Cubemen - (by 3 Sprockets) (iPad 2+)

[sakinnuso]

Originally Posted by seon

Hi Robio, I also replied on the up-coming ipad games thread, but will past my reply here too so others get the benefit from my answers.

Thanks for your feedback. I am not sure what you mean about "more TD elements". The only thing missing really is upgradable units, which really doesn't fit this game. Upgrades really only work IMHO for towers where once you buy them, they are stuck and the only way to get value out of it is to upgrade to make it more useful.

In cubemen, you move your units around to flank, or throttle enemies.

What other TD elements do you think Cubemen is missing? I am always open to hearing what users think and seeing if the ideas can be incorporated into an update.

Also, the flame thrower guy is a pretty powerful unit and has a mid range cool down time, but more importantly, he is better designed for shooting down a path, not following a target as they move past, so it's about positioning them well to get maximum firing opportunities.

In one of the next updates, I will introduce a visual cue for the firing cool down time for each unit so you can see what they are doing.

Cheers :-)

Hey Seon,

I actually responded earlier, but somehow my post was erased. I won't speak for Robio, but i can see why people expect certain things from modern Tower Defense games. Cubemen, as a strict tower defense game (in Defense mode), is really rather antiquated and arguably simplistic. You have a single spawn point and your position your enemies without getting any upgrades or significantly tricky class types to play with that would add the real strategy. Even Anomaly: Warzon Earth gives you mobility AND upgrades.

As much of a fan as i am of the art style, i was ready to write the game off until i finally played online. That's where Cubemen REALLY shines: The Skirmish Mode.

Defending and simultaneously attacking is actually a fantastic element which really made me wonder why you didn't borrow heavily from games like Galcon and games of that type. Everything that defense modes lacks, and all of the complaints about upgradeable units evaporates once I got that advancing AND defending, terrain positioning AND careful deployment of the correct troop type is what you had in mind. it's almost a fantastic setup.

Almost.

I just can't imagine why there isn't a mode in both campaign and skirmish where you're fighting MULTIPLE enemy colors. The idea of fighting off enemies entering at multiple entry points, and splitting your own pathfinding assault while attacking AND defending, would be the ultimate game. On larger maps, the idea of fighting for sectors in order to envelop the entire map is AMAZING. No upgrades necessary! It's a war of attrition. Deploy troops, decide to attack one color en masse, or split your attention between two(or up to FOUR) forces. Overtake, then dominate.

IF you found a way to advance the A.I. such that enemies can fight each other (or rally against an aggressor) to compete against ideal base points, it would be fantastic!

As is, I can see why there are complaints that Cubemen is simplistic. IN the single player Defense mode, it's a TD game utilizing only the earliest techniques of the genre. Not bad, but definitely tough to hold the attention of most people who've played the HUNDREDS of TD games on the iOS store.

However, in skirmish mode, therein is where you have something really special. Sure, more troop types would be welcome. However, fighting multiple colored enemy bases, and/or larger map with 'checkpoints' to overtake, would be AMAZING.

[seon]

So I haven't slept for over 2 days and this is the end result... a 1.0.4 update being submitted today that covers the following:

• Added new Defense Level – Spikes (Hard)
• Added new Defense game mode – Sudden Death. Start with 1 life and that’s all you get.
• Added click/tap ANY unit on the level to see the units details (Name, Weapon & Health)
• Added player unit target choice – Target Closest & Target Furthest
• Added support for up to 2560 x 1600 resolutions (Desktop version)
• Added more hints
• Moved player units main details to bottom left of interface and added unit cooling/ready state display
• Improved targeting/shooting of Cubemen (especially Mortar and Flamer)
• Improved performance & optimised shaders
• Improved Player Units that fall off the level or too far away from their spots get reset back to the base and re-pathfind back to their wanted destination
• Improved Mike Medic pathfinding
• Improved occasional overshooting of destination when Units walking
• Tweak Ripples level to make it easier
• Fixed spelling mistakes
• Fixed bug where “Pick New Level” after game end didn’t display the level selection screen correctly
• Fixed random crash bug on camera switch
• Fixed random crash when Lazlo Laser unit fires
• Fixed in game rating button not going to correct page (iOS)
• Fixed game sometimes getting stuck during first play help stopping waves from starting
• Fixed bonus packages not triggering when falling on units

I can't begin to tell you all how frustrating it is for me that some of you have experienced crashing on iOS and I have worked my butt off to *try* to fix any issues that may be causing them as well as adding in feature requests and changes based on feedback both here and in reviews.

