Any news? At all?

[DGatsby]

Hey everyone,

This game looks to be really interesting, and as such I've had my eye on it for a few months. Sadly it seems like there has been a huge lack of information on the game other than what was initially posted about it back during the start of the year. Is there anything new to tell? Any new screenshots? Any new gameplay information? Any release date news? Anything? All information released prior indicated a June release date, but the month is almost over! I want this game to be successful and to get excited about it, but considering we've heard nothing in months I am very concerned...

[Nacho84]

Hello DGatsby,

Welcome to the forums! I apologize for the lack of updates. Most of our efforts are geared towards getting the beta version ready, which will be ready in the near future (stay tuned for announcements).

I'm posting two screenshots of the badges that you'll get by achieving certain goals during the game along with a couple of screenshots from the Gemini program.

Cheers,

Badge for the "Study of microgravity on amphibians" goal.

badges_00_AMPHIBIANS.png (117.67 KiB) Viewed 8452 times

Badge for the "Basic Satellite B" goal.

badges_00_BASIC_SATELLITE_B.png (118.47 KiB) Viewed 8452 times

Gemini EVA

C_28-Two crew ballistic capsules.jpg (51.88 KiB) Viewed 8452 times

[Nacho84]

Gemini and Agena EVA

D_28-Two crew ballistic capsules.jpg (197.79 KiB) Viewed 8452 times

[DGatsby]

Hey man,

Thanks for the update! I am looking forward to the beta. Is it going to be open/closed, or some sort of buy in deal? Or do you not know yet and I should stop pestering you so you can figure it out?

The screenshots a very nice as well! The game's graphics seem very clear, and detailed without being cluttered. I like them.

[Nacho84]

Hey man,

Thanks for the update! I am looking forward to the beta. Is it going to be open/closed, or some sort of buy in deal? Or do you not know yet and I should stop pestering you so you can figure it out?

We're still not sure about this. I'm going to Slitherine's offices in a couple of days to show them the latest build and the beta process is certainly on our list of things to discuss

Also, feel free to open up more threads if you have more questions and I'll try to answer them as soon as possible.

The screenshots a very nice as well! The game's graphics seem very clear, and detailed without being cluttered. I like them.

Thank you for that, I'm glad you liked them! I'll pass the message along to the rest of the chaps.

Cheers,

[professorel]

Oh wow a "Study of Microgravity on Amphibians" badge? Please tell me this is actually something you can do and that the game is full of really specific and sorta bizarre things like this I don't even care if getting these doesn't do much this is just hilarious.

[Nacho84]

Oh wow a "Study of Microgravity on Amphibians" badge? Please tell me this is actually something you can do and that the game is full of really specific and sorta bizarre things like this I don't even care if getting these doesn't do much this is just hilarious.

Absolutely! You earn that badge after completing the "OFO" mission, which is based on this 1970 NASA mission. Space Program Manager is full of historic missions, so you'll see specific (and yes, also bizarre ) missions like this.

Cheers,

Orbiting Frog Otolith mission.

5_biosatellite b en orbita.jpg (100.28 KiB) Viewed 8265 times

[professorel]

Nice! Do said missions have effects in some ways, or just there for bulk? (ex would the OFO mission have a positive effect on duration missions?)
I'm really liking these full-size mission artworks too.(the gemini/agena one is currently my background.) Do you have these for all the missions then?
And with all these missions you seem to have, how is the management system set up? I could imagine it could get complicated having so many, both in terms of having many options to choose and managing several at the same time. This has probably been a major point in the development process and you could say a lot about it.

[Nacho84]

Nice! Do said missions have effects in some ways, or just there for bulk? (ex would the OFO mission have a positive effect on duration missions?)

All the missions achieve one or more goals. Some goals are critical in order to move forward, others not so much. But you might want to perform missions that accomplish non-critical goals as well in order to earn prestige points and, thus, funding.

I'm really liking these full-size mission artworks too.(the gemini/agena one is currently my background.) Do you have these for all the missions then?

We do, yes, all the missions have artwork like this. When you launch a mission, you get to see an animated sequence in the Mission Control console (see the bottom right image at this link).

I've left some high-resolution images for you at this link. Feel free to grab them for your desktop background

And with all these missions you seem to have, how is the management system set up? I could imagine it could get complicated having so many, both in terms of having many options to choose and managing several at the same time. This has probably been a major point in the development process and you could say a lot about it.

We have implemented some aids, such as not having to reassign scientists to R&D every turn, a button in order to display the list of recently opened programs, etc. I'm sure that during the beta some other issues will arise, but we'll be able to sort them out.

Cheers,

[DGatsby]

The more I hear and see about this game, the more awesome it looks! I am looking forward to the beta!

