Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life News

[p][/p][p][/p][h2]Hi Aurochnauts![/h2][p] It's the June Mission Briefing: Developer Update for Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life.

Make sure you are subscribed to our Mars Horizon Newsletter to get updates direct to your inbox and join our Discord to talk to other Mars Horizon and space fans. 🚀
[/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]👨🏻‍🚀 What have the devs been working on recently? 👨🏻‍🚀[/h2][p]Following on from last month's update, which covered rebalancing, animations and the ET bases, the Mars Horizon 2 team have been hard at work in a variety of other areas. To shed more light on recent developments, we hear from Producer, Matt Holmes (He/Him):[/p][p][/p][p]"Since our last update, the team have been looking at rocket launches, including a unique mechanic which was beloved in the first Mars Horizon. [/p][p][/p][p]"In addition to this, we have introduced new models for outposts, made visual improvements to various UI/UX screens, and tooltips have been progressed for both bases and outposts. We'll have more to share with you in the next update!"[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]⚠️ A Deep Dive into hazards ⚠️[/h2][p][/p][p]As you look to discover life in Mars Horizon 2, the various surfaces you'll be covering won't always be straightforward. There will be obstacles, but there will also be threats which can impact the life of your grounded payloads. 😲[/p][p][/p][p]In our most recent Deep Dive, we look at the hazards on the Moon, Mars, Io, and Titan and how these can affect your search for life. From volcanic eruptions and dust clouds, to basalt columns and acid rain, the Solar System can create some special natural hazards. 🌋[/p][p]Read the blog here.[/p][p][/p][p][/p][p][/p][h2]📰 Latest space news 📰[/h2][p]What's been happening recently in the space news? Well, let's take a look! [/p]

• [p]🧑🏻‍🚀Internship opportunities at ESA's Astronaut Centre - The European Astronaut Centre (EAC) is seeking interns to support activities in a range of fields related to human spaceflight.[/p]
• [p]🛰️ Long-dead space probe emits powerful energy blast - A long-dead experimental Nasa satellite suddenly emitted a powerful energy blast recently, leaving scientists perplexed.[/p]
• [p]😲 Jupiter used to be twice as big? - Scientists researching the planet have discovered that the young Jupiter was roughly double the size it is today.[/p][p][/p]

[h2]🛰️ Follow Mars Horizon 2 on Socials 🛰️[/h2][p]Don't miss out on the cool content we'll have to share throughout the development journey and some behind the scenes looks at what we get up to: 👀

Auroch Digital Bluesky Auroch Digital TikTok Auroch Digital Discord[/p]

[p][/p][p][/p][p]In our latest Deep Dive, we highlight the hazards across the various planetary surfaces and the impact they can have on your missions. From volcanic eruptions and micrometeorite showers, to dust storms and basalt columns, the Solar System can be a dangerous, yet beautiful, place. ⚠️[/p][p][/p][p]The blog and images are available to view on the Auroch Digital website. Check it out! 👈🏻[/p][p][/p][p]We have more to share with you in the future, but, until then, keep watching the skies! ✨[/p]

We are thrilled to be part of the wonderful #TurnBasedThursday Fest with Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life! 🚀 #TurnBasedThursday Fest runs from now until the 9th of June. The event will feature a bunch of great discounts, Twitch streams, YouTube Premieres, celebrations across social media, and more!

Thanks to the folks at #TurnBasedThursday Fest for including Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life as part of the celebration! 💛

Check out the event here.

[h2]Hi Aurochnauts![/h2]

It's the May Mission Briefing: Developer Update for Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life.

Make sure you are subscribed to our Mars Horizon Newsletter to get these updates direct to your inbox and join our Discord to talk to other Mars Horizon and space fans. 🚀


[h2]👨🏻‍🚀 What have the devs been working on recently? 👨🏻‍🚀[/h2]
The development team have been hard at work behind the scenes on a variety of exciting aspects of Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life. Matthew Holmes (He/Him), Producer on the game, shares what the focus has been recently:

"Over the past few months, the development team have been hard at work in various aspects of Mars Horizon 2. For the payloads, they have been rebalanced, and animations have been improved.

"A host of changes have been made to how the extra-terrestrial (ET) bases and outposts have been implemented, which will have an impact on how you use them to support your mission. They will be crucial if you’re looking to fully investigate a surface and track down signs of life.

"The ways in which the game communicates your missions, tooltips, and more have been improved. We’re looking to get people onboard as smoothly as possible and have made leaps towards this recently.

"We’ll have more to share with you in the next update for Mars Horizon 2. Thank you for being part of the journey with us so far. We’re so excited to share more with the community going forward!"


[h2]🛰️ A payload deep dive  🛰️[/h2]
In your mission to discover life in Mars Horizon 2, you will have a variety of payloads at your disposal to help you make that monumental discovery, but what exactly do these payloads do?

