A new version of the game is almost ready. This time it features A LOT of improvements, most notably in terms of interface and performance, as well as a new set of content (A star cluster “Moirai”, new systems, stars and planets), which is no more just a demo, but actual game content that will stay from now on.

The release of v0.11-alpha is scheduled to be around 1st of February 2023 if nothing goes wrong for me and if there are no extensive blackouts. This release was hugely inspired by my friends and close ones, for whom I dedicate it.

Below is the change-log and a to-do list as of now with more details.

Current

v0.11-alpha (work in progress)

Engine

• Updated engine binaries (3.x as of 13th January 2023).

Models

• Fixed some improper LODs.

Camera

• Improved and fixed camera behavior.
• Tweaked warp camera effect (stretch and brightness are now more smooth).

Environment

• Environment zones (locally adjustable brightness, saturation, contrast).
• New star cluster Moirai.
• Stars are adjusted according to their types (size, color, light ranges).

Shaders

• Tweaked shaders for performance (significant boost due to partially using vertex shading).
• Re-introduced star core shader, optimized this time. Distance-modified brightness.
• New different star sprites.
• Clamped shaders alpha to prevent unexpected bugs.
• Star sprite shader is adaptable with distance.

Locales

• Initiated localization (EN and UA).
• Connected localization strings with interface, added language switching button.

Interface

• GUI is now scaleable, and will adapt to any screen (16:9 and wider).
• Separate navigation lists for different stellar objects and structures.
• Reworked touchscreen controls. They can be swapped.
• Reworked options menus.
• Reworked desktop GUI layout.
• Implemented object info window.
• Theme color and intensity can be selected now.
• Improved UI readability.

Refactoring

• Refactored whole project to heavily rely on autoload for persistent data.
• Refactored autopilot code to be more reliable.
• Refactored UI code to be more reliable.
• Refactored meshes of primitives and used unified names.

TODO list!

Highlighted entries are “Work in progress”.

New features

• Make autopilot detect obstacles.
• Make primitive building blocks with simple collision shapes (performace).
• Make “Orient only” autopilot feature.
• Infocards. Accessible from targeting and in-game list. (WIP)
• Internal game wiki.
• Pause the game while menu (options) window is on.
• Sandbox (debug) mode separate from gameplay mode.
• Ambient music and sounds. (WIP)
• Save game state and options.
• Ship switching (in debug) (https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/scripting/singletons_autoload.html).
• Make different “print()” debug calls into a proper logging system.

Improvements

• Make star sprites diminish in size with distance (script).
• Investigate enabling/disabling trimesh collision shapes on the go.
• Option for debanding.
• Engine kill button for touch UI.
• Improve pad X direction movement on scaling.
• Remove objects (zone contents) that are way too far.
• Make a “UI state” autoload object to store UI data and synchronize states.
• Examine PID regulator applicability (https://github.com/slavfox/godot_pid_controller or https://github.com/fire/godot-pid/blob/master/PID_Controller/PID_Controller.gd).
• Info tab: make clickable entries that expand to tutorial entries.
• E-kill touchscreen button.

Refactor

• Re-attach models directly into scenes (make editable). (WIP)
• Refactor ship code.
• Paths and common to autoload (https://docs.godotengine.org/en/stable/tutorials/scripting/singletons_autoload.html)
• Rename all the space objects to their proper names.
• Refactor nav list scripts.

Fix

• Investigate flickering on high velocity.
• Keyboard keys behavior (also refactor).