Version 0.8.0 Released

This version has a new map, "The Courtyard", in the full version of the game. Also improved "back button" handling in the menu for all versions.

Enjoy!

Updates Coming Soon

I thought I would update you on some of the changes we are working on. Depending on how testing goes, these changes may be rolled out as a single release or as a few. We expect to release the update in a few days...

The next few releases will contain:

- A new level for the full version. This level is the most challenging yet. I've been having a lot of fun playing the prototype and am excited to get it to you.
- New achievements to go with the new level
- A new in-game options menu. This menu will let you toggle the following while playing the game:
  + Sound
  + Whether the game leaves fast forward mode at the end of each level
  + Whether the game leaves fast forward mode if you lose health

Further out, you can expect additional levels and some "boss units". We'll release the new content as we finish it :)

Version 0.7.5 Released

This new release adds 13 new achievements, most of them map-specific.

Other changes include:

- Better 'back' button handling on the phone
- Slight balancing tweaks (made the anti-air towers a bit stronger)

Version 0.7.1 Released

This version adds automatic backup of your progress (rewards/achievements). The backup is made each time you go to the title. If you progress gets lost for some reason, the backup will automatically be used to restore the progress. Like most backup systems, this means that you may lose a little bit of progress if the backup has to be used, but not all of it.

Note that the backup does not protect your data if you uninstall the game. It mainly prevents data loss if the phone is forced to kill the game while its in the middle of saving progress (due to low power, etc).

Robo Defense Screenshots

Here are some screenshots of the game. Enjoy!

Version 0.7.0 Released

Version 0.7.0 is a bug-fix release that fixes several critical bugs (and a minor one)

Bugs fixed:

- Fixed "force close" bug that would trigger if an enemy is killed at same time it reaches the exit.
- Fixed "Internal Error: 500 Enemies" error that would trigger the game was interrupted/restarted a lot
- Changed save logic so that, if the game force closes for some reason, you will no longer lose your last save.
- Tweaked drawing routine for better stability on a heavily loaded phone
- Fixed bug where volume control would change ringer volume if a sound was not actively playing

Download Issues

For those that are having issues downloading the game, we'd like to share some pointers that we found:

http://multiplefacets.com/corporateblog/2009/03/10/android-market-problems/

Please note that we do not run the download service so advice is the best we can offer (unfortunately).

If anyone has additional tips, feel free to comment.

Full Version Released

We have just released the full version of Robo Defense for $2.99.

We sincerely hope you enjoy it. The full version contains all of the features of the FREE one (of course) plus the following:

- 2 new, more challenging, maps.
- Unlimited upgrades
- Unlimited difficulty levels
- Ability to unlock all achievements

We will continue to enhance both the free and full versions over the next few months. Thank you for your support!

Remember, if you would like your rewards and achievement data to copy from the free version to the full one, please make sure that you are updated to v0.6.0 of the free version (or higher) before installing the full one. You also need to run the updated free version at least once (going to the title screen, then exiting is fine) See our last post for what to do if you accidentally start the full version before updating.

(We'll try and get some screenshots posted here soon)

Version 0.6.0 Released

This version adds support for transferring rewards and achievements from the FREE to the full version the first time the full version is run.

For this to work, version 0.6.0 or higher of the free version must be installed and run at least once before installing the full version. This step is required because older versions of the free version didn't allow the save data to be shared.

Note: the full version is not released as I write this but upgrading your free version now to >= 0.6.0 will ensure you are ready.

If you happen to install the full version before updating the free one:

- Uninstall the full version (main menu -> settings -> applications -> manage applications -> Robo Defense -> uninstall)
- Install/run the latest free version
- reinstall the full version

and the rewards/achievements should transfer.

Notes on the full version

Here is a quick full-version FAQ:

When will the full version be released?

We hope to have an initial version ready in a day or two. We'll keep you posted on the status from this page.

How much will the full version cost?

We have not decided on a final cost yet, but are thinking around $3.99

What does the full version add?

These are the enhancements for the first release:

- 2 new maps
- Unlimited reward upgrades
- Unlimited difficulty levels
- The ability to get achievements like "Score 1,000,000 points in one game". These achievements are not technically locked in the free version, but the difficulty level cap makes them inaccessible.

We are also planning several additional maps, unlockable tower types, new enemy types, and new unlockable achievements; all free for full version owners, of course.

Will my rewards/upgrades transfer from the free version to the full one?

Yes, provided that you are running v0.6.0 or higher of the free version

Version 0.5.2 Released

Version 0.5.2 contains the following changes:

- Fixed Internal error that looks similar to this "Internal Error: 102 > 100 Enemies"
- Centered health bar on larger units

Version 0.5.1 Released

Version 0.5.1 contains the following changes:

- Fixed "force close" issue that would occur if you received a call, opened the case, or had a similar event occur during a game
- Balance change: Made the Jets slightly slower and weaker

Robo Defense FREE now available!!

After many months of very hard work, Robo Defense FREE is now available on Android Market. The abstract will tell you most of what you need to know:

Robo Defense is the ultimate portable tower defense experience. Featuring open maps to allow countless strategies, upgradeable towers, permanent stat upgrades, a revolutionary achievement system, smooth frame-rates, and some pretty sweet graphics. The free version features 1 map with 11 difficulty levels.

The full version will feature additional maps and a lot more difficulty levels. We hope to release it in about a week or two.

As we were not first to market with a tower defense game, most people will get the gist of how to play. Basically, robots are trying to get from one side of the map to another, and it's your job to stop them by building and upgrading some defense towers.

More info to come...