StarMade v0.201.126 - Weapon Update

[Edymnion]

You know that launcher is the same one you get on Steam, you can turn back the one on Steam the exact same way, and you can also tell Steam not to update the game. I don't know what your beef with Steam is and I don't really care, but don't bash Steam to simply bash Steam, make sure your facts are right.

In my experience, Steam frequently "forgets" that you told it not to connect, not to update, etc. And next thing you know, its trying to update stuff you told it not to update.

Steam is, bottom line, DRM in a dressed up wrapper. Any setting you make that would let you bypass it calling home for itself or for a game you got through Steam *WILL* be disabled and it will try to call home sooner or later.

 

[MrGrey1]

You know that launcher is the same one you get on Steam, you can turn back the one on Steam the exact same way, and you can also tell Steam not to update the game. I don't know what your beef with Steam is and I don't really care, but don't bash Steam to simply bash Steam, make sure your facts are right.

"you can also tell Steam not to update the game." I was including the launcher as part of the game. Steam will update the launcher when you launch it. You can not stop Steam from doing this. If I launch the launcher directly it launches as is with whatever version I have. No update.

Exhibit A:

Where does it say, "Do not update this game." ?
Facts wrong you say?

The same goes for you as for Edymnion. You may have a beef with Steam I don't care, I do care when you get your facts wrong. You have the same control over Starmade on Steam as you do if you get it from this web-sight, hell you can even run the one you get from Steam with out Steam being turned on.

Exactly what fact in particular do you think I got wrong?

You have the same control over Starmade on Steam as you do if you get it from this web-sight

Granted, if your definition of Starmade is just the game. If your definition of Starmade includes the launcher then no you do not. You can not prevent the launcher being updated if it is run through Steam.
If you launch it directly it will launch with what ever version you currently have.

I specifically stated "Steam version control." Fact: You can not launch a 'game' through Steam without it being updated. The fact that StarMade has version control built into it's launcher does not negate the fact that Steam forces updates and does not allow version control. I standby what I said. Forced updates are suck. Software that does not give the user options, ie control, sucks.

While the game is in dev we have some leeway as all Steam has it's hooks into is the launcher at the moment. How long do you think native version control in Starmade will last after release if Steam has its way? If StarMade 'blows up' into something big and they want to wring every last penny out of it whilst minimizing costs? My bet is not long, depends a bit on the Devs and how far into bed with the devil they want to get I guess.

TLDR:
Spartan-228; Foced updates suck. Steam forces updates. Game allows version control. Steam doesn't suck.
MrGrey1; Forced updates suck. Steam forces updates. Steam sucks. The End.

 

[Spartan-228]

"you can also tell Steam not to update the game." I was including the launcher as part of the game. Steam will update the launcher when you launch it. You can not stop Steam from doing this. If I launch the launcher directly it launches as is with whatever version I have. No update.

Exhibit A:
View attachment 49689
Where does it say, "Do not update this game." ?
Facts wrong you say?



Exactly what fact in particular do you think I got wrong?


Granted, if your definition of Starmade is just the game. If your definition of Starmade includes the launcher then no you do not. You can not prevent the launcher being updated if it is run through Steam.
If you launch it directly it will launch with what ever version you currently have.

I specifically stated "Steam version control." Fact: You can not launch a 'game' through Steam without it being updated. The fact that StarMade has version control built into it's launcher does not negate the fact that Steam forces updates and does not allow version control. I standby what I said. Forced updates are suck. Software that does not give the user options, ie control, sucks.

While the game is in dev we have some leeway as all Steam has it's hooks into is the launcher at the moment. How long do you think native version control in Starmade will last after release if Steam has its way? If StarMade 'blows up' into something big and they want to wring every last penny out of it whilst minimizing costs? My bet is not long, depends a bit on the Devs and how far into bed with the devil they want to get I guess.

TLDR:
Spartan-228; Foced updates suck. Steam forces updates. Game allows version control. Steam doesn't suck.
MrGrey1; Forced updates suck. Steam forces updates. Steam sucks. The End.

If you set it to "only update game when I launch it" then if there is an update Steam will ask if you want to update it when you launch it all you have to do is say NO.

EDIT:
Also if you set the game to an older build Steam will not ask you yo update until the next new build comes out. As to how far Steam can get its hooks into Starmade I have no idea, I do know that the question of achievements came up and it was said that the way Starmade was setup it was mostly incompatible with Steam systems.

 

[-PR-Sandbag]

I'm sorry if this has already been raised - I tried my hardest to read every page of this thread but the ragers got to me. Just.Cant.Do it. On the topic of all the ragey people saying how bad the devs' choices are, go back and play the original starmade build then come back to the current build and bask in all it's epic glory.

Now my question:

What's with beams atm? I feel like I'm either missing something or they're just plane broken. The Beam Isanth's do CRAZY mad damage. I've checked out the build and nothing about them seems especially OP. I just don't get it.

