Hey space captains! I hope everyone will get a chance to play on April 1st, because I've got something fun planned for your officers... it might even be a hint at a future possibility (and a common player request)!
Internal Damage / Shipwreck Stories
Part of the recent work on shipwrecks has been to improve their "stories": what kind of ship is it, who built it, what happened to them, why is their ship a "wreck" anyway?
You can get some of this information through the new scanning feature, but you can now get a lot more by going in there and poking around.
But beyond the remains of the former crew, and the aftermath of whatever disaster befell them, you can now see messages from their last moments! Who was involved? What were they doing? Did they have any warning?
There are currently 10 categories of "internal damage", each with subcategories and specific handling. maybe they caught a disease and it got out of hand? Maybe one of the crew was trying to defect to the enemy? FIND OUT!
New Docs
I will be spending some time writing Steam Documentation on all the new "shipwreck repair" features. I know there's a lot to learn and remember, so this way you can keep the information handy.
When it's done, it will be available directly from the "DOCS" link on the main loading screen.
Shipwreck Overhaul Complete?!
Shipwreck overhaul has been my focus for *months*, and the progress has been transformative. Everything has been reworked from the ground up, and hundreds of new items have been added to give each room a specific feel and purpose. You can now interact with intelligent aliens onboard, sometimes aiding them, other times receiving warnings or ultimatums.
Each shipwreck is now a unique self-contained experience. And even when you're *done* with a shipwreck, you have options! Blow it up for parts, tow it to a station and sell it, or even, in some cases, USE IT AS YOUR OWN SHIP!
Is it done?
Almost...
There are still some kinds of damage I need to write stories for (and that includes "external" damage, which mostly refers to combat, and I haven't even touched that yet). There is an entire new system that I never ended up adding, and that was puzzles. I'm pretty sure I'm not going to do that right now.
But forcefields still need something more interesting inside them than just credits... (And please note I said "interesting" not necessarily "better".)
But there's still a lot to do in 1.7 (remember the Star Map?) and I'll take feedback while I tie up my work here with shipwrecks. And don't worry, it doesn't mean I'll never work on them again, only the *focus* will shift.
Favoritism
Are you tired of accidentally selling or salvaging your best equipment? ME TOO! That's why I (finally) incorporated the concept of "favorite items":
It only works with the mouse for now, but a keyboard interface will be made.
Anyway, if you right click on an item in your cargo (or any other window where it appears), it will become "favorited", and display with an asterisk "*" at the beginning and in a nice golden color. Then you will always get an "are you sure" warning about anything that would destroy a favorite item.
Other Changes
You now get a log message when officers get paid out of your income.
Fixed a problem where "dormant / asymptomatic" diseases were still having an effect.
You can now detect Hypno-Flowers on planet scans.
THERE ARE 15 NEW MONSTERS!
...and 8 new monster powers...
Shipwreck repair readout has been improved.
Enjoy!
Hotfix 1.7c4h
A few small but noteworthy fixes:
Triggering short circuits should no longer make aliens hostile towards the player.
Path arrows in "Uncountable Infinities" mode now require you to activate them like all other area transitions.
Fixed a bug where having the regeneration buff would prevent your captain from dying on away missions.
Upper and lower decks of shipwrecks should no longer generate with unconnected areas.
Shipwreck Takeover
The big main branch update is finally here! But let's start off by fulfilling a promise I made last year:
Uncountable Infinities for Everyone!
Warning: this experimental game mode may drive completionists INSANE.
In the base game, the explorable part of a planet has always been just a single 30x30 map. It was never meant to represent the *entire* planet, only the most interesting part.
Uncountable Infinities changes all that: Somewhere on each edge of the map, a green arrow may spawn. If you touch that arrow, you'll travel north, east, south, or west (depending on which edge of the map you're on) to a new part of the planet, that is mostly similar, but new and different.
This mode is not "balanced" with the rest of the game. You can indeed collect too much loot and XP. But get out there and do it anyway, you won't regret it! The code to enter in order to activate this new experience is:
"tripleinfinity"
Why "triple infinity"? Space was already infinite, so that's the first one. Now planets are infinite, so that's 2. But what else? CAVES! Not only can you travel NESW on the surface, but you can do it in caves too! Wow. This code will work until the end of March and then Uncountable Infinities will go away... until it comes back later as a more balanced, less infinite but permanent change.
Shipwreck Takeover!
I've been talking about this for a long time, now it's finally here.
If you find a shipwreck with 3+ decks with a working life support system, fix all the damaged walls, floors, and vital systems, and remove all the aliens, you can transfer all your equipment over and USE THE SHIP FOR YOUR OWN!
