Update Details: Into the Cloud
We're very happy to announce our first update to Flight Control, Into the Cloud.
Summary
What's in it?
Online scores, both on your device and on the flightcontrol.cloudcell.com web site; Google Maps and Twitter integration; Quick Save and Resume. See below for more details.
Will I keep my stats?
Yes! As soon as you install the update and connect your device to your Cloudcell profile, you'll be able to upload your current stats and see how you compare to everyone else.
Can people see exactly where I am?
No. You don't have to tell us your location. If you choose to keep this private, you can still use all connected features other than those that relate to your location. If you do share your location, we will only show your general area, "fuzzy" within 500m of your true location. If you're somewhere with slow Internet speeds, your location may be even fuzzier (so that you don't have to wait for ages while the network finds you more precisely).
What about new airports?
New airports are coming in the next update. We don't have a release date yet but you can sign up for our email updates or follow us on Twitter if you'd like us to let you know when it's available.
Online Scores
We wanted to make sure that the information we show you is interesting. We didn't think that knowing you're 34,527th and that the 20 people above you and below you also have a score of 32 would be riveting! Instead, we've devised a ranking system that tells you which percentage you fall into (eg Top 40%), and compares your most recent scores to people of the same rank. If you choose to share your location, we'll compare your score to people of the same rank who are closest to you.
In-game rank
Once you've submitted your stats, you'll see a score board showing you recent scores from people of the same rank. If you've shared your location, we'll show you the people geographically closest to you. When you first start playing, this will probably be people quite close to you. As your high score goes up, you'll be competing against people further and further away - local, domestic, international and then intercontinental!
The cut-off scores required to achieve the next rank are calculated from players personal best scores. As more people join Cloudcell or upload their stats, the exact cut-off scores for each rank may change. So you can gain a rank by getting a high score that beats the cut-off for that rank, or you may rise in rank simply because a lot of new people joined in the game who have lower scores than you.
Cloudcell site
On the Cloudcell site, you can see recent new personal best scores from all over the world; the top scores in the last 24 hours, the last week, and of all time; and profiles for you and all other players.
Why recent scores and not top scores?
TTop scores typically don't change very much, and while it's interesting to see who has the highest scores in the world, it's not terribly exciting and we wish to encourage more regular competition. We've decided to focus on more recent achievements on your device. You are encouraged to make the most of each game to ensure a good recent score as well as an excellent average. Your rank is only calculated based on your personal best score, so you don’t need to worry about losing your rank because of a freak helicopter accident. You can view top score leader-boards on the website if you want to know just how good some people are at this game.
You can choose to link up your Twitter account to your Cloudcell profile. This happens securely on the Twitter site, and your Twitter password is not shared with Cloudcell. You can revoke the link at any time from your Cloudcell profile page.
If you give us permission, we will tweet your new personal best scores on your behalf, with a link to your Cloudcell profile. We don't want to spam your followers so we won't send more than one tweet per hour.
Quick Save and Resume
If the app closes down while you are playing (eg you press the "Home" button or receive a call), your game will be saved automatically. The next time you start the app again, you will have the option of picking up exactly where you left off. The game will be paused when you re-enter it so you can take stock before the craziness resumes!