[Feedback request] Realms of Rivalry - Turn-based strategy game

[dete]

Hi.

We're two guys working on a webbased multiplayer turn-based strategy game with roleplay elements.

Realms of Rivalry has many similarities to classic titles like Space Crusade and the X-Com series.

The game is fully playable at this point, but we're constantly adding new features and resolving bugs.

Note: Realms of Rivalry is intended to be played by 2-4 players, but it is possible to play in singleplayer mode just to familiarize yourself with the interface and gameplay.

We plan on improving the game-lobby so that it will be easier for people get together and start a game.

We would appreciate any and all feedback.

Homepage: www.realmsofrivalry.org (http://www.realmsofrivalry.org)

Screenshot (http://www.realmsofrivalry.org/screenshot.php?realmsofrivalry13.jpg)

[Leper]

Hmm.. well, I was just trying to set up my character and when I clicked ready to game it instantly put in the game (didn't expect that)

I'm on a broadband connection and its taking forever to load.

[dete]

Hmm.. well, I was just trying to set up my character and when I clicked ready to game it instantly put in the game (didn't expect that)

I'm on a broadband connection and its taking forever to load.

Thanks for feedback.

When all connected players in the current gameroom click the "Ready to game" checkbox the game will start, even if there is only 1 player present.

Total filesize for the game is approx. 2mb and the server is located in northern europe. You should be getting decent speed, but perhaps routing is bad right now..

[Sillysoft]

Using the Safari browser on Mac OS 10.4.3 after I click 'Ready to game' it crashes:
servercom running..
updating options..done
reading fonts.txt in: gfx/fonts
java.util.zip.ZipException: oversubscribed literal/length tree
at java.util.zip.InflaterInputStream.read(InflaterInp utStream.java:140)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read1(BufferedInputStr eam.java:220)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read(BufferedInputStre am.java:280)
at java.io.DataInputStream.readFully(DataInputStream. java:266)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1172)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/default_white.png
java.util.zip.ZipException: invalid block type
at java.util.zip.InflaterInputStream.read(InflaterInp utStream.java:140)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read1(BufferedInputStr eam.java:220)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read(BufferedInputStre am.java:280)
at java.io.DataInputStream.readFully(DataInputStream. java:266)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1172)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/default_yellow.png
javax.imageio.IIOException: Unknown row filter type (= 40)!
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1196)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/gothic.png
java.util.zip.ZipException: invalid block type
at java.util.zip.InflaterInputStream.read(InflaterInp utStream.java:140)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read1(BufferedInputStr eam.java:220)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read(BufferedInputStre am.java:280)
at java.io.DataInputStream.readFully(DataInputStream. java:266)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1172)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/large_white.png
java.util.zip.ZipException: invalid distance code
at java.util.zip.InflaterInputStream.read(InflaterInp utStream.java:140)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read1(BufferedInputStr eam.java:220)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read(BufferedInputStre am.java:280)
at java.io.DataInputStream.readFully(DataInputStream. java:266)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1172)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/large_yellow.png
javax.imageio.IIOException: Unknown row filter type (= 20)!
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1196)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/small_white.png
java.util.zip.ZipException: incomplete literal/length tree
at java.util.zip.InflaterInputStream.read(InflaterInp utStream.java:140)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read1(BufferedInputStr eam.java:220)
at java.io.BufferedInputStream.read(BufferedInputStre am.java:280)
at java.io.DataInputStream.readFully(DataInputStream. java:266)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeP ass(PNGImageReader.java:1172)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.decodeI mage(PNGImageReader.java:1276)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.readIma ge(PNGImageReader.java:1362)
at com.sun.imageio.plugins.png.PNGImageReader.read(PN GImageReader.java:1530)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1384)
at javax.imageio.ImageIO.read(ImageIO.java:1306)
at client.Help.loadImage(Help.java:558)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:685)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)
Failed to load image: gfx/fonts/small_yellow.png
MAIN CAUGHT EXCEPTION:
java.lang.NullPointerException
at client.Help.getBufferedImage(Help.java:606)
at client.Help.readFontsInDir(Help.java:693)
at client.MainControl.<init>(MainControl.java:53)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.initializeEvery thing(RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.java:177)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet.access$000(Real msOfRivalryClientApplet.java:8)
at client.RealmsOfRivalryClientApplet$1.run(RealmsOfR ivalryClientApplet.java:117)

[disaffected]

the female elf portrait from your screenshot looks like it's one of the art portraits from Baldur's gate, you might want to remove that before publishing the game.

