Hello folks, the long-awaited update is finally live!
I just wanted to thank you all for your patience as I continue working on and improving the game.
Here’s a quick summary of what to expect in this new update:
Bug fixes – Many bugs have been squashed, though as with any game, a few may have slipped through. The game, as you all witnessed, was riddled with bugs from the testing phase up until the last update. I delayed this update for this very reason because it was depressing catching bugs after I had already pushed an update.
Consistent art style – The visual style is now more unified across the game. Previously, some art assets looked out of place due to different rendering techniques. This was the equivalent of using different pixel sizes in a pixel game, and this has been fixed by using the same painting technique on the map and on the characters.
Updated logo – The logo got a fresh paint job. Let me know if you feel it’s a step up or not. This was part of the art style consistency issue, but more importantly, this was the "face" of the game, and if everything was getting a tune-up, this had to be touched up too.
Removed bloat – Some bloated mechanics (like the chaotic gold fluctuation every month) have been removed to improve balance. When I was creating Knight Estate, I had so many mechanics to make the game "complex," but I’ve quickly realized that complexity should be in the background, while simplicity is what the player should see. So I got rid of some features that were annoying to players and that should have stayed in the background all along.
Easier marriages – I heard many of you were struggling to get married in-game, so I’ve made it easier and even added suitor proposals. Not everything needs to be hard.
Progression overhaul – You now earn gold through investment paired with retinue quality and develop skills through training. Progress is in your hands. Initially, the gold fluctuation made it hard to notice progression, so now you'll only see improvements if you make efforts in the game.
Now for my favorite addition: Champions.
You can now test your skills against Champions, unique characters designed based on real players of the game. They each specialize in one of four fighting styles: Defensive, Striking, Technique, and Recovery.
This update includes 5 Champions, with more on the way. Since I’m taking a short break from coding, I’ll be focusing on creating more artwork going forward.
A special thank you to the Champions still waiting on their art, I truly appreciate your patience. You should be receiving your illustrations sometime this week or next.
Lastly, a quick heads-up. The leaderboard and achievements still aren’t functional. I might have to find another way to implement them outside of Google Play. That said, I’m not even sure if they’re something you all want, so feel free to let me know.
That’s it for now, guys. I’m diving back into what I love most: art.
I’ll be working on the remaining Champion portraits, and after that, I’ll wrap up the Household and Renown systems as we begin the iOS and translation phase.
Thanks again for being part of this journey.
Over and out,
Dom
