Starcom: Nexus
Version 0.9.4 update
If anyone encounters an issue with this build, please let me know!
Starcom: Nexus is now available!
I'm really excited, and a bit nervous. After two years of development and five rounds of closed betas, Starcom: Nexus is finally available on Steam Early Access.
https://store.steampowered.com/app/863590/Starcom_Nexus/
The feedback from beta testers has helped make each version better than the last. Here are some of the anonymous feedback comments submitted by testers:
"Hi developers!, I tried to find something wrong with this game but I must say that I failed. I totally love it!"
"Hey everyone, I LOVE this game, great job!"
"So, I was just going to have a look, and now the night is over and I am through the game [...Spoilers removed...] This probably is the worst beta test feedback you ever got, since a beta test is all about bugs normally, but seriously, this pre-early access-beta runs better than a lot of released games by larger developing teams. Thank you for letting me participate and getting a first impression of Starcom: Nexus."
Of course, this is far from the end of the road. I expect the game to spend at least another six months in Early Access, probably more. I hope you will help me make Starcom: Nexus one of the best single player space adventures ever.
How can you give feedback?
There are lots of ways for you to give feedback or ask questions about the game:
- You can give feedback in game at any time by pressing 'F8'. This is anonymous, so if you have a question, I suggest using one of the other channels.
- Joining our Discord: https://discord.gg/uddMTC5
- Posting to the Steam Discussion hub: https://steamcommunity.com/app/863590/discussions/
I'll be checking all those channels almost every day.
- Kevin
Closed Beta Round 4 Starting Soon
The next closed Beta will hopefully start later this week.
Quite a bit of new stuff in this Beta:
- New sectors, anomalies and side quests
- New discoveries
- New technologies
- Beam weapons
- Shields
- New alien race
- New station personnel dialogues
- Stars now do damage to ships coming close
- Minefields
- Ringed planets
- Gateway transitions are now constant time
- Custom ship blueprints
- Mission log improvements
- Comet discoveries
- Changed fighter flight patterns
- Lots of bug fixes, minor tweaks, balance changes
As usual, invites to this Beta will go out to random members of the mailing list. If that sounds like something you'd like to be a part of, sign up here:
http://www.starcomnexus.com/closed-beta-mailing-list-sign-up/
Beta testers will be able to access the game either:
- With a Steam Beta Key. These keys will expire when the game enters Early Access.
- As a download. The download doesn't expire (but also doesn't automatically update).
This will likely be the second to last closed beta before Early Access. I haven't locked down the exact date yet, but expect an announcement soon. :)
Starcom:Nexus Beta Key Giveaway: SciFi Trivia Contest
If you didn't get a Beta 3 invite, there will still be at least one more round. But we thought it'd be fun to do a SciFi Trivia give away for a few keys.
This will happen on our Discord this coming Sunday, October 7th, at 8pm EST.
Discord invite: https://discord.gg/uddMTC5
See you then!
Closed Beta Round Two: Looking Good!
http://www.starcomnexus.com/closed-beta-mailing-list-sign-up/
Based on tester's feedback, I feel confident that the game will enter Early Access before the end of the year. While there are some bugs and quality of life feature requests (it is a Beta), most players reported really enjoying the experience. The data suggests they weren't just being polite: almost 90% of the playtesters who installed the game played for at least an hour and almost 90% of those played nearly all of the main story content currently available (roughly 3 hours as of that build).
In other news:
- The game now has a Discord channel where you'll find me most days: https://discord.gg/ezFPXcW
- First pre-release curator review from Space Game Junkie: If you love space exploration akin to Starflight or The Long Journey Home, but without the tedious rover stuff, you'll LOVE Starcom: Nexus. It's fantastic with exploration, discovery and its writing.
Given how much I loved Starflight, that made me really happy.
The game still has a ways to go before it's complete. As the playtesters have seen, this is a very content-rich game and it will need a lot more content before it is done. One the main reasons for Early Access: I have a vision for the overall story of Starcom:Nexus, but I want your help filling in the details and the path that takes you to the end.
- Kevin
Closed Beta Round 2
Invites to Beta test will go out later this week to random members of the mailing list, so if that sounds like something you'd like, sign-up here:
http://www.starcomnexus.com/closed-beta-mailing-list-sign-up/
Beta testers will be able to access the game either:
- With a Steam Beta Key. These keys will expire when the game enters Early Access.
- As a download. The download doesn't expire (but also doesn't automatically update).
The Beta is not content complete at this point, probably under two hours of playtime, but fully playable.
- Kevin