Feature Feedback: Sound, Unit graphics, map colors, AI adjustments, daychange

13 Nov 2019, 15:18

We have new features on Beta to test. These features are part of our CoW 1.5 initiative, but because they are not affecting the gameplay, we will release them to live already after a short beta testing phase of 2 weeks. The live release will happen on 26th of November.

Sound & Music

We implemented sound effects and background music into the game, for more immersion. Have a listen and tell us if you feel that some sounds are too loud or too quiet or if you feel that certain sounds are missing, e.g. for specific actions or buttons. There is also a toggle in the game settings to turn sound on and off.

Note: Sound works much better in the advanced graphics version, as there the volume of certain sounds change depending on how far your screen is away from the source of the sound, making the experience very dynamic. In the old graphics version (Canvas) this info is sadly missing, making all sounds displayed at full volume on the map. (maybe gets fixed later)

Vehicle Graphics Update

We updated the unit graphics for vehicles to improve the look and feel of the game. We also added faction specific vehicle skins where they were missing. The graphics for the other units will be updated in future updates.

Map colors

To improve the look and feel of the game we changed the map colors in the advanced graphics version, especially in the relation view mode, where we felt the initial look was "too much blue". Therefore the relation mode received a different color palette. Water and fog of war color also got a bit lighter.

Daychange adjustments

We implemented a daychange timer in the upper right corner in the PC version and in the bottom right corner in the mobile version, so that players know at all times when the next daychange will happen. We also changed the time of daychange to the time when a game round started, for newly created games. This means future rounds will not have their daychange always on midnight CET, but on the time when the round was created. The visible daychange timer should help with that switch. This is done for 2 reasons: a) decrease alot of server load and b) remove disadvantages from players in certain time zones who always had the day change at very unpopular times.

AI adjustments

Popularity with Elite AI should not drop as fast anymore, resulting in less early war declarations from AIs. Also AI should now build less units which it cannot use well, like Airplanes and ships, and build more units which it already leveled up alot.

Unit Layouting

In the enhanced graphics version unit images on the map push each other away a bit so that images don't overlap anymore. This should help with seeing and selecting armies in crowded areas.

Hope you like the changes and happy testing!

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42 Replies

4 Dec 2019, 11:38

How about only one language or only main language that COW uses?

4 Dec 2019, 13:48

thanks once again for developing the game.

the Day Change is a big improvement. I can now get intel that is relatively fresh and not 8 hours old.

am not so keen on the sound as it becomes a bit repetitive. The real value would be if we added unit or command acknowledgements.

For example clicking on construction generates a sound of general building work, hammers, saws etc. Clicking on a unit generates a sound or voice , giving a move command generates a voice message "on our way", "moving out" "let's roll" etc.

firing artillery "Fire For Effect!!". That would generate a bit more engagement I feel. Obviously we need heavily accented voices "Let's go, schnell, schnell" "Comrades, for the Motherland" etc.

I have found the game to be more responsive to commands as well and overall the appearance has improved.

4 Dec 2019, 17:23

Having unit voices and quotes is definitely a nice thing. But it's a "nice to have" task. Maybe in the future, not now.

4 Dec 2019, 20:01

freezy wrote:
aving unit voices and quotes is definitely a nice thing. But it's a "nice to have" task. Maybe in the future, not now

as opposed to music and random battle sounds? doesn't seem quite the correct priority IMHO

4 Dec 2019, 20:20

Sorry prefer music and battle sounds but actually play without headset or sounds. Language is fine but what if the FR spoke French, Polish spoke Polish, Germans speak German etc - and then with a worldwide game how many languages do you have to translate to? Whilst particular engines make different sounds, the sound of an engine is universally recognisable. So having confirmatory "Yes, Sir!", "Moving to that location", or whatever seems, to me at least, a nice to have but doesn't affect my enjoyment. I even used to turn the sound off on Atari games with the square ball and two bats/paddles cos I found it irritating - oops, showing my age. LOL.

4 Dec 2019, 21:23

@Steve_The_Tyke I would have beaten you at the paddles lol.

No I realise languages is bigger than just engine noises but there aren't that many types of orders to give either.

