Kensit tries to maintain compatibility between different versions of the software. NetAcquire has checks built in to ensure that the all players in a game are using compatible versions.
Note that compatibility is 2-way between hosts and connected-users. That is, a given version may have a different version compatibility requirement depending on whether being a host or connecting to a host.
Below are the different versions that have been released, their compatibility, expiration date, and key changes made in the version.
Features:
Minor Revision released due to prior version being about to expire.
Switched the built-in Help Facility to use the more currently accepted HTML Help standard (.chm files).
Features:
Minor Revision released due to prior version being about to expire.
First version released to utilize Visual Basic 6 (prior versions were VB5). For this reason, no changes introduced other than the resetting of the Expiry Date.
Features:
Minor Revision released due to prior version being about to expire.
First version released to utilize a new install mechanism that greatly simplifies the process of updating the software for end-users.
Changed the IP/URL field on the Communication window to be a drop-down combo box. Entered values are now remembered and saved in the drop-down list.
Features:
Problem-Fix Revision to resolve identified problems causing crashes.
Fixed problem caused by clients who are running on a Windows system that has a different language base than that of the host they are connected to. The problem was due to different results returned by standard APIs when the language of the system was different (ie. the Spanish word for 'True' is 'Verdado'). The host would then crash because it receives invalid data from the client.
Fixed bug related to duplicate user names with differences in the case within the name (ie. Joe and JOE). Hosts would allow both users to connect, but then would crash if a mismatched case attempted to reconnect to a game. Changed to treat both names as the same user (not allowing them to connect to host simultaneously and allowing a reconnection even when the user name is mismatched in terms of the alphabetic case).
Features:
Major revision to support in-application chatting between players.
Changed hosting from single-game per use to multiple-game server model. A significant change, hosts can now have multiple concurrent games. Users no longer need to re-init between games. Hosts have a lobby area and separate game rooms.
Expanded Help facility to provide context-sensitive help and a useful guide for new users.
Improved connection management to provide more user control over port usage.
Added regular monitoring of connections to identify lost/broken connections.
Changed Game Board to 'shadow' tiles on a player's Tile Rack to highlight tile locations.
Modified Share Purchase and Share Disposition popup windows to be easier to be more user-oriented.
Fixed "Run-Time Error '13' - Invalid Type" problem occurring for users with European-based PCs. Non-North American users no longer need to fiddle with Regional Settings to work around the problem.
Features:
First non-testing release.
Code same as version 0.1.9 with new Expiry Date. No changes were introduced due to problems with VB programming environment.
Features:
Added option for game host to accept or reject player connection requests.
Added option for user to select the maximum number of players allowed in the games they host.
Fixed problem with player limit being exceeded in certain situations.
Fixed "Invalid Property Value. Run-time error 380." bug resulting from maximizing subwindows by double-clicking the title bar (with thanks to Ray for uncovering).
Fixed "Invalid Property Value. Run-time error 380." bug caused by changing height of main window to a small value.
Fixed bug with expiry date check when users choose a different default date format for their system.
Added log message for cash amounts received for sold shares.
Fixed version compatibility checking bug.
Added coloring of tiles on Tile Rack that have the potential to form a chain (ie. If one is played, another will form a chain).
Changed merger to update the surviving chain's count before dispositions are determined. So a player can more easily determine value of surviving chain (with thanks to Earle for suggesting).
Changed log to highlight the last entry whenever the window is not active.
Features:
Changed Tile Rack to color tiles on the rack based on their playing status.
Changed compatibility checking to be 2-way.
Fixed Window menu items to properly show hidden windows.
Switched to different version of TCP/IP routines. This will hopefully resolve wrong IP being reported in some situations. This change eliminated need for handshaking mechanism for each client. This will smoothen out host-to-client processing.
Added verify for terminating a game in progress.
Changed all non-dialog windows to be sizable using standard windows methods. Also, remembers window size and position settings between executions.
Improved fonts/colors on Score Sheet and Log to be more readable.
Changed Log to be top-down.
Added Log entries for all significant merger events.
Changed Tile Rack to swap tiles when dragging a tile over a spot occupied by another (with thanks to Haig for the suggestion).
Fixed the use of Test Mode to ensure players are aware host has used test mode.
Features:
Introduced version compatibility checking.
Fixed bug with buffer overflows when large amounts of data are sent to the client.
Changed program icon to custom one for NetAcquire.
Stopped setting focus when player action required. Previously, if another application was active, the switch may cause an inadvertent play if the user was typing at that moment.
Made default chain selected the lowest valued one always.
Changed program startup and About menu item to use Kensit splash screen.
Features:
Fixed bug that prevented game from being joined (introduced in 0.1.5).
Updated Help facility for incorrect links and context-sensitive help.
Expanded Help facility information.
Features:
Incorporated software expiry date to cater to future marketing possibilities.
Fixed problem with host to client data being truncated. This was causing abends when trying to reconnect to a game well in progress.
Improved Log entries to be more readable and informative.
Made last drawn tile the default one on the Tile Rack.
Fixed problem with reconnect not setting up the Tile Rack in some situations.
Added text of Avalon-Hill rules to Help facility (with thanks to Earle who typed up the rules verbatim).
Changed background color of safe chains in the Score Sheet.
Added memory for size and position of Main window.
Added beep to remind player when it is their turn to do something.
Features:
Fixed reconnect function to properly re-establish connection to host.
Added the Log window to show a history of game events.
Created basic help facility.
Features:
The 1st released test version. Immediately found to be non-functional.