Messages

Ross, you'd better keep cracking on the new versions, after all the money I paid - oh, wait, ooops, it's free to play, never mind....  LOL

Ross,

It took me a second to find it (via computer browser), but I think that should work.  Unfortunately not all information can be on a home page, plus a market link makes it better as the less "taps" on a phone or tablet to get somewhere, the better.  I think it makes sense to make the information easier to find on an Android device than a "real" computer; it is much faster and easier to poke around with a mouse.

Nice work.

No one is posting their Android stats!  So, I will ask again in case this was missed (bump); please post your Android stats (see first entry) so we can help new users and users who may be having trouble and wondering if it is their system or not.

Ross,

I told you the same thing privately, now I just want to let everyone know my thoughts; nice job on the new version.  There are a couple small things, but future tweaks are inevitable anyway.

Keep up the good (hard) work.

Honestly Ross, I wouldn't know.  I don't use any virtual buttons, just my reprogrammed hardware buttons, sorry.  But, I would think it would work the same way.

Ross, as you know, I am an Administrator and built my guild's web site, but I still have trouble with this one!  I just noticed your answer (I do choose see all new and answered posts, I always do, but it just showed up).

Basically, it's all screens!  Anytime I hit the back button (I can test each one if you want) I quit to desktop.

I agree with the hardware buttons.  In fact, I go so far as to reprogram my volume buttons to Menu and Back (really easy if anyone is interested) and completely remove all soft-buttons.  This is one of the first things I do when I have to re-flash my ROM, which is more often than I like.

Sweet - and I have the Login Forever set, but it still asks (I only have to hit Login without typing anything, but still...).  Yes, cookies are enabled for this site but I do block Google Adsense.

Ross,

Many sites now have auto-login, you may want to think about enabling that here, or adding it if the whole site is custom.

I am new too, and was wondering the same thing.

I am going to start pushing HM at my DDO guild site (here).  Right now it is word of mouth, but when I get a chance, I will write a nice promo.  I'm currently on a beta Android version, so I don't know if it will work with others, but when I am done with some pressing matters, I will give it a try.  I may move to the desktop while learning, but I like it on the tablet because I can play when I'm hurting and sitting at the big system is just too much.

I agree, this game is awesome!  I love strategy - this is exactly what I was looking for when I went looking -  but right now I am only beating the AI (when I get a chance to play) about 50% of the time, and that is against a single opponent and using only two arenas!  I have a lot to learn, still.

I feel like my learning will be stymied until I can play against real people.

Wouldn't you know it, I have a couple more suggestions:

1) Add option to show die roll results in one of the corners.  Much easier than looking at the log.
2) In the solo game setup, add the option for more than one human player (at least for Android, so couples can play together by passing the unit back and forth).

With the Android app, on many screens and panels, there is no obvious way to back out.  In this situation I would normally press my tablet's "back" key (as I think most user would tend to do), but in HM this exits the game instead of dismissing the current panel or returning to the previous screen.  i.e. in Player Options under setting up a Custom Battle, the only way to back out is to hit accept, which is confusing and counterintuative.  I would suggest you add a Cancel or Back button to these panels and screens.

Hey All,

I wanted to officially introduce myself to the community at large (Ross is probably already sick of hearing from me).

It may shock many of you to find that I have not yet purchased the app (I am, of course talking about the Android version Ross compiled), yet I have already joined the forum.  I realize Hero Mages is free to play, and there is a WEB based version, but I plan on playing this only on my tablet (and maybe occasionally on my PC).  I am still in the testing stages.  I will buy the app, but first I want to complete the tutorial and make sure everything runs fine (and I don't want to embarrass myself before I know how to play).

If you are using the Android app, please post your device specifics here; this is to help out potential new users and Ross.

OK, I guess I should say a little about myself!  I have been working with computers since before the first IBM PC came out in 1981 (I had a TI 99/4A before that that actually hooked to the TV and had a cassette tape recorder I rigged up as a hard drive).  I also started playing RPGs a few years prior to this, so yes, I am old.

Besides that, I live in Florida and I cannot spell.

The only other games I play online (there is no pen and paper group in my town and my efforts to start one have been futile) are DDO and LotRO.  I have been playing DDO for only a couple of years and am one of the founders of a very successful guild (both the other founder and myself have recently abdicated so we can "just play" and not worry about running the guild anymore, but the guild is still going strong and I still administrate the forums).  I have played LotRO for only a few months now and though it's hard for me to get used to, I am enjoying it very much.

