Ostranauts - spaceship management sim set in NEO Scavenger universe - now available on Early Access

[Perkel]

0.13 is in pubic beta right now. Should be released shortly after that. So probably this month.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

0.13 is in pubic beta right now. Should be released shortly after that. So probably this month.

That's the one with supernatural elements?

Anything interesting there?

 

[Perkel]

0.13 is in pubic beta right now. Should be released shortly after that. So probably this month.

That's the one with supernatural elements?

Anything interesting there?

Plenty:

• Players can get wrapped-up in procedural plots between NPCs.
• New plot content involving the supernatural.
• New objective/journal UI to keep track of plots and objectives.
• Players and NPCs can hail each other's ships.
• Ships can send SOS messages when they are in trouble.
• Hostile ships may chase player and attempt to board.
• New Hauler NPC ship adds new derelicts to boneyard over time.
• NPCs now do more things on stations.
• Hack devices to access datafiles.
• Discover lore and setting info in found datafiles.
• Use the new PDA NAV app to view the NAV screen when in range of a linked NAV station
• Reduced save file size

 

[Perkel]

next one will be meaty one with torch drive (nuclear powered) and going outside of OKLG

 

[agris]

• Players can get wrapped-up in procedural plots between NPCs.
• New plot content involving the supernatural.
• New objective/journal UI to keep track of plots and objectives.

How do these look in practice? Anything interesting or worth mentioning?

 

[jackofshadows]

Full release when?

 

[Mortmal]

Full release when?

Better to forget completely and just wake up once it's released, feature-full, and fully patched. Otherwise, it's bound to frustration and disappointment. The game is shaping up, but a complex game like this is bound to drag on for years.

 

[Perkel]

Full release when?

Better to forget completely and just wake up once it's released, feature-full, and fully patched. Otherwise, it's bound to frustration and disappointment. The game is shaping up, but a complex game like this is bound to drag on for years.

Frankly speaking it is already fun to play. Getting your own ship up and running with crew without debt is solid 10-20 hours. With this update they will be pretty much done with high brow mechanics and will move toward content creation for rest of system (aka ship to ship combat, more planets, more stations, more ships)

I just hope they will dig a little deeper into that fun "you need to learn how it works gameplay" before they will venture out of OKLG.

 

[Hellraiser]

Full release when?

Better to forget completely and just wake up once it's released, feature-full, and fully patched. Otherwise, it's bound to frustration and disappointment. The game is shaping up, but a complex game like this is bound to drag on for years.

Pretty much what I am doing. I liked the ship salvaging/repair mechanics but without combat, more locations and in general other types of content/activities I lacked a reason to play. Well that and it was buggy as hell, but that was shortly after EA release.

tl;dr waiting for space piracy to be a thing

 

[Theodora]

You'd hope they'd give the interface design a once over to be more intuitive prior to release. I'm not assuming the dev can afford to consult someone about it, but a game with this many layers would benefit a tonnn from improvements here. I really enjoyed their previous game, but the UI was definitely a weak point; and now they've made a far more complex game, the lack of intuition hurts it. I like the skeuomorphic design, but it needs something more if it's not to simply turn a lot of people off who would love a game like this but are busy with kids or whatever else.

 

[Taka-Haradin puolipeikko]

https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/1022980/view/3893988141085118790

Ostranauts “Lucky Number 13” Is Live!
Hey Folks!

Ostranauts v0.13.0.3 is now available on Steam. Named "Lucky Number 13", this patch represents a major feature update, and includes another batch of new content and gameplay systems to explore.

As with the last major update, we added a new trailer to the store page, to show what's changed recently:
Highlights include new plot content, hints of the supernatural, hacking and datafiles, ship-to-ship comms, and new NPC ship types.

For best results, you are encouraged to start a new character.

Old saves might work in v0.13.x and later, but a lot of the new content may not appear in older saves. We have created a new opt-in branch on Steam called "legacy_12" if you wish to continue your current v0.12.x character. See Steam's Tech Support forums for more info on opting-into other branches.

