I recently added a nice little system that really get a guild to work together. A golem that each hour gives 1 prestige points to each guildmates. Prestige points are used to calculate rankings and to buy special items.
The problem is that since Golemizer is a free game, some people could just create multiple zombie accounts to artificially inflate their guild ranking with such golem (guild ranking is the sum of all guildmates prestige points).
The easy way to fix this would make the golem so it gives prestige points only to it's owner. The guild ranking would still benefit from it. Of course, the teamwork aspect is lessen since other guildmates doesn't get any "real" benefit from it besides higher guild ranking (which has no effect on the game, that might be enough for some players though). Iit feels that there's less reasons to deploy energy to defend the golem that way.
Anyone have an idea how to fix this?
Thursday, May 15, 2008
Looking for ideas - Multiple accounts creation problem
Monday, May 12, 2008
Two new golems
I'm expanding the zombie theme here but more will come. Have some nice ideas for mechanical ones and also a special type of golem that won't really be a golem.
Think of monuments, statues, ... Building them will provide prestige points to the whole guild on a regular basis (for example: 1 prestige points every hour). While they will be in the golem category, they will be helpless and motionless. So the guild will have to provide some defense for it.
That should open a more competitive gameplay style between guilds
Brainlocked Zombie
The Brainlocked Zombie is a regular zombie that will always follow your orders (zombies often forgots what you told them and will go on their own business). This makes it the first real golem that can be used while the player is online.
To craft this type of golem, the correct skill must be trained but the player must also purchase a "Rage Inhibitor" that is sold by some crazy fool located at -4,-6 on the map. You'll need to spend both gold and some prestige points to get it.
Plated Zombie
Another version of the regular zombie. This one has twice the HP but is also almost half as slow.
Tuesday, May 6, 2008
New art for characters
Here's two samples. Should be added to beta tonight.
Work was done by Mick Hanrahan (www.chunkypixels.co.uk). I recommend him if you're in need of some graphic work. He's very professional and nailed exactly what I was looking for.
Monday, May 5, 2008
The critical beta phase
So it's started! For the first time since several months, fresh eyes have seen the game. Quite some bugs have already been found too but nothing really hard to fix.
The more you work on something, the more you get buried by it, having a hard time to get back a little to see the big picture and revisit systems you implemented at the beginning. That's why beta is so critical. You need some help to point you the obvious that you're not able to see anymore.
Tonight, I'd like to be able to fix the current list of bugs that have been found which include players being able to pick props in zone where they shouldn't be able, putting buildings in mines and the chest that doesn't show all items in it. More are on my to-do list and considering there's nothing really big, it should be possible to get all of this into tonight's update.
On another note, I filled a request to upgrade a bit the memory of the server. I guess it should be filled around the beginning of the week. More memory should mean better speed. It's only this week-end that I learned that VPS can't access virtual memory so I was stuck with 416 MB which was borderline with SQL running.
In the best of world I'd have 1 server for the web site and forums, another for SQL and another for the game server but well, maybe one day.
And some good news... I should receive the new art for the characters this evening or tomorrow! Can't wait to put this in place as the artist did a really good job.
So to all testers, keep up the good work and thanks for your help!
Friday, May 2, 2008
Looking for more beta testers
Things are going well and the game is in a playable state with enough "content" to test all systems in a more official way.
So I'm looking for people that would like to join the closed beta to help test everything and give me feedback on what might be essential to add to get an enjoyable play experience.
There's still stuff in development like players' rankings, the art for characters still has to be changed and documentation to be written but it's ready to get more people.
So if you're interested, send me an email at publicationsdumensonge [at] gmail [dot] com
I'll let few people in at first and more as time goes depending on the requests I receive. I'll write back to selected people probably on sunday this week with instructions.
Closed beta will go on as long as necessary. Testers need to be patient as I won't give any ETA for now.
Posts
