I very much doubt they would somehow yank the app off of people’s devices once the multiplayer servers go down.
But you will have to deal with Stoneblade’s. As part of the Kickstarter, they sent out a survey to backers asking them for their top three choices for username. And how this will tie in with SolForge, which has already made me create an account, is unclear.
opkopk
1942
The main reason for the second login from whoever is multiplatform. Stoneblade’s engine has the same issues of login layers.
I don’t begrudge these guys wanting more money and information about their customers. There’s just an erosion of the simplicity and ubiquity that Apple’s GC system fosters. I don’t think Big Daddy, Stoneblade, or Playdek fully understand how disruptive and off putting this extra layer is. It’s hard if not impossible to do it right.
I really believe Ascension wouldn’t be half as popular with even one extra layer of BS. It just glazes people over and they don’t bother. These are complicated games with plenty of barriers to entry as it is. Remembering passwords and usernames is a total beating. GC solves that and lets us actually learn the games.
Hopefully the new Ascension app uses the new Google play system / openauth as a single login.
Playing in the league, I have a hard time getting too bent out of shape about paying an extra $10 bucks or whatever to re-buy all the expansions. I’ve already played 150+ games in a couple months, which amortizes out to not much at all.
But then, the way I see it I’m re-buying it on Android / PC. If I wasn’t switching platforms, I might be more pissed about it.
opkopk
1944
Having SolForge on iOS & steam is cool (now if only the game was better…) and I’ll probably play Ascension on there, but it’s no where near as much as I’ll play on iOS. There’s zero chance I’m switching from those platforms and I’ll pay pretty much anything for Ascension on iOS. I’ve played over 2000 multiplayer games and have totally gotten my money’s worth. It’s still not worth losing your username and the extra login hassles.
You sure those are typos? A couple of people on TA said that character just talks funny.
Some interesting news on the new ascension game that’s supposed to be coming out.
UPDATE 3: A Stone Blade spokesperson reached out to clarify the statement they released earlier today. Ascension for iOS will continue to be a paid app and will be supported by Playdek – only the new PC and Android editions will be free to download. That seems pretty unequivocal that Playdek’s iOS version of Ascension is here to stay, and I’ve amended the post title to reflect that. Whew.
Taken from the pocket tactics article over here: http://pockettactics.com/2013/02/12/stone-blade-to-crowdfund-a-new-ascension-online-future-of-existing-ios-ascension-in-doubt/
Hopefully this means that we’ll be able to play cross platform with help to playdek from Stone blade. Either way you won’t have to rebuy expansions on iOS. Only on pc and android it seems, something I’m entirely fine with.
No, Playdek’s version has a limited shelf life (emphasis added):
The fact that Playdek specifically mentions support for online play through 2014 would imply that single player isn’t going anywhere. As long as you buy the Playdek app by July 2014.
That’s a slightly dated Pocket Tactics post you’re referring to there. This is one the most recent word on the subject:
Playdek’s iOS Ascension will be alive and kicking through 2014, the statement says, and the app will receive the Immortal Heroes expansion this June.
“When Stone Blade Entertainment launches Ascension Online on iOS (currently scheduled for July of 2014), Playdek’s Ascension iOS app will be removed from the app store, but Playdek will continue to support online play through the remainder of 2014.”
So buying Immortal Heroes when it drops this summer gives you a year and a half to get your money’s worth out of it on Playdek’s app. When we spoke last month, Gary seemed doubtful that you’d be able to transfer your Playdek expansion purchases into the new Stoneblade ecosystem, and the statement seems to affirm this. Buying expansions in the PC or Android version of Ascension Online will unlock them in next year’s iOS edition, however.
Playdek Ascension will be dead at the end of next year.
edit: shout-out to my evil twin Justin Fletcher
Funny how you bolded the one part that I didn’t. Teamwork! [high five]
geewhiz
1950
They could just give their new iOS Ascension app away for free for a day or two to solve the problem.
Chronicles of the Godslayer will be free. The expansions will still cost moolah, though.
So I’m a bit confused about all of this. When the Android and PC version comes out will I be able to play those players with my current iOS version?
If there’s at least 18 months of time to play Immortal Souls before the Playdeck multi-player support goes away, that is plenty of time to get 500% value out of the purchase.
I’m not cheering about having to buy again, but this may be the game I’ve gotten the most entertainment out of in the several years I’ve owned iOS devices. I’ll pay for it again to keep playing, grumble, and then go back to having a blast.
No. (I’m definitely sure)
But you will once you buy the new iOS AO version that comes out in July 2014.
I figured out how it works!
If you already own Ascension but not the promo packs, and have played at least one game within the last week, then you can link your Twitter account to the new expansion, although you will lose your online 3P and 4P results (unless you purchase the new expansion between 14:00 and 18:00 GST +8), but anyone who purchased Agricola while it was on sale for $3.99 through AppShopper on June 24 will need to create a new password that includes at least one capital number and one asshole.
Ah, I understand. Now when is the stupid update coming?
I thought I missed a sale on Agricola…geez.
Reed
1960
Does anyone know if there are any sites that deal specifically with mobile games for gamers? News on releases, lists of the best core games, etc.
Basically a site that would deal with games like Agricola, Kingdom Rush, X-Com, Dungeon Raid and the like.
