This update was authored by Gabriel and was released on 25 November 2011.
We've all been working hard in preparation for the VIP Access launch on 6 December, and we've made some major changes to the game. In this series of posts, we'd like to introduce some of the changes and invite your speculation on what this will mean for the game. Today's post starts off with performance improvements — and we're also introducing a new pal…
Performance Improvements
8Realms was originally fully HTML-based, using Inline Frames for pop-ups. That made for a sluggish interface, and over time we've added bits of JavaScript to speed it up.
For our VIP Access launch, we're taking this further. We've reworked our old HTML for faster load times, and interfaces now load on a single request. That means less server stress, and a faster game overall. We've also restructured our JavaScript optimisations. The first thing you’ll notice in the VIP Access version of 8Realms is that Settlement pop-ups now respond instantly, and the Activity Stream refreshes much more snappily.
Further, we've optimised a lot behind the scenes. We've done a lot of technical work on the game's back-end to reduce server stress and speed-up game loads. A lot of our tweaks won't be directly visible to you, but we hope you'll notice a much smoother 8Realms play experience, and we're looking forward to your reactions.
Gary
We've played with the idea of having a "helper" character before — and as 8Realms has grown in complexity, we've decided to add a virtual friend to help new players get to grips with the basic game mechanics.
Our aim with Gary is to complement other enhancements we've made to the early game experience, such as new highlighting, improved interfaces and introductory help. Wherever we feel a new player might get stuck, Gary's now there to provide a helping hand.
Does this mean that seasoned players won't benefit from Gary? Not at all. One of our other objectives with Gary is to put a little of our team character into the game. There's a little bit of us all in Gary, and his text is as entertaining as it is informative.
We hope you'll grow attached to your new pal — after all, he's a bit dim and bumbling, but he always comes through in the end. (Wait, did we say this was reflective of our team character? Oops…)
That's it for now, but we do have lots more to reveal, so stay tuned in the coming days for more. Until then, have a great weekend, and we'll look forward to hearing from you on the forums!
Gabriel
8Realms Wordsmith