After playing it a few times I can see where it can become quite overwhelming.
While there isn't any tutorial one could after some time figure out that while the reactor isn't overloaded increase your drills speed so you keep making profit while the game keeps increasing expenses.
A note on the increasing expenses, it seems to grow at a very rapid pace, so one needs to almost immediately increase coolant production then increase the drill in order to keep up.
I have found a few issues which might cause critical issues in-game:
When a player enters "sleeping" the player can not exit sleep (Which means things can fail but there is no way to jump out of bed and go fix them)
Mobs seem to almost become never ending, making it quite dangerous to go out just to adjust your drill. (This might be taken as extra challenge)
While "research" might be a good concept for further development in-game, I haven't noticed it doing anything except extra profit. (One in debt could simply stand outside and fight mobs then go "cash" in their goo for extra cash to try and fix their debt)
Now for the positives or things that could be added in the future:
Provide some unique building concept, allowing a player to build more drills, more coolant systems, more reactors, etc. (I'd be more interested in a space sim where you can get a basic base to start with but then have some kind of method for expanding, I.E. a crafting system perhaps)
Along the current lines, perhaps include some "upgrades" which cost money but provide less occurance of failtures etc. (I.E. I could upgrade the gravity generator so it would be less likely to go down, but I can never upgrade it so it never goes down / Or I could upgrade the reactor so it produces say 200 more power)
Allow multiple players to play on one base, perhaps as a co-op thing. (This way I could be taking care of the major stuff inside while a buddy could be fighting and getting "research" goo)
"Allow multiple players to play on one base, perhaps as a co-op thing."
Multiple players can actually play coop in the current version of the game!
You can even take turns sleeping while the other 'stands watch' which helps with failures that occur while sleeping.
"When a player enters "sleeping" the player can not exit sleep"
This was intentional, but could be changed.
I didn't add a 'get up now' button because I was thinking the player should be unaware of what is happening while asleep.
I even thought of blacking out the screen while sleeping.
I could forego this idea however and allow the player to exit the bed at any time.
Alternatively, I could add some kind of 'alarm clock' that wakes the player up when there is an equipment failure.
It would would have to be toggleable or you might die from lack of sleep.
"Mobs seem to almost become never ending, making it quite dangerous to go out just to adjust your drill. "
The number of mobs increases as time goes on.
This is supposed to make it more dangerous to leave the habitat, but also provide more money via research.
"While "research" might be a good concept for further development in-game, I haven't noticed it doing anything except extra profit."
It is true that currently, the entire purpose of research is to earn money.
"Provide some unique building concept, allowing a player to build more drills, more coolant systems, more reactors, etc."
"Along the current lines, perhaps include some "upgrades" which cost money but provide less occurance of failtures etc."
I like all of these ideas. I think expanding the research mechanic could be tied into this as well.
Research could lead to the ability to purchase upgrades. Which could involve base expansion, crafting or placeable objects.
Maybe I can work on a 'post game jam' version of the game with more depth and content.
I like what you've added with the ability to make auto restarting systems. (Though I'm currently having issues trying to get the drill auto-restarting, I'm sure I will figure it out, or perhaps that is something you don't allow restarting on, or might want to make it so that isn't something you can do, just to keep some challenge)
I have found once most of the machines can restart themselves the game is rather quite fun. (Even before this it was fun, but more fun with the cool restart feature)
Glad to hear you are enjoying the game!
The drill can be auto-restarted but it might not auto-restart if the map block is unloaded.
With the latest version of the game, you can place a robot near the drill and click on the persistence button in the robot's GUI.
This is the button with the infinity symbol.
That will keep the map-block force-loaded so the drill can auto restart even if you are far away.
After playing it a few times I can see where it can become quite overwhelming.
While there isn't any tutorial one could after some time figure out that while the reactor isn't overloaded increase your drills speed so you keep making profit while the game keeps increasing expenses.
I have found a few issues which might cause critical issues in-game:
Now for the positives or things that could be added in the future:
"Allow multiple players to play on one base, perhaps as a co-op thing."Multiple players can actually play coop in the current version of the game!
You can even take turns sleeping while the other 'stands watch' which helps with failures that occur while sleeping.
"When a player enters "sleeping" the player can not exit sleep"This was intentional, but could be changed.
I didn't add a 'get up now' button because I was thinking the player should be unaware of what is happening while asleep.
I even thought of blacking out the screen while sleeping.
I could forego this idea however and allow the player to exit the bed at any time.
Alternatively, I could add some kind of 'alarm clock' that wakes the player up when there is an equipment failure.
It would would have to be toggleable or you might die from lack of sleep.
"Mobs seem to almost become never ending, making it quite dangerous to go out just to adjust your drill. "The number of mobs increases as time goes on.
This is supposed to make it more dangerous to leave the habitat, but also provide more money via research.
"While "research" might be a good concept for further development in-game, I haven't noticed it doing anything except extra profit."It is true that currently, the entire purpose of research is to earn money.
"Provide some unique building concept, allowing a player to build more drills, more coolant systems, more reactors, etc.""Along the current lines, perhaps include some "upgrades" which cost money but provide less occurance of failtures etc."I like all of these ideas. I think expanding the research mechanic could be tied into this as well.
Research could lead to the ability to purchase upgrades. Which could involve base expansion, crafting or placeable objects.
Maybe I can work on a 'post game jam' version of the game with more depth and content.
Looking forward to it. Still give a +1 for a great deal of it.
I like what you've added with the ability to make auto restarting systems. (Though I'm currently having issues trying to get the drill auto-restarting, I'm sure I will figure it out, or perhaps that is something you don't allow restarting on, or might want to make it so that isn't something you can do, just to keep some challenge)
Glad to hear you are enjoying the game!
The drill can be auto-restarted but it might not auto-restart if the map block is unloaded.
With the latest version of the game, you can place a robot near the drill and click on the persistence button in the robot's GUI.
This is the button with the infinity symbol.
That will keep the map-block force-loaded so the drill can auto restart even if you are far away.
Ah so thats why when I'm far away my auto restart stuff doesn't restart stuff till I get close enought for them to be loaded.