AstraX Dev Diary, December 2023
Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone!
I've been working on AstraX 0.4 really hard, but sadly couldn't finish everything before the holidays.
This update is mostly of technical nature and will allow more extensive features (e.g. better navigation and starmap).
The biggest changes affected the targeting/discovery system, graphics, spacecraft and spacecraft systems.
Metaphorically, these changes are like replacing the insides of a melon with the insides of a pomegranate and this took me almost two months of hard work to complete.
However, the result is a piece of software that is optimal for modding, user friendliness and adding more features, such as:
Usability improvements to Sector Map, Sonar (ergo radar mechanisms)
Being able to detect moving NPC alien spacecraft on your radar system that you will be able to trade with later
Being able to render planet and spacecraft graphics on the UI and HUD
Showing UI details for selected spacecraft
Discovery Mechanisms now work for any content added by mods
Furthermore, I added these features:
Better, remappable controls
Asteroid belts are now integrated into orbital structure of a star system
Junk metal belts that yield Scrap Metal as resource
Future Features
Features that I currently have in focus for future versions (+0.5):
Better orbit sectors featuring habitable zones which depend on spectral class of the central star
More discoverable traits for gaseous and moon types
(experimental) Trait scanning mechanics
Spacecraft System failures
Spacecraft Construction Editor. This is quite a large task. I've looked into implementing the editor and came to the conclusion I need to do more research & requirements refining for an effective implementation
Better Galaxy Map
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AstraX is a casual space exploration game that allows you to discover a multitude of different celestial bodies. Learn more about our universe in this atmospheric and relaxing simulation. Download it on itch