Hey sfighrath,
I finally got around to try your game. And...it's really fun!
I needed some time to figure out the controls, but when I finally got used to them (thanks to people in this thread), it was quite easy. I really like minimalistic approach you took - choose planet, then down arrow for planetfall, up arrow for tentacle. Easy and smart!
I already have some suggestions...
So, it is time to tell you about system like warp gates. Sun is source of energy in our system. When you destroy planets you distabilize sun. It collapse to black hole and you move into it. This is swarm moving type. Human will use a drive to piercing space between galaxies.
Personally, I like this approach. However...
I'm not sure I like the black hole thing. If it's done the way I'm guessing it'll be done, it'll be more like levels, or branching paths. I feel like having systems isolated in a void (like planets are isolated in a void within systems) would allow for a better higher strategic game. Plus, with a more open map and the ability to have multiple fleets moving at once you could recreate that legendary Tyranid look, with huge tendrils spreading through the sector and engulfing whole star systems.
...he has a point. Option to attack multiple systems at once would be cool. But at the same time, I can see this would be a bit hard to implement.
Maybe something like this:
- once the swarm enters the black hole, they find themselves in some form of a sub-space
- this sub-space has multiple exits
- the swarm can't go BACK to the previous system, however they may choose to:
1) send entire fleet through one exit,
2) leave some ships in sub-space as reinforcements (for a cost, but what is the cost? Some swarm ships, maybe? Plus "reinforcements" would only make sense if humans would actually have means to hurt your ships)
3) split fleets in two (three, four?) groups and attack multiple systems (most expansive option, would start with only few ships - like at the beginning)
- maybe there could be option to send "scouts" to new systems, so you could actually decide which system to attack next? "No scout" option would be reserved for hardcore version, perhaps?
- once you have swarm attacking multiple systems, you would of course need some sort of interface to switch between systems...
Did anybody try this version? Yesterday talked with the game painter. We decided that the game will have:
Swarm - one small ground unit and two or three big uniq creature at once, two unit type in space
Human - only big ships with halls for ship battles, battle satellites on planet orbit, infantry, tank, mobile rocket unit and nuclear missiles on planet surface.
Planet resources - water, oil and iron. First is for cloning, other two are for upgrade spec attack and defense.
And any more. The game have only one big thing to develop - big human ships and battles on its. Other features is small.
We prepare material for indiegogo.com and we glad to receive any help from you to extend information about our game in the Internet
Sounds great! Can't wait for human motherships!
With all other units humans will have, I hope there will also be even bigger planets in the future? That would be super cool, the bigger the better!
I had idea for upgrading. Something like "you could not upgrade two at the same time", but after thinking a bit, it sounded to confusing. So I suggest making oil and iron rare enough so it would really mean something when you find them!
Also, some sort of numerical representation of your units/upgrades would be cool, or maybe even "scores" screen, when you finish devouring every planet? Like number of units created, lost, enemy units killed etc.
Or, maybe you could just keep playing, with the game generating new star systems every time you enter black hole? And you'll be defeated only when you loose all your ships? That could be fun! But maybe that would be reserved for other game mode, "endless" or something.
This are just few ideas I have. No need to take them all seriously, make the game YOU want! It's just that this game seems really fun and I can see it can get even better! I like the graphics, I like simple but fun approach, I can't wait to see how everything turns out! I'll be monitoring this thread for updates and I wish you success with indiegogo.com!
P.S.: did I say I like music? Well, it's great, really fits the atmosphere! Thumbs up!
Author
Topic: Space Sandbox (Nov 21, 2012) (Read 28882 times)