Welcome to Developer’s notes, a quick way to see what’s happening behind the scenes during Port Defender’s ongoing development cycles.

What would you like to see?

Do you like to Test semi-functional game?  Use the In-Game "E-mail Developer" button to get into the Port Defender 1.1.0 Beta Preview.  And please write something, I get way too many blank e-mails daily.

Future Releases

Previous Releases

Future Releases

Version 1.1.0

In Development

New Features:

• Updated tower graphics
• Updated creep animations
  • Individual slow, gas and burning animations
• New graphics engine
  • Animations
  • Simpler render cycle
  • Retnia graphic support for iPod & iPad
  • Retnia font support for iPod & iPad
  • Projectiles leave tower's at barrel exit
• New game engine
  • All settings loaded from configuration file
  • In game help system
  • Custom message support for waves
  • Modified game area size
    • Now 16x16, was 25x11
    • All layouts are required to have an overlay
• Updated interface
  • We are taking a hard look at the initial interface and will change it to be simpler to use.
    • Simplified layout selection
    • Simplified user selection
    • Removing options
    • Some features will be removed, and added back later in 1.1.1.
  • We have a lot of players, but many are not playing while on GameCenter, we have to fix that.
    • Giant Button to sign in with Game Center

Hey, we currently changed development focus and started to upgrade on our tools for game development.  So the next release will take a few months to get out, but we are hoping to have animations for each tower, and later down the line another art upgrade for creeps.

News update 2012-11-08

• Fixed a incorrect title on home screen
• Fixed a issue with setting description text view not scrolling to top by default
• Fixed an issue with Admin Goto Flag and Admin Selection not rendering
• Fixed issue with Admin's tower storage, eating towers when reloading

News update 2012-11-05

• We found a major bug in our wave generation logic, so we need to test out the common waves again (Thank the testers for noting this one)
• We added in actions to delete "local" accounts
• We added "Auto Pause" back in
• Need to fix an issue with "Factory Default" option setting music to off
• We added in icons to let you know more about why some actions are disabled
• Once we sort out the current issue and test a bit, its time to release

News update 2012-10-25

• Working on lite version
  • Many issues to fix

News update 2012-10-22

1. Trying to finish game
2. Working on iPad specific changes
3. Will need to test a few more maps

News update 2012-10-12

1. Implemented achivement logic/sending
2. Implemented leaderboard logic/sending
3. Next steps
   1. Win/Lose screen
   2. get the store working
   3. more testing
   4. Look into cloud storage to replace sync
   5. remove old 1.0.32 code from product
   6. release to public.

News update 2012-10-11

1. Switched to an ARC build, iOS 4.x+ required
2. Sound controls in pause menu
3. Working on GameCenter integration

News update 2012-09-28

1. Functional statistics screen
2. Stats are tracked while playing
3. Stats are updated on win/lose
   1. You have to actually win or lose to have stats updated

News update 2012-09-27

1. Added stats back into dev build
2. Changed some stat names
3. Working on engine <-> stats bindings

News update 2012-09-26

1. Added in iOS 6 and 4 inch display support

News update 2012-09-20

1. Working on user management

News update 2012-09-17

1. New domain, will share once ready, + ssl access
   1. Online "Public" editor????
2. Working on music playback
   1. Fixed looping bug
   2. Added in music security
3. Working on Forever Loop waves
   1. Multiple creep paths
   2. I keep failing to win, so its getting better
4. Migrating project to new laptop
5. Promoted internal content editor to its own local web server
   1. Will move tools to new domain later

News update 2012-09-12

1. Worked on playlist format
   1. Music will be randomized
2. Backend
   1. Better log formatting

News update 2012-09-11

1. Working on music playlists
   1. Playlists will change for in-game event's, such as boss/tense waves

News update 2012-09-06

Quick video: The new search feature

News update 2012-09-04

1. Help system
   1. In game help is almost working.  With it you can drag the search icon over a screen element and see it's name and description
2. Engine fixes
   1.  Fixed issues with action names and descriptions being wrong

News update 2012-08-30

1. Working on in-game help system
2. Balance
   1. Still working on "Common" wave set

News update 2012-08-27

1. New Game Testers, you should thank them for playing through semi-broken beta builds!
   1. gg-ace
2. Balance
   1. Still working on "Common" wave set
3. Changes
   1. New Help Icon
   2. Help Toggles Labels

News update 2012-08-21

1. Admin
   1. Made cooldown's longer
   2. Fixed action fuel check
2. Creeps
   1. Increased creep health for levels 15-90
3. While testing
   1. One wave around 50 was hair raising, almost lost, so much fun, had to use Admin's powers
   2. Need to increase difficulty around 30
   3. Need to increase difficulty for waves 56+

