iPhone version

[Praeter]

Excited to hear about the update to this game - I'm a fan of it - I have it installed on my iPad but mostly play on my iPhone - it's probably the best strategy game I know for the iPhone.

However, the graphical interface for the updated version is quite small - the iPad version seems unchanged. Could you please update the iPhone UI as well?

[mboog12]

Hello, what iphone do you have?

Some of iphone screens we've tried to keep the same as the old version, but some panels were changed to look more similar to the other platforms.

Which screens or buttons do you feel that are too small?

[Praeter]

I have an iPhone 6. The unit icons and map are OK but the main menu is quite small as is the in game menu and the combat pop-up displays.

[mboog12]

I see. We'll work on the main menu for iphone to make it bigger.
The in-game menu was kept 90% the same as the old menu.

[Praeter]

Thanks!

[Redwing6891]

I am using an iPhone 5 on iOS 7 - and I am not happy with the latest update. I really would like to roll back!

I attach a comparison of screenshots before and after. The design also doesn't look as sharp anymore. Almost looks like you ported an old / earlier version of the game, and didn't take into account the much smaller screen of the iPhone. The in game history is unreadable, it's so small.

Additional issues are: programme is jerky, startup video does not run full screen as before, sound (for victory or defeat) loops oddly, huge battery drain (50% for 40 min play).

Guys, please fix this. At the moment the only thing I can do with this version of BotB is delete it!

[mboog12]

Thanks for pointing to the exact issues, Redwing.
Next week we'll start ironing them out. Most important issues right now seem to be the slugginesh, some sounds and the smaller interface for iphones.
Cheers!

[Redwing6891]

You're welcome mboog.

There is also the issue about the video - screenshots attached. Minor, as you only watch it once but still... The game does an odd startup hitch as well, like music comes on for a few chords, then stops, then loads the menu, then music starts. The background and battle sounds are out of sync, too. I am just surprised that none of this has been picked up in testing.

I hope you understand the disappointment - and the resulting grumbling. We went from a perfect product on iOS to something which is no fun playing anymore. I don't use the multiplayer so for me this whole multi-platform thingy is pretty pointless. I understand the business reason behind it but surely you'd want to look after your original and loyal iOS customer base, too?

Free updates with extra features are a nice touch in principle but in this case they should have come with a dire warning label.

Could you not roll back to the old version for iPhone while we wait for the fixes?

[mboog12]

You're absolutely right. I totally understand why you're not content with this situation.
It was a slip on our part and we're working to fix our mistake.

No one noticed the sounds until now . We'll pay close attention to them, for sure.

[IainMcNeil]

The reason things are different is that we had to build the game again from scratch. It is an entirely new engine and we tried to replicate exactly what was there but obviously there are some differences we need to iron out. The team is working hard to get it to where you expect it to be. Thanks for you patience.

[Rosseau]

If you want to play a decent wargame (like BotB), use a desktop and widescreen - not an iPhone. Being able to save a game on the iPad is actually a big breakthrough. Ridiculous.

[Sourdust]

Honestly, I can't believe nobody did any testing on the iphone whatsoever. These flaws are obvious, and immediately apparent to me within 3 minutes of starting to play with the new game.

The new interface is significantly worse in many respects to the old one on iphone.

In addition to the issues already mentioned, there is a long delay (about 2 seconds) after the AI makes its move. This is totally maddening.

I also find the responsiveness of the interface leaves much to be desired. I find now I often have to tap a unit 2-3 times before it successfully gets selected, I never had this problem previously.

And I really can't believe you thought the tiny combat interface was adequate.

I'm a pretty patient person, I never complain about game delays and I generally try to be very understanding of bugs etc. But this is simply sloppy, rushed and aggravating. You've taken one of the best games and interfaces ever developed for the iphone, and made it mediocre at best. This isn't a "slip", its an utter failure to do even the most basic testing.

Here's how I see it: 2 years ago, I had 3 wonderful Shenandoah games that I played a lot on my iphone. Then something happened and Desert Fox was broken, and still is, and I can't play it. Now the Bulge UI has been trashed, and I don't feel like playing it either. The sum total of Slitherine/Shenandoah's efforts over the past 2 years is that I'm 2 games worse off.

[Redwing6891]

Devs - please have a look at this website. It explains how the interface for the iPhone was designed.

http://www.colourandnoise.com/work/cris ... ommand-ui/