Ports Of Call -- ideas for update

[rdklein]

I start with some on my wishlist:

1. more languages (german, french and espaniol maybe norwegian also)
2. toggle switch to go in full screen(hide the side bar buttons) - butmust bea togle else the 2d sim and radar is no playable.

3. got a request as Ports Of Call classc is too complicated for newbees to add more documentation on the gameplay -- maybe ideas welcome where problems are as I am not seing it after 20 years gameplay.

4. online highscore (thats easy to to with the iPhone).

5. multiplayer WIFi (possible when rev 3.0 is released for the iPhone, but maybe lot of UI todo)

[yetanother]

My only wish...

Play against the computer...
As it is now, I win every time
And I see no challenge in that...

(PS! I speak for myself, but cant see any reason to translate the game to norwegian.. Would just make it sound really silly And every norwegian read english perfectly... speaking it good, now thats another question we shall leave unanswered )

[rdklein]

yes next we will have a highscore for the iPhone and IPod touch,
the update is in the review process.

you can look at it already:
http://www.rdklein.de/pochighscore/poc_hscore.php

hope this will give a challenge to play against the world.


the AI player is on the wish list for one of the updates
we have a translation or the Norwegian language, except the help file needs to be translated but needs some efford to have it as an updateinstead of a new product which I dont want -- good toknow that the English is no probem, the only complain i got in a bad review in the german App Store, which killed us there

[rdklein]

some new screens:

[Superhai]

I love this game on my iphone. But there are some things that annoys me. If I turn sound off, it will not remember it next time I play. Option to play my music from the ipod app during gaming.

[Mee]

This would be a very unspectacular update but still a nice one.
What about a delimiter to have a better overview when displaying huge numbers?

Display in game right now:
$ 1045871

My suggestion:
$ 1,045,871

The benefit: Faster and much easier overview of charges & prices.

http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Schreibweise_von_Zahlen
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POC-iPhoner

[rdklein]

yes your are right, but I have to check for the maximum size in all windows, als numbers then get larger by 30%.

[Shouri]

Reminds me the good old Amiga years.

And yes I bought it and yes I still play.
_________________
A ship in port is safe, but that's not what ships are built for.

- Grace Murray Hopper

[Conrad]

First off I'd like to state how great it is to finally be able to play this game on the go.

If Ports of Call is to re-enter the mainstream then it needs to appeal to users who have never heard of it before. For people like myself the appeal lies with the fact that I played it on the Amiga and PC (having bought the license online) and absolutely loved it, but for someone who is completely new to the game I would recommend developing a new, revamped version, basically creating a new game that sticks to the general ideas and gameplay but brings the game into the 21 century: new graphics, updated ports, new ships & cargo.

You might also want to add a linear time-line (similarly as in the Railroad Tycoon/Transport Tycoon series) where for example you start off in the early 1900's and new ships become available over time. That would keep people playing for ages because there would always be a challenge ahead, replacing an old fleet with a new one, etc. You could even keep changes in technology happening in years like 2050 by introducing nuclear powered cargo ships (recently China has actually started discussing this idea publicly!).

Upgrades to ships would be another interesting idea, as well as the ability to buy other non-ship upgrades, maybe buildings in one's home port for example? Like a fuel storage depot where large amounts of fuel could be stored in the home port.

Of course the option to play the Classic version would naturally remain. But for players completely new to POC I would recommend creating a new product.

[Conrad]

Are there any plans to take the game forward or commence work on a new version of the game that would be set in current times?

I love the classic game but as mentioned I can also see how the next generation of players would need a new "Ports of Call" for today's day and age.

[DavidD]

As others have said, this is indeed a faithful reproduction of the original, which is fast approaching 25 years of age. But, if Ports of Call is to gain new fans it needs to appeal to todays players. This classic version should have been modernised, sticking to the principals of the original game but bringing the graphics in line with todays expectations. PoC Classic will never win new fans if it does not do this, which is a shame as it really is a good game.

In my opinion the price of $4.99 is also a little high considering I purchased other classics from the same Amiga era like ‘The Secret of Monkey Island’ and ‘Beneath a Steel Sky’ for the same price, but those games have updated their graphics for the iPhone/iTouch and won not only their old fans back, but have won twice as many new ones as well.

[Conrad]

[rdklein]

Yes the new version should be more like pocxxl but even on top of this to have a chance on the market --- I think the unity 3d approach is great but needs more work to get it (then all platforms are available at once, android, iOS and for iMacs, even a online version)... Thats my big plan.