Weekly Developer Update #35

Enhancements, Challenges, and What’s Next

We’ve been quiet for a bit, but we haven’t just been kicking back playing Factorio! As we gear up for another substantial update, let’s talk about why it’s taking a hot minute to get everything just right.

Launching isn’t old hat for us yet, despite the several versions we’ve rolled out over the years.

Each one is a learning curve, and this one is shaping up to be our most exciting ride yet.

The quicky

Remember those demos we showed off? They were just a teaser. We’re now close to launching a version of the game that’s nearly complete — and it’s packed with features we’ve never combined before. Here’s the scoop:

• Tokens and NFTs: Yep, they’re here, again. This time you can earn these through missions and achievements and use them to buff up your profile and stats.
• Multiplayer: It’s not just about playing but playing together. Engage with others, strategize, and earn your place in the Cosmic Leagues.
• Economy and Progression: We’re talking a full-blown Web3 economy here, where your actions really shape your journey.

We’re creating this loop to keep you hooked, offering a fresh way to interact with Cosmicrafts while we fine-tune things based on what you tell us.

So, while we’re putting the final pieces together, get ready for a version that’s more than just an update — it’s a whole new way to experience the game.

The challenges

Last time we caught up, we talked about phasing out the old systems and rolling in the new ones. Every update gives us a chance to clean house and make sure everything runs smoothly with the latest features.

That’s exactly what we’re up to.

Now, let’s get into some of the challenges we’re facing as we prepare for launch.

Matchmaking

This fully on-chain feature kicks off when your principal ID says you’re ready to jump into the battleground. It scans for other players eager for a match; if there’s no one else ready, it sets you up in a room to hang tight for an opponent.

Everything about your match, from the NFTs you pack for the battle to their presence in your wallet, gets logged on the chain. This isn’t just about keeping the game fair; it’s our first step toward knocking out cheats before they can mess with our play.

But here’s the snag: occasionally, if there’s a glitch and a player can’t join or their computer crashes, our system currently struggles with how to call it quits on that match since it needs stats from both players to wrap things up officially. This leaves us with a bug that’s a real head-scratcher — it works like a charm until suddenly, it doesn’t.

Squashing this bug is a top priority, and it’s going to take a heap of testing and more testing.

We’re on it, though, and we’ll keep tweaking until it’s sorted.

Missions

Moving on to missions, we’ve got a lineup where you can earn rewards by completing specific tasks. These missions are visible in the UI, but there’s a hitch — we’re not seeing the progress get logged once you finish a game.

These missions aren’t around forever; they have an expiration date. While the timestamps are functioning correctly, the real challenge is making sure your progress gets recorded directly onto the missions themselves. Once we get this right, we’ll apply a similar setup to Achievements, just without the expiration aspect.

So, we’re on the right track — the system is up and running. What’s left is ironing out the kinks in how progress gets recorded.

Gameplay

Switching gears to gameplay, we’ve revamped the backend to bring you something fresh while keeping the classic Cosmicrafts feel. Though the core game mechanics are familiar, longtime players might sense that things feel a bit different this time around.

If you’re new to the game, you might not spot the changes, but for us — who’ve spent years fine-tuning Cosmicrafts — it’s a whole new ballgame.

We’re integrating a slew of new systems: an upgraded navigation setup, new entities and projectile systems, plus enhanced physics and synchronization to keep the game fair and cheat-free.

Given all these changes, the gameplay might not feel as polished as past versions right off the bat. It could take months, maybe even years, to perfect these systems, but we’re committed.

With our experience and your feedback, we’re confident we’ll not only match the classic Cosmicrafts smoothness but eventually surpass it in future updates.

NFTs and Tokens

On the NFTs and tokens front, we understand the importance of visual confirmation for each transaction, whether you’re transferring tokens and NFTs, opening chests, or upgrading NFTs with tokens. We’re about 75% of the way there — everything’s functional, but we’re focused on enhancing your visual experience so that you receive clear notifications for these transactions.

Since all actions are recorded on the blockchain, using the advanced capabilities of Internet Computer technology, there might be a slight delay when upgrading an NFT or opening a chest. However, this setup ensures that every transaction is secure.

That’s a wrap

That’s a wrap on this week’s insights into the ongoing developments at Cosmicrafts. As you can see, we’re deep into the refinement phase, pushing boundaries and polishing the game’s core components.

We’re tackling bugs head-on, optimizing gameplay, and ensuring every system from matchmaking to NFT transactions is top-notch.

Looking ahead, we’re excited to announce plans for an upcoming tournament. This will not only give you a chance to test the new systems in competitive play but also help us gather essential feedback directly from the battlefield.

Based on what we learn, we’ll be ready to scale up to Boom Leaderboards and continue enhancing the game.

Thank you, for your unwavering support and patience. We’re all aboard this journey together, and your insights are invaluable in steering us towards a stellar gaming experience. Keep sending in your feedback, and let’s keep refining Cosmicrafts.

Until next time Space Commanders, keep your systems bug-free and your adventures cosmic!