I was specifically searching for a good turn-based strategy game in the Android Market when I ran across Hero Mages.  Though I like the two MMOs I do play, I dislike the hack-and-slay mentality.  Sometimes I just want to kick back, take my time, and use my brain (that's why I am looking at this program as strictly an Android app, I want to get away from the PC from time to time).

That should be enough to be getting on with, I hope to see everyone online (and give the old guy a break, help me learn).

This is a great suggestion, so I'll even take it a step further and create a link to a detailed page that explains what the different versions include, the current pricing models, and the product value. I'm posting a major update to all game versions in (hopefully) a couple weeks, and I will make the changes then.

This is good news, Ross (be sure to put a prominent link on the home page for internet users too).  I think you will begin to see an increase in players when this is done.  I also think so much better of an app (any product for that matter) where the people or person in charge listens to feedback and then actually acts on it.  That is what differentiates a good program from a great product.

If I may make another suggestion; hold a monthly random drawing (or some kind of contest that does not penalize those who can't play often) and give away one of the three add-ons as the prize (winner's choice?).  Just something to think about...

Before I decided to try Hero Mages on my android, I did a search in these forums to see if anyone with the same system as mine had any comments or words of wisdom that might prove beneficial.  No one did.

Since I found android posts scattered throughout this site, I thought it may help others if we consolidated some information and all listed the type of android device we are using, our basic experience running Hero Mages, and any android-specific notes or tips we'd like to share. I'll go first!

I am successfully running Hero Mages on a CM7 rooted Nook Color overclocked to 1.2GHz, my FPS varies between 20 (updated because of some changes, more later) at the low end and near 40 at the high end, but averaging about 28.  I am very happy with the performance on my tablet.  Here are my specifications:

Model	-	Nook Color
Android Version	-	2.3.7
Flavor	-	CM7 (CyanogenMod-7.1.0-encore)
CPU	-	ARMv7 rev 2 (v7)
Memory	-	480MB

Ross,

I spent many hours last night looking for your app, though I didn't know it was Hero Mages I was looking for when I started. I wanted to find a good strategy game for my tablet and was willing to settle for almost anything as long as the graphics were halfway decent and it was turn-based.

I was pleasantly surprised to find a pseudo-RPG fantasy strategy game with such quality and obvious devotion (based on your Market posting remarks). I downloaded the demo and am enjoying it thoroughly.

Unfortunately, this thread is not about the quality of the app, but the extra money needed to enjoy the (arguably) full game. I think Higgins makes some valid points and I also understand your reluctance to lower your prices and the reasons you give for not doing so, as well as appreciate your attempts to find an alternate method of attaining the character packs.  Where I have a problem is how the game is marketed (I do not believe this was intentional on your part).

I don't mind paying for expansions like I do in the only two MMOs I play (DDO and LotRO), but I knew their conditions up front. When I downloaded Hero Mages, I based my decision on what I read in the demo's posting and what you said in your YouTube video. You billed the game as free to play. I was so upset when I discovered there was more money needed to obtain the full game experience, I almost uninstalled it and began searching once again.

The only reason I did not uninstall the app was because I happened to see the link to this topic in the full version's Market post and, giving you the benefit of the doubt, read it. Based on your discourse, I am willing to risk $3 (and as Higgins pointed out, I would be willing to spend $5 if the add-on packs were lower) on the hopes you are sincere in your pronouncements.

My guess as to the reasons for the strong resentment most people are expressing about having to spend more money after their initial purchase, is that it comes as a surprise; I know it did for me. It is not that evident on your WEB site either.

My suggestion is to be completely and totally up front about the purchase and price, as well as your reasons, for the extra character packs expense, otherwise people feel like they are being reeled in like so many of the other companies do in the Android and multilayer market. I certainly felt like you were dangling a carrot in front of me leading down a road full of financial landmines. Lets face it, most people are not going to put in the time and effort to find out if you really are different than the other companies out there, which I now believe you truly are.

I highly suggest you put the link to this topic in the demo Market posting like you do in the paid version's, or include the pertinent character pack information in the listings.

Like I said at the top of this post, though I fully understand your reasoning, I cannot personally justify that kind of money for a game I will not be playing that often. Because of this, I also advocate lowering the price for your add-ons, or you could offer them in a donation type system.

With all that said, pending the outcome of my demo testing (and if you still want me after this), I look forward to joining and actively participating in the Hero Mages community.

BTW, this post has been edited because it came off like a diatribe; that was not my intentions. I do believe your efforts are sincere. I am merely pointing out what I believe was an unintentional flaw in how the marketing comes across. In the Android market, people are already suspicious because of the type of traps I describe above.