Post by tocksin on Feb 10, 2021 19:53:03 GMT
I've been trying to understand what makes this game so fun, and what keeps drawing me back to it. There are far more sophisticated games, but somehow there's something unique to this game. So I'm trying to isolate the gameplay components to try to understand what it is. There are some elements common to other games and some that are not.
The gameplay revolves around making money, and you do that by exploring in several different modes and navigating hazards while exploring. The hazards reduce how much money you make. But the immersion is really where the game shines - it really feels like you own your own spaceship. It's inspirational. It makes me want to try to design my own game with a similar level of immersion.
- First person space fighting. You shoot at other ships manually flying around your screen. I never saw this as a big interest, but there is the aspect of damage to individual components. A key element I've never seen since is that you have to leave the pilot's chair to run back to your engines/shield and swap components around to keep your ship functional. This really adds to the tension during a fight. I think you really don't want to fight much because it's so expensive, but it can be fun at times.
- Navigation around space. The concept of sublight engines inside a system, and warp engines to instantly travel to different systems. Managing when to warp out. The closer you are to the edge of the system the more likely you'll have a successful jump. There's a lot of tension when travelling in sublight which is great. It's all risk management about where to go and what to haul. Sometimes it's better to warp out than to try to reach another planet in the same system.
- Town navigation. Having to go out and find the stores around town to buy things to repair your ship either on foot or in your van is very immersive and unlike other games. You have to worry about where to park since you can't go into stores in your van. And when you are on foot you are in danger of being mugged. It's a good trade-off. The different architectures are very nice for each planet to add to the immersion. And the risk adds to the tension. And the first time you find your van locked is great.
- Stores. There's a bar where you can meet with people, play games, order food. Stores to buy personal equipment, and stores to buy ship parts. And then there's the exchange for larger cargo. Banks. Not all parts are available on every planet forcing you to explore other planets.
- Planet navigation. A rare gameplay element once you find a ground scanner. I don't think this was done well because it's meant for exploration, but you are punished for exploring. The time acceleration and hunger penalties push you to minimize this element. This would be a great mode to enhance for random encounters around the planet.
- Engineering your ship. You own your own ship (not uncommon). Maintaining your ship MANUALLY is a rare key element. Other games you click a repair button and it's handled. Here you build up your ship systems by buying components and installing them yourself. And often you are duck-taping it together with shunts. And damage destroys these components.
The gameplay revolves around making money, and you do that by exploring in several different modes and navigating hazards while exploring. The hazards reduce how much money you make. But the immersion is really where the game shines - it really feels like you own your own spaceship. It's inspirational. It makes me want to try to design my own game with a similar level of immersion.