News update 2012-08-20

1. Admin
   1. Made upgrades more expensive
   2. Decreased attack/rapid/abduct duration
   3. Increased  attack/rapid/abduct cooldown
   4. Storage is disabled while power is low
   5. Upgrade is disabled while power is low
   6. Virtual joystick, only visible when in use
   7. Decreased attack delays
   8. Landing always costs over 1/2 total fuel
   9. Collecting fuel is more expensive
   10. Collecting fuel duration is shortened
   11. Storage slots are not visible while landed
   12. Rapid fire action only works when you have towers in admin
   13. Collect fuel button is diabled when full
   14. Admin movement logic has been moved to before layout rendering
   15. Note: This list is very long, because the Admin is currenly being tested.  And while testing it was deemed too powerful, so it's being nerfed a bit to let the creeps at least walk a bit before they explode.  Will add screenshots later.
2. Stat tracking
   1. Basic stat tracking
3. Towers
   1. Implemented "None" tower, it was missing
4. Events
   1. Implemented BOMB free logic
5. Actions
   1. Added in new flags to streamline pre-render checks

News update 2012-08-16

1. Tower placement
   1. Implemented status overlay, that will indicate a good tower position, bad tower position or cancel.

News update 2012-08-15

1. Admin
   1. Removed Admin's auto absorb feature
   2. Added in different land/rise buttons
2. Action bar
   1. Changed "slide actions" entry conditions to favor dragging towers, instead of sliding menu
3. Creeps
   1. Enabled onAbduction events
   2. When abducted a fuel icon is left behind for 1 second
4. Fixes
   1. "Creep on Fire" flag incorrrectly being used as "Creep Abducted"

1.1.0 Alpha Preview #8 - Admin features

News update 2012-08-15

1. Admin
   1. Land/Lift off works
   2. Landing costs points
   3. Lifting off is free
   4. Tower base extends from admin craft
   5. Movement disabled when on ground or taking off
   6. When on ground admin rotates to match internal gun tower's direction
   7. When on ground admin is on the same plane as towers, underneath projectiles
2. Fixs
   1. Admin auto-absorbing magnets
   2. Weak creeps not auto-absorbed
   3. Admin upgrade prices

News update 2012-08-14

1. Projectiles
   1. Added in Radar flag, which indicates if a missile should look for a new target if the current one is lost
   2. Gun projectile flies faster and will not find a new target
2. Towers
   1. Upgraded creep search algorithem to use simpler logic and be more flexible.
   2. Fixed Magnet creep auto-target power
3. Admin
   1. Made icons for each tower/level for the admin storage slots.
   2. Upgraded empty storage slot icon to be animated
   3. Added in abduct power
4. Creeps
   1. Found issue with "weak" creep definitions, will fix today

News update 2012-08-13

1. Admin fixes
   1. Rapid fire power functional
      1. Needs minor adjustments
   2. Attack power functional
      1. Needs minor adjustments
   3. Pickup/Exchange towers
      1. You can now exchange towers, whichout needing to drop one off first
   4. Control
      1. Fly to flag
         1. Tap anywhere while flying
         2. Use admin flag button to direct while not flying admin
      2. Direct control
         1. Supports inverted controls
   5. Zoom levels
      1. iPad and iPod specific values
2. Engine fixes
   1. Incorrect string assignment fixes

News update 2012-08-10

1. Added new features to engine builder
   1. Which are currently broken, will fix today
   2. Added in admin attack power

News update 2012-08-09

1. Tap on admin to select
2. Tap icon to select admin
3. Taping admin while selected will select tower underneath
4. Upgrade admin
5. Created Anchor Land/Rise button

News update 2012-08-07

1. Worked on the admin implementation and made a small video

News update 2012-08-3

1. Re-wrote engine compiler to steamline adding new data elements
2. Fixed bugs from engine re-write
3. Added Admin to engine format
4. Added Admin to game
   • Currently Admin just sits there, with no interaction
   • Working on call button, so you can request admin to move to your view point
     • Free Will in app purchase still works, so call woulden't be needed
   • Admin is on field by default
     • Free Admin in app purchase is still useful, since the admin still has to be upgraded.  So at level 30, it will auto upgrade to level 6, and refund any upgrades you made
     • 6 admin levels, 5 upgrades possible, each with different passive, and active features
   • Working on having admin move from Path 1's exit to initial view point, so it will sweep in to view
   • To select the admin you have to tap on it, like any other tower
     • To unselect tap admin or cancel
     • Admin has it's own custom actions
       • Cancel
       • Land/Takeoff (Requires fuels)
       • Tower Storage
       • Abduction power (Requires currency)
       • Counter power (Requires fuels)
       • Rapid-Fire power (Requires fuels)
       • Upgrade (Requires currency)

