Tacking Battle - User feed back enhances smart device sailing game

Tacking Battle can be downloaded from the Google Playstore or Apple iTunes Axel Ulrich

More zoomed view of Tacking Battle © Axel Ulrich

What a bummer! After months of modeling, programming and grafting for our sailing game, there was really someone who came up with this question after the first release was published. As if we didn't have a clue. Well, actually we do have a clue.

Of course, we also receive other mails, approving, positive, excited ones. However, a slating review is rather kept in mind than an approval.

Our game is called Tacking Battle and this is exactly what it is. It's a zigzag course, there's a competitor and you can tack, luff, bear away. You have to catch the wind shifts; otherwise you're going to lose. You can force the competitor to unwanted tacking, which will cost him time. Tacking costs speed, just like in real life. There're levels, and the competitor becomes quicker and tactically better with each level. So if you want to be the first to cross the finish line, concentration is what you need.

However, after 50 mails or so, the picture becomes clearer. Apart from a few exemptions, everybody's criticizing the same points. So this is why we do some soul-searching and listen to you.

As a gag, we had programmed the competitor with the ability to break rule number 10 if he was in a quite ticklish situation. So if I finally reached the right side after several attempts, getting the chance to nail my competitor down just before the boundary and being able to force him to tack, he just crashed into me. Okay, that actually is frustrating.

We hadn't figured on the rigor of the audience. People wanted the dude to abide by the rules. Well, they weren't all wrong. So we modified the competitor so that he does that now. We're talking about rules 10, 11, 12, 13 and 19.

And then there was the wish for realistic wind dirt, nothing wrong with that as well. Besides, initiated tacking wanted to be interrupted, which also makes sense.

Tacking Battle can be downloaded from the Google Playstore or Apple iTunes © Axel Ulrich

Additionally, there was the request for greater differences between the levels and – very important – wind shifts to two sides instead to one side only. Actually, we had already expected this before.

So everything is included now and available in the App Store for iPhone and iPad as well as in the Google Play Store for Android.

Up to now we've only received positive feedback, for example: 'It is much more fun and challenging.' - 'Well done, great game' or 'I’ve just started to play and I’m captivated.'

I just wanted to say 'well done' :-)

Someone wrote: 'Has addictive potential.'

This is music to our ears. And the ideas we've got up our sleeve deliver more than enough material for further versions.

Tacking Battle is ideal for filling in those 'in between' moments over the Christmas and holiday period.

The app is detailed on www.nouveda.com and available in the App Store and Google Play Store for $ 1.99.