After nearly a month of delay, StickWars 1.5 is live with important bug fixes and a few new features, including a few achievements. Luckily I’m all ready to push out v1.6 which includes a new boss enemy, the giant stick figure. I also added a lot of small fun features, so as the ability to throw and slam stick figures into one another to kill them. You can also now kill the more powerful enemies by slamming many small stick figures into them. I think this adds yet another way for talented players to save money and reach higher levels and scores 
.
In addition, I’ve re-written parts of the code for the basic functions behind levels and sound, and somehow I managed to fix a bug that I didn’t know existed. The game no longer crashes sometimes when you attempt to load a new level–the bug before was due to my background sound engine, except none of my debugging tools had located it there. Basically the last crash bug has been fixed, and since I’ve been adding features to this version for the past week I have not seen it crash once. I’m really proud of the stability of the game now.
There is a new loading screen that I’m particularly proud of–it allows me to include short hints that answer the most common questions I get from users based on reviews, emails, and forum posts. It’s a lot nicer to be able to read a short hint while you are waiting 3-6 seconds for the level to load, and maybe help out your gameplay, rather then just looking at the word ‘loading’ over your current screen. I can also throw in a few words about upcoming versions, such as my brief request for feedback about charging in game $0.99 for the new multi-player challenges coming in the next version. I’d love to get some player feedback on this–I feel most people are happy paying only $0.99 for StickWars, and I don’t want to raise the price for the same basic game (campaign mode), but these multi-player challenges are a whole new ballpark that I feel deserves another $0.99. However, I’m willing to listen to my users who feel strongly enough about this to contact me. I will be providing a few of the challenges free so a player can test them out.
The bad news is StickWars has fallen off the top 10 for the first time since it first rose up there in April. But sitting at #11, I’m hoping these new features and fixes will bring new life back to the game and drive more players to it.
#1 by Lord Bla on June 24th, 2009
Finally.Those bugs were annoying
#2 by phil Andears on June 25th, 2009
We have to pay for an update?
I probably can’t get it cause my mom hates me buying stuff unless I pay her and even then it’s a no 
#3 by Eric on June 25th, 2009
The update will be free. I’m considering charge in-game for a few of the extra new challenges, but there will be at least a couple you can play for free.
#4 by M C on June 25th, 2009
The game crashes once the level is finished every time, and it changed the level difficulty of the saved game to “easy”.
#5 by Eric on June 26th, 2009
I’m not sure why the difficulty was changed to easy, but I apologize for that. I’ll look into it.
For now, you can go to a different save slot and start a new game, and you’ll be able to continue your current game without crashing once Apple approves 1.6 that I sent them.
#6 by zach ps on June 25th, 2009
iv been playing on stickwars since the update..its a alot better.the bugs were fixed and and its alot faster…i think that your new feature were the hints come on the loading screen dosnt work..how ever im not sure..my ipod has no loading time on this app..the catupults are coming now,i remember you saying that you did not fix this in 1.5 but i guess you did.i hope that 1.6 has no long delays such as 1.5,i hope it will bounce back to #1 on the app store! i also wanted to ask you if your still going to put in a new cheat code in 1.7
#7 by Eric on June 26th, 2009
Those hints are coming with version 1.6 that I sent to Apple a few days ago.
I have no plans for a new cheat code yet, but I may add one eventually.
#8 by zach ps on June 25th, 2009
i also wanted to ask you about repairman…with 1.4 you made it so every person you put into it raises it 3 heath points every time..is there a limit on how much heath it can fix now??? cause im at 10,000 now and still growing it.
#9 by Eric on June 26th, 2009
There is no limit, they raise 3 health points every 5 seconds. This information is included on the hints coming out in version 1.6
.
#10 by Zach ps on June 26th, 2009
Will we have to pay every time we want to do the challenges? Or just one time?
#11 by Eric on June 26th, 2009
Just once. And I’ll do my best to make sure that even if you switch iPods or iPhone later on, you won’t have to pay again as long as you are using the same iTunes account.
In addition, you’ll get ALL the bonus challenges for just the one-time charge of $0.99.
#12 by alecsquared on July 6th, 2009
i was away 4 tge weekend where ther was no wifi and im back and at level 58 and saw i didnt get the achievments for completing 40 and 50! whats up with that?!
#13 by Eric on July 6th, 2009
I’ll look into this. You SHOULD get the achievement, but only if you complete another level (it checks once you complete a level).
#14 by Marcoldin Rials on July 6th, 2009
Bro, if you have to charge, then charge. The game is definitely worth 99 cents. If you cant afford that, you dont need an Ipod or Iphone. Keep on Gamin bro!
#15 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 7th, 2009
Hey! I just read this, and I don’t really get what the challenges are all about. Can you explain?
#16 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
Sure, you can get a lot more info about them here http://johnehartzog.com/forums/showthread.php?t=421
#17 by Dargog on July 8th, 2009
I like the new update and have started playing it again but I don’t want to have to pay 0.99 cents. The only other person I know with stickwars hasn’t got anymore money on his account so I couldn’t do multiplayer. I’m sure this is same for many people. I was also wondering will multiplayer work over Bluetooth or just wifi?
#18 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
The current multiplayer I’m putting in isn’t real-time, so it works anywhere that you have internet access.
You will be able to update StickWars and play two of the new multiplayer challenge games for free. There will be an bonus 4 challenge games that require the $0.99, so paying the extra money is completely optional.
#19 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
Thanks for the info, and I don’t think that we should have to pay an additional .99$ for the challenges. I mean I for one never get money/iTunes cards, so I wouldn’t be able to get them, and they sit there torturing me until a year or so later when I get money, and I don’t think we should have to pay for things inside the game after we already bought it. It’s like going to get pizza, getting there and getting the pizza, just to open it and find half a pizza.
