Version R1.1 is now live for players. This update introduces the advanced kitchen as a new monument, jettison systems for landers, astronomy-based missions, and enhanced management of astronaut specialities (more here).
The complete patch list is:
489 Implement a warning when fast-forwarding if astronauts are present on the Moon. This should be effective on both the Top Summary Menu and the launchpad's lower-left menu.
562 Display detailed astronaut information on the space base's astronaut screen.
606 Introduce a display function in building component.
607 Fix the issue where freeze-dried food transforms into strawberries upon arrival in the small kitchen.
608 Introduce a larger kitchen design with 3 dining spots and a strawberry ice feature to enhance astronaut happiness.
609 Implement the optical telescope asset.
610 Introduce astronomy-based missions.
611 Implement a clean jettison mechanism.
612 Implement a dirty jettison mechanism.
613 Enhance save files to cover non-interactive objects, such as remnants from dirty jettisons.
614 Manage astronaut's primary speciality.
615 Manage astronaut's additional speciality upon reaching a specific level.
616 Ensure saving functionality for astronaut's additional speciality.
617 Establish task conditions based on speciality, e.g., astronomy observations for scientists.
618 Ensure at least one pilot is present in the rocket and rocket lander.
620 Set task conditions based on speciality for activities like building maintenance.
621 Display astronaut specialties on the concise astronaut summary screen.
622 Show astronaut specialties on the comprehensive astronaut detail screen.
Announcing Summer Holiday update - Coming on August 12th
Two weeks have passed since the game's release and I'm deeply grateful to those who have embraced it. Your prompt identification of certain issues has been invaluable, enabling me to release two patches addressing the most immediate concerns. I want to reassure everyone that I'm committed to continued troubleshooting and, equally importantly, expanding the game's content. The feedback suggesting the game could benefit from more substance has not gone unnoticed. I'm dedicating significant effort to enrich its depth.
The next waypoint in this journey is the 'Summer Holiday' update. As you'd expect, this update includes a range of small fixes. One key improvement is the 'Jettison Payload' feature for those times when an immediate departure is necessary, leaving no time to use all of your payload. I'm designing an orderly payload jettison for those instances when you have a comfortable window of time—perhaps an hour or two—to store your equipment safely on the lunar surface. Conversely, if you're caught in a bind and need to depart within minutes, an emergency jettison option will be available. Keep in mind, though, hastily discarded items will transform into useless lunar debris, exposed to extreme temperature and sunlight.
The update will also introduce a delightful new addition to the space base: a Gourmet Kitchen. Its standout feature? A low-gravity sherbet machine, a product of Italy's finest gelato makers, ingeniously using strawberries cultivated in space. These refreshing treats do more than just feed the astronauts—they bring a touch of happiness to their routine, which, at present, can only be achieved through conversation.
In addition, the gameplay will be enriched by the introduction of a telescope for astronomical observations. This 2-metre tool surpasses any instrument on Earth due to the Moon's lack of atmosphere. Once you've installed the telescope, it will unlock a series of regular space observation missions—an exciting change, as current missions in the game are unique, one-off events. This lays the foundation for the future expansion of the gameplay, including the eagerly-awaited addition of space tourism.
The 'Summer Holiday' update also brings with it an exciting new aspect: astronaut specialisation. Each astronaut will be assigned a primary role—engineer, scientist, or pilot—and specific tasks will necessitate the expertise of the corresponding specialist. For example, pressurised building construction and repairs will be an engineer's domain, only pilots can man the lander, and telescope observations will be the preserve of scientists. With experience, astronauts can acquire additional specialisations, enhancing their utility and making them even more indispensable for your missions.
While the Summer Holiday update already promises a rich array of improvements, I am eager to hear your thoughts on what else you'd like to see. Although I can't guarantee immediate implementation, your feedback is invaluable, and I am committed to incorporating as many of your suggestions as possible into this forthcoming update.
R1.02 is live
Release 1.02 is live. It includes fixes for bugs found by players this week and two new missions:
597 Fix roster - roaster spelling issue
598 Add hint on peak electrical power mission that researching battery is a good idea
599 Add a mission to setup a basic fuselage with essentials
600 Add a mission to supply the fuselage with supplies
601 Improve top menu ergonomics, especially explain the 'next chapter button' by having hover tip
603 Performance Improvement: Do not check result of mission every loop, but every 0.5 seconds of play time
604 Avoid rogue drag movement when dragging a land faraway
605 Find a way for players to send back exceptions
The last feature functions as follows: If a significant issue (exception) arises, a small red button marked with the letter 'E' will appear at the bottom right of the screen. By pressing it, the game will copy the details of the issue to your clipboard. This allows you to paste these details into a post in the Steam discussions when reporting an issue you've encountered, which in turn assists me in resolving the problem more swiftly.
40 minutes Demo is back
A demo for the fully released version of Outer Space Shack is now accessible from the store page. This demo offers you a 40-minute sneak peek into the Moon scenario. Commence your journey at the Rocket Academy to grasp the fundamental elements of the game, and then carry on from there.
If your pace is brisk enough, you might even complete the challenging task of keeping an astronaut on the Moon for an entire week. Enjoy the demo, and get a feel for what Outer Space Shack has to offer.