I can't wait until you all get a chance to play the update, I think you will all be happy with the progress, and I really look forward to jumping into the next update and see what else I can bring to the game.

[sakinnuso]

Seon,

The updates sound awesome and I'm totally impressed with how engaged you are with the community and how quick you are to respond and make changes. I supported your game day one, and will continue to support. The game has a few areas where I think that, upon improving them, could make this one of the best iOS strategy games around (see above post), but regardless, i'm totally happy with my purchase. Thanks for all of the work you've put into this solid game so far.

[seon]

Originally Posted by sakinnuso

Seon,

The updates sound awesome and I'm totally impressed with how engaged you are with the community and how quick you are to respond and make changes. I supported your game day one, and will continue to support. The game has a few areas where I think that, upon improving them, could make this one of the best iOS strategy games around (see above post), but regardless, i'm totally happy with my purchase. Thanks for all of the work you've put into this solid game so far.

Thanks Sakinnuso,

I haven't ignored your last post, just been crazy busy getting the 1.0.4 update submitted to Apple. I actually really liked some of what you wrote and will reply to it all shortly.... need coffee first :-)

[seon]

Originally Posted by sakinnuso

Hey Seon,

I actually responded earlier, but somehow my post was erased. I won't speak for Robio, but i can see why people expect certain things from modern Tower Defense games. Cubemen, as a strict tower defense game (in Defense mode), is really rather antiquated and arguably simplistic. You have a single spawn point and your position your enemies without getting any upgrades or significantly tricky class types to play with that would add the real strategy. Even Anomaly: Warzon Earth gives you mobility AND upgrades.

As much of a fan as i am of the art style, i was ready to write the game off until i finally played online. That's where Cubemen REALLY shines: The Skirmish Mode.

Defending and simultaneously attacking is actually a fantastic element which really made me wonder why you didn't borrow heavily from games like Galcon and games of that type. Everything that defense modes lacks, and all of the complaints about upgradeable units evaporates once I got that advancing AND defending, terrain positioning AND careful deployment of the correct troop type is what you had in mind. it's almost a fantastic setup.

Almost.

I just can't imagine why there isn't a mode in both campaign and skirmish where you're fighting MULTIPLE enemy colors. The idea of fighting off enemies entering at multiple entry points, and splitting your own pathfinding assault while attacking AND defending, would be the ultimate game. On larger maps, the idea of fighting for sectors in order to envelop the entire map is AMAZING. No upgrades necessary! It's a war of attrition. Deploy troops, decide to attack one color en masse, or split your attention between two(or up to FOUR) forces. Overtake, then dominate.

IF you found a way to advance the A.I. such that enemies can fight each other (or rally against an aggressor) to compete against ideal base points, it would be fantastic!

As is, I can see why there are complaints that Cubemen is simplistic. IN the single player Defense mode, it's a TD game utilizing only the earliest techniques of the genre. Not bad, but definitely tough to hold the attention of most people who've played the HUNDREDS of TD games on the iOS store.

However, in skirmish mode, therein is where you have something really special. Sure, more troop types would be welcome. However, fighting multiple colored enemy bases, and/or larger map with 'checkpoints' to overtake, would be AMAZING.

Thanks for your thoughts about Cubemen. I really do appreciate you taking teh time to write them up.... Some I agree with and some I don't :-)

Defense mode is FAR from an antiquated TD game, sorry, it's a way better TD game than many out there I have played, and I am a TD fanatic. Sure, not all, but many. But what it does that most others don't do is bring TD to the casual masses... to the non TD fans, and Cubemen has done exactly that.

