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[Pencerkoff]

Hello this is Pencerkoff

We just started playing right away, we weren't really interested in the menu that modified the ship.

Not sure what to tell you.  I could have made a fine 1-player system with the mouse, but that wouldn't work with 2 people.  Ship modding was what made this game a game instead of a pointless waste of hand-eye coordination.  I come from a long history of gaming where you have to figure stuff out.

Would have been cool to have the ability to ram

I actually had this at one point, but got rid of it because you would always destroy your ship well before you were ready to go out with that kind of a bang.

Also, would have been cool if the ship looked different depending on the build.

Shmup fighters did that.  Probably could have merged our methods to make a sweet game.  I couldn't think up a good way to organize it to make it look good, and never pursued it.  I've never considered myself an artist, and all the graphics from all my games are a testament to that.  Everything pretty about this game I stole/borrowed from somewhere else.

-PENCERKOFF

[Starflier]

I don't know if I mentioned this, but I appreciate that your game had a one-player mode.

[Fluff]

Hello Pencerkoff,

I'm a big fan. I like your style because it's always clear who is talking and there is never any ambiguity about who everyone is.

When we tried this game, we couldn't figure out the ship building interface (we are a little slow). And the options overwhelmed us. It looks like a really cool game! But it didn't really lend itself to the group we played with. Can't really fault the game for anything in that regard.

The person driving the mouse spent at least a full 60 seconds on the main menu dancing with the mouse cursor and spelling words out with the trails.

That gives me an idea for an asymmetric cooperative game. One person spells letters with the mouse and the other has to guess what they are. It would probably have to be online. Alternatively, it could be a group of people competing on keyboards and the first person to type the letter wins. Like charades with a mouse.

Well, thanks for the inspiration!

-FLUFF

[Mega]

When we tried this game, we couldn't figure out the ship building interface (we are a little slow). And the options overwhelmed us.

I had the same issue, The only way I play is with the no cost invisible ship. I had no idea what the fittings screen is all about lol. (I'm slow too!) 

[Pencerkoff]

Hello this is Pencerkoff

You should be able to play just fine in any game mode, the ship-customization is optional since I give you a pre-made ship to start with.

I was half-expecting everyone to be adverse to my customization system, but it really isn't that bad.  The screen should tell you what buttons do what, and the rest is just watching your cost to make sure you can afford it.  Every component has 3 levels, so you can build a single, better, more expensive engine instead of two of the lower cost ones.

Hey Starflier, you customize much?  You may be the only person who got that far.

-PENCERKOFF

[Will Vale]

I tried this in SP and enjoyed it a fair bit - the progressively bigger waves make for a good challenge. I was delighted that beams were in although I did find it hard initially to spot which beams were mine. The enemy AI (get on your tail and shoot) works nicely too.

I played with the ship customisation and did get the hang of it but I think I was initially confused since the changing letters on the modules were quite subtle.

Are you going to add more stuff? It seems like you have the germ of a great Star Control type game here and with a bit more variety and personality it should be awesome.

Cheers,

Will

[Pencerkoff]

Hello this is Pencerkoff

Hey thanks Will.  I don't see myself adding more, to tell the truth.  I had fun with it, but in the end I would have to overhaul too many things.  I could make a nicer single-player version that has a nice mouse-interface when customizing the ships, but it's a lot of work for something that doesn't actually make the game-play any different. 

Plus I got employed since I finished this, so my free-time has nearly disappeared.  Luckily for the video-gaming industry I'm still just an engineer.

-PENCERKOFF

[Will Vale]

Congrats on getting a job - and I totally understand how this can be a bit of a time sink Are you able to say where you're working?

[Pencerkoff]

Hello this is Pencerkoff

Cameron.  I help manufacture compressors.  I'll make a game about it sometime.

-PENCERKOFF