1998 First Shmear Game is created
in MS Visual Basic. This version is both a client and a server.
Due to the complexities of this version, some bugs are never fixed.
The program was released as Shareware (a few people actually sent
in the $5 - their names were lost in a server crash so I hope
they find Twoopy.com)
January, 2000 Java version is created with a
Server component and a Java component. Java problems prevent the
program from being released. (I used to like Java.)
May 25 Twoopy.com is launched; with version 0.9.0 (not quite version
1) of Shmear. The only game (Regular Shmear) can only be played
at tables with 4 players. The game is ready to support other versions
of Shmear.
May 29, 2000 Version 1.0.0 is released. Changes
include a more reliable server, 3 additional Shmear variations,
changes to the way the robots play their hands, and better reporting
of score & smuck messages at the end of a game.
July 7, 2000 Version 1.1.0 is released. A new
login method puts players into a main lounge area before they enter
the game lounges.
July 12, 2000 A day off from work and version
1.2.0 is released. The new main lounge (I call it the "waiting
room") now shows how many players are in each of the Lounges/Games
(essential for finding humans to play with.) Also, when a player
exits/enters the waiting room a status message tells where they
went/came from.
August 20, 2000 Version 1.3 is released. Small
changes are made to the Game but the Server was completely redone
in C# and is now running on .NET. The server will be easier to maintain
in C# and the various game Lounges should be more stable.
September 27, 2000 Version 1.4 is released.
Players can now click a "beep on my turn" box to get
a beep when it is their turn to play or bid. Fix made to prevent
"Multiple Logon" error.
September 29, 2000 Version 1.5 is released.
Change made so that I can send messages to people before they
enter the main lounge.
October 2, 2000 Version 1.6 is released. The
cards now separate Red and Black cards.
January 10, 2002 Version 1.7 is released. Jick
Shmear is added as a new game. Many issues related to server stability
and game play are fixed as I get ready for a Microsoft.NET version
of the game.
January 24, 2002 Version 1.8 is released. The
interface was redesigned slightly adding 2 new games: Jick Shmear
with partners and Pitch (also known as Setback). Card outlines
now show who was the winner of the previous trick and some of
the colors are changed to make things easier to see.
October 11, 2002 Version 2.5 is released. The
whole program look and feel is different. Partner Pitch is added.
More animations and a more realistic game play exists giving the
player a better sense of playing at a real table.
October 12, 2002 Version 2.51 is released. Fixed
a huge problem that some people were having problems with cards.dll.
March 5, 2003 Version 2.6 is released. When
more than one server message hits the client the messages are
queued... ..I know.. ..I should have had this done in version
1.3!!!!.. ..oh...
March 15, 2003 Version 2.7 is released. Pitch
bots made better.
June 13, 2003 Version 2.8 is released.
AutoPlay is added. Errors in pitch bots fixed.
September 29, 2003 Version 3.0
is released. Font and color choices are added to chat. Tournaments
are added. Bots made smarter (notable fix to Pitch bots). A $20/year
and a $2.50/month fee is charged to Shmear members giving them
the ability to boot Demo players. Shmear remains free to Demo
players who are limited to 30 minutes of playtime per day. Some
work was done to make the program look better however the gameplay
was unchanged. Default sounds and additional controls were added
to sound options. Autoscroll-disable feature is added to make
it easier to read back through the chat history. This web page
was added to give users more and better information about Shmear.
October 1, 2003 Version 3.01 is
released. Change to the lounge messages, fixed an error with Jick
Shmear, lowered the volume on the doorbell sound.
November 3, 2003 Version 3.02 is released. Fix to the Rich fonts in all of the chat windows, Fix to Bots overbidding in Pitch/Setback games, Fixed a problem with games hanging and players getting dropped from the server.
April 6, 2004 Version 3.03 is released. Fix to Cardback chooser. Removed multiple demo account feature. Made online help and web pages more accessible. Secured login using encryption provided by pkichat.
April 6, 2004 Version 3.04 is released. Fix to problem with version 3.03.
April 8, 2004 Version 3.05 is released. Change made to allow demo players to play from "work"...
October 15-18, 2004 A flurry of versions are released as I attempted to make the server work with my internet provider's new denial of service software. Demo users were fine, but Members were seen as attacking the network due to the login protocol. I spent all of my time trying to come up with the best solution and keep paying Members online. One solution was to give everyone free access to the server (a throwback to the old days), but list them all as DEMO players. Members too; although paying members had a little asterisk by their name. I still got plenty of e-mails about this...
October 19, 2004 Version 3.3 is released. The shmear server is now offsite. At a cost of about $1,200/year I purchased a dedicated windows server at a very nice company in SanAntonio, Texas. They were very helpful where I was too dumb to figure things out for myself. Another big thing for this version is the move from SQL Server 2000 to MySQL; that was a lot of learning! In the end; shutting down the old shmear server, copying all of the user data, and starting up the new server took about 20 seconds!
Thank
You's
Misty, Alyssa, Katie, Madison, Marilynn, Leon,
Hazel, Wade, Sandra, Scott, Kristina, Kyle, Bob, Cowdogie, Chickie,Trisha,
Mark, Mike B., Judy, John, Randy, Jason, Mitzi, John, Lisa, Amy
Lynn, BillG, JubileeJoy, Goffa, Shadow, Shmear players of old versions, all Shmear players
in the Northeast, all veterans of the Revolutionary War, all U.S.
veterans, all ally veterans. Thank you for your input, help, support, patience,
freedom.
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