Maintenance Patch R1.01
Hi,
I just uploaded R.01, a small maintenance patch correcting the following issues:
Major: Saves with machineries being broken (red wrench icon) were corrupted. Note: the fix does not repair old saves, but it makes sure new saves are correct.
Minor: bird songs were not impacted by changing sound settings
Minor: inconsistent use of O2 instead of oxygen for the description of the 'Outside Oxygen Bottle Storage'
Regolith blocks are back in outer Space Shack
Beta 1.2 is out, now manage thermal regulation on your Moon base
Thermal management
In space, most people recognize that astronauts need a pressure vessel, a supply of oxygen, and a system for removing carbon dioxide. They also understand the importance of food. However, it's crucial to note that astronauts must maintain a comfortable temperature range, a condition that naturally exists only on Earth.
Over the past month, I have been working on thermal regulation, particularly for the Moon. Due to the absence of atmosphere and the extended periods of day and night, temperatures on the Moon can be extreme, ranging from +120°C (similar to an oven) to -130°C.
Interestingly, cooling is the most challenging aspect of thermal regulation. Heat can be generated as a byproduct of most electricity production processes, especially nuclear thermal generators, which are only 8% efficient in producing electricity. This means that 92% of the energy generated is released as heat. Furthermore, heat is produced by all the machinery inside the station's living space.
Initially, I considered using water evaporation for cooling, but this method would require transporting a significant amount of material from Earth. For instance, just cooling an astronaut's suit for one hour requires two liters of water. Ultimately, I opted to implement infrared radiators. When properly shaded, these radiators can dissipate a small amount of heat even during the solar day when the surrounding temperature reaches 120°C.
New mars terrain
The game currently features a high-altitude lunar hill terrain and a Martian landscape, complete with mesas and the majestic Olympus Mons in the background. Previously, the terrain appeared unnatural, which left me unsatisfied. To remedy this, I modified the algorithm to generate more realistic mesas. Additionally, I enhanced the appearance of the rocks, as well as the color of the dust and haze.
In fact, some of these improvements were made possible thanks to ChatGPT 4.0, which suggested superior algorithms compared to what I could have developed on my own, ultimately saving me days of work. While it did require some fine-tuning, the integration of tools like ChatGPT has proven to be a significant asset in enhancing the game's overall quality.
EVA Management
In earlier versions of the game, players received a complete refill of their EVA suit each time they exited the base. While this was convenient, we've now shifted to a more realistic approach. EVA suits currently require three types of supplies: oxygen and water, which can be replenished using the base's reserves, and CO2 scrubbers, which are consumable items. Water, which is utilized for cooling the suit, is the most significant limiting factor.
EVA CO2 scrubbers can be stored in the airlock, and when an astronaut exits, the EVA suit is refilled with available supplies. Additionally, astronauts are now programmed to avoid stations with insufficient resources when their EVA suits are running low on life support.
Finally, players can now determine the amount of EVA and life support resources to allocate for their mission, which will impact the rocket payload. During the early stages of space exploration, players will need to carefully balance the equipment brought on their rocket with the time astronauts have to spend on site.
Regolith sample collection
Funding is crucial for space exploration, and it often comes with a hefty price tag. Previously in the game, the primary method of earning money was by completing missions, presumably sponsored by the government. However, Outer Space Shack aims to explore new avenues for generating revenue in space. The first income-generating opportunity involves collecting lunar regolith samples to be sold to laboratories, research institutes, museums, and wealthy billionaires who already possess the largest yachts, custom-made Lamborghinis, collections of Picasso sketches, and their own newspapers.
To gather regolith, players must establish a collection site and allocate enough capacity on their rocket to transport the material back to Earth. This task can be quite expensive, as players must also transport the necessary fuel to the Moon to enable their payload's return journey.
Stay tuned for more revenue-generating opportunities in the coming weeks, including asteroid sample collection, space tourism, mining, and more!
Mini map and more
A common piece of feedback I received was that players sometimes felt disoriented within Outer Space Shack's one-square-kilometer terrain. To address this issue, I've added a minimap to the game, displaying the locations of the camera, rockets, and astronauts. The design is reminiscent of vintage computer screens, and I must say, I'm quite fond of this new feature. I developed it in just one evening with the help of ChatGPT, much faster than if I had to code everything by hand.
Another ergonomic enhancement is the updated screen displaying various appliances. New icons have been introduced to indicate the consumption or production of essential resources, such as electricity, oxygen, water, heat, and cold. This addition will help players to better understand and manage their in-game resources.
Soviet Moon program now available in Outer Space Shack demo
The Soviet Moon program has just been added. It features the majestic and sometimes temperamental N1-L3 rocket and the minimalist LK Moon Lander. Both have freighter versions, and there is a new tech tree to unlock the potential of the rocket.
The updated demo of the game is now available for free on Steam, allowing you to play up to 30 minutes. There's plenty more to come in the final release, so make sure to add the game to your wishlist!
Join the Adventure with Outer Space Shack's Rocket Academy Tutorial
Outer Space Shack - Rocket Academy - Session 2
Join me for a stream on Outer Space Shack where I'll show you how to build a functioning Moon base! We'll start with the Rocket Academy tutorial and take the first steps to send humans to the Moon. You'll see how to set up a base with supplies, a reliable power grid that can sustain human life for weeks, and more. Get an inside look at the development process, including my work on the N1 lunar lander, and learn about future features that will be added before release. Then, we will head to Mars.
