Is Space Exploration still compatible with Factorio?

[Sinclair]

Is it still possible to play the original Space Exploration mod in the current version (with or without DLC)?

[Glyph]

No, the mod hasn't been updated to 2.0 yet.

[Chindraba]

As noted above, by @Glyph, it is not compatible with 2.0. The creator has posted on it's page in the mod portal that "Space Exploration is not currently compatible with Factorio 2.0, but work is underway to port it."

Elsewhere, and subject to change, he has stated that he's not looking to make it compatible with the Space Age mod, the main point of the DLC. He has said nothing about the elevated rails or quality, however. I would not be surprised to see him make those compatible as they expand on the base game just as much as they do for SA. Space Age and Space Exploration are two different ways of using the concept of other planets and space travel, and the two systems are inherently different. Using SA, or making it compatible, would make the two clash, and wouldn't be the experience that he designed when making SE. It is, technically, possible, but I'd not give it any degree of probability for SE to be SA compatible, no matter how much he makes it 2.0 compatible.

[Sinclair]

Thank you very much. I'm looking to give the mod a try once I get my time out of the expansion.

[Chindraba]

Originally posted by Sinclair:

Thank you very much. I'm looking to give the mod a try once I get my time out of the expansion.

While it's probably a bit less of an issue for Earendel since he also worked on making the expansion, I think many players forget that the mod creators are also players, They want to get their time out of the expansion as well. Much as we, including me, would love all our favorite mods to become 2.0-ready 'now', it's not fair to expect them to skip their fun with the expansion just to make us happy.

Many of my favorites are done already, yet there are others which haven't even mentioned it. Heck, one mod I like isn't ready because the creator doesn't have the expansion yet themselves. Unstated, but I have to suspect financial issues - they don't get paid for the work the do with the mods. I am very grateful for those which are done, and can patiently wait for the rest.

[kremlin]

If you want to play Space Exploration you can still switch over to 1.1 and do that.
I'm looking forward to it being updated because I get the impression that 2.0 makes a lot of the stuff that Earendel hacked up for it obsolete or at least gives more tools to do the same thing better with the new engine features.

[Chindraba]

Originally posted by kremlin:

If you want to play Space Exploration you can still switch over to 1.1 and do that.
I'm looking forward to it being updated because I get the impression that 2.0 makes a lot of the stuff that Earendel hacked up for it obsolete or at least gives more tools to do the same thing better with the new engine features.

I can only imagine how much easier it will be for him to do what is already in SE using the new mechanics in the engine. One of the recent FFFs covered how they'd managed the capsule's path and made the point of where they'd added hooks for mods to replace and/or extend it. With the intent to handle many more surfaces they probably had to do some major optimizing in that area, and that's sure to help him out with all the surfaces he had to manage. The code involved in dealing with the elevated rails is probably helpful to some of his graphics, and the ability to deal with flipping of fluid inputs on buildings, such as the refinery are going to be nice. The FFF about flipping even used one of his big machines as an example of how complex it can be, and still 'work'.

As is the normal for WUBE, mod creators have, seemingly, been considered at every turn as they progressed and with a mod as big as SE, there's going to be so much love in the engine that his porting of the mod to 2.0 will likely be spectacular. I expect that not only will he make it compatible, he'll also add many things he wanted to do and just could not due to limitations on either the API or the engine. I'll never play a game of SE, but I expect the rework will be a very worthy result.

[Sinclair]

Originally posted by Chindraba:

While it's probably a bit less of an issue for Earendel since he also worked on making the expansion, I think many players forget that the mod creators are also players, They want to get their time out of the expansion as well. Much as we, including me, would love all our favorite mods to become 2.0-ready 'now', it's not fair to expect them to skip their fun with the expansion just to make us happy.

Many of my favorites are done already, yet there are others which haven't even mentioned it. Heck, one mod I like isn't ready because the creator doesn't have the expansion yet themselves. Unstated, but I have to suspect financial issues - they don't get paid for the work the do with the mods. I am very grateful for those which are done, and can patiently wait for the rest.

I completely understand. I'm not in any rush, I just wanted to know if it was possible in the future, or if my plan was obviously out of date.

[Sam]

Originally posted by kremlin:

If you want to play Space Exploration you can still switch over to 1.1 and do that.
I'm looking forward to it being updated because I get the impression that 2.0 makes a lot of the stuff that Earendel hacked up for it obsolete or at least gives more tools to do the same thing better with the new engine features.

Do you know how to go back to a previous version. Been trying to toggle back so I can finish my SE save but I haven’t been able to figure out how.

[Khaylain]

Originally posted by Sam:

Originally posted by kremlin:

If you want to play Space Exploration you can still switch over to 1.1 and do that.
I'm looking forward to it being updated because I get the impression that 2.0 makes a lot of the stuff that Earendel hacked up for it obsolete or at least gives more tools to do the same thing better with the new engine features.

Do you know how to go back to a previous version. Been trying to toggle back so I can finish my SE save but I haven’t been able to figure out how.

Library->right click Factorio->properties->betas->select version.
Or go through factorio.com and download the .zip versions

[Chindraba]

Originally posted by Sam:

Do you know how to go back to a previous version. Been trying to toggle back so I can finish my SE save but I haven’t been able to figure out how.

First requirement is that you still have a save file from 1.1.110, or earlier. Once the file has been 'saved' by a higher version any older version cannot read it.

If you have such a save file, and want to switch back with Steam, you can use the Beta feature. In the Library, open the Factorio page. Near the right end of the information line is a gear icon. Click that and select 'Properties'. In the new window select Betas on the left menu, Click on the 'None' after Beta Participation and select the version you want. If you have the DLC rather than just the base game, you will also need to go to the DLC page of the same menu and uncheck "Install" for Space Age. Steam will reinstall the selected version.

You probably don't want to keep switching back and forth between 1.1.110 and 2.0/SA, however. Pick one or the other. Every time Steam touches your files you increase the odds of a corruption, and that's not so fun.

To explore a "Dual Factorio" setup, follow this thread:
https://steamcommunity.com/app/427520/discussions/0/4512129134839231983/


If you want to be able to play both versions, you can install one on Steam and the other as a stand-alone version. You just have to pick which one you want Steam to record achievements for. In your case, that would be 2.0 since the SE mod removes Steam achievements anyway.