Version 3.0 is a wrap!

Yesterday I released version 3.18.05 of the game client which concludes 3.0 development (minus bug fixes of course!).  What started as an effort to update the 350 images in the game turned into a major overhaul with 900 new ones!  When version 2.0 was released, it reused many of the same images from version 1.0 (e.g. alliance crests, maps, troops, etc.).  For version 3.0 all but one image was replaced.

By using the same artist for all the graphics, they have the same consistency and style.  A big thank-you to Vi from 99Designs.com for his efforts in making 3.0 look amazing

We also increased and standardized the dimensions of the images.  For example, in version 2.0 the icons depicting army attributes were 30x30; in 3.0 they are 128x128.  Obviously, this makes a huge difference in the quality.  Other images were odd dimensions (e.g. 94x120 for the shields) and a mixture of drawings and photos made to look like drawings.

Additionally, I contracted with an audio engineer from UpWork.com and replaced the sound effects.  The ones I had were mashed together from various free audio sites for version 1.0 of the game.  Now all the sounds have been designed by one person and are a consistent style and quality.  Thank you Leah!

The improvements in 3.0 encompass the client and server and there are so many it's hard to catalog them all.  But here are the highlights:

Client

• All new graphics
• All new sound effects (music defaults to off now)
• Improved spy and combat reports
• No scroll screens for moving troops and land travel
• New dropdown lists for targets, heroes, artifacts (vs typing or copy/paste)
• ​Weather visible from HUD in kingdom and city screens
• Improved alliance customizations (shields and ribbons)
• View all kingdoms and markets from Watch Tower (current kingdom/city was excluded)
• ​Color coded world messages
  
• Improved in game help and prompts (e.g. arrow to indicate scrolling)
• Improved formatting and readability (e.g. numbers with commas)
• Improved device support
• Passwords are auto generated for new players
• Global messages file was reviewed and spell and grammar checked

​Server 

• Active NPCs, which play and fight back, were added
• Age modification set by winner
• Automatically generate an Age legend (albeit with somewhat mixed results!)
• Land is automatically added to the overall pools (no player will start with 0 land)
• Increased maximum and starting movement points
• Overhauled troop strengths for balance and consistency
• Hero, Artifact, Item effects were reviewed and (for some) improved
• Added additional email alerts (e.g. espionage, spells, engaging fleet)
• Two new espionage missions: Dismiss (Hero) and Remove (Artifact)
• Push vs pull model for sending data from the server to the client
• Improved server performance (stress tested with ~400 concurrent, active connections)

And for both, many, many, MANY bug fixes.  =)
 
To see the evolution, consider these 3 screens, all depicting the entry point for playing Conquest!.

Version 1:

Version 2.0:

Version 3.0:

It is bitter-sweet that this project is ending.  I have immensely enjoyed working on Conquest! again and I'm going to miss those weekly dumps of new graphics.  But now that this chapter closes the next one begins: aggressively marketing Conquest!.  My plan right now is to hire a digital marketing firm to do a short 1-2 week blitz.  I expect this to start in late summer/early fall.  Stay tuned.