4 Dec 2019, 21:55

@Captain Hurricane you probably would have, lol.

Can't recall which Game Developer mentioned it but believe there are over 20 Languages to translate to and phrases such as "Got your back" or 'Got you covered' aren't immediately obvious to translate. Remember from some NATO meetings, the UK & USA agreed not to use "Can we 'Table' this?" since UK put it on the Table to consider it yet USA take it off the Table! (UK would say 'Shelve it' meaning take it off table and put it on the shelf.

As a Yorkshireman/Englishman I'm even learning Jockanese - since here in Scotland they say "There's a Chap at the door" but don't mean there's a man at the door but a Knock at the door - and can be a woman!

4 Dec 2019, 22:34

Aye, well I had to learn about wee bairns myself ya ken?

There aren't 20 languages in the game, the servers are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russia, Turkish, Japanese, Czech and Dutch. So half that. Am sure that for particular expressions there is an equivalent in each language.

6 Dec 2019, 15:07

Captain Hurricane wrote:
the servers are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russia, Turkish, Japanese, Czech and Dutch.

The German server no longer exists?

That is a drastic change, just to save a bit of rental costs for servers.

7 Dec 2019, 08:36

WayneBo wrote:
Captain Hurricane wrote:
the servers are English, Spanish, Portuguese, Polish, Russia, Turkish, Japanese, Czech and Dutch.
The German server no longer exists?That is a drastic change, just to save a bit of rental costs for servers.

lol. German game... They should have German Server

7 Dec 2019, 13:47

yes they do but in this case since the majority of Bytro staff are German it is not necessary to translate since they speak the language. I only mentioned the languages that are used and would require translation. BTW most of Europe also speaks English so no need to hire translators for that either.

8 Dec 2019, 01:44

Captain Hurricane wrote:
yes they do but in this case since the majority of Bytro staff are German it is not necessary to translate since they speak the language. I only mentioned the languages that are used and would require translation. BTW most of Europe also speaks English so no need to hire translators for that either.

Not everyone can speak English

9 Dec 2019, 17:25

Ryan04px2025 wrote:
Not everyone can speak English

what has this got to do with the number of languages that need to be translated by Bytro staff?

10 Dec 2019, 08:35

Captain Hurricane wrote:
Ryan04px2025 wrote:
Not everyone can speak English
what has this got to do with the number of languages that need to be translated by Bytro staff?

Sorry, you changed the original language topic too! I meant this.

Ryan04px2025 wrote:
Even though I am not frontline, but now that it is released to all. So I was saying that I do not like the mechanical tank moving sound. I think that the sound should combine a bit more "louder" sounds because after all, it is a tank and not a car. Also, maybe a few sound orders given in German, English or the language of the country you are playing. For example hearing the sound, " Attack/March " for Canada and the U.S.

10 Dec 2019, 10:18

I didn't change it, it was in response to another member's responses.

your post remains unrelated although I see you like the sounds concept as well @)

10 Dec 2019, 11:13

I guess they started because of that post??

11 Dec 2019, 17:46

Since one asked how the different tracks are named... We decided to give them some proper names and upload them to a Youtube playlist, so you can listen to them or use them in community projects

CoW Soundtrack playlist:

https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCNAOWXfLfdyKBk9sEl8pUARIoueVH7Cq

There will also be a Supremacy (our other franchise) playlist coming soon, which has similar music just with some more WW1 flavour.

14 Dec 2019, 11:21

In mobile version beta game, I always see other player occupied province show the nation flag of mine when login the game for a short time. It seems that program loading all provinces flag as player's flag for the default value then load other nation flag?

The Sound tracks are really good works. Maybe devs can add some Asia style for Pacfic Conquer or other maps in the future.

25 Dec 2019, 23:11

Graphics - Submarines: I like how the subs blends in a little more with the ocean to make it more relistic. I do notice that at times they are a little "too hard" to see when they are "near" other units. They blend too much with other vessels making them really hard to see. Personally, I don't know if I do or don't like it, but just want to give the feedback so hopefully your aware of that (subs blending in with other units when the graphics overlap with other units).