Push Notification Multi-player Challenges Coming to StickWars

[Eric]

There are a bunch of press releases on news sites with the same information, which you can read one of here.

Long story short, StickWars will be one of the first games to use the newest version of OpenFeint which will incorporate Push notifications as well as micro-transactions.

I've been working long and hard on a bunch of really cool new features for StickWars. Remember the 'survival' mode everyone wanted to see where it's just one long level to test your stamina? Well I'm expanding on that idea...

I'm creating a brand new set of 'challenges' which are short games (1-5 minutes) based on the same basic StickWars gameplay. Each one will be designed differently, requiring different strategies and sets of skills. An example of one is the "Toss Challenge", where 100 stick figures charge your castle and you are awarded points based on how high you manage to throw them. There will be at least 5-10 challenges in the first release and I'll probably continue to keep adding more challenges as I think of them (or take suggestions from you guys!).

Now these challenges on their own would be a good bit of fun to play through. The player will be able to unlock the additional achievements associated with them. But through OpenFeint, they will become a means to challenge your friends to complete against one another for StickWars mastery.

After playing a challenge, you can chose to send a challenge to one of your friends in the Feint social network. Because the Feint social network will integrate with your Facebook and Twitter accounts, any friends you already have who also use Feint will show up in your list, ready to battle. Also, your Feint account is tied to your device, so even if they don't have StickWars, if they have another Feint-powered game (PocketGod, for example), they will be able to see your challenge and decide if they want to respond.

After sending your challenge to a friend, Feint will use their new push notification feature to let your buddy know that you want to fight, even if he isn't currently running StickWars. This new push notification will allow these 'turn-based' challenges to happen in real-time.

Your buddy can then play the same challenge game in StickWars and the results of his score will be compared to yours, and the winner will be announced to both of you. These statistics will be saved to your Feint account to show off your StickWars prowellnes .

There is one caveat to all these awesome new features--they won't be free. There will be two free full-featured challenges available, including the ability to submit scores to friends. However, there will be many more bonus challenges which require a one-time purchase of $0.99 to unlock for the entire pack. Once purchased, you will continue to receive additional challenges as I create them. At the initial release, I'm planning on including between 4-6 bonus challenges.

Those who decide to not purchase the ability to access the challenge modes will still have full access to all the other features and updates being added to the current version of StickWars. In addition, they will probably even be able to see challenges from their friends who have purchased the upgrade, and decide at any time to quickly upgrade and respond to challenges.

If you have any questions or comments, please let me know here. I'd like to see what everyone thinks about all these cool new features!

[Blaze]

The only thing I don't like about in app purchasing, is that I have to delete Stick Wars often to upgrade (beta testing), and I really don't want to be charged for every new beta

It all sounds really good though I'm sure many people will be interested.

[Eric]

The only thing I don't like about in app purchasing, is that I have to delete Stick Wars often to upgrade (beta testing), and I really don't want to be charged for every new beta

It all sounds really good though I'm sure many people will be interested.

It will work like the App Store, once you buy it, even if you delete it, you will be able to download it again for free.

[Blaze]

In that case, I better get more credit for my iTunes account

[UnknownToaster]

Sounds great! Can't wait.
They seem very nice.

Theres one issue, with multiple BIG new features, there might be a lot of bugs and issues.
Program bugs are highly ecological because program code is a renewable resource. If you fix a bug, another will grow in its place. And if you cut down that bug, yet another will emerge; only this one will be a mutation with long, poisonous tentacles and revenge in its heart, and it will sit there deep in your program, cackling and making elaborate plans for the most terrible time to strike.

So...Off to the Beta Testers! :P

[Mac]

Hmm sounds like just what we need to get Stickwars back up the paid apps charts. No wonder its ben so long since the last update. I'm looking forward to this next update. =)

[Eric]

No wonder its ben so long since the last update. I'm looking forward to this next update. =)

Wrong. The reason why it's been so long is actually pretty hilarious...my last update which was ready 3.5 weeks ago has sat in Apple's queue for about 3 weeks now. Have you looked at the changelog recently? I have two new full updates worth of features to push out to people, and I'm still waiting for people to get the update I finished I start of this month. It's really sad.

About the bugs with the new features, I'm working hard to remove those. Remember that bug where guys sometimes get stuck flying? I've heard that this may be a bug with the iPhone OS that was fixed in 3.0, so there's the possibility that you won't see this again.

In addition, I redid my music engine, and it turns out that was the thing causing crashes sometimes when you tried to load a new game. Basically, on my current build, I have not seen the game crash as single time (before I would see a crash once every 10-20 plays). It's going to be a really great update when I get the chance to submit it.