[professorel]

We do, yes, all the missions have artwork like this. When you launch a mission, you get to see an animated sequence in the Mission Control console (see the bottom right image at this link).

I've left some high-resolution images for you at this link. Feel free to grab them for your desktop background

Wow thanks a bunch! I certainly didn't expect that.
So then are these stills from full animations? Also, I'm no artist, but it looks like the foreground objects are cg and the backgrounds are handdrawn? Is that right?
Part of me is still kinda attached to the grainy, thumbnail-size footage they used in BARIS, but doing it this way makes a lot more sense since you can keep the quality consistent and have something for missions we don't have footage of/that never actually happened.

Can't wait for the beta either!

[Nacho84]

The more I hear and see about this game, the more awesome it looks! I am looking forward to the beta!

Thanks Stay tuned!

[Nacho84]

So then are these stills from full animations? Also, I'm no artist, but it looks like the foreground objects are cg and the backgrounds are handdrawn? Is that right?

Our 3D artist is making a big bunch of images like the ones I've shared with you where all the main elements (rockets, launch pads, background, etc) are placed in separate layers. Then the 2D artist grabs those images and animates the layers. The end result is quite neat, specially with background music and sound effects on top. We couldn't make full-length videos due to size limitations (videos are very heavy and we want the game to be available on tablets), so we thought this was the best solution given the constraints we have. That being said, the 3D artist did a video for Buzz that it's now on his webpage.

Both the objects and the backgrounds are CG, nothing is handdrawn.

Part of me is still kinda attached to the grainy, thumbnail-size footage they used in BARIS, but doing it this way makes a lot more sense since you can keep the quality consistent and have something for missions we don't have footage of/that never actually happened.

Yes, I see what you mean. I guess the footage made sense 20 years ago when BARIS was released, but we decided to take a different route. Otherwise, as you rightly pointed out, we wouldn't have material for missions that never happened. I also think there's a certain charm in recreating pictures that already exist, such as this one.

Cheers,

[lopiko]

Will i be able to land on the Moon with Soyuz? Without lander?

[Nacho84]

Will i be able to land on the Moon with Soyuz? Without lander?

Hello lopiko,

At the moment we're not planning to include Soviet manned spacecraft in part 1. That being said, the game features lots of Soviet robotic probes.

Cheers,

[Schaufel9te]

Guys you making a dream come true: a very nice and highly detailed space simulation. I waited ages on it, loved BARIS (still playing), never get warm with other games...

The pictures are awesome, what I have read about your development is also very promissing.

I really hope that you guys get the time to bring this game to a succesfull launch and not are forced by your management to throw out something not fully developed. Hoepfully you will be allowed to support the futre of this game beyoned release.

Thank you so much and best greetings to Buzz

[Nacho84]

Guys you making a dream come true: a very nice and highly detailed space simulation. I waited ages on it, loved BARIS (still playing), never get warm with other games...

The pictures are awesome, what I have read about your development is also very promissing.

I really hope that you guys get the time to bring this game to a succesfull launch and not are forced by your management to throw out something not fully developed. Hoepfully you will be allowed to support the futre of this game beyoned release.

Thank you so much and best greetings to Buzz

Thank you for your kind words and welcome to the forums! Yes, don't worry, the game will be supported after release. After so many years in development, we want it to be the best it can be.

Cheers,

[NickMUK]

Well, this is really beginning to show off some incredible visuals, the achievements look like a nice touch and I am really looking forward to seeing some gameplay videos soon, I'd love to see more of the interface.

As with everyone else I am anxious to get in on the beta if possible.

What will the different parts include? You say Part 1 wont include any manned Soviet missions so can i assume it isn't chronological, i.e. starting in 1957 with Sputnik 1 and going up to say 1969 with the Moon landing, or is it that you have focused on NASA over other space programs to begin with?

[Nacho84]

Well, this is really beginning to show off some incredible visuals, the achievements look like a nice touch and I am really looking forward to seeing some gameplay videos soon, I'd love to see more of the interface.

Iain will be showing more of the interface at Historicon next week, so stay tuned!

What will the different parts include? You say Part 1 wont include any manned Soviet missions so can i assume it isn't chronological, i.e. starting in 1957 with Sputnik 1 and going up to say 1969 with the Moon landing, or is it that you have focused on NASA over other space programs to begin with?

The manned missions for part 1 are based mostly on NASA, yes. However, we have included plenty of Soviet robotic probes. Part 2 will have MIR, though (and Skylab). In parts 2 and 3 you will also see probes from ESA and JAXA.

Cheers,

[NickMUK]

Wow, will keep an eye out next week then. We can't be far off a video by now can we?

I thought I'd post this here, another game that's coming out via kickstarter and follows in a similar vein as SPM.

http://intermarum.com/race-to-mars/