Approaching Infinity comes with 20 standard ship classes, and those are what you can fly. You might buy an upgraded version of one of those ships at a station, but they're always the same basic flavor.
(This readout appears when you visit a "repair terminal".)
When you take over a shipwreck, you get to pick from 3 potential stack blocks (hull, speed, cargo, crew, and supplies) that the ship could reasonably be configured into (based on what kind of ship it was to begin with).
But the best part comes a little later, when you get to choose your own pair of "built-in devices". They don't take up slots and are always 'on'. Want infinite supplies? Install a "nebulizer" and a "ram scoop". Or choose a "resource extractor" and an "orbital mining beam" if you want to strip-mine planets. If you can find it, buy it, or build it, you can install it here and define your *own* class of ship!
You're going to need resources to accomplish this.
Unless you find a shipwreck with no discernible damage, you will need a combination of scrap metal, repair kits, crafting parts, and gadgets to get everything back in order. You'll probably also want to refrain from using corrosive or explosive weaponry while clearing out any nasty alien infestations you might find...
You even get to pick what your new ship looks like!
https://youtu.be/oBxT-eV1nmM
OK, but what if you don't want to put in all that work?
Tow It!
You still need to visit every deck and you still need to get rid of the monsters. But you don't have to make any repairs. You could even blow the inside to hell. But on the way out, you might get the option to tow it to a station, where someone will hopefully pay a lot of money for the junk you're hauling.
(Here I am in my custom ship, towing the remains of another ship I explored.)
Towing will slow your ship down. A lot. And it will keep you from warping, landing, or docking anywhere *until* you actually sell the salvage. So don't do it in a sector where you're badly outnumbered or outgunned.
But it's a great way to make some extra cash, and it even lets you tidy up the sector map a bit. But just in case you can't deal with all the aliens, or be bothered to explore more than 50% of the ship...
BLOW IT UP!
Yep. You found a weak spot you can exploit to make it come apart and spill its guts into space. As soon as you move away, it will blow. Collect the spoils!
These features represent a major milestone in the shipwreck overhaul, which is a big part of version 1.7 (but there are at least 4 other big parts of 1.7, so *WAY* more galaxy-shattering revelations to come.)
Shorter Skill Cooldowns
Like, *way* shorter. I'm still trying to find the proper balance for cybernetic gel (which cuts activated-skill cooldown times in half). The previous idea was that using skills was very rare, and using gel was even rarer.
But for now, we'll try this: skill cooldowns aren't very long at all, and using gel will significantly shorten that time, allowing you to possibly use the same skill twice during an encounter, if you feel the need is great enough.
Portraits In Hails!
A while ago, I introduced the beautiful alien species portraits that @kennydalman made, but they weren't actually in the game yet. Well...
Wait, those aren't exactly hails, what are they?
Aliens On A Mission
When you board a shipwreck with sentient aliens on it, they're not just "there" anymore. They're *doing* something. Maybe they're on a mission and don't want to be disturbed. Maybe they need your help fixing the ship. Or maybe they just want you to stand still for a second. Anyway, the universe keeps getting more "alive", and you've got to deal with it.
What Else?
You can now shelter in the shuttle on planets that cause environmental damage.
"Stun" weapons got a speed boost.
A lot of things were fixed that caused other things to break, and then those things got fixed too.
Take my word for it.
If you raid a Firax Vault (found at cave level 12 or deeper), you're in for a tougher time and some lasting consequences...
Air pressure is restored much more quickly when you have working life support and 100% hull integrity.
YOU CAN BUILD DOORS IN WALLS USING RARE CRAFTING PARTS!
When starting a new game, the order of officer classes has been adjusted sequentially by division (curiosity, combat, systems, etc.)
You also get tooltips on how to unlock any playable officer classes you're still missing.
Added 13 new pieces of alien art to find.
more More MOAR...
All this and much more awaits you in the ever-expanding universe of Approaching Infinity...
Shipwreck Repair Beta
I hope you've been collecting repair kits, scrap metal, gadgets, and crafting parts, because
Shipwreck repair is here!
If you find a shipwreck with at least 3 decks and a life support system, that's a good start. Then you need to fix all the damage (walls, floors, short circuits, consoles, mainframes, vital systems) and clear out any life-forms that might be there. Repair the hull, restore air pressure, and make sure there's no radiation.
And then you can get yourself a custom ship!
Depending on what the ship was originally (cargo hauler, gunship, science vessel, etc.) you'll have 3 choices of stat blocks for Hull, Speed, Crew, Cargo, and Supplies.
