Developer Q&A - November 2014

[Zyrr]

Azurite and I were a little too backed up these past few weeks. We were expecting to ask Calbiri some questions as well but he has been busy, so schema will have to do ( :p ). (December's post will go up on the 15th as we've planned).

Q: What ever happened to the particle system?
SCHEMA: Particle system had to be on ice since more pressing features/issues had priority. I’ll finish it when I have time.

Q: What do you think about this thread in regards to turret mechanics?

SCHEMA: The thread looks good and I have wanted to improve the docking system for some time now. Same thing as the other two. I just have to find time when other things are done.

Q: When will the interfaces of the modding API be de-obfuscated?

SCHEMA: I already de-obfuscated some parts and have some helpers with the modding API, but its currently a little hard for the same reason as the particle system.

Q: What’s your favorite flavor of cake?

SCHEMA: Cake? I like cheesecake and schwarzwälderkirsch :p

That's all folks. Sorry we had to cut this one short. We will make it up to you in a few days for December's Q&A. Take care! Remember to post your questions for next month below. We need a lot of questions quick this time!

Spoiler: Previous Q&A's

October 2014: http://starmadedock.net/threads/developer-q-a-october-2014.3705/

 

[Viridis00]

I've got a couple questions for the next Q&A.

1. Why did you choose to make this game in Java? Was it simply personal preference, is Java well suited to certain features for Star Made, or are there some other reasons?
2. Is the Minelayer dead? Or is it just very low priority right now? Similarly, are there any other ideas for new weapons up in the air for the future?
   
3. What features (new or old) have the highest development priority at the time of answering this Q&A?

 

[Keptick]

I've got a couple questions for the next Q&A.

1. Why did you choose to make this game in Java? Was it simply personal preference, is Java well suited to certain features for Star Made, or are there some other reasons?
2. Is the Minelayer dead? Or is it just very low priority right now? Similarly, are there any other ideas for new weapons up in the air for the future?
   
3. What features (new or old) have the highest development priority at the time of answering this Q&A?

Excellent questions! Like, that's actually really really good questions

 

[Neon_42]

when and where are these Q&A's announced?

 

[Keptick]

when and where are these Q&A's announced?

Here and here.

And in the last Q&A thread ^_^

 

[Zyrr]

The Q&A's are supposed to be done every 15th of the month, but unfortunately November ended up being very congested for both Azurite and myself, so it's only being put out now. Sorry.

 

[marcus87]

It was stated that the buy by block is a first step to the shipyards. Is there a concept how shipyards will work and can you describe it.

The enourmus costs of shield blocks and the relative cheap armor blocks suggest a direction for more armor tanking. But any desent weapon will punch through ( :D ) enourmus numbers of hardened hull. Is there a plan to change armour and if yes how? Will the hp system be a part of that?

How big is a big ship? When would you say a ship is to big for the game to handle in a efficient manner?

Is repairing a ship with the blueprint in some of the next updates?

How goes the work on the NPC factions? How are they intended to influence the game?

What about the space whales? When do we get them?

Is groundwarfare still in the planning, how would it look like and when can we expect it?

How does the work on the fleet system progress? What will we be able to do and when do we get it?

 

[Mered4]

Going to reiterate on one of marcus' questions:
1. Can we get ship repair by blueprint? Possibly in the shipyards? Or maybe the way Robocraft does it, but with astrotechnicians.
Here's some OC:

2. What do you guys think of adding some new exotic weapons, like Wave guns (think SoSE)?

 

[Byamarro]

1. Will we get programmable NPCs/Bobby AIs?
2. Will we see this: http://starmadedock.net/threads/larger-thruster-plumes.4215/ by default in game?
3. Do You plan to make more types of power generators and thrusters?
4. Do You plan sound/music update?
5. Will planets finally stop looks like bubbles in space while looking at them from far distances?

 

[Azurite]

BUMP!

6 days people. And we plan to be on time this time around. Gimme yo' questions :D

 

[Snk]

Will we ever get crewability? Please refer to this thread: http://starmadedock.net/threads/a-manifesto-on-crewability.4329/

 

[Mered4]

BUMP!

6 days people. And we plan to be on time this time around. Gimme yo' questions :D

When is the update on ship movement, control, and aiming going to hit the DEV builds? I heard something was in the works, just wondering if there is any ETA besides SOON.

 

[MrFURB]

Here's a question that recently popped up: Are there any plans to add FPS limiters lower than 60 FPS for use with old machines and laptops?

 

[Comr4de]

Will faction security ever happen?

 

[MineCatFTW]

Will we get a real third-person ship view?

 

[Snk]

What is the next update?

 

[Mr. V]

In the last news update concerning the change to buying with Blocks - Schema pointed out that, "Something that basically generates blocks from nothing is an infinite "in" which is ok for creative, but not ok in any other setting". This makes a lot of sense to me and was something I had not given much thought to previously. It also raised some questions in my mind about other sources that produce blocks from nothing in Starmade. So my question is:

Has there been any thought of generating some kind of draw on a universe's resources in order for the spawn of AI ships and AI ship loot drops?

It seems like one of the steps to implementing a functional economy is to implement rules that the AI factions need in order to survive and thrive that somewhat mimic the needs of the actual human players.

While not as easily abused as buying large ships with credits - these are still sources that can generate substantial amounts of new blocks within a Starmade server that (to my knowledge) do not create a draw on a universe's existing resource pool in order to occur.

 

[Snk]

In the last news update concerning the change to buying with Blocks - Schema pointed out that, "Something that basically generates blocks from nothing is an infinite "in" which is ok for creative, but not ok in any other setting". This makes a lot of sense to me and was something I had not given much though to previously. It also raised some questions in my mind about other sources that produce blocks from nothing in Starmade. So my question is:

Has there been any thought of generating some kind of draw on a universe's resources in order for the spawn of AI ships and AI ship loot drops?

It seems like one of the steps to implementing a functional economy is to implement rules that the AI factions need in order to survive and thrive that somewhat mimic the needs of the actual human players.

While not as easily abused as buying large ships with credits - these are still sources that can generate substantial amounts of new blocks within a Starmade server that (to my knowledge) do not create a draw on a universe's existing resource pool in order to occur.

You're pretty smart

 

[Mr. V]

You're pretty smart

nah, I just fake it well

 

[Ithirahad]

No, V, you are legitimately pretty smart. You're the first one I've seen on the forums who mentioned that issue, which has been bugging me for a while.