In our latest Deep Dive, we cover each payload and explain how they will help you to write your name in the history books.

Read it here!


[h2]🥳 It's ESA's 50th birthday! 🥳[/h2]
The 30th of May (today) is the 50th birthday of the European Space Agency! 🎂

Our partners for both Mars Horizon and Mars Horizon 2 have done an incredible amount of work over the past 50 years and we're so excited to see what the future holds for them. 🧡

Follow ESA on Bluesky/Twitter/Instagram for more of their work.


[h2]📰 Latest space-related news 📰[/h2]
There's been a variety of exciting space news recently and here's a round-up of them to keep you up to date! 
🎥How to Capture Moon Landing Videos - The next time footage is captured on the Moon, it will be in HD! ESA look at a simulated moonwalk they recorded to prepare for the real thing!
👃🏻 Exploring the Peculiar Smells of Outer Space - Scientists are analysing the smells of space – from Earth's neighbours to planets hundreds of light years away – to learn about the make-up of the Universe.
🍽️ What Astronauts Could End Up Eating in Space - Feeding astronauts is astronomically expensive and there's a race to find better ways to feed them.

[h2]🛰 Follow Mars Horizon 2 on Socials 🛰[/h2]
Don't miss out on the cool content we'll have to share throughout the development journey and some behind the scenes looks at what we get up to: 👀

Auroch Digital Bluesky Auroch Digital TikTok Auroch Digital Discord

In Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life, the goal is to make a monumental discovery of life somewhere in our Solar System. As you travel to different planets and moons, the planet surfaces will change, and different tools will be required to aid you in your search. So, what exactly will your agency have access to?

This blog looks at the various payloads players will have at their disposal to etch their name into the history books with that highly sought-after life specimen.

[h3]Rover – Light, Medium & Heavy[/h3]

The ever-reliable Rover is a robotic vehicle that journeys across the surface in search of new discoveries. This payload will be one of the main tools you use to comb the surfaces of planets to uncover the secret of each planet/moon.

The Rover can have modules applied to perform additional actions, like a loadout, so multiple of the same Rover can have a different use based on which modules are selected. It can reveal hidden world resources using signal detect and investigate sites of interest to reveal resources. In addition to these uses, Rovers can push back the fog from parts of planets/moons which you have yet to explore.

The light, medium, and heavy options for the Rover are unlocked via the game’s Research Tree. The medium and heavy Rovers will give more energy, more movement per turn, and more modules to be applied compared the light.

[h3]Lander – Light & Medium[/h3]

The Lander is a stationary craft that lands on the surface to conduct actions within a large landing radius. If there are multiple sites close together that require your attention, then the Lander will be the perfect payload to investigate these sites one after another.

In addition to investigating sites from afar, the Lander can also produce the Deep Space Network. But, what is the Deep Space Network?

[h3]Deep Space Network[/h3]

The Deep Space Network can be produced by Landers and Bases. It exudes a blue aura around the structure which can be used to restore the energy of your payloads and restores action charges.

As you delve further into your search, you can expand the network by using relay outposts. It also builds and activates outposts that are within its borders, allowing them to gather materials from world resources. As you make leaps towards your ground-breaking discovery, the Deep Space Network could prove to be key in your search.

[h3]Flyby[/h3]

It won’t always be possible to investigate every surface with a grounded payload, due to hazards, so for that you’ll have to scope out the planet from Space. This is where the Flyby comes in! The Flyby is an aerial observer which is useful for reconnaissance missions.

[h3]Orbiter[/h3]

Much like the Flyby, the Orbiter offers support from Space. However, the Orbiter can reveal even more of the surface and provide buffs to the grounded units. The Orbiter is a terrific payload to have if your Rover is low on energy and is venturing into the unknown. The Orbiter could be the difference between a successful mission and your agency falling behind in the race of finding life.

[h3]Constructor[/h3]

As your journey to find life starts to take shape and you begin exploring surfaces beyond Mars, it may be beneficial for you to create your own bases on these planets/moons so payloads can be built and delivered post-haste! For this, the Constructor is crucial in establishing those bases. This payload allows you to create a base to your liking and put your own stamp on a planet/moon. Getting the Constructor to your place of choice is one thing, but you’ll also have to find a suitable area for your home from home to be built on the surface.

[h3]Crewed
[/h3]
The final payload that we will cover in this blog will be the Crewed payload. This payload sees a group of astronauts on the surface of a planet or moon and conduct advanced actions effectively. Whether it is experiments or other ways of determining life, this is the fastest way to figure out whether you have found life or not. However, it is the most precious payload, so the risks are very high!

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This is just a small glimpse into the various payloads of Mars Horizon 2: The Search for Life. They all provide different ways of investigating anomalies and signs of life. How you use each of them is up to you.

We’ll have more information on the payloads soon. Until then, keep watching the skies! ✨