It's simplistic, but strategic and most importantly compared to most other TD games (that keep casual players away) is it's really fun.

Defense was never supposed to be the ultimate TD experience in terms of complexity or hard core gameplay, and surprisingly, I still think it holds well against many TD games out there.

So what I added to Cubemen to take it to the more hardcore players was Skirmish mode, and again, it's been accepted really well. It delivers a fresh new take on TD that hard core players hadn't experienced before.

So... more than 1 on 1? Maybe... Cubemen is at version 1.0.x. I have clearly shown I have lots of plans for Cubemen and I hope I have shown that I am 10000% dedicated to making it the best game I can.

If I would have waited until I had everything in the game I could have ever dreamed of adding before I released, I would be making v1.0 until 2018!

That's not how I make games. Apart from some bugs, 1.0 was a rock solid amazing game, and the 3 updates I have done since have really expanded and enhanced the game tremendously, and I have a list longer than my arm of what I would like to do with Cubemen.

I like many of your ideas, and some are already on my wish list. I think Cubemen is already a well rounded and feature rich game game and I only plan to taker it further,and to be honest, how much I add and how far I take it totally depends on how well sales go.

[sakinnuso]

Originally Posted by seon

Thanks for your thoughts about Cubemen. I really do appreciate you taking teh time to write them up.... Some I agree with and some I don't :-)

Defense mode is FAR from an antiquated TD game, sorry, it's a way better TD game than many out there I have played, and I am a TD fanatic. Sure, not all, but many. But what it does that most others don't do is bring TD to the casual masses... to the non TD fans, and Cubemen has done exactly that.

It's simplistic, but strategic and most importantly compared to most other TD games (that keep casual players away) is it's really fun.

Defense was never supposed to be the ultimate TD experience in terms of complexity or hard core gameplay, and surprisingly, I still think it holds well against many TD games out there.

So what I added to Cubemen to take it to the more hardcore players was Skirmish mode, and again, it's been accepted really well. It delivers a fresh new take on TD that hard core players hadn't experienced before.

So... more than 1 on 1? Maybe... Cubemen is at version 1.0.x. I have clearly shown I have lots of plans for Cubemen and I hope I have shown that I am 10000% dedicated to making it the best game I can.

If I would have waited until I had everything in the game I could have ever dreamed of adding before I released, I would be making v1.0 until 2018!

That's not how I make games. Apart from some bugs, 1.0 was a rock solid amazing game, and the 3 updates I have done since have really expanded and enhanced the game tremendously, and I have a list longer than my arm of what I would like to do with Cubemen.

I like many of your ideas, and some are already on my wish list. I think Cubemen is already a well rounded and feature rich game game and I only plan to taker it further,and to be honest, how much I add and how far I take it totally depends on how well sales go.

if i could buy two copies, i would. waitaminute....i could gift the app!
i wish you success...and sleep!

[seon]

Originally Posted by sakinnuso

if i could buy two copies, i would. waitaminute....i could gift the app!
i wish you success...and sleep!

Hahaha. I got some sleep last night... not much, but more than last few days!

[seon]

Ok, Apple have heroically approved the 1.0.4 iOS update overnight! YAY Apple!.

This means for the time being the iOS version is a newer version than the OSX or Steam versions, so no network gameplay can happen between iOS and other platforms.

This will rectified once the other platform updates are approved.

Cheers :-)

[killercow]

Originally Posted by seon

Ok, Apple have heroically approved the 1.0.4 iOS update overnight! YAY Apple!.

This means for the time being the iOS version is a newer version than the OSX or Steam versions, so no network gameplay can happen between iOS and other platforms.

This will rectified once the other platform updates are approved.

Cheers :-)

A new update so fast? You're the best : )

[dexx0008]

I just picked this up today. I'm Really liking skirmish mode!- Along with graphics.

Can't wait to try the update.