Tropic Euro - Updates and New Features

Connection bandwidth and speed improvements

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 10:22:44 GMT

The amount of data used to communicate with the Tropic Euro server has been reduced by up to 95% when playing online, handy if you are accessing the Internet through a mobile data network. This update should also result in significantly lower latency (delay) to the Tropic Euro server for all users, especially those on a slower Internet connection.

For those programmers amongst you, Tropic Euro now uses Kryo for ultra-efficient serialization over the Internet (it used default Java serialization previously). The About page on the website has also been updated with the full list of free / open source projects used in Tropic Euro.

Touchscreen mode added

Wed, 14 Mar 2012 10:28:44 GMT

An option has been added to the Log In window, which if selected uses an in-game layout especially suited to touchscreens. It replaces the "Share my country" option, which seems to have become redundant (over 99% of users were leaving it selected).

Mouseover effects for legal moves and lobby games

Fri, 24 Feb 2012 08:58:22 GMT

A visual effect is now displayed when the mouse is placed over a legal move in-game and also when over a lobby game at which you are not currently seated.

Connection speed and stability improvements

Tue, 14 Feb 2012 08:52:25 GMT

A major overhaul has been applied to the way that Tropic Euro communicates with the server, which should result in noticeably improved speed and stability, and compatibility with a wider range of internet configurations (including proxy servers). Several other performance tweaks have been made throughout the interface.

For those programmers amongst you, all client/server communication is now done using Ripe RMI - a much more efficient and robust alternative to Java RMI, which Tropic Euro used previously.

Remember password option added

Tue, 24 Jan 2012 10:22:55 GMT

An option has been added to the Log In window, which if selected stores your password (encrypted) on your computer.

Net change indicators added

Wed, 04 Jan 2012 10:52:25 GMT

Three indicators have been added to each island window to show the net change in cash, VP and tools during the current role phase.

Lots of minor updates have also been made to the interface as a whole, including more descriptive tooltip messages, graphical tweaks and performance improvements.

Tools Left and VP Left sections improved

Wed, 07 Dec 2011 10:22:55 GMT

The Tools Left and VP Left sections now include an icon to provide a clearer indication of their primary associated role, and a blue title bar to give them a more consistent look and feel with the rest of the interface. This title bar turns red for the appropriate Tools/VP section if it triggered the end of the game.

The "tools on boat" section has also been replaced with a clearer, language-independent graphic that turns green when it is the optimal time to choose the Equipper role - when choosing it results in two more tools than everyone else.

Island renaming

Thu, 15 Sep 2011 08:25:52 GMT

It is now possible to rename each island by right-clicking inside the island window, useful for testing out new strategies or if multiple people are sharing the same computer.

Keyboard shortcuts added for the role selection buttons

Thu, 08 Sep 2011 08:58:55 GMT

A keyboard shortcut has been added for each of the role selection buttons in the main window, including Alt+P for the Planter role and Alt+C for the Producer role. Also note that when there are two Investor roles available (i.e. during a 5 player game), Alt+I will automatically choose the Investor role with the higher cash bonus.

Goods Available and Goods Produced sections improved

Tue, 23 Aug 2011 10:58:55 GMT

The Goods Available section in the main window now displays each good with a red background colour when fewer than three of that type are remaining, and shows them as semi-transparent when completely run out. The Goods Produced section in each island window now highlights any good that was traded during the current Trader phase and any goods that were produced during the current Producer phase.

Keyboard shortcuts and tooltips added for the lobby

Tue, 09 Aug 2011 08:52:55 GMT

A range of keyboard shortcuts have been added for the buttons, drop-down boxes and other controls in the lobby, including Alt+C to create a new game and Alt+S to start the game. Tooltips are now displayed when you put your mouse over each game in the "Games Waiting" and "Games in Progress" sections.

Help to improve the hard AI player

Fri, 08 Jul 2011 10:58:22 GMT

For those of you interested in programming/AI, or if you want to help improve the AI, the spreadsheets and source code for the CPU Hard player are now available to download at the Tropic Euro website.

"1 left" indicator added

Mon, 04 Jul 2011 10:28:52 GMT

Buildings (with initial quantity greater than 1), plantations and quarries now show a clear "1 left" indicator when they are about to run out.

Lobby improved, governor indicator now orange

Thu, 02 Jun 2011 08:52:58 GMT

The "Create Game" button behaviour has been improved, with the created game now being displayed immediately below (it previously appeared on top of the button). A status box has been added next to the chat input box to show whether you are chatting in the lobby or at a particular game. The colour of the role box in the island window for the current governor has been changed to bright orange, so it should now be much clearer who is governor.

Rubber colour altered, new music added

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:22:52 GMT

The green/grey colour used for the rubber good throughout the game has been made lighter, to improve the clarity and distinction of the five goods for people with colour blindness. The built-in music player also now includes the latest new piece from Inner Version called "Reflection #5 (Tail Flowers)".

Please contribute towards Tropic Euro server running costs

Tue, 17 May 2011 10:22:50 GMT

Tropic Euro is now run as a donation model to fund the dedicated server running costs and further development of the game. It will remain free to download and try out, but please contribute what you can, either via a PayPal donation or by downloading Inner Version music (either is fine).