Devlog: Resources in Star Birds
Today, we're excited to unveil the first hint of cosmic bounty the solar system in Star Birds has to offer! We've cooked up our own unique "ingredient list" for the universe, packed with both familiar and fantastical resources, all wrapped in a vibrant, clean design to make gathering materials a blast.
[h3]Cosmic Cookbook - Our Recipe for Resources 🚀[/h3]
If you've ever enjoyed tinkering with building blocks, mixing potions or finding interesting item combinations, you'd have loved our initial resource brainstorm! We started with the plausible basics you'd expect to find on asteroids and in space. Then, we let our imaginations run wild, adding some truly unique "spice" to the mix. We experimented with wild combos, figuring out what awesome new materials your Star Bird colony could whip up.
The result? A sprawling catalog of metals, gases, and even some completely made-up substances, all waiting to be discovered on asteroid surfaces and transformed into essential goodies for your thriving intergalactic bird colony.
[h3]When Water Forms a Drop 💧[/h3]
The elements needed a gestalt. We wanted to combine the flat, colorful design of kurzgesagt with the 3D look of Toukana. The resource equivalent in the game includes the resource icon - its shape and color defined by the resource category (e.g. metal, gas), the resource field on the asteroid surface (as discovered by the rover unit), and the HUD layout displaying resources - for a clear and easily readable gaming experience. Step by step, we came up with a holistic design language for the in-game resources.
[h3]Overlooking Complexity 🤓[/h3]
Finally, we adjusted the complexity level. To have more efficient test runs, we developed a tool that shows us the complexity level of a specific production chain. Answering questions such as: How many steps will it take a test player to produce a certain resource? How many units of this resource have already been mined? And if this resource is mined, what options does this open up to the player?
With our Pending Complexity Tool, the focus will increasingly shift towards balancing. Our goal: The development of well-integrated production chains for a good game flow and transparent level advancement.
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Star Birds is an indie project by Toukana Interactive and kurzgesagt. We are over the moon to have such an amazing community. You are the reason why this project exists. If you want to support us, Wishlist the game here on Steam, and tell your friends about it.
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