[Dev Diary] June 2012
Dear settlers!
Today we are happy to present to you the latest developer news with a more long-term perspective.
The graphics are representative. The final design may vary.
The EC-Event has been running for some time now.
This event will be taken offline in two steps: first step on the 5th of July, second step on the 12th of July.
The first step will stop players receiving any new adventure that has to do with the EC event. From step 1 to step 2, players will be able to finish their started EC adventures and sell or trade in the shop any leftover footballs. After step 2, remaining footballs will stay in player's inventory but they will not be able to earn/buy more or exchange them for shop items. Any EC adventure you start after step 2 will not earn you footballs (only experience points).
While the EC-Event is running there will be an update introducing two new buildings: The Gem-Pit and the endless Coppermine. The mine can be upgraded to level 5 while Gem-Pit is not upgradable, nor can you buff it. Furthermore the awards for finishing “Wild Mary” will be corrected. Compared to other adventures the payout was too high, due to an error that occurred at the end of February. The balancing will be respectively corrected.
- Building: The Gem-Pit
- Building: The endless Coppermine
- Adventure: “Wild Mary” balancing
The EC-Event will finally be shut down (phase 2). The new marketplace will be delayed till August because internal tests showed that it still needs some adjustments.
In return not only bug fixes are expected to roll out at on 12th of July, but some new features will be there too (depending on internal and user tests):
- Buildings: Preview production path / way time
- Buildings: Display how long a buff will last
- Buildings: Upgrade a building instantly for gems
- Interface: Changes and improvements
- Info bar: Population tooltip
- Provision house: Larger interface + display of output amount
Buildings: Preview production path / way time
When placing a new or selecting an existing building, production path and time are displayed on top / on the info window.
Building: Display of buff type and remaining time
A buffed building‘s info window displays the rest time of the buff.
Building: Instant upgrade
Buildings can be instantly upgraded for gems.
Interface: Changes and improvements
The playing surface was improved and prepared for new functionalities. The tasks of building-construction were merged into one icon. The selection window is now wider and the various groups of buildings can be reached via tabs. The new tool-box is now part of the construction menu and you may permanently keep it on screen with the pin function. The ability to move the building is not yet completed 100%, so it is currently still disabled (see screenshot). Moving buildings is expected to be activated with the next update.
Info bar: Population tooltip
The info bar gives you more detailed information about the classification of your settlers: the number of non- and employed workers, troop’s availability and which troops are assigned to generals or not assigned at all.
Provision house: Larger interface + display of output amount
The provision house, after selecting an object to be produced, shows how many items are produced in total within the production. The interface was also enlarged optically.
- Moving buildings (approx. Aug)
- New trade system (approx. Aug)
- Guild quest system: first the weekly Guild quests (approx. Aug), more daily guild quest features will follow afterwards
- Fix for the online-friends display
- Economy overview (approx. Aug)
- New Tutorial (approx. Aug)
- Combat prediction (approx. July/Aug)
- New Info-Window including change log, in game news, events, etc. (approx. Sept)
- Economic adventures (approx. Aug/Sept)
- Features for Level 50+ (approx. Fall)
- PVP (see below)
There will be a workaround regarding the combat system. An adjustment of this feature is an important step for the implementation of PVP in the future.
We’ve been working on new elements for high level players in order to increase the level cap in the future. An important part will be the new science system. You will be able to gain skill points and use them in different kind of skill trees. Furthermore there will be new units and new adventures for high levels. An important step will be the re-balancing of the units in advance.
Please keep in mind that the dates are estimations and may differ. The features have to fit our needs in terms of quality and technical aspects and they have to pass several test phases (one is the pre-staging test you’re welcome to participate in).
Originally Posted by BB_Azariel