#20 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
Once again, you get two challenges for free, and all the others are just one payment of $0.99 for all of them. And the current ‘campaign’ game will continue to be updated for free. So it’s more like ordering a box of pizza, and you open it to find a pizza and two flavors of breadsticks for free, with a separate box of even more types of breadsticks for another dollar.
And to be honest, $0.99 to play the bonus challenges for the amount of time and effort that went into creating them is pretty low.
I’ve always charged $0.99 for StickWars, despite working month after month to improve it and really make it a great game. I will continue to provide updates and improvements to it, and I feel everyone who bought the game is really getting their $0.99 worth
.
#21 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
Good point, but question:what’s a beta tester and how do you become one?
#22 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
Visit here:
http://johnehartzog.com/forums/showthread.php?t=15
#23 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
And call me stupid, but what’s a udid?
#24 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
It is on the forum post above.
#25 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
K, and what email adress should I send it to if I use the app?
#26 by Eric on July 8th, 2009
Again, all the information is on the forum post linked above.
#27 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
I, sorry!
#28 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 8th, 2009
Hey, sorry for all the trouble earlier, but I thought about the .99$, and whether you decide for or against it, I’ll get it. Please consider me as a beta tester(mr_xrocker98), David
#29 by Colorless Winter on July 13th, 2009
It’s really neat that you actually take the time to listen to the suggestions and feedback people give you. People get so demanding and your actually willing to listen, very cool.
Are you a millionair yet?
#30 by Eric on July 13th, 2009
A lot of the good ideas that have come out in updates to StickWars came from the players themselves. Reading every review helped me to decide the best changes to make to the game.
And no, I’m not a millionaire yet, far from it. Maybe sometime in the future…
#31 by Big dog d on July 21st, 2009
I stared a game and it said I had the prison but it didn’t show me it
#32 by Eric on July 22nd, 2009
You might not have enough money to buy it yet. You have to buy it before you can see it.
#33 by Big dog d on July 21st, 2009
Oops I meant started
#34 by Jerob jordash on July 30th, 2009
Some of the achievements don’t show up even though I’ve unlocked them.
#35 by Eric on July 30th, 2009
This issue will be fixed with the update that is coming out in a week or two. Thanks for letting me know!
#36 by Jerob jordash on July 30th, 2009
Is it not possible to show exactly what position our score stands in the global category, instead of scrolling n number of scores to find it?
Is there any update which will allow us to play 3 difficulties. Or do we always have to start a new one- for that difficulty?
#37 by Eric on July 30th, 2009
I believe you may be able to see your rank in the global score list in the next update as well.
You can play the three difficulties at the same time right now. Hit options and change your game save slot, and you can start a new game with a different difficulty.
#38 by Mr_xrocker98 on July 30th, 2009
So is the .99$ official yet?
#39 by Eric on July 30th, 2009
I say again, the update will be completely free but come with some new features that will cost in extra $0.99. It is a purely optional purchase.
#40 by jake arsenault on August 7th, 2009
i love the current version of stickwars. $0.99 is appropriate for the next version. im excited about the next version. when are you going to put the update on sale? i cant wait to try it out!!
#41 by Eric on August 7th, 2009
I already have some very early testers working on it, and it will go out to beta testers any day now. Expect it to be sent to Apple in under a week from now! I’m excited, I’ve been working on this for around four weeks now.
And to correct you, the next update will be free, but will come with some new features that cost extra. So you can decide later if you want to pay any extra!
#42 by Colby on September 27th, 2009
Hey, love your game but for some reason my sound fx have stopped working. I can still hear the music but no fx. What should I do?
#43 by Eric on September 29th, 2009
Either the hardware toggle on your iPhone is set to mute, or you disabled the sounds in the game. Go to the options screen to make sure they are enabled.
#44 by Kiel on October 3rd, 2009
Haha u remember me? Kiel?
I live on ur street
#45 by Eric on October 3rd, 2009
Huh? I don’t understand.
#46 by Kiel on October 3rd, 2009
Well live-d
#47 by Terry on October 8th, 2009
I’m haveing trouble killing the dragons I’m throwing fire ball but it like it not doing anything?
#48 by Eric on October 8th, 2009
Pull the fireball on the wizard to the LEFT, and then let go and the actual fireball will fling out and kill the dragons.
#49 by Dusty Rogers on October 16th, 2009
Make it cost $2.00 instead of charging us that price it should be free for us and with multiplayer more people will buy and no one wants to be stuck playing alone so they will buy it.
#50 by roflcopter on January 8th, 2010
Hi, I complete achievements, such as ’save $10,000′, yet it does not register and I do not get the achievement.. Is this going to be fixed in a future update?
And also, with the extra challenges, is it possible to download them all within the same app, or must a seperate app be purchased.
Thanks for your time.
#51 by Eric on January 20th, 2010
Try updating to the latest version, I recently fixed most of these bugs.
You don’t need to download the separate app if you are running OS 3.x.
#52 by aFellowDev on January 22nd, 2010
I personally think you are well within your right to charge for an in-app purchase such as online multiplayer levels.
Far too many people overlook the effort required in building a quality application or game. Customer’s have been marred by rubbish apps/games that cost 99c.
For less than a dollar your game is beyond value for money mate, and it’s not just the game people are buying is it, you (like me) also service the game with updates and reply to customer feedback.
#53 by Eric on January 23rd, 2010
Thanks for your feedback. I’m only happy that I can charge a small 99c for the game and still make a profit on it.
It’s a win win, thanks to the large numbers of people shopping in the app-store
.