News update 2012-07-28

1. Worked on 3rd Admin design
   1. Need to make a few more adjustments, but it looks like a messed up gun tower.

News update 2012-07-25

1. Worked on memory management
   1. App will reduce it's size when minimized
2. Fixed UI leaks
3. Working on new Admin design

News update 2012-07-23

1. New Icons
   1. Use Flame Weapon
   2. Use Slow Weapon
   3. Use Gas Weapon
   4. Use Nuke Weapon
   5. Cancel
      1. You can also tap on cancel if dragging messes up
2. New Features
   1. Lasers
   2. 3D tire/magnet debris

News update 2012-07-20

1. Implemented effects
   1. Corpses
      1. Still needs some work
   2. Explosions
2. Created new artwork for
   1. Weak burning (In video)
   2. Strong burning (In video)
   3. Fire Explosion A (In video)
   4. Fire Explosion B (In video)
   5. Slow Explosion (In video)
   6. Gas Explosion (In video)
   7. Red laser
   8. Blue laser
   9. Magnet flying (In video)
   10. Tire flying (In video)

Alpha Preview 4: Explosions

News update 2012-07-12

1. Converted "Story" waves to new format
2. Tower's will now check the creep's type before flying.  Example. Anti-Air tower's will not attack ground troups.
3. Added in button to change layout filter
   1. All Layouts
   2. Open Layouts
   3. Path Layouts
   4. Mixed Layouts
4. Updated wave conversion to handle a few random exceptions and convert messages

News update 2012-07-11

1. Fixed wave conversion script
2. Fixed multiple path wave bug
3. Testing common & random waves

News update 2012-07-10

1. Worked on converting Common and Random waves to new file format.  Still need to work out a few bugs.

News update 2012-07-09

1. Worked on the level selection screen.

News update 2012-06-26

1. Conversions
   • Converted all layouts over to new format, except for a few which are outside the new size limitations.

News update 2012-06-25

1. Conversions
   • We started to convert Port Defender content into the new formats

News update 2012-06-22

1. Text rendering
   • Fixed issues with missing 'k' letter
2. Scripting support
   • Implmented feature enable/disable
     • Sell Tower
     • Upgrade Tower
   • Implemented tower enable/disable
     • Control to remove a tower from play, not just disable the icon

News update 2012-06-21

1. Text rendering
   • This may sound simple, but the engine can now render left and center aligned text
2. Scripting support
   • We just implemented the give/set/take script for modifying player resources
   • Message viewing support
   • Still need to implement more methods

News update 2012-06-10

1. Health animations
   1. This may be a small change, but health animations are in the game, so you can tell how much damage each creep receives

News update 2012-06-08

1. Event handling
   1. The game's key events, such as game start, game resume, on wave complete, on win and on lose are now scripted, so we can show messages directly to the user.

News update 2012-05-29

1. Font rendering
   1. With retina support
      1. This normally would not be possible with the BMFont tool, since there isn't a 2x image export option, but we took the time and wrote a *.fnt converter that will create high quality vector based output, and also makes the text look crisper
   2. Integrated into existing sprite render pipeline
   3. Will be able to have different fonts for iPads
2. Scoring
   1. Very basic right now, looking to expand
   2. Renaming score to "Valor" points
   3. Looking into a wave finished screen, since we got rid of messages
   4. Researching a new bonus system
3. Creeps
   1. Now provide currency and valor when destroyed, as they should
4. Rendering
   1. Each creep has unique fire, slow and gas image
   2. Fuel & Currency will be shown at the same time, before you were only shown fuel when flying the Admin

News update 2012-05-17

1. Projectiles follow creeps
2. Projectiles hurt creeps
3. Big Changes
   1. Each map has four different paths.
   2. Paths can be for walking or flying creeps
   3. Flying paths now follow same rules are walking creeps
      1. They can fly in different directions
   4. Game will automatically match wave paths to layout paths, so each layout can have a different ratio of walking/flying paths
   5. Wave file format is standardized, so random, common and map based waves are all the same

News update 2012-05-15

1. Creeps walk and follow path
2. Tower's track creeps
   1. Can upgrade/sell towers
3. Projectiles
   1. Engine format issues, will need to resolve

