Star Traders RPG v4.0.6 Released

New Ships!

If you have been playing Star Traders RPG any time over the past year, you have gotten to know our ship icons. Well, today they have gotten the first in a series of major overhauls.

Check out the newest release on the Android Market:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.corytrese.games.startraders

v4.0.6 - 10/31/2011

• New Vea Victus Ship Art
• New Smuggler Ship Art
• New Scout Ship Art
• New Battle Frigate Ship Art
• Increases Power of Space Based Rumors
• Five New Ship Designs
• Fixes Text Bugs in Combat
• Improves Game Performance
• Fixes Reported Crashes

Cyber Knights RPG v0.4.5 Released

Please Leave a 5 Star Rating if you enjoy this beta.

We are proud to announce the availability of our latest release of Cyber Knights RPG, the Shadowrun-style role playing game set in a cyber-punk future.

Play this RPG on your Android phone or tablet, for free, ad free!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.cyberknights

v0.4.5 - 10/31/2011

• ELITE: BASIC TEAMS NOW AVAILABLE! *
• Optimum Range System Improved
• Cross Fading Media / Music
• New Contract Pricing System
• New Memory Saver Option for Encounters
• Reputation Loss for Expired Contracts
• Improves Refreshments and Entertainment
• D-Pad Improvement
• Moves Negotiation Button
• New Hotel UI

Templar Assault on Droid Gamers

The Android game review geniuses over @DroidGamers have posted a great little introduction piece supporting the announcement of Templar Assault.

If you have a second, drop on by their web site and leave a comment supporting the Templar warriors.

http://www.droidgamers.com/index.php/game-news/android-game-news/2493-the-trese-brothers-unleash-their-third-title-onto-the-android-market-called-templar-assault

Templar Assault v0.1.5 Released to Android Market

The newest edition of our Warhammer 40K-inspired Space-Hulk style game has been released to the Android Market. This update features a new map, tons of improvements, better graphics and fixed bugs!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.templars

v0.1.5 - 10/31/2011

• Fixes Map Restart Bugs
• New Map "Suicide Mission"
• Improved Help File
• Improved Tutorial
• Access to Mission Briefing from Menu
• Improves Interface
• New Squad Statistics
• More Honor Points
• Fixed Training Button

Templar Assault v0.1.3 Released to Android Market

We proudly announce the latest release of Templar Assault our new Android game. This marks the second day of TA and the second release as well. Enjoy!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.templars

v0.1.3 - 10/30/2011

• New Map Control Interface (Move, Turn, Reverse)
• New Dialog and Event Icons
• Fixes Level Bugs in Bridge Level
• Fixes Dialog Typos
• Improves Mission Briefs
• Added New Help File Sections
• 1 New Alien Type
• Fixes Screen Reset in Squad Control
• Hides Unfinished Professions
• Improves Alien UI
• Small Screen Support Improved

Read more: http://startradersrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=taup&action=display&thread=1344#ixzz1cK6j2VN3

Cyber Knights - Underground Havens

Where is the safest place to be in the New Boston Zone? You've got the dome crumbling overhead, if your important you probably have at least one Cyber Knight out gunning to assassinate you, the air is toxic, life expectancy is short, and the sun is dull behind that radio-active cloud cover.

I am exciting that we will soon be introducing underground havens, tunnels, gang dens and more to the NBZ. The richest contacts, mega-corp execs, and Connectors all live somewhere safer, maybe on and island or a out-of-city military retreat, but for your normal run-of-the-mill who is stuck in the NBZ, new safe territory is being opened up under-ground.

Cramped, maze-like, and full of its own dangers, the Under-NBZ won't be any nicer than the street level NBZ, but you will find some of the city's power players and dignitaries holed up down there.

Templar Assault: Vae Victus!

Crashing down on the Android Market is the newest strategy game in the Star Traders RPG universe. Templar Assault is a turn-based war game strategy, in which the venerable warriors of the Templar order face off against xenoforms and other malevolent forces across the Quadrant. Empowered by millennium of genetic training, encased in ancient Leviathan armor, and wielding the mighty weapons of the Templar order, the small squads of tightly coordinated warriors are capable of standing against any threat in the Quadrant.

You are their captain, their commander. Lead your Templar warriors across the galaxy to the hottest spots of danger!

The first campaign starts on a derelict Clan Java Liner, floating back into known space in the Quadrant. The Spear Cruiser class dispatched by the Templar order arrives to investigate the damaged hulk, and lands the first away team of four warriors on the craft. From there, its blood, gore and battle in the tight confines of the ship's under-belly.

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.templars

Templar Assault v0.1.1 Released to Android Market

The Trese Brothers are proud to announce our newest Star Trader themed release to the Android Market:

Templar Assault!

