Difference between revisions of "Apogee"

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[[File:Screen Shot 2018-05-24 at 11.44.03 AM.png|thumb|700px|Starside Gamefield]]
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[[File:Apogee Logo.png|thumb|700px|Apogee Logo]]
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Apogee is a working title for a game I'm writing using the [//godotengine.org/ Godot game engine].
 +
 
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The game seeks to incorporate elements of games like Escape Velocity, starflite, elite, GTA 1-2, Ares, shadowrun and other early console and shareware 2D games. It will hopefully utilize top down space flight and combat with light RPG elements.
  
Apogee is a working title for a game I'm writing using the Godot game engine.
+
Key game play mechanics are: navigating the solar system, interacting with interplanetary objects, docking with stations, collecting resources and when all else fails engaging in combat.
  
The game seeks to incorporate elements of games like Escape Velocity, starflite, elite, GTA 1-2, Ares, and other early shareware 2D games to offer space flight and combat with light RPG and story elements.
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As of November 2018 this project has stalled.
  
 
;Most Recent Binary Download:
 
;Most Recent Binary Download:
:[//www.dropbox.com/sh/8wdrc55xs2z84mk/AAAdrNaiFjm6pUzMVCV_5CPQa?dl=0 Apogee Beta 008]
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:[//drive.google.com/open?id=16T7InKwfsTdhgya9O-qsrlntZwAnGvGM Apogee Beta 012]
 +
: Be advised:
 +
: Flight Director and a lot of other functions are broken in this build.
 +
: Spin lock breaks the nav indicators.
  
 +
[[File:Screen Shot 2018-05-24 at 11.44.03 AM.png|thumb|700px|Starside Gamefield as of b008]]
  
 
==How To Play==
 
==How To Play==
  
 
===Basic Flight===
 
===Basic Flight===
In the current beta your ship is a Vostok IIm small crew transit vessel. It is equipped with a single laser cannon and a Mark 1 InfiPulse engine. The InfiniPulse engine did away with the need for Hohmann transfers and allowed pilots to propel ships to speeds that make interplanetary transportation feasible through the use of Brachistochrone trajectories. However as the engine constantly adds accelerative force to the ship gforces quickly compound and the pilot can succumb to g-lock and suffer serious injury or death. As a result it is advisable that pilots attempt to use the engine in short bursts.
+
In Apogee most ships are fairly rudimentary to begin with. The average ship is equipped with a single laser cannon and a Mark 1 InfiPulse engine. The InfiniPulse engine did away with the need for Hohmann transfers and allowed pilots to propel ships to speeds that make interplanetary transportation feasible through the use of [http://www.projectrho.com/public_html/rocket/torchships.php#brachistochrone Brachistochrone trajectories]. However as the engine constantly adds acceleration to the ship G forces quickly compound and the pilot can succumb to g-lock and suffer serious injury or death. As a result it is advisable that pilots attempt to use the engine in short bursts.
  
 
To conserve fuel pilots should try to find routes to targets that make good use of the gravity wells.
 
To conserve fuel pilots should try to find routes to targets that make good use of the gravity wells.
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[[File:Apogee indicators.png|none|500px|thumb|Apogee Indicators]]
 
[[File:Apogee indicators.png|none|500px|thumb|Apogee Indicators]]
  
The main indicator ring around the ship displays three key pieces of information.
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All ships in Apogee are equipped with a NavTrek N1000m target and flight data computer. The N1000m uses a holographic indicator ring around the ship to display three key pieces of information crucial for successful navigation of the solar system.
  
* The pointed ring shows direction of motion.
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* The pointed ring shows direction of inertia.
 
: This is useful for adjusting the ships trajectory to move towards a target.
 
: This is useful for adjusting the ships trajectory to move towards a target.
  
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* The inner partial arc shows the direction of the applied forces of gravity.
 
* The inner partial arc shows the direction of the applied forces of gravity.
: Conserving fuel will require using gravity wells to modify your trajectory and navigate to your target. This indicator lets you keep track of where the strongest gravimetric forces.
+
: Conserving fuel will require using gravity wells to modify your trajectory and navigate to your target. This indicator lets you keep track of the direction of the strongest gravimetric forces.
  