There are new "repair terminals" on each deck of a ship with 3 or more decks. They don't guarantee that the ship is repairable, but it's a good start. Visiting one of these terminals will give you a to-do list and also let you know what you might end up with.
This feels like one of the most exciting systems that has been added to the game in a long time. And you know what else? You get to choose which 2 devices you want to be "built in" (they're always 'on' and they don't take up a slot)!
Aliens On A Mission
This went out last week but didn't get an announcement, yet it's still really exciting: When you encounter intelligent aliens on shipwrecks, they will now tell you their business:
"Help us evacuate" (you have to find all the aliens on every deck of the ship)
"We're on a mission" (we won't mess with you if you don't mess with us)
"Leave or die" (you have to the count of 10 to leave, or all become hostile)
"Help us repair" (explore their ship and fix broken machines)
Towing
Towing of shipwrecks to sell at stations has also been implemented! If you have enough scrap (don't want to blow it up) but it's not worth fixing up, you can take it to any space station and bring in some cold hard credits. Anyone can do it right now, give it a try.
Something else...
There's another change so HUGE that I won't even spoil it by showing you a picture. I'll just let you discover it for yourselves. But it's only available in the beta branch for now...
Hotfix 1.7c1b
New version 1.7c1b fixes 2 fatal crashes that were discovered overnight:
When landing on former human colonies.
When exiting a shipwreck too overloaded with loot.
It also makes star temples spawn loot when they're destroyed, and using "hull shears" will now spawn 1 scrap metal. Thanks to the Discord folks for those bug reports and feature suggestions!
Stacks and Scraps!
Finally some new features!
God-Mode for Everyone
In December, I said I'd let everyone try out God-Mode... Well here's the super-secret code: Godmode For Everyone
From the in-game options menu, select "Enter Code", and paste or type that in.
Warning: you will be invincible. Also you can reveal the entire map (and erase all your cooldowns plus more) by pressing the [CTRL] key. The list of features is too long to get into here, but you do 99x damage, get 99x XP, star temples and shipwrecks spawn like crazy, etc., more, blah blah blah!
God-Mode is what I use when I need to test something without worrying about silly little things like dying. For you, maybe it's the way to find out just how deep the rabbit hole goes...
Warning 2: god-mode is not like a super-powered rescue code. There is no going back. Once activated, it can't be turned off. (This is run-specific, meaning you can have a god-mode game and several non-god-mode games.)
Gadgets
In the last update, I mentioned a new type of loot... It's "Gadgets"! Bohr Cage, Cosmic Sextant, Klein Pump, Planck Tuner, Zylon Battery
These esoteric little contraptions can be used to fix machines on shipwrecks right now, and will be used in several other game systems that will occur in the future. Gadgets are much harder to come by than other similar loot types, and will most often be found in shipwreck rooms that are related to crafting, engineering, or scrap.
Scrap
And speaking of "scrap", what is it? It's just this unassuming pile of metal that can now be collected and used to repair shipwreck interiors. There have always been ways of fixing damaged walls or floors, but with scrap metal, you can build whole new wall sections! You need to be standing on a floor next to space (actual "space", like the deadly outside vacuum thing), and press the brand new "build" key (which is re-bindable, but defaults to [B]).
And the Build/Repair key now works for fixing other things such as control consoles. This *replaces* the "smart action" key (space bar). There's also a new "repair" button on the lower middle of the user interface.
Why Fix Shipwrecks?!
Ooh, good question! Well, the next thing I intend to conquer is being able to sell off a fully explored, cleared-out shipwreck. I haven't quite nailed down the exact method of this (will it be just like planetary surveys, or something cooler?), but it's definitely coming.
And after that, there's the planned ability to fully repair a shipwreck and USE IT AS YOUR OWN SHIP. This system might even involve getting to choose which two built-in devices you want it to have. Imagine the customization!
Blow Up Shipwrecks!
For now, the option you have for a completed shipwreck (it will trigger at anything 75% or higher), is to blow it up for parts. If there's nothing you want to come back for, just see what falls out when you make it explode!
Stacks
Are you tired of cluttering up the sector map with cargo that spills out of your spaceship after exploring a particularly wealthy planet?
Well "stacks" are now a thing!
Commodities (from boxes to antimatter) can now be dropped in groups. The abandon screen has been updated with a "drop all" option for anything you're carrying a lot of. It's one more little quality-of-life feature. But why, exactly?