Sorry again if it has already been raised.

 

[Nebulon-B_Frigate_FTW]

I'm sorry if this has already been raised - I tried my hardest to read every page of this thread but the ragers got to me. Just.Cant.Do it. On the topic of all the ragey people saying how bad the devs' choices are, go back and play the original starmade build then come back to the current build and bask in all it's epic glory.

Now my question:

What's with beams atm? I feel like I'm either missing something or they're just plane broken. The Beam Isanth's do CRAZY mad damage. I've checked out the build and nothing about them seems especially OP. I just don't get it.

Sorry again if it has already been raised.

Beams are very high DPS at close range. It's not recommended to let anything using them get close.

 

[-PR-Sandbag]

Beams are very high DPS at close range. It's not recommended to let anything using them get close.

I get that part, but they seem to be ignoring shields and even at distance they just melt things

 

[Nebulon-B_Frigate_FTW]

I get that part, but they seem to be ignoring shields and even at distance they just melt things

That's a bug, which I've seen once in the dev builds, and I guess made it to release.

 

[TapDrew]

what they need to do is hire more devs, the game is dying, and you can't blame anyone but them. it's been in pre-alpha for 7 years, most games have more than 2 people working on them in that time frame, you know there's a problem when there is only ONE server with more than 10 people online. I really love this game, but, it's killing me having to watch it die like this, please Schema, HIRE MORE STAFF MEMBERS

 

[JumpSuit]

what they need to do is hire more devs, the game is dying, and you can't blame anyone but them. it's been in pre-alpha for 7 years, most games have more than 2 people working on them in that time frame, you know there's a problem when there is only ONE server with more than 10 people online. I really love this game, but, it's killing me having to watch it die like this, please Schema, HIRE MORE STAFF MEMBERS

dude, they got nightrune .

 

[TapDrew]

dude, they got nightrune .

WOW, one more person, that doesn't explain their lack of focus, and lack of help, THE GAME IS DYING, the game averages to have less than 100 people online global any time of day, I'm not saying that the only reason it's dying is because of so few devs, but, it doesn't help. if you have ideas to breathe life back into the game, please, give suggestions besides what I mentioned, because, that's what it needs rn, or, mark my words, it WILL DIE

 

[Nebulon-B_Frigate_FTW]

WOW, one more person, that doesn't explain their lack of focus, and lack of help, THE GAME IS DYING, the game averages to have less than 100 people online global any time of day, I'm not saying that the only reason it's dying is because of so few devs, but, it doesn't help. if you have ideas to breathe life back into the game, please, give suggestions besides what I mentioned, because, that's what it needs rn, or, mark my words, it WILL DIE

There are many things that would breathe new life into the game. Comparing to Minecraft:

• Starting location is empty and unhelpful (just a shop for you to buy stuff from)
• So is most everywhere, interesting things are veeeeery far apart, making exploration less rewarding
• Trader NPCs are okay, but Minecraft has much more interesting things just with turtles
• There is less immediate personal danger, making no real contrast between the safety of home and the wilds
• Everywhere is super dreary. The lighting engine makes for too much darkness and harsh transitions and planets thus feel depressing even when you fill them with greenery
• Mining involves less sound and takes longer to do anything meaningful, making it feel less rewarding
• Pre-generated structures (stations) are much less useful as shelter, sources of resources, or functional purpose (Minecraft villages have furnaces and farms...)
• Crafting is slower to get meaningful results, more complicated, and involves less sights and sounds and more UI navigation (furnaces are really nice compared to factories), making it feel less rewarding

Fix just a few of these and the playerbase will double in a month. This is all really to say that the game lacks meaningful content beyond creative shipbuilding right now. The weapons update is necessary to at least give us something to do with our ships built in creative and bought from selling what was once an asteroid or ten (because crafting sucks).

 

[JinM]

because of so few devs

This complaint about slow progress has been made several times in the past 3 years. The lead developer decided to go with a smaller team.

Please dont be so judgemental about that decission, after all there are real persons behind such decissions. There are many reasons to preffer a small scale team, and a lot of them are not related to money.

 

[TapDrew]

well, that actually sound like a really good start, btw, have any of you ever looked at how messed up and confusing the starmade trello page? they have like NO direction, or focus

 

[kikaha]

There are many things that would breathe new life into the game. Comparing to Minecraft:

• Starting location is empty and unhelpful (just a shop for you to buy stuff from)
• So is most everywhere, interesting things are veeeeery far apart, making exploration less rewarding
• Trader NPCs are okay, but Minecraft has much more interesting things just with turtles
• There is less immediate personal danger, making no real contrast between the safety of home and the wilds
• Everywhere is super dreary. The lighting engine makes for too much darkness and harsh transitions and planets thus feel depressing even when you fill them with greenery
• Mining involves less sound and takes longer to do anything meaningful, making it feel less rewarding
• Pre-generated structures (stations) are much less useful as shelter, sources of resources, or functional purpose (Minecraft villages have furnaces and farms...)
• Crafting is slower to get meaningful results, more complicated, and involves less sights and sounds and more UI navigation (furnaces are really nice compared to factories), making it feel less rewarding

Fix just a few of these and the playerbase will double in a month. This is all really to say that the game lacks meaningful content beyond creative shipbuilding right now. The weapons update is necessary to at least give us something to do with our ships built in creative and bought from selling what was once an asteroid or ten (because crafting sucks).