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.templars

v0.1.1 - 10/28/2011

• New Release
• Play for Free, Ad Free
• Interactive Tutorial Map & Squad
• Features first Campaign: Rift of Larudhu
• 2 "Rapid Deployment" Maps for quick play
• Current has 11 Levels

Star Traders RPG v4.0.5 Released

We are very proud to announce a new version of our popular Android game has been released to the Android Market:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.corytrese.games.startraderselite

v4.0.5 - 10/26/2011

• Cross Fade Game Music
• Improved Game Performance
• New Boarding Combat Results
• Improved Combat AI for Merchants
• Better Combat Performance
• More Water Fuel on Merchant Ships
• Improved 4.0 Combat System (v4.1?)

Cyber Knights RPG v0.4.3 Released

Please Leave a 5 Star Rating if you enjoy this beta game.

Thank you for supporting our new project, we need your reviews!

10/24/2011 - v0.4.3

* ELITE: BASIC TEAMS NOW AVAILABLE! *

• Gold selector placed around current character in combat
• Matrix update - stealing paydata may raise matrix heat and always costs turns
• In-game help explaining attributes and skills
• Status shows your Physical Power [Rested to Exhausted]
• Recruit Gang Members in Elite
• Many Typo fixes (thanks forum!)

Star Traders RPG 4.0.3 Released to Android Market

A new release of Star Traders RPG has been sent to the Android Market:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.corytrese.games.startraders

v4.0.3 - 10/19/2011

• Reduced Combat AI for Bounty Hunter
• Reduced Combat AI for Military Officer
• Working to Improved 4.0 Combat System
• 7 New Ships
• Rear Carrier, Spike Class, Redesigned Flagship Carrier
• New Elite Versions of: Crossbow, Longbow, Revers
• New Rim Freighter + New type of Merchant AI
• Fixed Ship Description Strings
• Improve Contract Pricing
• More Weapons / Artifacts on Smuggler Ships

Cyber Knights RPG v0.4.2 Released

Play Cyber Knights RPG for Free:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.cyberknights

10/17/2011 - v0.4.2

• ELITE: BASIC TEAMS NOW AVAILABLE!
• Option to disable On Screen D-Pad
• Fixed issue with Front-line Medical Pass
• Recruit Gang Members in Elite
• New boss feedback on requests
• Many Typo fixes (thanks forum!)
• Corrected tip for using all passes

Discussion on the forum:

http://startradersrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=display&board=ckups&thread=1278

Recruiting a Team in Cyber Knights RPG

As a Cyber Knight in the New Boston Zone, the dangers and challenges stacked against you are too great to go-it-alone all the time. Perhaps you just need extra muscle or you need a specialist to supplement your own skills and abilities, you can hire team members of different types to allow you to survive your runs and make it to the other side to get your reward in hard credits.

Hiring Soldiers and Gangers

The different gangs, security or criminal organizations, and mega-corporations within the NBZ may be willing to allow you to hire a soldier or a ganger for a time to help you complete some task or to watch your back. These soldiers are hired muscle, whose loyalty lies with their faction, but who will work for you for a short time.

Here are a few ground-rules about hiring gangers that you will need to know as an active Cyber Knight:

• A soldier is a temporary hire! The soldier’s loyalty lies with the faction, not with you. If you stop at a hotel or a safe house, the soldier will depart your company, and return to his faction. Some Cyber Knights have developed a powerful addiction to stimmers and crammers to keep their soldiers working longer shifts.
• You can equip a soldier with new gear, armor, guns, or even cybernetic implants. Be careful to get this gear back from the soldier, because he or she will claim it as their own when they leave if you let them. If you leave gear with a soldier, don’t expect the next soldier you hire to have that gear!
• A faction will only allow you to hire one of their soldiers if you have a positive Reputation with the faction. Therefore, if you are not liked by the Blue Ox, they are not going to rent you one of their Moon Blood boys to bang up the town.
• A single faction will not rent you more than one of their soldiers at a time. The Los V will refuse to let you hire two hyper-punks at the same time.
• Soldiers can only be hired from a faction’s boss.
• If a faction soldier dies while working with you, you can suffer a loss of reputation with the faction. It’s a risk you take, because by hiring a soldier, you are responsible to the faction to make sure he or she comes home in one piece.

Hiring Runners

Runners are qualified, skilled individuals who can bring much more than muscle to a team. Runners are currently not avaialble in the Cyber Knights BETA, but here some facts that you should know as an active Cyber Knight in the NBZ:

• Runners are longer-term hires. They will stick around for a number of days before requiring more payment.
• You can equip runners with gear, armor, guns, and cybernetic implants. You can retrieve this gear from the runner if you don’t plan to keep working with them. However, if you re-hire the runner, they will bring the same gear back and continue to work with you.
• You will be able to hire more than one runner at a time.
• Runners will have a profession and bring specialist skills to the table, like hacking, which can augment your own abilities.