• Added the ability to hail and communicate with any other visible ships via NAV station's docking and MFD UI.
• Added the ability to request help from other ships, or reply to another ship's SOS.
• Changed docking request procedure to be different for stations, NPC ships, and derelicts.
• Added ability to see regional ship communications log in public ATC channel.
• Added ability to request other ships to come here.
• Added a new procedural plot system that tries to generate story-like events between the player and NPCs.
• Added several new procedural plot types, ranging from simple banter and panhandling, up to more complex requests for help with other NPCs and items.
• Added custom-written supernatural plot content and items.
• Added the ability to investigate murders.
• Added code to make interesting events happen to the player at regular intervals, but to delay them if interesting things are already happening to the player.
• Changed the PDA Goals UI to show more detailed plot progress info, and finished/dismissed objectives on a separate tab.
• Changed objectives to have hyperlinked people names that can be moused over or clicked for highlighting and more info, respectively.
• Added ability to remotely use NAV map via the PDA when a linked NAV station is on the same ship.
• Added ability to click on ship IDs in the PDA Socials UI to view that ship on NAV, if line of sight to ship exists.
• Changed NPC ship AI to fly more efficiently and safely.
• Added new hauler NPC ship type, which brings out new derelicts, hauls in old ones, and can rescue stranded ships.
• Added new pirate NPC ship type, which might pretend to be a derelict until another ship gets close.
• Changed the quick action button (QAB) UI to be easier to read, with count number to each of the QAB category tabs, so user can see how many moves of each type are available, left aligned move names, and an abbreviated category label before each social move: CMD, BAS, GMB, GIG, NGN, ADV.
• Added new PDA Files browser to see files on held and nearby unlocked devices.
• Added new datafiles loot type to game, which can contain lore/setting wiki info, black market sellable data, and other info.
• Added ability to sell some datafiles to Fixer and Flotilla Broker.
• Added locked PDAs and the ability to hack them to gain access to their files.
• Changed PDA Use interaction to open PDA Home screen instead of NAV linking UI.
• Added code to prepopulate NAV stations with known vessels.
• Added ability to copy nav data from one nav station to another.
• Added a new tutorial when RCS/Remass indicator starts running low, so players notice they're almost out of gas.
• Added a tutorial to visit the orange refuel kiosk if player requests undocking clearance and has unpaid fees.
• Changed NPCs to do more activities and use more station amenities.
• Added a new invisible/inaccessible OKLG station where NPCs can go if they shouldn't be reachable by players right now.

• Changed save file size to be smaller.
• Changed several systems to improve performance and ram use.
• Fixed a bug that could cause nullref errors if an NPC ship crashed into the asteroid, or similar off-screen NPC death occurred.
• Fixed wound sprites not displaying/refreshing after loading a save.
• Changed inventory and PDA so when one opens, the other automatically closes.
• Changed the floating objectives boxes to move left and right with the PDA when it opens/closes.
• Fixed a bug that could cause player pain effects to remain even after all wound pain had healed. (a.k.a. "pain stuck bug")
• Fixed a bug that could cause the player's ship to no longer be owned by the player if player used transit, ferry, or other off-ship service.
• Fixed a bug that would allow interactions that remove items to proceed if user had half-plus-one as many as needed.
• Fixed a null exception that could cause game to hang on black screen after exiting to main menu.
• Fixed a bug that could cause old social combat UI to appear when it shouldn't, and remain unclosable.
• Fixed a line of sight bug that could cause NPCs to not see someone standing too close to a wall.
• Changed AI decision/feelings logic to slightly favor neutral/unknown moves over recently-tried good ones, to help diversify replies.
• Fixed a null reference that could occur when attempting to get a person from a ship. (E.g. when checking zone owners)
• Fixed a bug that caused quickbar to intercept hotkeys even when invisible.
• Fixed a bug that could cause a null exception when interactions changed relationships between people.
• Changed the ferry kiosk to use the P.A.S.S. acronym, to help users recognize that when they see it as a PDA app.
• Changed GUIComputer linked/unlinked status to be clearer.
• Changed PDA first quick action to be Use instead of Drop.
• Fixed a bug that could cause pirate to shakedown player again after finishing a shakedown.
• Fixed a bug that caused AI to consider melee-armed opponents a lower threat at any range, instead of just when above melee range.
• Added a special AI move to agree to surrender more often when terrified.
• Fixed a bug that could cause NPCs to walk in place indefinitely.
• Fixed a bug that caused freshly-spawned AIs to ignore some talking combat moves.
• Fixed a bug that caused AI to seek more food from containers when they were already carrying food.
• Fixed a bug that caused people to say 'Later' when they become dead or unconscious.
• Fixed a bug that could cause too many NPCs to be spawned in the game.
• Fixed a bug that could cause the first install on derelict encounter to appear over and over.
• Fixed a bug that caused Game Over screen to be missed if another interaction tried to change UI mode after player died.
• Fixed a bug that caused mode switches to put new object at wrong z height, often obscuring the crew.
• Changed NAV's RCS indicator to be more reliable, and more obvious when player is low on fuel.
• Fixed a bug that could cause AI to haul items into zones and dropp them on top of other items, despite there being space elsewhere in zones.
• Fixed a bug that could cause navmap to target sun if the previous target changes state (e.g. undocks)
• Fixed a bug which caused player to deregister self from ship by changing name later on in chargen
• Fixed a null exception that could occur when fusion reactors were destroyed.
• Fixed a bug that caused police to question the player while on OKLG station.

