Spacedust® is a procedurally generated, simulation, role-playing, exploration space game for Android. While ideas have been forming over several years, implementing the actual game has only just begun. It is an ongoing project to explore procedural generation, simulation, and game design. Check out the roadmap for more information.
Design Goals
- Procedural Generation - As much as possible should be procedurally generated so that using the same seed produces a very similar experience while using a different seed produces a significantly different experience. Stars, planets, terrain, names, and what plants, animals, and resources appear where should be procedurally generated. Some features may be similar across all seeds while others will be different depending on the specific seed.
- Simulation - After everything has been generated, simulation is the next step. Static environments are not interesting. Interactions between plants, animals, resources and the environment should simulated as well as be diverse and interesting.
- Role-playing - Observing a generated simulation is impersonal. You should feel a part of the world and attached to your character, possessions, spaceship, etc. Additionally, a static character with no character development is not interesting. Your character should evolve through acquiring items, abilities, skills, etc.
- Exploration - There should always be a reason to see what’s under that rock, around the corner, over the horizon, at the next star.
- Difficulty - Striking the right balance between too easy to be interesting and so hard it is very frustrating is tricky. Some activities will be difficult and rewarding while others will be easy enough to accomplish during a short play session. There will be consequences for actions, but not so harsh that you don’t want to take any risks.
- Space Sci-Fi Theme - Sci-Fi tends towards having reasons things work the way they do which can make a fictional universe more interesting. Additionally, a space game fits well with a future technology theme.
- No Ads or Microtransactions - Experiencing a game should not be interrupted with “Well, if I paid a little more…” It is immersion-breaking and exploitative. Paying for large expansions (that add a lot of new content) is an acceptable alternative. As for ads, they are too distracting and not very effective. For more information, check out purchase and support.
Many games have served as an inspiration in some way.
- Borderlands - randomly generated items, humor
- Dwarf Fortress - generated landscape, detailed simulation
- EVE Online - space, resources, skills, economy
- FTL: Faster Than Light - ship layouts and functions
- Factorio - resources, crafting, progression
- Final Fantasy XIV - crafting, gathering, gardening
- Knights of the Old Republic - role-playing, storytelling
- Mass Effect - space, role-playing, storytelling
- Master of Orion - space exploration, battle, conquest
- Minecraft - procedurally generated worlds, gathering, crafting
- Myst / Riven - puzzles, mystery, exploration, storytelling
- NetHack - randomly generated items, puzzles, levels, role-playing
- Neverwinter Nights - role-playing, storytelling
- No Man’s Sky - everything
- Spore - space, planet generation, simulation
- Star Wars Galaxies - open world sandbox, crafting
- The Sims - simulation
- WildStar - sci-fi theme, humor
Cool projects currently in development by others:
- Galaxia - real-time procedural universe engine
- Iota Persei - a scientifically literate simulated 3D solar system
- Questica - a procedurally generated adventure with beautiful 2D art