Approaching Infinity News

Well, there were a lot of bugs. But I also got a lot of cool feature requests. What has changed?

Here's a list:

• Hopefully fixed an apparent crash where a dialog box appears behind an overlay and waits for input.
  
• Fixed long rest on away missions
  
• Added descriptive text to long rest, and some feedback messages when it fails.
  
• Added text descriptions/instructions to lower left of station rooms.
  
• Changed the final zoom level to fit the map better.
  
• Added station descriptions for data, component cooldown service, and crafting parts.
  
• Added red alert status indicator
  
• Codes found are now added directly to the captain's log.
  
• I made skills stack on the right side instead of along the bottom. I suppose "bottom" should still be an option? IDK.
  
• I discovered that my website changed my address and so none of my data collection has been working for a long time. FIXED.
  
• Now that I write that, I feel like that happened once before...
  
• I rearranged the shipyard display
  
• Fixed "install on away mission not change power"
  
• Fixed "return from away mission places ship in wrong location"
  
• Fixed "i spawned in a cave and there's no way out!"
  
• Fixed "Sigorn box shortage quest not completing"
  
• A tooltip is displayed for the monster you are currently targeting. (like the old target info window)
  
• Added whether your weapons are in range or not to tooltips of entities
  
• Added tooltips for more loot items
  
• Added tooltips for some UI elements (bars in upper right)
  
• Added "hidden" indicator for away missions.
  

All this is now released in the beta branch, version 1.9a1d


I hope to get all the rest of the bugs and features done in the coming week so I can move on to finishing up the rest of this UI stuff and get back to GAMEPLAY!

[h3]I always said overhauling the user interface would take a long time.
I wasn't wrong. It's been 6 months, and it's not done yet. [/h3]

But I'm tired of working in isolation, so I'm letting you try out the new controls.

• Freely zoomable map: your ship or away team are always in the middle of the action (and the screen), with readouts and controls around the edges
  
  
• Every screen is new: Most screens (officers, inventory, etc) are complete, but some aren't. You'll also get to see some totally new stuff, like the "diplomacy" screen and exciting new "herbarium".
  
  
• New character creator: customize your captain's appearance to your heart's content. Or randomize it and get on with your life. But I think this will be a fun time-sink for a lot of you ;)
  
  
• New warp screen: unlimited range (ok, 99 sectors!) with bigger readouts and a little "you are here" marker on the galaxy map. Sectors even have names!
  
  
• New death screen: (and victory screen too), with tracking of your personal "bests" in many stats, allowing you to track your progress across games.
  
  
• Improved keyboard handling: much of the information that you used to have to use mouse tooltips for is now just
• there* on the screen. There are also some newly added keyboard commands, and almost everything is customizable.
  
  
• More settings: Unlock the frame-rate, change the size of your messages or whether things are displayed as icons or buttons or not at all. Automate processes. Control!
  
  
• Better Tooltips: You'll get more information, presented in a better-looking more organized fashion.
  

• Crafting: This will be the next big project, and it will be a complete rework of the crafting system giving you much better control of what you get.
  
• Asteroid Base Rooms: Just isn't done yet, but it will be.
  
• NPC Dialogue: Needs work.
  
• A few other things here and there: I'll get to it.
  

We plan to include a "classic UI" option that uses the same basic layout as the current game, with the map on the left and all the UI on the right. But I need to get all the new stuff working before I can do that. But here's a mockup:






The UI Overhaul is only the first step in the final push to version 2.0 and full release, but it is a BIG DEAL, and once that is done, I'll move on the reworking crafting and then what? Check the Star Map:
https://store.steampowered.com/news/app/551620/view/3714965613418825879




If you're enjoying Approaching Infinity, please consider giving it a positive review on Steam. It really helps!

This video demonstrates my progress on completely reworking Approaching Infinity's user interface:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]

Here's what I cover:

• Starting a new game
  
• Loading a game
  
• Expanded play area
  
• Zoomable map
  
• Officers screen
  
• Inventory manipulation
  
• Quests screen
  
• Options menu with new options
  
• Cooldown icons
  
• Space station interiors
  

In case you don't know what I'm talking about, and you're not a video person
(I'm more of a reader), here are some images:

You've already seen some of the progress I've made on the gameplay area, but let's get started with something unexpected:

We're still working on making this the best it can be, with randomization and locking features. We'll also have presets available, and you'll be able to save your favorites.


You can watch me do this next part
in my series of progress reports,
starting with the latest one:

[previewyoutube][/previewyoutube]


[h3]
We're refining the entire new game process, so that each choice gets its own screen, and you can focus on the details you need, when you need them. Here's the prototype:[/h3]
(Warning: SLOW GIF!)

It starts with ship selection, showing lots of easy-to-read information. Then you customize your captain's appearance (or randomize or choose from presets, whatever you want!). Next you choose your class and skill. Finally select difficulty, perma-death, and starting funds. Each with its own dedicated screen.




Now you can see everything about all of your officers, in one place, all at once!

(Yes, this screenshot uses the old officer art. The new ones aren't actually in the game yet...)





Everything is getting a makeover, and space station interiors are already about 1000% more user friendly:

[h3]The Lobby:[/h3]

All space station navigation is now done either with the mouse or the arrow keys, and everything is laid out in a nice orderly fashion, with big text and on-screen descriptions.


[h3]The Market:[/h3]

All the info you need to make the best choices about where to buy and sell goods for the biggest profits. Also a "sell everything" button that tells you up-front how much you'll make ːsteamhappyː


[h3]The Outfitter:[/h3]

Gone are the days of paying for "restocks", hoping you'll find that shield you need. Instead, space stations can now carry over 20 items, and they're guaranteed to have at least one of every kind of ship part and away team gear.

You even get color-coded comparisons of the gear that's offered versus what you have installed.







What's the down side?

[h2]I've been working on changing this:[/h2]




[h2]into THIS:[/h2]




[h2]With recolorable UI:[/h2]



[h2]Collapsible mini-map:[/h2]



[h2]And big readable screens like this:[/h2]




The work is going slower than expected because I need to rearrange and rewrite enormous blocks of spaghetti code (ramen?) that have accumulated over the past 10 years.

But as you can see, things are getting done.

If you want more information on the plan for finishing the game, take a look at Starmap 1.9 here on Steam. And if you're already fine with the existing user interface, don't panic!

[h2]This might be an option:[/h2]



(And for owners of the UI DLC, we'll make new exclusive UI skins for you that fit the new layout!)