- Play NIMBY Rails @ Steam Game Festival! - 16 June 2020
We are participating in the Steam Game Festival with a demo of our upcoming game, NIMBY Rails, a management sandbox for railways you build in the real world. Design train tracks, set up lines, and serve the needs of the population. Do you have strong opinions on rail transportation and want to test your own ideas? This game was made for you. You can download the NIMBY Rails demo by visiting our Steam Store page: https://store.steampowered.com/app/1134710/NIMBY_Rails/
- Announcing NIMBY Rails | Galactology Version 3.13 - 16 March 2020
Today we are announcing our new game, NIMBY Rails! It is a management sandbox for railways you build in the real world. Design train tracks, set up lines, and get that stock rolling to make money and serve the needs of the population. Do you have strong opinions on rail projects and want to test your own ideas? This game was made for you. https://store.steampowered.com/app/1134710/NIMBY_Rails/ NIMBY Rails is still in development and it will take some time to reach the Early Access release, but we have ambitious plans for it. In the meantime you can check this epic development retrospective with screenshots and videos of the prototype and pre-alpha phases of development: https://carloscarrasco.com/nimby-rails-retrospective/ Version 3.13 We are also switching the default branch of The Spatials: Galactology to version 3.13, finally. It has been available and finished for months in the pret…
- Development update 2018-12-15 - 15 December 2018
3.13 is almost ready! I've updated the Windows build in the pretest branch for all the brave testers who want to try the new planet missions. https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F26c5641d69232892e71dbb728bfaf1aabe1c00b7.jpg In some missions, like Making enemies, Intelligence assault or Unrequested demolition you will visit planets of a civ whose ancestral enemy wants you cause some annoyance, if by annoyance we consider leveling down entire buildings. You will get combat objectives on the planet and will have to pass several phases, depending on the difficulty rating. At insane level you will have to fight a boss level mob! Defending friends, We got spooks and Stop them early are similar in concept, but this time the ancestral enemy is camping on the planets of your friends and you need to deal with the invaders and their constructions. Reinforceme…
- Development update 2018-10-29 - 29 October 2018
After a two month pause to get some rest and some work done in non-WaW related business, we are back to working on 3.13. The next item is a big one: playable random planet missions. This is a major feature and it will take longer than the previous miscellany features in 3.13. The work presented in this update post is not yet published in the pretest branch (playing just one kind of mission would not be very interesting anyway).. Planet missions The big missing piece for planet gameplay now has its foundations in place. One planet per system can now get a random mission, and it will be displayed in the galaxy map with the universally familiar icon: https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F6ea83870f54ec19dd6a60bc7a180f61ebb31f36d.jpg Hovering over the star or planet will display the full mission information, as opening the planet window: https://steamcdn…
- Version 3.13 is now in the pretest branch! - 6 August 2018
The first post-EA build is now ready for testing! Please switch to the pretest branch in the Steam game properties. See this post with instructions on how to change the game branch: https://steamcommunity.com/app/450700/discussions/0/1697169163416373010/ We are using a branch for now due to the nature of some of the changes, and because 3.13 breaks saves with 3.12. This way we get more time to test 3.13 and give more time for players to keep playing the default 3.12 branch. 3.13 still has some months of development left, stay tuned for more development updates and pretest builds. Named enemies with progression and persistence https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F1fbc4be7b25fd50ca565e2dea674698992462acb.jpg Enemies now always have an unique name, instead of the generic names in earlier versions. The main reason is that they are also persisting. This…
- Development update 2018-07-16 - 16 July 2018
Tombs https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F221d3eaf096c480aafa65a186571317118749628.jpg Fallen officers will now occupy a new object, tombs. If an officer dies the game will try first to occupy their assigned tomb, and if they have none, any non-assigned empty tomb. This happens even if the officer dies while exploring a planet. It's not mandatory to build tombs, officer corpses will still be spawned if there are no available tombs at the moment of death. Lactians triggered by Mystery Milk https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F83c7bdd1175df5e4b05ec1ade5faca3801db19c5.jpg Lactians will turn into an hostile antagonist civ when you unlock the last tier of food & drinks. They will still visit you in peace (and in litter) before that . Balance sheet https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F%25E2%2580%25A6
- Development update 2018-06-18 - 18 June 2018
Is there life after a game is released? Yes! We left some of the more far fetched ideas for trying them after our EA launch, so we are back to hacking on the game to see what fits and what is fun. These notes reflect the work in progress for version 3.13, which is not public. We will keep adding new features to this new version and in the coming weeks we hope to open it up for testing in a Steam beta branch. Named enemies with progression and persistence https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F1fbc4be7b25fd50ca565e2dea674698992462acb.jpg Enemies now always have an unique name, instead of the generic names in earlier versions. The main reason is that they are also persisting. This means a given named enemy will always have the same sprite, if they manage to survive. Survive? Yes. Just as you can install insurance cloners for your officers, enemies that…