Errr Universe update ?

And crafting is slow for you maybe. With the proper factories and settings crafting is really easy and fast i find. I never buy from shops in the game.

 

[TapDrew]

This complaint about slow progress has been made several times in the past 3 years. The lead developer decided to go with a smaller team.

Please dont be so judgemental about that decission, after all there are real persons behind such decissions. There are many reasons to preffer a small scale team, and a lot of them are not related to money.

you know why he wants a smaller team? he doesn't want people seeing his "precious code" that's probably why even tho he claims that official mod support is planned, it will likely NEVER happen, which is also really sad, because a game that's been out for 6 months or less (pixark) already has mod support. now tell me how a game as old as starmade is a: still in prealpha after 7 YEARS, and b: hasn't had a single person make a modding program for it. it's a proven fact that mods make games, and even game development better, half of the features in minecraft (and bugs) wouldn't have been added (or fixed in the case of bugs) without mods. and, it's not just minecraft that I'm referencing, I also am referring to games like ark, and pixark (although not as much for pixark), pixark released their mod kit, THE VERY SAME DAY, SOMEONE ADDED BREEDING, ark has several maps, and an alternative game mode thanks to modding.

 

[Nebulon-B_Frigate_FTW]

Errr Universe update ?

And crafting is slow for you maybe. With the proper factories and settings crafting is really easy and fast i find. I never buy from shops in the game.

I think you missed a key part of my post, this is comparing the game to Minecraft. You may say that's an unfair comparison, but the fact of the matter is that the reduced scale of Minecraft helps it in numerous ways by making individual items/discoveries far more important.
Ask yourself: If you get the perfect sets of ore right at spawn right away, how much time must you invest further to make it into a decent ship? How much time will you be spending just buying the right items and designing the factory?
Because, in Minecraft, once you've got a cave with 30+ iron, it will not take you even 10 minutes to get it into all the essentials using a few furnaces and a crafting table. And in the end, just those furnaces are more engaging than a purpose-built StarMade station.

 

[TapDrew]

what they should start with is take the game away from the creative mode feel like most servers have. make it more survival, and add in modding, why pay for people to help develop it, when the community would help for free.
[doublepost=1532165045,1532163174][/doublepost]in case someone wants an example at how broken the trello page is, most of the planned, and in development things are done, like fleets, but, haven't been moved to the completed tab Trello

 

[Captain Fortius]

As far as dying goes, I'd say it's a classic case of over-stretched development time.
Starmade should have been completed and fully released a few years ago. Other games have came out that surpass this one in some aspects, and more are coming that will swipe it off the table entirely, simply due to being newer, starting with better technology, more features, and more refined ideas.

Large, well functioning planets have became the norm. Working sound engines are not a novelty either. Small scale, fine detailing, free or at least more angles for slopes in construction, fine control for moving parts, abandonment of rigid starter "core" blocks, sub-entities that cause no lag and can be built on seamlessly have been achieved by other titles;
Given Starmade's track record, I doubt it's realistic to hope these features would be replicated any time soon, and even if they were possible, there's a good chance they'd put their uniquely awkward twists on these ideas and ignore well-loved and respected tropes and traditions to create something wonky and poorly functioning, like they did with the power, integrity, and weapons updates.

We have this game to thank for giving a good boost to the space-minecraft sub genre, and as much as I'd love to see it rise above it's flaws and catch up to other titles, Starmade might just have fallen too far behind them to ever do so.

The really sad thing is, there was enough energy and work hours invested that it WOULD have been possible. It was just spent on wrong ideas.

 

[Alphajim]

And besides saying hypothetical things that will or won't be the case (I don't care actually), what are you doing ?

 

[DrTarDIS]

what they should start with is take the game away from the creative mode feel like most servers have. make it more survival, and add in modding, why pay for people to help develop it, when the community would help for free.
[doublepost=1532165045,1532163174][/doublepost]in case someone wants an example at how broken the trello page is, most of the planned, and in development things are done, like fleets, but, haven't been moved to the completed tab Trello

"make it more survival" I LOL'd hard.
Fleets aren't completed, or even half functional. They're right where they belong on the Trello page IMHO. There are 3 comands that "work" in fleets, and work needs quotes. The rest are flat broken/unimplimented.
As for mods..."official game API scheduled" on that Trello... and anyone that should be modding what's existing probably knows how to unpack the jar (I assume you don't?)