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StarMade

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StarMade
Official StarMade logo
Developer(s)Schine
Publisher(s)Schine
Designer(s)Robin Promesberger
Artist(s)Keaton Pursell
Platform(s)Windows, Macintosh, Linux
ReleaseFebruary 28, 2012 (Alpha)
Genre(s)Open space, Sandbox, Space flight simulator game
Mode(s)Singleplayer, multiplayer

StarMade is an infinite open-universe space simulation sandbox game in development by Schine for Windows, Macintosh and Linux. StarMade is currently in alpha and is free to play, during alpha.[1]

Gameplay

A player created ship.

In StarMade, the player (Astronaut) explores an endlessly generated voxel world, in a player created spacecraft. This world contains randomly generated asteroids, shops, spaceships and planets. Each planet is randomly generated with a planet biome. There are several planet types which include Terran (grassy), Ice, Desert, Alien and Red Planets.[2] Players can customise their ships with thrusters, to increase flying speed around the universe.

Players can create multiple ships with a "Ship Core" block. They can then proceed to customize their ship in the game's "Ship Build Mode", or add materials in the default player mode, outside of the ship. Ships can be customized with a variety of materials to enhance performance, add new features or create combat/defense systems. The universe is populated with other astronauts and ships such as Pirates, which can be killed to salvage materials from their destroyed ships. Pirates are hostile entities which will usually attack on sight if ships are equipped with a weapon system, salvage ships are less likely to provoke Pirates. There are a variety of weapon systems, such as missiles, beams and lasers which all require a different weapon CPU type which will be determined on the model.

Crafting is present in the game, and is known as "Manufacturing". Players can craft parts with blocks called "Factories". Each factory has its own inventory and specific list of items that only those blocks can manufacture. Factories require to be powered in order to manufacture other parts. Once a factory has been powered, players can put the ingredients in the right factory block, and it will start producing whatever it is programmed to produce with an interval of roughly 5 seconds.[3] Players can collect materials to craft all over the universe.

Sandbox

File:StarMade Crafting-1.gif
Manufacturing a Greyhole in a particle press, the 5 second cycle is shown.[4]

Sandbox on StarMade is the primary playing mode, used for singleplayer mode. Players must gather natural resources (such as ore, stone, etc.) or salvage ships and shipyards found throughout the universe in order to craft certain parts and items using the manufacturing feature. The mode also features a health bar which is depleted by attacks from pirates, astronauts and eventually being exposed to space outside a ship for too long. Players also have a Power Bar, which is used to display the power of the ship being piloted. Power is necessary for any technology and can be generated from power generators.

There are a wide variety of items and parts that players can manufacture in StarMade. Players can manufacture by purchasing a factory block at a store. The Factory Block acts as the basic generic crafting table. In order to craft items, players place the ingredients in the inventory of the factory and all possible recipes will start to execute on result each in an interval of around 3 seconds. The Factory Block can be used to manufacture more advanced crafting blocks as well. By acquiring better resources, players can craft more effective parts. For example, The Schemadyne Advanced can be used to craft more advanced factories which are used for other recipes that neither the Particle Press not the Schemadyne Advanced is able to achieve.[5] Players may also buy parts and recipes in the randomly spawned shops with the credits currency.[6]

The game has an inventory system and players are limited to the different number of items they can carry. Upon dying, the player will lose a portion of their credits as long as spawn protection isn't active, and players respawn at their current spawn point, a shop which is set by default where players begin the game, but can be reset if a player sets their spawn point with a Plex Undeathinator.[7]

Multiplayer

File:StarMade Multiplayer.png
Players can play with other users in real time, through servers.[8]

Multiplayer in StarMade is available through player-hosted servers and lets multiple players to interact and communicate with each other on a single universe. Players can run their own servers on a personal computer or use a hosting provider, such as the official StarMade host, SMProHosting. StarMade multiplayer servers are guided by server admins, who have access to server commands, such as spawning items, or warping to players and ships. Admins can also set up restrictions concerning which usernames or IP addresses - using a whitelist - are allowed to enter the server. Multiplayer servers offer players a wide range of activities, such as role-playing, building ships with others, and building bases. Some servers even have their own unique rules and custom blocks.

Development

System requirements
Requirements
Java[9]
Operating system Windows XPWindows 7
CPU Core2Duo 2.0 GHZCore2Duo 2.0 GHZ
Memory 512 MB of RAM2 GB of RAM
Free space 200 MB1 GB
Graphics hardware OpenGL 2.1 Capable Graphics CardGeForce 6xxx or ATI Radeon 9xxx and up with OpenGL 2.1 Support
Network Internet connection required for online multiplayerInternet connection required for online multiplayer

Robin Promesberger announced he had begun development of StarMade around 2010, describing it as a "Minecraft inspired 3D sandbox space shooter.” The game was primarily inspired by the feel of Minecraft and various space themed TV shows.[10] Promesberger had been developing the engine behind StarMade for almost a decade.[11] In mid 2012, Kevin "Beetlebear" Collins joined StarMade and helped redesign the textures of the game,[12] until he later decided to leave development on September 15, 2013, due to a disagreement in his share of the game's revenue with Promesberger.[13] On November 2, 2013, it was announced that Keaton Pursell would be working on 3D Models for the game. [14]

On July 24, 2013, StarMade was greenlit by the Steam community. This means that StarMade might be available in the Steam Store, depending on steam user votes. [15]

See also

References

  1. ^ "StarMade". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  2. ^ "Planets". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  3. ^ "Crafting". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  4. ^ "StarMade - Crafting Tutorial (Factories / Manufacturing Guide)". EightCraft. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  5. ^ "Tutorials/Factory Guide". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  6. ^ "Shop". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  7. ^ "Tutorials/Beginner's Guide". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  8. ^ "StarMade Ep 1 - Starward Bound". YogsCast Lewis & Simon. Retrieved September 8, 2013.
  9. ^ "Minimum System Requirement". Retrieved November 17, 2013.
  10. ^ "StarMade Homepage". StarMade. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  11. ^ "Robin Promesberger". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  12. ^ "Kevin Collins". StarMade. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
  13. ^ "Beetlebear controversy". Retrieved August 22, 2013.
  14. ^ "Game Artist". StarMade News. Retrieved December 9, 2013.
  15. ^ "Steam Greenlight". StarMade Wiki. Retrieved September 7, 2013.
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