 
===Main Controls===
 
===Main Controls===
  
====Arrow Keys====
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====Arrow Keys (Left Analog Stick)====
 
*Left - Spin counter-clockwise
 
*Left - Spin counter-clockwise
 
*Right - Spin clockwise
 
*Right - Spin clockwise
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*Down - Autobrake (Spins the ship in opposite direction of movement to make braking easier)
 
*Down - Autobrake (Spins the ship in opposite direction of movement to make braking easier)
  
====WASD====
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====WASD (Right Analog Stick)====
 
*W - RCS Fore
 
*W - RCS Fore
 
*A - RCS Port
 
*A - RCS Port
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Ancillary Controls are used to govern the less crucial systems of the ship.
 
Ancillary Controls are used to govern the less crucial systems of the ship.
  
*Q/E - Cycle through targets
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*Control - Dock with/capture object or land at planet/station.
*F - Flight Director (aims ship at target)
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*Q/E (D-Pad Left and Right) - Cycle through targets
*K - Dismiss Master Alarm
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*F (X Button) - Flight Director (aims ship at target)
*V - Cycle camera settings (freezoom, lock to target, zoom out)
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*K (D-Pad Down)- Dismiss Master Alarm
*Plus/Minus - Zoom camera in and out
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*V (Y Button)- Cycle camera settings (freezoom, lock to target, zoom out)
*B - Lock camera to ship rotation
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*Plus/Minus (Left and Right Shoulder)- Zoom camera in and out
 
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*B (D-Pad Up)- Lock camera to ship rotation
==Basic Story==
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* Space (A Button) - Fire main weapon.
 
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world takes place in an alternate future where the outer space race did not end with the Apollo moon landings. Increasing fervor for control of space saw the US and Russia pouring billions of dollars into development of more sophisticated space systems.  By 1991 Russia had put a cosmonaut in mars orbit only to lose the vessel on return trajectory failing to complete orbital mechanics for the ride home. Russia attempted to recover the vessel but were unsuccessful until America set aside aggression and assisted. This act turned America and Russia into mostly allies in space. A decade later North america joined England and most of Europe to form a joint space effort. India and japan formed a working relationship and China, Russia and North Korea formed a space power of their own. for 40 years there have been many acts of espionage, sabotage and subversion but as yet no major war has occurred in space.  However on Earth there has been considerable conflict that has left most countries very poor. Many cities were unable to support the populations they held and have collapsed financially. Hunger and sickness are rampant. Many seek to leave Earth.
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By the beginning of the 21st century most space concerns were under the direction of several multinational corporations and the common people of earth had begun to establish several large multinational governments in response to the growing power of corporate interests.
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At the time of the game the three colonies on mars landed by the US, Russia and India have just allied to form the Mars coalition government, declared independence and enacted a constitutional government. No one is sure how the Earth governments will respond but none have recognized the legitimacy of the act as yet.
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The moon is fully colonized and one of the richest nations in the solar system. Central Planus, the largest city, is the center of all space commerce housing the largest shipyard in the solar system. It is the jumping off point for anyone looking to leave Earth orbit for the belt or the outer planets.
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===Reoccurring morals and themes===
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The pettiness of human endeavour, the emptiness of an acquisitive society, the destructive nature of greed.
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The power of cooperation, the necessity of kindness.
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Is space ours to own?
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Do we deserve a second chance?
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Will we repeat past patterns despite being aware of them?
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===Possible Storylines===
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====Mayday====
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in the far off colonies of Ceres rumors are circling about a growing number of inexplicable equipment failures. the destruction of a freighter carrying needed food aid to ceres has prompted an accident investigation. Chief SSTB investigator Chris Lacoix is enroute but needs a clandestine ride so as not to taint the investigation by drawing unwanted attention. The player must take Lacoix to a field office on Ceres and assist Lacoix in gathering evidence. It all seems so mundane until the players vessel suffers a failure and suddenly the true nature of the strange occurrences is brought to light.
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====Cold and Dark====
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On Mars a man at the local flight office mentions in passing a colony on Enceladus that long ago stopped responding to communications. They are looking for someone to ferry a response team. The player must take the team to Ceres to try and make contact with the colony but when they get there they find that the team has vanished and left behind a spotless facility. The player must investigate but the closer you look the more strange things occur.
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====The Stuff of Life====
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On Earth a group of space druids are looking for transit to Mars to start a church on a plot of land purchased there. If the player agrees to the plan they promise payment in kind of a shipment of 500 kilos of water from the supply they are bringing with them. But on the journey it becomes clear this group is not benevolent and attempts to seize control of their vessel. The player learns that the water they are shipping has become dosed with a powerful psychotropic drug that is causing delusions. The player can either jettison the group into space or find a peaceful solution.
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====Taking Sides====
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In a grungy bar at the earth space port a woman slips a data card onto your table and walks out the door. The card contains a set of spatial coordinates. If the player flies to them a hidden space craft appears and reveals itself to be a guidestar industries capital vessel. The ship docks with you and a boarding party comes aboard. You are taken to their brig and asked to commit an act of sabotage against a rival for them. The player can choose to complete the mission or try to warn the colony. The outcome will effect the players standing.
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====No Good Deed====
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When encountering a derelict vessel player boards to find three people requesting rescue. Once aboard the player learns they are actually refugees attempting to leave Earth. The player must decide whether to turn them in or save them.
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==Gameplay==
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The game will have two major areas where the player is in direct control of the protagonist; Starside and planetside.
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===PlanetSide===
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The game presents a top down perspective. The player can walk around the city in question, visit shops, tour the sites and talk to NPCs.
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NPCs will provide information or missions. Typical controls like direction, run, shoot and action.
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===StarSide===
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In space players control the navigation and primary systems of the spacecraft they inhabit. The spacecraft utilizes newtonian controls, players can move in each axis of freedom (except up and down).
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+
 
