Map size is way too big

[GingerDreddMan]

As much as I am enjoying the game, the overall map size is FAR too large for what is actually out there in the void to discover. Why would the map be made so large if it's so barren outside of the immediate area for the storyline? Would it really be so hard to shrink it down a bit, or let procedural generated content take over and fill out some of the edges a bit?

I guess I'm just a bit frustrated that I spent so long to travel to the edge of the map (spent literal hours to make this trip, I'm still somewhat new to the game) only to be met with nothing. Guess this is just a vent post, but I am curious about the rationale for implementing such a massive map size given the concentration of POIs near the relative beginning point of the game.

/endrant

[AliceTheGorgon]

Yeah, that was definitely a bad design decision. I normally love exploring in games, but having played the first Starcom, it also had a drastically bigger map than the actual "stuff exists in here" area, so I knew the absolute vast majority would be dead empty.

It ends up actively discouraging exploration, since the player knows they might be totally wasting their time, but they don't know for certain. So the only options are effectively, only very minor exploration so you can return in a reasonable time, or just looking up a map. Both of which are *not* fun.

[Whispering]

Are you complaining that space is empty? It's true in real life that space is full of space i.e. nothing much but particulate. It would stand to reason that the game would be the same.

[Spimmy]

map size and how empty it is and with how slow your ship is even with multi engines is just bad design

[AliceTheGorgon]

Originally posted by Whispering:

Are you complaining that space is empty? It's true in real life that space is full of space i.e. nothing much but particulate. It would stand to reason that the game would be the same.

If you believe that, you've never played any good space games.

Games *aren't* reality. And one of the things well made games do is make it clear what the limits of the game are, so the player doesn't waste time trying to do something impossible. Such as trying to find stuff in the *stupidly humongous* area the game includes in the map screen.

Making the map screen's border be only slightly larger than the actual content would have been a trivially easy solution. Instead the map screen makes it look like the content area is massive, which actively punishes anyone who likes exploring.

Edit: There *are* a lot of nice things in the game, but the map screen being so huge is undeniably a poor decision.

[werdmath]

I just assumed it was to make modding in more content easier. Don't have to change the size of the map. Instead you just have to fill in the existing space. I haven't done much modding myself but dropping in assets and hooks at existing locations is usually easier than having to add on or modify the base map.

[Le Canarchiste]

I spent a lot of time in deep space and was not that well rewarded passed the "croissant".

Plus a lot of the hidden ones are in the dark nebula which makes them extra annoying to reach.

[Physical Disconnect]

Originally posted by AliceTheGorgon:

Originally posted by Whispering:

Are you complaining that space is empty? It's true in real life that space is full of space i.e. nothing much but particulate. It would stand to reason that the game would be the same.

If you believe that, you've never played any good space games.

Games *aren't* reality. And one of the things well made games do is make it clear what the limits of the game are, so the player doesn't waste time trying to do something impossible. Such as trying to find stuff in the *stupidly humongous* area the game includes in the map screen.

Making the map screen's border be only slightly larger than the actual content would have been a trivially easy solution. Instead the map screen makes it look like the content area is massive, which actively punishes anyone who likes exploring.

Edit: There *are* a lot of nice things in the game, but the map screen being so huge is undeniably a poor decision.

tbh i would rather prefer filling the void with life instead of that. on the steam store page its advertised as "open world universe" which means there should be a lot to explore. but rather than that its more like an vast galaxy with in correlation to the size a few points of interrest and other than that -> nothing. its not hard to create an open world with a huge map the problem in creating open worlds is filling these with life so that they are not dead and empty.

[Sramsram]

I like the map size. When I discover new/unmentioned stars and systems I feel I earned it. And by unlocking the warp fields or flingers the way back or to neighborhood systems is made easy.

[ohiorice]

Not all games are meant to be check-lists. Some definitely have time burning in them but on a whole, this one is quite reasonable, IMO.

Most frustrating thing for me has to do with the lack of stats inside the game, especially when putting together a ship (for example). I have no active count of hexes used, remaining, nothing. This is far more irritating to me than the vastness of space. :-)

[Braindead McRetard]

I like the size, please keep it. And fill it with content in the future please (I'm ready for paid DLCs)

[herr_dechse]

Originally posted by ohiorice:

Not all games are meant to be check-lists. Some definitely have time burning in them but on a whole, this one is quite reasonable, IMO.

Most frustrating thing for me has to do with the lack of stats inside the game, especially when putting together a ship (for example). I have no active count of hexes used, remaining, nothing. This is far more irritating to me than the vastness of space. :-)

Hexes used/free is in the shipyard top left.

[ohiorice]

Originally posted by herr_dechse:

Originally posted by ohiorice:

Not all games are meant to be check-lists. Some definitely have time burning in them but on a whole, this one is quite reasonable, IMO.

Most frustrating thing for me has to do with the lack of stats inside the game, especially when putting together a ship (for example). I have no active count of hexes used, remaining, nothing. This is far more irritating to me than the vastness of space. :-)

Hexes used/free is in the shipyard top left.

I shall look closely :-)

I just noticed today I could measure AU from my ship with the cursor :-) Seems I'm just not paying a great deal of attention to the details :-P

[ImHelping]

"Map isn't too big, I just have not used enough VOID WINGS for when you run out of room for thrusters!"
*error not allowed to add more void wings*
"...Okay I am starting to understand people feeling this travel time is a bit much instead of a ME problem"
*void wings remain on fire until at 100% health on an otherwise visually pristine ship for the Nth time*
"Void wings why are you like this?"

[Clown Reemus]

Originally posted by AliceTheGorgon:

Originally posted by Whispering:

Are you complaining that space is empty? It's true in real life that space is full of space i.e. nothing much but particulate. It would stand to reason that the game would be the same.

If you believe that, you've never played any good space games.

Games *aren't* reality. And one of the things well made games do is make it clear what the limits of the game are, so the player doesn't waste time trying to do something impossible. Such as trying to find stuff in the *stupidly humongous* area the game includes in the map screen.

Making the map screen's border be only slightly larger than the actual content would have been a trivially easy solution. Instead the map screen makes it look like the content area is massive, which actively punishes anyone who likes exploring.

Edit: There *are* a lot of nice things in the game, but the map screen being so huge is undeniably a poor decision.

This game is trying its very best to be a very realistic, scientific game about space exploration. If you don't like that aspect - that's fine, you like other things. We, the others, find it justified and do not complain about that part of the experience.

[AliceTheGorgon]

Originally posted by Clown:

This game is trying its very best to be a very realistic, scientific game about space exploration.

It literally isn't. Traversable wormholes. Magically non-dying crew. Universal translators. Aliens who have human-comprehensible motives and desires. Etc, etc, etc.

Additionally, the map screen being stupid huge has nothing to do with that either way. And no other game system drastically over-exaggerates the things possible in the game.

The tech tree doesn't have a giant scrollbar reaching far past the end of the tech tree.
The ship building screen doesn't make implications about building fleets or super-capitals or anything.
Etc.