- Goodbye Early Access! - 18 April 2018
https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F12bc2075d3ed906e6c6e05a18a7b08a5f41bd447.jpg After nearly two years we are moving Galactology out of Early Access! The battle against bugs has been won and the frameworks for a complex and fun sim have been built and polished, along with a ton of new content and balancing. Here's an incomplete listing of all the additions: Colony stations built on planets Building system based on rooms with separate flooring and walls New room styles Combine any floor tiles together with a range of colors New objects to furnish the station, both decorative and functional New space flight system based on wormholes Ship construction Civilizations also have ships and use them to visit you New civilizations (Chuchus, Cucurbians and Meductians) Per-factory order queues Global mode for factory production based on stock levels Per-job…
- Version 3.12 is now available! - 2 April 2018
3.12 is a stability small features release, with no huge changes. This version has been available for some time in the pretest branch and should be a solid release. As we are close to going out of Early Access our focus has been in polishing the game. Game guide https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2Fc98debd91225067afedbd041aa2bd71b7effb916.jpg The biggest new content in this release is the game guide. It covers a lot more of the game systems and mechanics than the tutorials, without being intended to cover 100% of the game. Delivery stations https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F90f71f17ddf702af965e64cfaa3a411413c9448e.jpg Selling products to civ planets now requires to first build a delivery station on a planet. This delivery station will allow you to pick which product you want to deliver to this planet, from…
- Version 3.12 is now available! - 2 April 2018
3.12 is a stability small features release, with no huge changes. This version has been available for some time in the pretest branch and should be a solid release. As we are close to going out of Early Access our focus has been in polishing the game. Game guide https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2Fc98debd91225067afedbd041aa2bd71b7effb916.jpg The biggest new content in this release is the game guide. It covers a lot more of the game systems and mechanics than the tutorials, without being intended to cover 100% of the game. Delivery stations https://cdn.steampulse.org/steam/asset?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsteamcdn-a.akamaihd.net%2Fsteamcommunity%2Fpublic%2Fimages%2Fclans%2F25185065%2F90f71f17ddf702af965e64cfaa3a411413c9448e.jpg Selling products to civ planets now requires to first build a delivery station on a planet. This delivery station will allow you to pick which product you want to deliver to this planet, from…
- Version 3.11 is now available! - 12 February 2018
3.11 is here! This version has had a shorter development cycle because we wanted to get the new translation system out as soon as possible, to make sure we get it tested. But as always you can count on a batch of small and not so small enhancements. Check the following release notes in case you missed our development updates. Resource list in galaxy view The up/down controls to pick a resource or product to show in the galaxy view wasn't a very good solution, so a proper alphabetical menu will be now displayed instead: Per-ship filtering in officer listings All officer listings that allow filters now have an option to display the crew of a single ship: New planet header images Max has draw a new full set of images for the headers on the planet window, based on his original artwork for the planet icons: New docks After discussions in the forums, we've decided to give this a try: Docks do…
- Version 3.11 is now available! - 12 February 2018
3.11 is here! This version has had a shorter development cycle because we wanted to get the new translation system out as soon as possible, to make sure we get it tested. But as always you can count on a batch of small and not so small enhancements. Check the following release notes in case you missed our development updates. Resource list in galaxy view The up/down controls to pick a resource or product to show in the galaxy view wasn't a very good solution, so a proper alphabetical menu will be now displayed instead: Per-ship filtering in officer listings All officer listings that allow filters now have an option to display the crew of a single ship: New planet header images Max has draw a new full set of images for the headers on the planet window, based on his original artwork for the planet icons: New docks After discussions in the forums, we've decided to give this a try: Docks do…
- Development update 2018-02-07 - 7 February 2018
Lots of developments going on, and not all of them are about code! That image? Why, keeping up with current events, that's all. It may even be a hint of a future version allowing you to find long forgotten relics of humanity past... As always here's what we have been working on for the past few weeks. New security objects Security has been fleshed out into its own research group, mixing a new a tiered system of turrets, shield turrets, item recipes and a high end door. The new damage turrets won't autoscale their damage anymore so you will need to replace them from time to time (there's not a huge amount of them, don't fear a bit of micro for this one). We are also introducing a new kind of turret, the shield turret. This defensive turret works like shield weapons, with a longer cooldown but greater duration. And finally there's also a new, top end tier for security doors, which is almo…
- Development update 2018-02-07 - 7 February 2018