[Warfare]

Wrong. The reason why it's been so long is actually pretty hilarious...my last update which was ready 3.5 weeks ago has sat in Apple's queue for about 3 weeks now. Have you looked at the changelog recently? I have two new full updates worth of features to push out to people, and I'm still waiting for people to get the update I finished I start of this month. It's really sad.

About the bugs with the new features, I'm working hard to remove those. Remember that bug where guys sometimes get stuck flying? I've heard that this may be a bug with the iPhone OS that was fixed in 3.0, so there's the possibility that you won't see this again.

In addition, I redid my music engine, and it turns out that was the thing causing crashes sometimes when you tried to load a new game. Basically, on my current build, I have not seen the game crash as single time (before I would see a crash once every 10-20 plays). It's going to be a really great update when I get the chance to submit it.

You mean really great in the next month when Apple approves it.

[Eric]

No kidding. I can't see them possible taking another month to approve another update though. Developers will not hang around if updates go live a month or more after we finish them. I know I'm not willing to work my ass off and lose sleep to finish quickly just to watch Apple sit on much-needed updates for nearly a month.

It wouldn't be as big a deal if I was a big company with some real quality-control testing, but I'm one guy with friends for testers, and while I try very hard to not release a version with bugs, it happens and not being able to fix them in a timely fashion is terrible. And as the AppStore tends to get a lot of money from the little guys who manage to make some good games, they should pay a little more attention to the small guys working hard to put out great games and constant updates.

[Warfare]

No kidding. I can't see them possible taking another month to approve another update though. Developers will not hang around if updates go live a month or more after we finish them. I know I'm not willing to work my ass off and lose sleep to finish quickly just to watch Apple sit on much-needed updates for nearly a month.

It wouldn't be as big a deal if I was a big company with some real quality-control testing, but I'm one guy with friends for testers, and while I try very hard to not release a version with bugs, it happens and not being able to fix in a timely fasion them is terrible. And as the AppStore tends to get a lot of money from the little guys who manage to make some good games, they should pay a little more attention to the small guys working hard to put out great games and constant updates.

I'd clap for a speech like that.

[Mac]

Wrong. The reason why it's been so long is actually pretty hilarious...my last update which was ready 3.5 weeks ago has sat in Apple's queue for about 3 weeks now. Have you looked at the changelog recently? I have two new full updates worth of features to push out to people, and I'm still waiting for people to get the update I finished I start of this month. It's really sad.

About the bugs with the new features, I'm working hard to remove those. Remember that bug where guys sometimes get stuck flying? I've heard that this may be a bug with the iPhone OS that was fixed in 3.0, so there's the possibility that you won't see this again.

In addition, I redid my music engine, and it turns out that was the thing causing crashes sometimes when you tried to load a new game. Basically, on my current build, I have not seen the game crash as single time (before I would see a crash once every 10-20 plays). It's going to be a really great update when I get the chance to submit it.

Yeah, after I posted that I read an article from Bolt Creative, the creators of Pocket God. They have the same problem you do. They brought out that Apple is having a little favoritism in they're review process. For example, They had an update in the queue for two weeks, while Tap Tap Revenge 2 submitted they're update and it wasn't even in for a week and they were approved.

[Sam]

Please don't make us pay for the multi player challenges. Really, it sounds like a great thing but I've really strained to get my iPod Touch to version 3.0, and I don't think my parents would buy me more for stuff on iTunes cuz their very strict, so please don't make us pay $0.99 so we can access all the features.

[Eric]

Please don't make us pay for the multi player challenges. Really, it sounds like a great thing but I've really strained to get my iPod Touch to version 3.0, and I don't think my parents would buy me more for stuff on iTunes cuz their very strict, so please don't make us pay $0.99 so we can access all the features.

Sign up to be a beta tester, and you may get the bonus content for free, or even get paid a little to do so.

[Mikesgame]

Update sound very cool. I think once it is released (if apple ever approves it:P) will give stickwars alot more attention and it might be the #1 App in the app store for awhile.

I just downloaded the update yesterday. And I think once or twice the stickmen just ran in and started floating in the air like you said above. It's only happened twice in the 35 levels I played that night.

I think you should create an additional "cheaters leaderboard" for the people who use that cheat in the game and see who can get #1 on that. So like when you open up stickwars and click on high-scores, then click on leaderboard there will be two buttons on bottom of the screen one saying "legit leaderboard" and another saying "cheaters leaderboard". Or something in that direction.

And by the way this is probably one of the best games for the price it is. Speaking of prices if we have to buy those new features and I already have the paid version will I have to delete the app I have and have to buy it again with the features included. Or will you just pay for it when you upgrade it?

[Willus]

Ive been playing since it came out and you guys are only getting better.
how do i sign up to test?..im a 35 yo IT guy/ubernerd.

charge the 99 cents!

round 135

EDIT: oops found beta tester forum...lol