Xeno Sola -- Carcassonne Style Game in Space

[xenoclone]

I've developed a Windows game called "Xeno Sola", which is directly inspired by Carcassonne. I don't know if it's a "variant" technically, but I thought I'd share it with everyone. It involves building a space station with tiles. Power lines are the same as roads. Landing pads are like castles. And then there are power nodes -- which, basically, score when all connected power lines are completed.



The download site is here. Just so people don't feel like I'm advertising, below is a key for anyone to unlock the full version. I don't expect folks to pay for it on this forum. But I would love to get some feedback. I'd eventually like to make a sequel with player input in mind.

Here's the key: 4xtt-nkhc-cmgz-h4q5

With that said, any thoughts or ideas? Anything is open to discuss.

UPDATE: I've removed the availability of this game in anticipation of the Starcassonne release.

[scotty13]

I will be checking it out for sure.  Thanks for the key.  Thats really cool.

[Lakoda]

Great game, the betting mechanic offers a nice twist!  Initial feedback ... having to click up in the corner for my tile is kind of annoying, but overall this is a very well polished game.

[scotty13]

Should of read how to play first, because I was way down on points at first, but quikly caught on and beat the computer guy.

Great game.  I like the idea of being able to move alrighty placed tiles if nobody has it claimed.

I have the PC Carcassonne game with the river, inns, traders and the King and Hunters & Gatherers and now this, so I have a few to chose from.

Thanks alot.

[xenoclone]

Thanks for the comments. Any ideas on how to make a better sequel? I've got my own, but I'd like to hear ideas untainted by my thoughts first.

[xenoclone]

Hey guys.... sorry to bring up an old thread. But I'm currently porting this game over to the iPhone. I'm curious if anyone has any suggestions on this game, or how they feel a Carcassonne style game should play on an iPhone?

Site: http://www.cascadiagames.com/game_xenosola.html

[Wishmaster]

Can't help you regards iPhone. How about a PSP version? 

Regards the excellent PC version - I've entered your serial code (Top of this thread and thank-you!), but the game seems to want me to enter it everytime I play. Is that correct?

[xenoclone]

It shouldn't. But it seems to do that on Vista, unfortunately. 

[Wishmaster]

It shouldn't. But it seems to do that on Vista, unfortunately. 

That'll explain it then.... Yep, I got Vista. 

[xenoclone]

Well I'm making good progress. The tile shows up in the bottom left of your screen. The board shows faded out versions of that tile where it can be placed. So you just have to drag the tile over to place it. Same goes for the bets (weighted meeples). Lifting tiles works similarly. Rotate is handled by the middle buttons. Discard is handled by tapping the bottom left tile. Overall, it's starting to feel much improved over the PC version.

One flaw from the PC that I'd like to rectify is the tile stack. Right now it's generated randomly with a little weighting. Do folks here know what a proper Carcassonne stack is comprised of? I'd like to have a (mostly) fixed set of tiles for this version. I think that helps balance the play more.

[Novelty]

Do you have a screenshot (or better still, a photo of it running on an iphone) that you can show us?  I know it is still in development, but that will be interested to see.

I have no idea what do you mean by "stack" but for a list of tiles in each Carcassonne expansion, you can check out the CAR.

[xenoclone]

Sure. I'm surprised I hadn't put one in here. I think it's a fairly novel way to compress the interface. This is a slightly dated pic.



When I say the "stack" what I mean is the complete set of tiles. When you open up a Carcassonne box, there's a certain number of road tiles, a certain number of castles, etc. For the PC Xeno Sola, this set was comprised of a random group of tiles. That throws off the inherent balancing that comes with a predetermined set.

[Novelty]

Wow, this looks great.  I can't wait to get it onto my iPhone.

Well, if you want to look at the list of tiles for each expansion, the CAR has it near the end, after the rules.  You can download the CAR from the link at http://www.carcassonnecentral.com/forum/index.php?topic=587.0

[xenoclone]

Wow, fast reply! Thanks, Novelty. That PDF works perfect for what I need.

[Novelty]

Glad I could help.  Well, I guess by helping you I'm helping myself since I'm awaiting eagerly for the end product