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==Game Story==
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start on small planet fresh out of flight academy
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meet an old fella who tells you about a mission. offers you an old clunker if he takes you with him to mission
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character will explore the solar system of earth.
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===ship mechanics===
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every ship is a frame with several hardpoints for adding equipment, cargo area for storage and crew support determines how many crew.
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some vehicles are single stage to orbit small vessels, others are large scale capital vessels that cannot land.
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orbiter
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crew vehicle
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equipment ranges from heavy weapons, sensors, energy collectors,
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===crew===
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more crew means ship systems are automated. larger ships require more interaction otherwise ships can blow up.
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space mechanics: like ares, ships have momentum and rcs. ships can move sideways backwards etc
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== Code Structure ==
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I am attempting to layout the game in a manner that allows me to plan most of the mechanics before I get started.
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===Player===
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* Key presses (ideally the game should be played only with keyboard/gamepad)
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** Cardinal Directions
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** Action Button
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===Starside===
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This is the environment where the player will operate a spacecraft and traverse the solar system.
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====Space Class====
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Concerns
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* Handles planetary layout and positioning
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* Micrometeorite density
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* Any phenomenon that effects ships.
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** Radiation
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** Temperature
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** Magnetointerference (will effect some tech)
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=====Methods=====
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'''For Construction:'''
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* CreatePlanet(Location,Mass,Size,Type,Link)
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: adds a new planet to the scene, will have to account for location, mass, size, type, and link (so that the player will be taken to a PlanetSide map when they land)
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*GetTemp(Location)
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: Returns the temperature of the location specified
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* GetRads(Location)
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: Returns the Radiation of the location specified.
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*GetDebris(Location)
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: Returns an integer stating the likelihood of a collision with debris at this location.
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'''During Gameplay:'''
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*SetRads(Location)
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: Sets the radiation level of a desired location. This method should then scale the radiation of the remaining tiles evenly so theres a falloff.
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*SetDebris(Location)
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: Allows a destroyed ship to leave a debris field at site of destruction.
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*GetPlanets()
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==Gallery==
: Returns a list of all planets in the solar system.
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Here are some videos of basic gameplay.
 +
{{#evt:
 +
service=youtube
 +
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oJYIEOf0kRU
 +
|container=frame|alignment=inline
 +
}}
  
* GetShips()
 
: Returns a list of all ships in the solar system.
 