Have you ever found a shipwreck with more supply canisters than you can carry? Now you can pick up those excess supplies, and they'll be dropped in space, in a stack, when you exit. You can create little supply caches that you can come back to, and they'll be immediately recognizable on the map, alleviating that "where did I put it?" feeling.
Just look out because pirate ships will sit on your stacks and eat them up!
Other Changes
Improvements to the auto-explore (like when you're immune to radiation, your ship won't avoid it anymore)
Improvements regarding the "warp breach", including mouse interface (click yourself!).
Moving on top of a deactivated machine will now activate it.
Junk piles are now searchable, and can spawn a variety of items.
If you're trapped in a web, attempting to fire your weapon will break the web (but it still takes your turn).
Key repeat speed and text animation settings are now stored between games.
Former human colonies now use the new furniture types, and have a wider variety.
Further checks are in place to make sure a shipwreck has all the decks the scan says it should.
I think I fixed the rare but persistent "can't salvage force-uninstalled weapons" bug.
Get out there and explore the universe!
Lunar New Year Update
Approaching Infinity is getting its first update of 2022, here are the highlights:
Individual sounds for melee weapons.
Better prices for crafted items.
The holiday quest is over.
A fix for those starting-ship problems.
Items should no longer spawn inside solid objects (but probably not all instances of this are fixed).
The gravitational reflector is working again.
Planet tool-tip will only reveal items that you've actually scanned.
I fixed the function that forces the warp point to be accessible.
Respeccing no longer increases your level!
The shipwreck overhaul is still underway, and the next phase will bring an entirely new type of loot to the game...
Big Winter Update!
You're getting a lot this year!
Shipwreck Scanning
The shipwreck overhaul has been in full swing for a few months now, and it's coming along nicely. And what better way to ease yourself into it than... scanning! Get an idea of what to expect *before* you send the captain over to that floating treasure-trove / death-trap!
Race Pics
This is a really huge announcement, and it's almost a year in the making.
It's been hard keeping this a secret:
There's no specific timeline to introduce them into the game, but wow am I excited.
With several new types of "conversations" planned, these images will play a prominent role in future inter-species relations.
There are even a few that I'm *not* showing here, because they make up an entirely new faction that you haven't met yet... But hey, since people keep asking, I'll let you know the artist's name... It's Kenny Dalman! https://www.deviantart.com/kennydalman
Holiday Quest
If that wasn't enough to get excited about, then maybe this will grab you: Approaching Infinity has a holiday quest this year! (I asked our Discord group how they wanted their holiday gift, and the vote was overwhelmingly for a new quest.)
It was conceived as a literal "fever dream", because I wrote the outline for it while recovering from my covid booster. That was a 3-hour pounding headache followed by a day of fatigue, but it's worth it if it helps me keep existing (that's basically all I do, to paraphrase Fry).
Anyway, this is the first new multi-stage quest that's been added to the game in *years*, and if you can handle a little bit of silliness, it will pay off in the end with a one-of-a-kind item. This adventure will be around through January, and it will start automatically some time after sector 4...
DLC
Approaching Infinity's first DLC is scheduled for 2022, but it might not be what you think...
David Gervais, (my long-time collaborator, co-conspirator, and consummate(adj.) pixel-pusher) asked me if I could do a DLC of new user interface skins. I told him I had no idea, but I'd try.
It turns out I can, so next month I plan to roll out a DLC package containing David's creations:
Each set is a total interface remodel, re-making every menu in the game in a new theme. 100% of the income from this DLC will go to David, even though he said I should keep half.
Patreon
I don't advertise this here much, but I've been a very good IBOL this year, so maybe some of you would like to do a gift exchange with me?
Patrons get exclusive updates every month, along with special codes and UI skins. Some folks get design documents, post-mortems, and even a look at my daily coding journal. It's a great platform for those who want to both give more and get more. And Patreon helped to fund those beautiful race pics ;)
There have been a few benefits that are pretty game-changing, and they've been Patreon exclusives. However, all Steam users will soon get to try out...
God Mode and Uncountable Infinities
For Everyone!
In February, I'll post a code that will allow you to turn on "God Mode". Not only will you become invincible, but holding the CTRL key will do all kinds of magical things: unlimited vision range, give you credits and data and crafting parts every second, erase your cooldowns, far too many things to list.
