it for v1.3.0 - I need to update the documentation and perhaps add a few dialogs, but I won't be adding any major new features. So please keep testing and let me know if you run into any issues.

Port Attacks delayed until v 1.3.1 or 1.3.2.

Strategy · « **Reply #16 on:** September 04, 2010, 01:24:29 AM »

A new test version has been uploaded (same link). This is the final development version before release. Assuming that I don't find any bugs in the final round of testing, v 1.3.0 will be uploaded to the market on sunday.

uurrnn · « **Reply #17 on:** September 05, 2010, 09:00:03 AM »

Been addicted to the stable release. I have to work in 6 hours, and I just found that there was a beta out. Gonna be a tough day at work tomorrow.

I use a Galaxy S (vibrant) running 2.1 atm, so I will make sure to report anything if there are still any bugs in it.

uurrnn · « **Reply #18 on:** September 05, 2010, 09:06:34 AM »

When I go to repair my ship, if I choose to repair a part individually, it still says hull/mast/rigging rather that hull/sailing/rigging.

Not sure if you had caught that or not.

uurrnn · « **Reply #19 on:** September 05, 2010, 09:12:23 AM »

Another issue.

Just accepted my first job in barbados where I started. It put me over my cargo limit of 40/40. I sold everything I had and tried stashing everything I had, but I'm basically stuck. I can't leave the port because my cargo is overloaded, so unless there's a way to cancel the job I accepted that I could be missing then we have a little problem here.

edit - under my tasks it says "smuggling to st. martin." Not sure if that helps. Could just be a typo in the mission.