networking with the Monk
Published on January 19, 2017 By the_Monk In PC Gaming

So....this game ASTRONEER....is in pre-ALPHA.

All I have to say is that the pre-ALPHA for ASTRONEER is worlds better than most BETA's and even many full-release games I've played lately!

 

Think 'space-engineers' married to 'minecraft' wrapped up in the art style of 'no man's lie'.

 

http://astroneer.space/

On STEAM the almost 12 thousand reviews are 90% positive, and that's for a pre-ALPHA.

http://store.steampowered.com/app/361420/

 

I've never spent a better $25 in my life.


Comments
on Jan 19, 2017

I really like it and the new vision it brings to sandboxy buildy games although it's too buggy and slow to properly play in this state .

on Jan 19, 2017

I'm sorry to hear that it's not playable for you at the moment.

 

I have (at this point) around 25hrs in game-time and I have literally encountered 2 bugs. 

One is more of a 'feature lacking' than a 'bug' (I would like the ability to combine stacks of resources so that you don't waste a bunch of half-stacks etc.), and the other while definitely a bug (is related to their current 4-player hosted coop MP model) causing vehicles if driven by friends in coop-play can (and usually does) make them have absolutely crazy physics and often the vehicles end up floating in the atmosphere mocking you down below! 

on Jan 19, 2017

the_Monk

I'm sorry to hear that it's not playable for you at the moment.

 

I have (at this point) around 25hrs in game-time and I have literally encountered 2 bugs. 

One is more of a 'feature lacking' than a 'bug' (I would like the ability to combine stacks of resources so that you don't waste a bunch of half-stacks etc.), and the other while definitely a bug (is related to their current 4-player hosted coop MP model) causing vehicles if driven by friends in coop-play can (and usually does) make them have absolutely crazy physics and often the vehicles end up floating in the atmosphere mocking you down below! 

I encountered that crazy physics problem both solo and in co-op with 1 other person so it's not MP related.  Also in SP, I had a truck with a trailer just not want to move forward (down a cave yes.  Up it, no and the slope was gradual).  We'll see how long the reviews stay positive.  I also encountered another bug: get a shuttle and spaceship built and you can land one inside the other.  I've also had crazy physics with a large solar panel, disconnecting tethers to said panel, and in co-op had a spacecraft disappear into space on the person I was playing with.

on Jan 19, 2017

wizisi2k

I encountered that crazy physics problem both solo and in co-op with 1 other person so it's not MP related.  Also in SP, I had a truck with a trailer just not want to move forward (down a cave yes.  Up it, no and the slope was gradual).  We'll see how long the reviews stay positive.  I also encountered another bug: get a shuttle and spaceship built and you can land one inside the other.  I've also had crazy physics with a large solar panel, disconnecting tethers to said panel, and in co-op had a spacecraft disappear into space on the person I was playing with.

 

Interesting.  I wasn't aware that those physics bugs existed in SP as well.  My SP game has been going off pretty much without a hitch.  It's the MP one I've got going on with some friends that can at the drop of a hat become like the twilight zone! 

 

Of course you can have fun even with the bugs.......for instance.....

I have now rescued both my truck and my rover (rover is now affectionately named 'STRATO-rover' since it LOVES to hang out in the stratosphere!!) several times.  All using some pretty fancy 'engineering' ie. building 'space-scaffolding' (using the terraform tool) by terrain-shaping/creating and running MILES..........and I mean MILES of tethers to keep breathing and syphon power from one of the bases.

I swear I've explored more.......and run more tethers all over the terran planet thanks to 'engineering-around-bugs'.......than just even for the sake of 'playing' the game.  It still being an ALPHA makes that an OK thing to do......imo.

All in all, I hope this game doesn't remain a truck-load of stratospheric potential but actually ends up properly finished.

Here's to a fantastic start!  

on Jan 20, 2017

wizisi2k

....  We'll see how long the reviews stay positive.  ...

 

With regard to the reviews staying positive. 

I think people need to remember that it is a pre-alpha and they are choosing to 'play' something that in this particular 'development stage' is still supposed to be a 'buggy mess'.

The irony is that at least for many people, this game in pre-alpha is a hell of a lot more fleshed-out than many other products at much later development stages.

I personally think people 'get' that and that the reviews will continue to reflect that. 

on Jan 21, 2017

the pre-alpha just got patched again.

 

Here is a link to the patch notes.

http://steamcommunity.com/games/361420/announcements/detail/637657945839944924

 

on Feb 02, 2017

For anyone who (like me) is still playing around with this little gem and is thirsty for more info....

 

Here is a video where the DEVS discuss the various bugs/issues currently in the pre-Alpha build, what/how they will seek to address them as well as some additional info about their team and where it's going etc.

There are hot-links to various specific issues listed in the video DESCRIPTION.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QcXoPD7Tkn0&feature=youtu.be&t=3m50s

 

 

 

 

on Feb 17, 2017

 

..another update has dropped for this little gem.  Details below...

 

PATCH NOTES


BUILD NUMBER: 0.2.10125.0

NEW CONTENT
  • Dynamite now craftable from backpack
  • New dynamite art, fx, audio
  • Dynamite can now be used to destroy base buildings and other objects
  • Added character idle animations
  • Added 9 new discoverable wrecks, including their collectible items within
  • Additional organic research items added
  • Updated Dropship model art
  • Updated RCS thruster effects for Dropship
  • Updated model art for Tradeplatform
  • Updated model and FX art for Smelter
  • Added new refinery / smelter audio
  • Added sandboxing of saved games when running the Steam Experimental branch.
  • Improved game pad support on launch menu
  • Performance improvement: Added a system for fully despawning decorator sets as you move away from them.
  • Slight GPU performance improvement to terrain (use 16 bit indices)

 

FIXES
  • Researching an item when you have already researched all recipes will no longer "use up" that item in regards to when future updates add new recipes.
  • It will now also give you a resource.
  • Fixed several issues with how decorator states were saved and restored.
  • Fixed race condition causing occasional anomalous terrain generation.
  • Seed fixes, including shift-click issue and seeds growing in backpack
  • Fix save game issue where conduits don't attach after saving a leaf and building platform
  • Fix save game issue where conduits nubs don't disappear after a save game and using dynamite on the leaf
  • Updated oxygen tank fill looping sound. Fixed Xbox bug that caused it top play at full volume.



Also - a big shout out to everyone that helped us test this patch on the Experimental branch of the game! Don't forget to opt out of the Experimental before playing.

If you're curious what we've been up to and are wondering when more substantial "things to do" updates will come to Astroneer, check out some of our latest blog posts.

50 days: http://blog.astroneer.space/system-era/50-days/