Cyber Knights RPG v0.4.1 Released!

Please Leave a 5 Star Rating if you enjoy this beta game.

Thank you for supporting our new project, we need your reviews!

10/14/2011 - v0.4.1

• ELITE: BASIC TEAMS NOW AVAILABLE!
• New On Screen D-Pad For Moving
• Improved Support for Hardware D-Pads
• Recruit Gang Members in Elite
• New AP Equations for Teams
• Better AP Combat Drug Effects
• Better Map Centering
• New River Tiles / Map Artwork
• Contact Screen Performance
• New Boss Related Content
• Improve Ganger Combat AI

Purchase Advanced Elite Edition:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.cyberknightselite

Download Free RPG:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.cyberknights

Star Traders RPG v4.0.0 Released

v4.0.0 - 10/13/2011

• Major Combat / Boarding Overhaul
• Fixes Award Display in Elite
• Combat Dice Tweaks
• Combat XP Curve Tweaks
• Fixed Upgrade Counts in Starport
• New Hazard Toasts & Options
• New Alien AI (2 types)
• New Bounty Hunter AI (1 type)
• New Warship AI (2 types)

NEW: Elite Negotiation Special Abilities

• StarPort Reputation (Star Trader)
• Palace Reputation (Captain)
• Exchange (Merchants)

Warning - Intruder Detected...

Warning - Intruders detected!

Dispatch security teams to sector Gamma-54 of the AzTek B-205 Research Facility. Cameras have caught intruders tampering with a Matrix terminal, and some doors on the floor in forced open state.

Warning - HOSTILE Intruders detected!

Dispatch primary security teams to sector Gamma 54 of AzTek B-206, Floor 12. Intruders have proven violent and dangerous. First security team is no longer responding to contact. Intruders are moving up the Research Tower.

Warning .... Warning ...

[ This screenshot of some early development work for interior areas of the NBZ, megacorporations, and underground areas was leaked on the forum recently, and got a lot of excitement! ]

Mobile Gaming - Where do you get your help?

When you are in a mobile game that is complicated or in which you need some additional info, where do you look for, or expect to get your help?

• In-game help (with ? links)
• In-game help file
• Visit the game's website
• Join the game's forum
• Look it up on Facebook
• I comment on the game with my question or complaint
• I want a PDF to read

Also, I'm curious what types of help people would classify that they are seeking. Do you feel like you mostly need fact explanation (what do these stats do), FAQs (how do I get rid of heat), guides (how to profit as a merchant), or walk-throughs (how do I get the Blue Ox ladder connector)?

I will be posting a similar set of questions on the forum. All part of an information gathering campaign so we can serve you better!

Star Traders RPG v3.9.29 Released

The newest release of our hit Android game has been uploaded to the Android Market:

Try the free-to-play and free-of-ads edition available here:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.corytrese.games.startraders

v3.9.31 - 10/7/2011

• Improves "Time to Trade" Issues
• Fixes Water Tank / Cache Bugs
• Fixes Destroy Mission Bugs
• Improves Reputation Loss for Spy/Blockade
• Improves Map Performance for Low Memory Devices
• Fixes Urban Zone Crash

Cyber Knights RPG v0.3.29 Released

A new version of Cyber Knights RPG has been posted to the Android Market:

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.tresebrothers.games.cyberknights

10/3/11 - v0.3.29

• Gang Bosses: Los V, Blue Ox, Finnian
• Sort Main Map Buttons / Taxi Buttons
• Smaller Icons for More Screen Use
• Bosses: Pardon
• Bosses: Shake Tail
• Improves Zone Map Graphics
• Fixes Menu Crash
• Improves Combat Performance
• Fixes Bug with Choices
• Working on New Matrix Hosts
• Ongoing Weapon Balancing
• Better In Shop Sorting

For anyone who follows Trese Brothers news, we have also (in the wake of the Kindle Fire announcement) submitted Cyber Knights to Amazon App Store. They may reject it due to the beta nature of the game. We shall see, but in an effort to reach more devices with our games, we're getting in deeper with Amazon.

Hopefully in the upcoming days we will find Cyber Knights RPG on the list of Trese Brothers wares sold over at the great and powerful ZON:

http://www.amazon.com/s/ref=bl_sr_mobile-apps?_encoding=UTF8&node=2350149011&field-brandtextbin=Trese%20Brothers%20Software

Advice From Forum for Star Traders RPG: By SlayerNZ

SlayerNZ (http://startradersrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?action=viewprofile&user=slayernz) one of the forum's senior moderators took the time to post this information about ST RPG:

There's a ton of information here, and there is also a half-complete Wiki guide that you can look at:

http://www.tresebrothers.com/strpgwiki/tiki-index.php?page_ref_id=1

Also, there are a ton of guides for different classes scattered within these forums. I'll rummage around and see if I can't find a few links to help get you started soon.

