BYOND Strategy Tech Tree: 139

I have not taken the time to offer interface suggestions since Witches' Chess made it into the guild.  However, I did read Krystian Majewski's three part analysis of Mass Effect's problems over at Game Design Reviews...  I told the guild, "Don't do those things."

I think they bought it.

BTW, for those who have not already noticed, my sticking with the old version of BYOND is really hurting me as I try to keep up with news.  I don't suggest holding off if you can help it.  (Frankly, I probably don't have a real reason to keep using the old version myself.  I just want to release some planned updates to my games without any surprises.)

Tech Tree is a list of links about developer activity in BYOND Strategy, a guild run by unpaid volunteers on a game/development portal and software engine called BYOND.  Those curious about notes or YouTube videos I've cut out can view the original version.

Devourer of Souls updated his hybrid, Witches' Chess.  His forum's release log has yet to be updated.  However, a bit of searching reveals a player count fix and a new ability to cancel challenges.  Also mentioned are a method to avoid accidentally accepting challenges and a fix for a possible pawn promotion bug, but I don't know if they made it in.

Calus CoRPS has been doing some soul searching.  Naturally, I'm a souless tyrant so I only commented on the brief mention of his turn-based wargame, Fortay.  Calus CoRPS claims that the game died.  I'm curious about the isometric update, balance, and whether I should bother with interface suggestions.

I accepted two of Mechanos7's games into the guild based on their descriptions and accessible files.  However, I have been unable to play them due to my stubborn reluctance to upgrade my BYOND software yet.  (As opposed to featured games, I treat the guild's game list as a mere directory so only a genre check is required.)

Empire Defense appears to be a tower defense game with 10 waves of 7 different types of enemies.  Riverside is a turn-based wargame where players compete with 15 fantasy units.  Check them out.

Bakasensei updated his RTS, Age of War.  The game was rebalanced and fixes were provided for unlisted issues regarding players, administrators, and archer units.  Meanwhile, Kaizoma appears to have joined the staff as a host.

Falacy posted a picture of what appears to be an unreleased update to his treasure defense game, Gold Guardians.  I'm curious if the interface will be updated as well.

I keep calling Geldonyetich's persistent world, Vehicle Wars, an RTS.  However, the mechanics depend on the faction.  Terrans play like an RTS, Natives play like a building simulation and Privateers play like frelling zombies a vehicular combat RPG.  Geldonyetich theorizes that trying to blend these three experiences together in his first project is what has taken him so long to settle on a design.

AZA's Build A Space Game contest will start accepting final entries on the 15th.  Contestants have had three months to create their games in order to win $250 and other goodies.   Read AZA's post for how games will be judged.

...I wonder if subscribing to AZA's BYONDMail will let me finally comment on non-BYOND blogs.  I don't post a lot, but I get miffed when I try to fix someone's bad URL just to find out my Gmail address might have been filtered.

I updated my arcade action game, Wrangle, Warp and Weep with interface improvements.  The smaller Strays seem to really help people understand what's happening.

I'm still working on an update for my card-battling boardgame, PathWrath 2.  I made some minor interface tweaks and created a shrine for the last winner that displays the medals they won.  I'm running out of minor changes so I should finally get around to finishing the separate phase interfaces I mentioned ages ago.