Lots of developments going on, and not all of them are about code! That image? Why, keeping up with current events, that's all. It may even be a hint of a future version allowing you to find long forgotten relics of humanity past... As always here's what we have been working on for the past few weeks. New security objects Security has been fleshed out into its own research group, mixing a new a tiered system of turrets, shield turrets, item recipes and a high end door. The new damage turrets won't autoscale their damage anymore so you will need to replace them from time to time (there's not a huge amount of them, don't fear a bit of micro for this one). We are also introducing a new kind of turret, the shield turret. This defensive turret works like shield weapons, with a longer cooldown but greater duration. And finally there's also a new, top end tier for security doors, which is almo…
- Development update 2018-01-26 - 26 January 2018
Work has started on version 3.11, and as always a batch of small enhancements and fixes goes first. Here's what's been brewing for the last two weeks. Resource list in galaxy view The up/down controls to pick a resource or product to show in the galaxy view wasn't a very good solution, so a proper alphabetical menu will be now displayed instead: Per-ship filtering in officer listings All officer listings that allow filters now have an option to display the crew of a single ship: New planet header images Max has draw a new full set of images for the headers on the planet window, based on his original artwork for the planet icons: New docks After discussions in the forums, we've decided to give this a try: Docks don't feature the long tube they had originally. In addition they now can only be built outside and will require a clear 3x3 area around them. Unlike the attrition rules used for…
- Development update 2018-01-26 - 26 January 2018
Work has started on version 3.11, and as always a batch of small enhancements and fixes goes first. Here's what's been brewing for the last two weeks. Resource list in galaxy view The up/down controls to pick a resource or product to show in the galaxy view wasn't a very good solution, so a proper alphabetical menu will be now displayed instead: Per-ship filtering in officer listings All officer listings that allow filters now have an option to display the crew of a single ship: New planet header images Max has draw a new full set of images for the headers on the planet window, based on his original artwork for the planet icons: New docks After discussions in the forums, we've decided to give this a try: Docks don't feature the long tube they had originally. In addition they now can only be built outside and will require a clear 3x3 area around them. Unlike the attrition rules used for…
- Version 3.10 is now available! - 10 January 2018
What a better way to start the new year than with a new Galactology release! The big new feature for 3.10 is planetary invasions. Planets are can now be invaded by hostile civs to interrupt your business, or by the player to secure extraction on hostile planets. Watch out for their vengeance! Here's the development notes, in case you missed them: *EXPERIMENTAL* support for OS rendered glyphs We want to make our game localizable to the greatest number of languages, but at the same time we are limited by a years old, very simple custom text renderer. In particular we must bundle all fonts with the game. This makes it impossible to support asian languages, since the required fonts are hundreds of MB. (For the more technically inclined and/or with gamedev localization experience: we could do font minimization to fit a given translation, but we are also allowing players to input arbitrary te…
- Version 3.10 is now available! - 10 January 2018
What a better way to start the new year than with a new Galactology release! The big new feature for 3.10 is planetary invasions. Planets are can now be invaded by hostile civs to interrupt your business, or by the player to secure extraction on hostile planets. Watch out for their vengeance! Here's the development notes, in case you missed them: *EXPERIMENTAL* support for OS rendered glyphs We want to make our game localizable to the greatest number of languages, but at the same time we are limited by a years old, very simple custom text renderer. In particular we must bundle all fonts with the game. This makes it impossible to support asian languages, since the required fonts are hundreds of MB. (For the more technically inclined and/or with gamedev localization experience: we could do font minimization to fit a given translation, but we are also allowing players to input arbitrary te…
- Development update 2018-01-09 - 9 January 2018
Version 3.10 is almost ready, with some bugs and testing left to do. A few more features have been implemented to round up the release in the past week. New antagonist civ variant Some civs are now a "pure antagonist". Unlike the other civs, antagonists cannot own planets and they will always be hostile to you. Pirates, Robots and Lactians are now antagonists. Their discovery is not galaxy map based. Instead they are triggered by some conditions. For example pirates appear when your bank account reaches certain amount: And robots appear when you first unlock the robot factory: Lactians The Lactians, as the members of the Church of Lactus are called, are a new civ in Galactology. They venerate a mysterious milk god entity, and are more interested on conversion than on slaughter. Here's how their planet invasions look like: They won't hesitate to fight you if you decide to liberate the pl…
- Development update 2018-01-09 - 9 January 2018
Version 3.10 is almost ready, with some bugs and testing left to do. A few more features have been implemented to round up the release in the past week. New antagonist civ variant Some civs are now a "pure antagonist". Unlike the other civs, antagonists cannot own planets and they will always be hostile to you. Pirates, Robots and Lactians are now antagonists. Their discovery is not galaxy map based. Instead they are triggered by some conditions. For example pirates appear when your bank account reaches certain amount: And robots appear when you first unlock the robot factory: Lactians The Lactians, as the members of the Church of Lactus are called, are a new civ in Galactology. They venerate a mysterious milk god entity, and are more interested on conversion than on slaughter. Here's how their planet invasions look like: They won't hesitate to fight you if you decide to liberate the pl…
