Where is the actual game design ?

[Zolokhan]

This whole game feels like a very polished tech demo, there is almost no actual game. No reason to test your engineering really .. .no real threats to make you design differently.

I know the developers said they are trying to include better reasons to do stuff in the game (prototech etc.) but i mean after this many years they have finally decided to make a real game at the same time they release SE2 and so we hope they actually add content to the first one.

I got 170 mods and they improve almost all aspects of the game (I feel like all games just make the community do half the work now?) and it is good but the base game still limits these.

I have like 250 hours in this game ... i expect more but I am hesitant to give this a thumbs up because I do not want to encourage the developers to make games this way anymore . . . make a tech demo and then let the community improve it so it is actually a game.

I am going to play a planet only run and stay out space and see if that improves the challenge.

[eMYNOCK]

you do thiings because you can.

set your own goals.

for example, start with the bare minimum on the earth like and aim to visit every other planet there is.

do as you please.... you have the blocks at your disposel.. go play legos with them... its your sandbox.

[Bullwerk]

This seems to be a common comment on SE. It comes down to what you are looking for I think. I've spent over 3600 in SE and never felt there was a lack of "game". SE is a framework that provides a Sandbox for you to make your own game or story. Set goals and make them happen. Mod in some encounter stuff if you want more faction stuff. Etc.

That open ended play style certainly isn't for everyone though. With SE2 they seem to be building the game from the ground up to include more systems to provide goals and challenges for the player. I just hope they can be heavily tailored or even shut off completely to allow those of used to self directed play to continue doing what we do!

Best outcome it caters to both play styles.

[Gorf2010]

I've spent over 1600 hours in this game. Yes, when you basically get to "end game" there's not a lot to do, so I start again. I've started again over 100 times, each time doing something different. Adding mods. Removing mods. I love it

[ShadedMJ]

Sounds like remorse for a bad purchasing decision.

Watch some non-mod-heavy videos and read discussions here and other places. You will know what to expect and know the game for what it is. I viewed and studied and knew I'd like the game before purchase, no surprises, and after 5000+ hours it was still a good decision for me.

[Dan2D3D]

Hi, best is to tell the SE Devs exactly what you would like to be added in-game, because they are at adding more PVE and more reason to explore so it is the right time to send them suggestions.

Can you share what you would like here and let players comment on your ideas !?

For example :
Some players asked the SE Devs to add uncraftable unique blocks to recover as reason to try their Warship and the Devs thought is was a good idea and added the Prototech blocks protected be enemy.

Me = One thing I would like them to add is hidden abandoned stations set to "Nobody" we can change ownership to "ME" in one click so no need to "hack" all blocks.
+
Those abandoned stations could be protected be enemy Drone spawner.

EDIT
+
Those abandoned stations could be made to build so turn ON the Projector to complete the station.

[Dan2D3D]

+
With your words :

-> What could make it become an "actual game" for you ?

-> What could be added as "reason to test your engineering skills" ?

-> What could be added as "real threats to make you design differently" ?

[Tux]

want food and industry like industy overhaul?

great!
wait and find out if its in the game, if its not, do not buy it. no worries.
I doubt I will buy it on day 1 for that exact reason, no big deal, no moral statement. No fine from the morality gods will be in my mail, no feeling hurt no big deal

[Dan2D3D]

I will add :

There are already 3 Warship solutions to find in-game today :

1 - Warship or small Fighter able to win the battle against the enemy SPRT stations having Drone spawners on all planets and moons from premade worlds in Original Content Category.

2 - Warship solution able to complete "Escort Contract" at Trade stations.

3 - Warship able to conquer and recover Prototech Blocks from Factorum Faction station.

=
Have you already found those 3 Warships solutions ?

[Tux]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

+
With your words :

-> What could make it become an "actual game" for you ?

-> What could be added as "reason to test your engineering skills" ?

-> What could be added as "real threats to make you design differently" ?

Industrial Overhaul or bust

I joke, but if I had my way all games would go in that general direction. I do not care about warships.

yeah I know

[Dan2D3D]

I don't know about Industrial Overhaul Mod but I can tell the Real challenge about :

-> "real threats to make you design differently" <-

= is to win the battle against the existing enemy by using a small block Fighter.

-> It is way easier with large block Warship but can you find a good Engineer solution on small block Fighter ?

[dhitch89]

Originally posted by Zolokhan:

This whole game feels like a very polished tech demo, there is almost no actual game. No reason to test your engineering really .. .no real threats to make you design differently.

I expect more but I am hesitant to give this a thumbs up because I do not want to encourage the developers to make games this way anymore

Newsflash: that's the point of sandbox games, which SE is tagged for. You have many options, and nothing telling you what to do with it/how to do it - you decide that yourself, because that is their appeal and their design philosophy. If it doesn't appeal to you personally, that's okay, but it's not an inherently flawed game design in-of-itself.

It's been a genre for at least the last two decades, and I don't imagine it's going to stop getting the occasional title anytime soon, whether from Keen or other developers (be they indie or AAA).

[Zolokhan]

we are all finding ways to make this game better by nuzlocking it or modding the hell out of it ... but the developers could definitely lend more of a hand .. Prototech is kind of underwhelming and annoying to utilize.

Look at From the Depths, that game has almost no mods that change the gameplay but it has tons of player made vehicles and planets and scenarios. The base game has a better gameplay loop because the developers actually spent time designing it, not leaving it off as an after thought. It has a creative mode / sandbox mode but then an entire universe of created planets and factions etc.

Empyrean Galactic Survival also has real gameplay AND creative building. Empyrean makes it so that in order to get the best gear you actually have to hunt and destroy boss ships, an actual goal.

I mean ... the developers of SE have said they want to do this, dd more real content instead of just building blocks, but it is kind of late in the development since they are moving on to SE2.

I hope they do not do the same thing with SE2 and just make a very nice building demo and then wait 6 years to make a real game.

[Dan2D3D]

That is Ok to share so don't be shy to tell them.

+
So what can make it become an "actual game" for you is very good to share :

1 - Tons of player made vehicles and planets and scenarios.
2 - Hunt and destroy boss ships

[Tux]

Originally posted by Dan2D3D:

I don't know about Industrial Overhaul Mod but I can tell the Real challenge about :

-> "real threats to make you design differently" <-

= is to win the battle against the existing enemy by using a small block Fighter.

-> It is way easier with large block Warship but can you find a good Engineer solution on small block Fighter ?

well I say this lightly but seriously.
If you do not know Industrial Overhaul you would not know how silly that statement is

Trust me, your design will change dramatically if you had to do something like EvoSpace in order to make your end products

[Dan2D3D]

Originally posted by Zolokhan:

to get the best gear you actually have to hunt and destroy boss ships, an actual goal.

I must say I like your suggestion #2 - Hunt and destroy boss ships,

I made one not so long ago by using the Ai blocks set to Space Pirate Faction and it is something I would like in SE so a Big Boss to test our Warships.

I will share the one I made in my Workshop at some point ;)
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3298779367