But these powers come with a price:
You can't turn them off (for that run), and they disable achievements. So this is not some super-powered rescue code. This is a game-changing decision that you can't take back. God mode evolved so that I could test things without worrying about mortality and limited information. Here's an explainer video:
https://youtu.be/OnY3H5Xi4wA
In March, I'll distribute a code so you can try "Uncountable Infinities" mode. This one comes with its own unique dangers, and if you're a serial completionist, I might have to recommend against it...
https://youtu.be/f-4Giw8ED4Y
Each code will work for that month, and then become inactive again. God-mode may be available for serious play-testers, and a version of uncountable infinities will permanently enter the game at some point in the future (but in a more manageable way).
Wrap-up
2021 has been an Incredible year for AI, and there is still an almost unfathomable amount to come. If you're not familiar with it yet, take a look at the StarMap 1.7, which outlines the intentions for the current development super-cycle. Then take a moment to realize that we still have 1.8 , 1.9, and 2.0 until this thing is really done.
So.
Much.
SPACEGAME!
Shipwreck Scanning Beta
Shipwrecks are getting more interesting every day, so it's the perfect time to introduce...
Shipwreck Scanning!
You've been able to scan planets for over a year now, and besides getting a thorough readout of their atmospheric conditions, you can also have information on monsters and loot. But shipwrecks have been a black box.
Until now.
In these examples, you're seeing *all* the information. That will not be the normal case. How much detail you get is tied to your "scanning" ability (derived from sensors, skills, and devices). A few details (like the number of decks) are freely given, but everything else, you have to work for. And I bet you notice something you don't get when scanning planets:
Deck mini-maps!
I think they're a fun way to monitor your progress. What do you think? This feature is definitely not "finished", so there's room for improvement. Either share your thoughts here on Steam, of join our Discord and let's talk!
Shipwreck Scanning Breakdown:
Origin: "Who built the ship?" One of the known alien races, or someone else?
Type: "What is this ship's purpose?" And therefore, what might you find inside?
Decks: "How many floors are there to explore?" This is freely known, since you could probably look out the window...
Damage: "Why is it a 'wreck'?" External damage is usually related to attacks, but there are also many types of internal damage. This often relates to whether a ship will be pressurized.
Systems: "What condition are the vital systems in?" Things like propulsion feed, reaction chamber, and captain's console are necessary for the ship to operate. Are they in good condition? (This relates to shipwreck salvage, which is a planned but unimplemented feature.) This information must be gained through exploration.
Pressure: "Is there oxygen?" This is never scanned, but must be discovered. You can generally assume it to be "none".
Explored: "How much have I seen?" This is an average of how much you've explored all available decks. In this example, 60+46+0 = 106 / 3 decks = 35%. You get specifics with the mini-maps.
Cargo: "What is it carrying?" This shows what major commodities, if any, this ship might carry. It's not an exhaustive list, and ships will have more loot in rooms, lockers and other containers.
Life signs: "Who or what is moving there?" You can detect up to 3 types of creatures, plus "human life signs", which is generally an officer you can hire or rescue. You can also kill them now, either accidentally or if you're a jerk.
Mini-Maps: Right now, these will show walls, floors, and dangerous areas (short circuits, radiation), as much as you've explored.
Limitations:
Any shipwreck that was created *before* this update will show wrong information. This feature doesn't (currently) look at what's actually there, only what's supposed to be there.
What else would you like to see?
Shipwreck scanning isn't "done", this is just the Beta. So what ideas do you have, what would you add or change? Give it a try and let me know!
12 Days of Rescue Codes
2021 is drawing to a close, and while this is not *all* I have planned for you, it's a start:
December 11 : @!N3^f&Z
December 12 : nZpfx3Ja
December 13 : 7^%Zw3FK
December 14 : b!239Psj
December 15 : #!&iB#&R
December 16 : H!73K35w
December 17 : DmZfjPZH
December 18 : UZwZA%oL
December 19 : rmB3PpGz
December 20 : R!6fzqwm
December 21 : BZQfe%QG
December 22 : @oSiq%m3
(Use these to restore your hull and shields (in space) or HP and Oxygen (on away missions), once per day.)
Have you noticed the golden-suited astronaut in the recent update artwork? Curious? Maybe you should start reading my weekly Reddit posts ;)
Hotfix 1.7b4 for an uncommon disaster...
There was a bug, a rare catastrophic code failure...
There was a disease symptom that was supposed to make status effects last longer... Instead, it gave you every status effect at once, and they increased in severity every turn!
SORRY!
This version fixes that.
It also increases the selling prices of items you craft... a little bit, and fixes a minor annoyance where irradiated areas on shipwrecks were not properly pressurized.
It does NOT have shipwreck scanning yet:
This is about 3/4 through the first draft, not even ready for beta yet. But it *works*. The stuff in the scan is found on the ship, and that's very satisfying.