  
====Celestial Body Class====
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{{#evt:
 +
service=youtube
 +
|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ybPx-p1WqRY
 +
|container=frame|alignment=inline
 +
}}
  
Concerns
 
  
* Inhabited (will determine how they respond to hails)
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{{#evt:
* Alignment (enemy, friend)
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service=youtube
* Defence Force (how many ships will defend the planet)
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|id=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hlNtOdwUVW8
* Atmosphere
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|container=frame|alignment=inline
* interference (jovian planets will cause intense electrical problems)
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}}
* Type (Jovian, terran, asteroid)
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** Radiation
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** Temperature
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** Magnetointerference (will effect some tech)
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====Ship====
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[[Category:Godot]]
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[[Category:Game]]
 +
[[Category:Software]]

Latest revision as of 19:37, 15 October 2019

Apogee Logo

Apogee is a working title for a game I'm writing using the Godot game engine.

The game seeks to incorporate elements of games like Escape Velocity, starflite, elite, GTA 1-2, Ares, shadowrun and other early console and shareware 2D games. It will hopefully utilize top down space flight and combat with light RPG elements.

Key game play mechanics are: navigating the solar system, interacting with interplanetary objects, docking with stations, collecting resources and when all else fails engaging in combat.

As of November 2018 this project has stalled.

Most Recent Binary Download
Apogee Beta 012
Be advised:
Flight Director and a lot of other functions are broken in this build.
Spin lock breaks the nav indicators.
Starside Gamefield as of b008

How To Play

Basic Flight

In Apogee most ships are fairly rudimentary to begin with. The average ship is equipped with a single laser cannon and a Mark 1 InfiPulse engine. The InfiniPulse engine did away with the need for Hohmann transfers and allowed pilots to propel ships to speeds that make interplanetary transportation feasible through the use of Brachistochrone trajectories. However as the engine constantly adds acceleration to the ship G forces quickly compound and the pilot can succumb to g-lock and suffer serious injury or death. As a result it is advisable that pilots attempt to use the engine in short bursts.

To conserve fuel pilots should try to find routes to targets that make good use of the gravity wells.

Indicators

Apogee Indicators

All ships in Apogee are equipped with a NavTrek N1000m target and flight data computer. The N1000m uses a holographic indicator ring around the ship to display three key pieces of information crucial for successful navigation of the solar system.

  • The pointed ring shows direction of inertia.
This is useful for adjusting the ships trajectory to move towards a target.
  • The winged outer pointer shows the direction of the current target
This allows the player to keep track of the relative position of target objects.
  • The inner partial arc shows the direction of the applied forces of gravity.
Conserving fuel will require using gravity wells to modify your trajectory and navigate to your target. This indicator lets you keep track of the direction of the strongest gravimetric forces.

Main Controls

Arrow Keys (Left Analog Stick)

  • Left - Spin counter-clockwise
  • Right - Spin clockwise
  • Up - Throttle main engine
  • Down - Autobrake (Spins the ship in opposite direction of movement to make braking easier)

WASD (Right Analog Stick)

  • W - RCS Fore
  • A - RCS Port
  • S - RCS Aft
  • D - RCS Starboard

Ancillary Controls

Ancillary Controls are used to govern the less crucial systems of the ship.

  • Control - Dock with/capture object or land at planet/station.
  • Q/E (D-Pad Left and Right) - Cycle through targets
  • F (X Button) - Flight Director (aims ship at target)
  • K (D-Pad Down)- Dismiss Master Alarm
  • V (Y Button)- Cycle camera settings (freezoom, lock to target, zoom out)
  • Plus/Minus (Left and Right Shoulder)- Zoom camera in and out
  • B (D-Pad Up)- Lock camera to ship rotation
  • Space (A Button) - Fire main weapon.

Gallery

Here are some videos of basic gameplay.