Astro4x
The Future of Astro 4x
It has been about 5 years since there was any news or updates to this game. It has not been abandoned and I have plans for it. I will quickly summarize those plans and then explain the absence.
Future Plans:
1. I'd like to completely redesign Astro4x to have more 4x elements and fix many issues (like small text and not scaling properly to different resolutions)
2. I'd like to make Astro4x completely free and refund anyone who purchased it (thanks Bartwe! ;p)
3. I'd like to completely change the art style, music, soundfx, ui, and design of the game
What happened for 5 years?
Well, I put Astro4x into early access in May of 2019, and I'm writing this in Jan of 2024. Later in 2019 I was working on a prototype game that got some attention on twitter. That turned into a game development contract and a kickstarter for my other game Lazr. My time and effort was focused on Lazr and only Lazr during the last 5 years. Lazr is almost complete and I can see the finish line (it's about 80% done). However, a few days ago I got an email from Steam urging me to do something with Astro4x. Apparently, letting a game sit in early access for 5 years is not what Steam wants you to to do with their platform. I can see their pov. So, Astro4x will live!
During the past 5 years I have thought a lot about Astro4x and redesigned the game on paper a few times. The game as-is lacks depth to me, along with interesting art. The current style is simplistic, but I would like to be able to show different units with different sprite graphics, instead of just using an arrow to show any kind of ship. I've also listened to the feedback from players about small fonts and scaling issues. I also think the music is sleepy. This game also runs on .net 4.5 and monogame 3.7, which are long outdated now. I would like to completely rewrite the game in MG 3.8+ and .net6+.
So yeah, that's the future of this game. I'm probably going to start working on it on the side while I finish Lazr. maybe you will see an update in the next few months?
//MrGrak
The AI Update
Computer players will now attack nearby ships in a much more efficient manner. See gif below:
In this gif, the orange ai player is tasking each ship with a different target to attack. Prior to this update, the ai player would task all ships to attack the same ship, which led to states where the ai was easily beatable if baited correctly. Now, the ai is much, much harder to defeat.
Unit visibility has been improved as well, now showing the selected units movement area in a better, simple visual manner :
In addition, the user now has more control over player ai. From the options screen, the user can select who controls the blue player at any time they want to, using any ai or human input. This lets users take control of ai vs ai games that they find interesting, or pause ai vs ai games to completely inspect the board and all events generated that turn.
Other Notable additions with this update include:
+ improved and expanded help screen
The Packet Update
This update rolls out the packet technologies. First, packets have been rebalanced to have 1 movement speed at first. Then, there are 3 technologies that allow players to accelerate their packets to warp 3, warp 6, and warp 9. A packet traveling at warp 6 moves 6 tiles per turn, for example. Packets traveling at warp 9 will destroy stars, removing them from the board for the rest of the game. Packets can still be jumped between stars and stations as well, allowing the players more angles to throw packets from. Functionally, this makes packets a useful defensive and offensive unit, that is very cheap to produce. Creating a packet still only costs 1 resource, even if the packet is set to travel at warp 9.
In addition to the packet technologies, a counter technology has been added: Ship Shields. Researching ship shields will protect that players ships from packets. Packets will be destroyed upon collision with the ship, but the ship will survive and take no damage.
Also, the computer opponent will now choose the furthest star away at the start of the game, fixing the cheap starts that would often happen when the opponent chose a nearby star leading to a short, early-focused game.
other notable additions to this update include:
+ board events for packet collisions
+ ship shield packet deflection events
+ kbirk.ai features tech progression, up to packet warp 9
The Research Update
What is Research?
Research, or technologies, are modifiers to the game that you can unlock with resources (that are generated each turn from your station and captured stars). The first modifier, or tech, is called "JumpGates".
What Are JumpGates?
JumpGates allow players to move ships (scouts, frigates, destroyers, jumpships, and packets) between stars they control, including their station. This allows for easier defense of stars, as well as opens avenues for more aggressive expansion, as every captured star now acts as a warp point for all your ships. Packets can also be warped to different stars, allowing players more options and angles for throwing packets.
In the upcoming Packet Update, packets will be able to travel at warp 3, warp 6, and warp 9. this refers to how many tiles or squares a packet moves. a packet moving at warp 9, or 9 tiles a turn, will destroy stars - permanently removing them from the board (eXtermination).
notable additions with this update also include:
+ try again button for quick replays
+ ai/human setup selectable from ai screen
+ more visual board interaction (clicking, selecting, jumping)
+ an entirely new research screen, integrated into radial menu
+ rebalancing of scores to be lower overall
+ increased base population of stars and ships to 8.
+ increased max base pop of ships to 16.
+ polish on various screen visual appearances
+ cheats (g key), and cheat section in help
+ help visuals improved to highlight selected section
Thanks for playing,
MrGrak
Widescreen Support + Windowed Mode Added
Astro4x now has windowed 1280x720 mode as well.
The computer opponents are much more challenging too.
Some improvements have been made to the Help screen as well.
Thanks,
MrGrak
Early Access Build Ready
Astro4x is finally ready for Early Access release.
I've added a Help/Tutorial section to the game as well.
Have fun!
Thanks,
MrGrak