Since joining Microsoft, I have been pretty busy with work and therefore had not much time for this blog. Whenever I have a few minutes, I try to squeeze in some Windows Phone 7 Game Development and I’m planning to write a few things about it in the future…

If you want to be cool, you can also start developing Apps and Games for WP7 using either Silverlight or XNA. Go ahead and give it a try, you’ll love it!

ANNO 1404: Dawn of Discovery was awarded in five categories at this years German Game Developer Award.

It won the audience award for “Best German Game 2009″ and jury awards in the categories “Best German Strategy Game”, “Best Game Design”, “Best Graphics” and “Best Soundtrack”. Since the German Developer Award is regarded as the most important award for developers of computer and console games in Germany, I’m a little proud myself.

Throughout his thesis, Tjuhl developed a framework and mechanism for an online world economy free of goldfarming. Those pesky goldsellers have become a major annoyance to the players, but also to virtual gods, people and companies that operate and develop online games. While flashing those persons to virtual death with lightning is fun for a short while, at some point it just takes too much time and effort to deal with that nuisance.

Tjuhl’s approach to tackle this issue: (1) Install a compulsory-to-use auctioneer that conceals all transaction partner identifiers (time, price, amount, location, name) to trade participants and that designates trade partners. (2) Validate auctions based on the full trade data provided by the users and the minimum price effectively established by computer-controlled shopkeepers.

To find out how this mechanism works in detail, go check out the article at http://virtual-economy.org/blog/resolving_goldfarming_through_. Congrats to Tjuhl on your  publication!

Yet another of my recent projects gone gold: Thanks to the combined effort of Tjuhl and me, I am happy to release version 1.0 of Capture the Egg to the public! Be assured that’s not the last you will see from CtE, we have planned some hot new features and 4 more classes for version 1.1. Stay tuned for more!

Continue to the Capture the Egg Project Page

It’s done! The production of ANNO 1404 (international title: Dawn of Discovery) is finished and the game will ship June 25th. Time to go on a 2 week vacation!

Teeworlds is a free retro multiplayer shooter and a nice litte game for lunch break. It features deathmatch and capture the flag game modes, looks like an old NES platformer and plays like Worms in realtime - including mad ninja rope action!

Since it’s such a fun little game and has a level editor included, it didn’t take long, before I was creating my first map: dm_pinnacle…

As the name suggests, dm_pinnalce is a deatmatch map for 4 to 6 players, designed for symmetric fast paced action, and set in some kind of jungle-tower-temple-tingy.

Map Overview

Download Map

Good news for everybody who kept asking what I am currently working on: At this year’s Games Convention in Leipzig, Ubisoft announced Anno 1404. The sequel to the successful Anno series offers a richness of features never before seen, including the ancient Orient and it’s technology.

The GC 2008 Trailer is available in German and English:

• GC 2008 Trailer (English)
• GC 2008 Trailer (German)

Last week, I moved to Mainz (Mayence) and started my new job as Junior Level Designer at Related Designs, so I’m quite busy at the moment…

PS: Living in Mainz is awesome

Class Description

The Protector is heavily armored and highly proficient in the use of a shield and protection of his allies. Charging into battle and smashing his mighty shield against his foes, he serves as first line of defense. Every blow he takes only builds up his Perseverance, making him more determined to protect his allies at any cost.

Class Mechanic
The Protectors Guardian Aura increases the armor of all allies within range by 20. Additionally, all damage inflicted to affected allies is also dealt to the Protector. The Protector gains 1 Perseverance for every 2 points of damage inflicted to him. Perseverance degenerates over time and by using abilities.

Abilities

Charge
10 seconds cooldown. Charge towards an enemy unit, stunning it for 5 seconds. Any damage dealt to the stunned unit will break the stun. In addition, the Protector instantly gains 15 Perseverance.

Shield Slam
Costs 15 Perseverance. 10 seconds cooldown. The Protector slams his shield on the ground, reducing the movement speed of all enemy units in range by 60%.

Retribution
Costs 30 Perseverance. 15 seconds cooldown. 75% of all damage dealt to the Protector is reflected to the attacker. Also applies to damage transferred by the Guardian Aura. Lasts 10 seconds.

Last Stand
Costs 75 Perseverance. 20 seconds cooldown. Increases the hit points of the Protector by 600 and of all allies in range by 300. Lasts 10 seconds.