When you have just started playing the game, here is what I would recommend:

Difficulty

There's nothing wrong with beginning with Basic or Normal difficulty when you are trying to figure out what is going on. At these difficulty levels, you can't permanently die, and things are just a bit safer for you to experiment on. When you find you are killing anything that moves with blatant ease, then you know you're ready to start a new game but with higher difficulty.

Skills

The most important two skills for me as a new player were Pilot and Stealth. I found that if I got both of those up to a reasonable amount, I actually survived encounters long enough to gain a foot-hold in the game.

Pilot allows you to change distances in combat more easily - meaning you can advance (or stop the opposition from retreating) more effectively, or you can retreat if you want to avoid conflict more easily.

Stealth helps you avoid getting hit when enemy ships fire at you. Also, it helps reduce the amount of encounters you have in space.

Factions

There are 6 factions here, and each have some very useful planets. It is possible to be diplomatic and become friendly enough with all 6 that you only get attacked by independents. However, encounters = combat = XP, so friendly means you will gain experience at a slower rate.

The best strategy for a new player would be to focus on one or two factions from the Syndicates and one or two factions from the Nobel houses. When I began, I started with Cadar, and buddied with De Valtos and Javat. All the rest of the ships out there were fair game. It gave me a good balance of safe havens and encounters.

Rumors

So all of the above stuff will help you survive in the game, but Rumors are the thing that will make you prosper. It's absolutely crucial to keep your ear to the ground - always go to the Spice Halls and Palace and listen to the rumors there. There are two types of rumors - ones that help you with getting ahead in the game at hand, and others that just help you understand the game itself.

Shortage/Surplus rumors are where you will make lots of money. If you hear of a planet that has a shortage of, say, Crystals, flit from planet to planet trying to fill your hold with as many Crystal units as you can before going to that shortage planet. If you are lucky, even with a modest cargo hold (50 - 60 units), you'll make more than $70,000 profit. Do that a handful of times and you'll find money is quickly a non-issue. You'll be able to spend cash on upgrades, and on new ships for that matter.

Warning about shortages though - if Cadar and Thulun are trade embargoed, and you sell 100 Crystals to Cadar in a shortage, your reputation Thulun will plummet significantly more than in a non-shortage situation. Since I personally despise Thulun, that's never a problem

Officers

These people will help make your trip through the quadrant a bit more enjoyable. These people charge an up-front fee based on how much cash you have, so it pays to fill up your hold and do repairs before you sign up a new officer.

For the new player, focus on getting

1) Political Officer. This officer will tell you about embargoes when you land on worlds. It will certainly help you avoid accidentally selling stuff when it may result in pushing a friendly faction into negatives.

2) Mechanical Officer. This officer will help repair your ship during travel. Her job is made easier if you are carrying Crystals and Metal in your hold during your trips though.

Other stuff

It's okay to be a bully in this game - if you are level 20 and you come across a level 2 merchant, the unwritten rule is to turn off your ship-to-ship communication before you laugh maniacally.

Always watch your water-fuel level and know how much fuel you use up traveling both green and red sectors. The last thing you want to do is get caught without water-fuel in deep space.

Good luck ... hopefully all of the above helps out.

Read more: http://startradersrpg.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=tips&action=display&thread=1205#ixzz1ZlYNRpbA

Fantasy RPGs - Final Fantasy or Shining Force?

My exposure to early RPGs revolved around roughly three classes of RPGs--single character (protagonist moves one a map at the same rate as monsters that appear randomly--Rogue, Castle of the Winds), team line-dance (combat involves two lines of monsters and focuses more around timing and types of attacks and powers than movement or positioning--Final Fantasy, Chrono Trigger), and team free-move (each team member and monsters move around a map independently - Shining Force, Final Fantasy Tactics).

Each type of game has its own unique awesomeness and enjoyment, playing up different types of play, paces and challenges. The famous cross fireball in Shining Force and games like it (line those enemies up!) racing the time-bars in the later FF games, crushing controller buttons to timed rhythms in Legend of the Dragoon, or cursing that skeleton you didn't see around the corner in Castle of the Winds.

Even though Secrets of Steel is officially on hiatus, its underlying engine (The Storyteller) is now in use on the Android market in our newest game, Cyber Knights Elite RPG. Cyber Knights uses the team free-move combat type. In the coming weeks, Cyber Knights will support full team recruiting, and the full-blown team free-move combat system will be in action.

But--what are you favorites and why? If we were making a darker, gritty RPG for mobile games (we are), which system would you want?