[dete]

Using the Safari browser on Mac OS 10.4.3 after I click 'Ready to game' it crashes:


Thanks for the feedbacks!

It looks like the game crashes when trying to read PNG-images. Unfortunatly I am unsure why that is. Maybe someone have any suggestions? We are reading the image using javax.imageio.ImageIO.

[dete]

the female elf portrait from your screenshot looks like it's one of the art portraits from Baldur's gate, you might want to remove that before publishing the game.

That is spot on. The portraits are relics from early development stages. They will in due time be replaced by self-pixeled graphics to match the rest of the game. :)

[dete]

Game update:

New character portraits.
Minor bugfixes.
Added help screen
Added some new items.

Thanks to all who have tried the game the last few days :)

[Pyabo]

Just out of curiosity... was the name "Rival Realms" already taken?

[dete]

Just out of curiosity... was the name "Rival Realms" already taken?

It was never an alternative. Wasn't even aware that a game by that name already existed. Google says its an old game from 1998, and on top of that, it's an RTS and completely different from our game..

Hope that clears up any questions you might have pertaining the name of our game. ;)

[whisperstorm]

This game is interesting. I think you may have a bit of work with the interface - with all of the various keys, etc. It may be more accessible if you find a way to simplify that somewhat. Gameplay was fun and I'll definitely play it again soon. Good job!

[nixrlame]

This game is interesting. I think you may have a bit of work with the interface - with all of the various keys, etc. It may be more accessible if you find a way to simplify that somewhat. Gameplay was fun and I'll definitely play it again soon. Good job!

Thank you for the positive feedback :)

The keys displayed in the splash-screen when you start the game is merely shortcuts for operations that can be done with just using the mouse. We added the shortcuts just to speed up actions when playing 30 second speed turns :)

Any suggestions or ideas on how to improve the game and make it more accessible is greatly appreciated :)

[dete]

An early version of the game lobby is now in place. With it you can log in, chat with other people and start or join multiplayer game sessions.

There's also been a number of improvements to the game interface. You can now, with the click of a button, see the field-of-view of a monster or opponent character.
This makes it easier to keep a safe distance to avoid untimely interrupts and to benefit from bonuses when attacking.

In addition.. The problems relating to the loading of png-images, which made the game crash for some of you, have now been resolved.

The web page has been updated with several pages covering the game basics, including a interface reference, character and terrain information.

Again, we would really appreciate any feedback and/or suggestions! :)

http://www.realmsofrivalry.org

[Leper]

Alright, I got to play with moonman which was very helpful and worked out as an active tutorial.

Here's some things I suggest:

1) Show dice rolls (we discussed this in-game)
2) Add Animations
3) Should let player units move through other player units but use extra AP
4) Shouldn't have to keep clicking the far away square, it should automatically go there like in other Land of Legends
5) Tutorial is highly needed because I didnt find it too easy to learn how to play
6) Available actions should pop up around each unit when they have any instead of having to look at bottom
7) Interrupts should be more apparent, I didnt notice interrupts at first at all.
8) Map should scroll when moving mouse cursor at edge of screen like in RTS
9) Middle mouse wheel should zoom map in and out a lil bit (would be nice)
10) Units should turn greyscale or change somehow when all their AP is used up.

I think its a fun game and I didn't run into any bugs :) It has great potential and I think you could do what urbansquall is doing and make some good $

I'll be keeping my eye on this game for a time to come!

[dete]

There's been some major updates to the website (flash tutorials and documentation ++) and the gamelobby, aswell as some bugfixes and changes to the game itself.. :)

http://www.realmsofrivalry.org

[alecxena]

Stumbled upon this game ranking site were your game was doing well: top online rpg (http://www.toponlinerpg.com). Doesn't look like the biggest of sites, but congrats anyway -- you must have made a little group of zealot admirers already :)

Bet you guys have noticed this site by now ;)