News update 2012-05-07

1. Fixed bugs in layout exporter/save/load
2. Working wave exporter
   1. Up to 4 paths with 2 creeps on each one
   2. Seperate walk/fly paths
   3. One file format for common/random & map based waves.
3. Game engine
   1. Layout loading
   2. Wave loading
   3. Layout-Path merging
   4. Path finding

News update 2012-04-18

1. Layout editor is functional
   • Change tile paint
   • Change tile walk status
   • Change tile fly status
   • Change tile walk status
   • Change creep entry/exit points
2. Need to get export system working
3. New tile images
   • 5 Grass
   • 5 Dirt
   • 1 Grate

News update 2012-04-17

1. New tileset texture for Retina devices
2. Tools under development
   1. Content manager (80%)
   2. Wave editor (80%)
   3. Layout editor (30%)
3. New content delivery model for streamlining downloads

News update 2012-03-22

Just implemented tower selection and drag and drop in the new engine.

News update 2012-03-20

The new engine is in alpha state.  It will currently load engine resources, handle touches and render certain objects.

News update 2012-02-21

We are still working on the backend systems.  The backend systems are critical for the game to successfully perform, and we have been able to squeeze out the following features.

• All game objects, menus, actions, creeps and towers are now defined in control files.
  • In the future it will be extremely easy add in new creeps and towers on demand.
• Animation files now exist, which tell the engine how to render.
  • Previously, all animations were hard coded.
• Animations define where the exits for each tower exist, so it can accurately place projectiles.
• Animation & Game configuration files have checksums to ensure that they are loaded correctly.
• Our new Atlas Rising tool has been a pretty big time investment, but with it we can create our animation and engine configuration definition from Source XML files.

News update 2012-02-07

Still working on the backend.  Engine design is almost done, just have to finish up the "generic" user interface, tower barrel exit points, level file format and wave file format.

News update 2012-01-23

Still working on game.  The scope of the update when from major update to major re-write, so were taking the neccessary time to actually plan and design the best game we can.

News update 2011-09-12

Adding ammo animation smaples.

News update 2011-09-07

At the moment all new tower designs are final, but there may be some tweaks if something doesn’t look right.  The next step is updating our internal Atlas Rising tools to support creating animations.  Outstanding items include redrawing the menus, projectiles, admin and talking animations.  Creeps will be converted to the new file format without any art upgrades.

News update 2011-09-03

Added animation sample for Gas Tower Level 1.  You may think its animation loop looks a bit weird, but that’s because it’s the only back loading tower in the game.  The gas tower needs to keep its ammo from prematurely exploding, so it uses magnetic force to accelerate and spin gas barrels towards creeps.  So the backwards motion is the tower moving the barrel back in order to later on accelerate it forward.  Please comment.

News update 2011-09-01

Added animation sample for Ray Tower Level 1 and 6.  Please comment.

News update 2011-08-21

Added animation saple for nuke tower level 1.  Just want to clarify a bit, but the tower actually pneumatically launches unpowered nuclear gliders, which is why they can’t attack flying creeps.

News update 2011-08-19

Worked on the initial Ray Tower designs and have a good idea on how to finalize them.  For reference the Ray Tower is the new Microwave Tower so they will act the same, but look different.

News update 2011-08-18

Working on the tools, was able to add in extra features to reduce 30 sprites down to 6 in order to save space.

News update 2011-08-17

Added animation sample for ping tower level 1.  The bar will glow blue when ready to fire.  After firing the bars will increase to show its re-loading progress.

News update 2011-08-15

Added animation sample for gun tower level 1.

News update 2011-08-10

Our new Texture Atlas tool, "Atlas Rising", is finally in a semi working state.

New tower designs are being worked on every night.  We will post up previews here as they progress.  Please feel free to comment, and animation samples for each tower will be posted later.

New Tools:

• Atlas Rising: Our custom "texture atlas" software package, and special thanks to Netbeans Platform 7.0.

New Design Previews:

Gun Tower V3 (Final design)

Flak Tower V2 (Final design)

Missile Tower V3

Coming soon

Ping Tower V3 (Final design)

Gas Tower V2 (Final Design)

Ray Tower V2 (Final design)

Nuke Launcher V2 (Final design)

Admin V2 (Out of Date)

Missile Shell (Will add gradiants)

Slow Shell

Gas Shell

Previous Releases

Version 1.0.32

Released 11/21/2011

Bug Fixes

• Fixed "Any Layout - Extreme" leader-boards not working

Version 1.0.31

Released 11/12/2011

Changes

• iOS 5 Fixes, moved around game asset files to reduce sync time. 
• Changed About to Credits 
• Added restore button for previously purchased items 
• Removed Classic menu view

Version 1.0.30

Released 5/26/2011

New Features:

• Random waves
  • Raising wave count from 100 to 300
    • Will raise generation cap over time
  • New file based generation system
    • Working on allowing online updates to random file
  • Testing results
    • 5/16/2011 Made it a little less difficult, lowered flying creep difficulty
    • 5/18/2011 Too difficult
    • 5/19/2011 Still too hard, updating random file
  • Will have a PDF/Page of combinations at some time
• Tower Placement
  • Rewrote algorithm to use current creep positions for more fluid placment
  • IE: You can place towers where creeps just walked, if it doesn't block other creeps from making it to the exit
  • Will resolve comment from Nametaken9321 posted on May 9, 2011 for Version 1.0.29 of Port Defender
  • Found issue with flying creeps marking open spaces as used
• Wave format
  • New format that allows for easier editing
  • Format ready, but not included with this build
• E-mail developer
  • Added in another checksum
  • Changed verbage
• Settings
  • Adding option to disable screen shot mode (Pause and don't touch game for 6 seconds)
• Pause screen
  • Switching screen from text to icons, more like the setting screen
• Game Center
  • Added in Creeps Destroid leaderboard
  • Added in Money leaderboard
  • Added in Random (Normal, Medium, Hard & Extreme) leaderboards
• Sync Tool
  • Changed transfer save game icon to layout icon
• Store
  • Option to buy all 3 items for less

Version 1.0.29

Released 4/14/2011

New Features:

• Added Sync Tool help icon

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed crash bug when using classic mode
• Changed "Classic View" text back to "Classic"
• Removed extra images
• Removed misc files from Lite version

Version 1.0.28

Released 4/8/2011

New Features:

• Added Splash & Game loading screens
  • 13 tips when starting or resuming game
  • 9 different startup logos
    • We wanted to be different, more to come later

• Added Sync Tool
  • Transfer save games & sync stats between devices
• Updated resume game icon
  • Icon has image of map and current wave number

• Updated store wait message
• Added online content to first time install
• Added in Rate Application dialog

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed issue when uploading stats would lock screen
• You can now Tap the cancel button when tower placement goes crazy
• Splash screen also solves issue/weirdness when starting app in portrait mode
• Fixed issues with certain view controllers leaking

Version 1.0.27

Released 1/13/2011

New Features:

• Basic scripting
  • Disable towers, selling, upgrading, bombs and admin
  • Clear towers from area
  • Pause
  • Add/Set/Remove money
  • Add/Set Health
  • For help info

Bug Fixes:

• Overlay setting
• Story text not working
• Easy reading font missing letter 'Z'
• Classic button enabled during loading
• Update function downloading installed content
• Changed email developer text to include "Write your message here text", because users are sending emails without writing anything.

Version 1.0.26

Released 1/5/2011

New Features:

• Changed layout selection menu
  • Added new start game button after user acceptance testing found fault with current top right button
  • Removed start game button from top right position

• Added Developer notes
• Added Email developer button
• Altered pause menu
  • Added in bottom toolbar
  • Moved increase difficulty button to bottom toolbar
  • Removed difficulty progress bar
• Made weapons stronger/faster
  • Damage has been increased for all weapons
  • Charge time has been standardized for all weapons
  • Need to make a better sound effect for weapon charging
• Moved Admin Button to far right, to match Cancel Button

• Updated Settings menu
  • Added Auto Pause setting

Bug Fixes:

• Fixed win/lose text placement (Missing line space)

• Fixed issues with placing towers in wrong location and bombs resetting when taking finger off screen
• Fixed achievement bug where obtaining extreme not unlocking hard

Version 1.0.25

Released 12/20/2010

New Features:

• New/updated weapons
  • Bomb!
  • Gas Bomb!
  • Nuke Bomb!
• Added in Build/Weapon toggle button
• Screen help button
• Classic UI
• Stat fixes
• New Store Items
  • Free Will
  • Cash 4 Admins

Version 1.0.8

Released 7/3/2009

New Features:

• Common waves introduced

Version 1.0.6

Released 5/20/2009

New Features:

• Nuke towers

Version 1.0.4

Released 4/22/2009

New Features:

• Flying creeps
• New maps

Version 1.0.3

Released 4/16/2009

New Features:

• Introduced Layout Overlays

Version 1.0.2

Released 4/8/2009

Version 1.0.1

Released 3/27/2009

Bug Fixes:

• Changed frame rate to 30 fps

Version 1.0.0

Released 3/17/2009

Hello World!

Note: Is your Game Center friend list empty, need another friend?  Add SlashAndBurn as a friend, and see how bad the developer is at playing his own game.