Fall is just around the corner, and we would like to give you a short preview of the upcoming innovations in the Catan Online World.

Statistics – The COW gamers have long wished for additional statistics within the Catan games, which we had already promised to provide this year. Now they come. It will be possible to activate a statistics window in the games, containing information about the distribution of dice and resources as well as specifics regarding resource income and loss.

 
Game Assistance – Especially newcomers don’t have it so easy finding their way around in the COW. In general, one doesn’t get far without thoroughly studying the rules. In addition, the hints given in the games are not more than brief memory aids. We realized the problem and are currently revising all instructions given in the games, making them clearer and more informative. The other instructions in one’s own house and the Hostel are also being revised and virtual tutors will facilitate the access to the Catan Online World for newcomers.

Options – It will be possible to make extensive adjustments to the program options in the game. For example, the resolution can be changed without restarting, and animations can be switched on or off.  

Scenarios for 3 players – Also due to feedback from the community, some of the existing scenarios are being revised and better adapted to different numbers of players. That way, for some scenarios there will be one 3-player version and one 4 player version.  

All these changes are planned for the end of November 2008. But of course, there’s more to it than that. Further innovations are in the pipeline and will be announced as soon as a release date is foreseeable.