Platform Development: Update 35
Please find below a regular development status report, this one covering the period from Aug 19 to Sep 1, 2019. Within this timeframe, we were strongly focused on finalizing and releasing the “Platform Achievements” feature, developing our Notification Management System, releasing the refreshed mobile app and adding more useful features.
Social features (Platform Achievements)
In the recent sprint, we have successfully completed the stabilization phase of the “Platform Achievements” widget and released this social feature. Also, as part of this task, new methods were implemented — we have introduced the “toaster” (or pop-up) notifications, which allow users to quickly receive information about unlocking new achievements.
Currently, there are first 16 achievements available and partly displayed inside The Abyss user profile page. We are in the process of developing a dedicated web page where each user will be able to see all the achievements available on the platform and the requirements for their unlock.
Notification Management System (NMS)
The back-end development of a special notification bot is completed. With this bot, users will be able to receive notifications of changes introduced to the platform. Notifications will be delivered via Discord or Telegram chat services. The group of beta-testers has already begun testing this new bot functionality. The front-end development of this useful feature has also started. After front-end interface is released, users will be able to configure notifications the way the like.
Mobile app for iOS
In the previous dev report, we’ve mentioned that our official mobile app for iOS is on review with the AppStore. We are pleased to confirm that the application has been successfully added to the system. The first update which soon followed the release (and was done in the recent sprint) contained minor fixes, and also helped to improve the app’s stability and performance.
Administrator Account
We have released the Full Screen Promo page feature for marketers and marketing specialists. This is a feature that allows to create promotional promo pages without size restrictions and expand them to full screen. Thus, promo pages size and design are now limited only by the fantasy of your marketing. This feature was added to the Administrator Account.
“User uncompleted action” feature
This feature allows users to continue the last uncompleted action on the platform. The system remembers the last action that user has committed, and offers to continue this action after the necessary conditions are met. For example, if the user has downloaded the Desktop Client to play the game, but hadn’t played it yet, then he will be offered to start playing.
Desktop Client
We have started implementing the “Shortcuts for web games” feature. Technical Specifications are complete, and the team has moved to the development stage. The goal of this task is to enable users to launch their favorite web-games by clicking on a shortcut on the desktop, in the way the client games are usually launched.
We also reviewed the functionality of the Call-to-action button, which allows you to launch or preorder a game on the game page. If necessary, we can now quickly customize this button (add new functionality) with minimum efforts for developers.
Other developments
Some other developments completed during the recent sprint include:
- Releasing a feature that simplifies the registration process for the user. Now, when registering with the platform, you can skip the email confirmation step.
- Fixed the bug which led to application deadlocking in the case when yet unregistered user clicked on the “Play” button in games.
Short-term development plans
While we’re working on adding new features to the platform, our short-term development plans also include:
- Introducing Local (regional) market prices for purchases. This feature will enable users from around the world to purchase games and items with their national currency
- Adding “Free hard drive space check” feature which allows to analyze free disk space on the user’s PC before the Desktop Client installation. If not enough, the user will be notified and advised to provide more space for the installation.
- Finalizing the integration and releasing playable versions of Generals & Rulers, Grimshade and ExoTanks MOBA.
Well, that’s it for today. We will keep you up to date with the development process twice per month, as previously. The next report is scheduled for Sep 16, 2019.
Stay tuned!
Best,
The Abyss Team