• Added new interaction_overrides json type, which allows the modder to take an existing interaction and generate a deep clone of it, swapping one root name for another.
• Added new plot and plot_beat json types for handling plot content.
• Added new plot_beat_overrides json type for deep-cloning plot beats.
• Added the ability to add/remove condrules via interaction using the LootAddCondRulesUs/LootAddCondRulesThem fields.
• Changed interaction to have clearer names for fields that change relationships on us, them, 3rd participants. E.g. strLootRELChangeUsSeesThem
• Added ShipTestUs, ShipTestThem, and ShipTest3rd to interactions, for testing if Us, Them, and/or 3rd is on the correct ship. Refers to new shipspecs json folder.
• Added new bRecheckThisPlot field to interactions, to force recheck the current plot when interaction happens.
• Changed Interaction.aSocialNew to support names of loots instead of names of conds, so it could add more than one relationship at a time.
• Changed F3 getcond and addcond so [them] is a valid target when something is selected.
• Changed F3 getcond and addcond to also work on NPCs not loaded on current ship.
• Added optional a3rdForbids list to Interaction.Triggered params.
• Changed CondTrigger tests to support two new test types: strHigherCond (single string), and aLowerConds (can be multiple strings)
• Changed debug console to try spawning CO directly if loot not found.
• Added support to encounter screens for us-them interactions, instead of just us-us interactions.
• Changed interactions to support tallying charges for use without removal. E.g. must have 1x software to use, but it won't be consumed
• Added a new Interaction.bImmediateReply for cases where we want an immediate reply, but also AI feelings to matter.
• Added fTargetDefenseMod to attack modes so they can modify the target's defense stat.
• Added strAttackerName to interaction so designers can make encounter interactions attack the player with a name other than player's.

One of the more significant additions in this update is a new plot system. It uses a mix of procedural and custom-written plots to try and deliver a regular stream of interesting story events to players.

The procedural plots are story structures designed to work with certain people and relationships to the player. When the game decides it is time for such a story, the player's contacts and surrounding NPCs are checked for matches, and if found, that plot begins. And depending on the plot and player actions, they can sometimes turn out different ways.

We also have some custom plot content which probably will feel more familiar to traditional CRPG players. This plot changes based on player choices, and it will not be possible to see all outcomes in a single game.

To help keep track of these new plots, the PDA now has an improved Goals app. Plot-based goals now show current and past steps taken, highlight important people better, and clicking on those names will open the PDA Socials app to tell you more about them, and where they are.

Once in the Socials app, players can see where each NPC was last seen. And clicking on those ship names will launch a new PDA NAVLINK app that lets players browse local space while not sitting at their NAV. (Note that the NAV station must be powered and on the same ship for this to work.)

Additionally, ships are now able to contact each other via comms in the NAV station. Players can request info from other ships, ask them for help, and might even be contacted by other ships. Docking requests now feel a bit different between stations, NPC ships, and derelicts.

There are also two new ship types to be found in the boneyard: haulers and pirates.

Haulers are a bit like a mix of tow truck and janitor. Players may periodically see a hauler towing old derelicts into OKLG for processing, or bringing out a new derelict that just arrived. And pirates may be lurking in the boneyard, awaiting the approach of an unsuspecting scavenger.

And with all this new traffic, the ship AIs have had a bit of an overhaul to improve their capabilities.

It's also now possible to hack PDAs and peruse other storage devices to find datafiles, and these files can include setting/lore info, valuable data, or just plain humor. Players can browse and manage these files in their PDA's new FILES app, as well as read relevant wiki entries on places and people in the world.

It's also now possible to gather the stored data on one NAV station and copy it into another, such as when buying/selling ships, or finding a derelict with revealed ships in its NAV station.

Plus a host of other changes, fixes, and user experience polish.

As always, there's plenty more for us to fix, change, and add! And we'll be continuing in roughly that order. In the meantime, let us know how you're finding this update, and watch your back out there!

Best,
Daniel Fedor
Founder, Blue Bottle Games, LLC

 

[Infinitron]

Dan, Corey, Joshu, Naiba, Michael and Crusoe join us on voice to discuss and show off the latest major update!
0.13 Lucky Number 13 adds procedural plots, ship comms, and supernatural elements to the game.